Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Black Shaft
Following the raging success of the Ventus wood shafts (you can read our reviews here and here), Fujikura saw an almost immediate demand for Ventus hybrid shafts. Well, they listened and released the Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Black and Blue shafts. Like the wood shafts, both options feature the same VeloCore technology in profiles fit for a hybrid. The Ventus Black is designed for low launch and spin, and the Blue for a mid launch with mid/low spin. If you have a fast swing and could use more stability in your hybrid, this review is definitely worth reading.
The Looks
The Fujikura Ventus Hybrid shafts have the same exact looks as their wood shaft counterparts. In the case of the Ventus Black, the base is intuitively glossy black corresponding to its name. The graphics are a light silver with a slight touch of holographic sheen to them. While the Ventus Black doesn’t scream out for attention in your club, it does create a slick and modest look that says, “I’ll just let the performance do the talking, thank you.” There is a small VeloCore graphic near the tip section of the shaft that I prefer to have installed facing down to reduce the chances for distraction at address.
How Does it Feel?
Out of the two Fujikura Ventus Hybrid shafts, the Black is the more stout option. It’s also only available in two heavier weights – 96 and 105 grams. (The Blue comes in a wider range of weight depending on flexes.) Between the heavier weight and the ultra-stiff/stiff/ultra-stiff shaft profile, the Ventus Hybrid Black is about as firm feeling as a hybrid shaft can get. I won’t lie, it shocked me a little bit as I was getting acclimated to it. I really had to get a feel for it and figure out how to make it kick. Once I got dialed in, however, man…look out!
Hybrids tend to be really easy to over swing with and get the ball snapping left. It’s almost a curse. However, I felt like no matter how hard I swung, the Ventus Black stayed under control. Don’t get me wrong, you still have to make a mechanically sound swing, but I felt I could swing as hard as possible and the ball would stay straight as an arrow. The kick point was gradual across the middle section of the shaft with a seriously firm tip and handle section.
On-Course Performance
As I mentioned earlier, the Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Black is designed to be extremely stable with a low launch and spin profile. I also mentioned in the Feel section that the Ventus Black allowed me to swing extremely aggressively without losing control. As much as that can be chalked up to the general stout profile of the shaft, Fujikura’s VeloCore technology plays a major role in this. Fujikura utilized a multi-material construction in the tip section that’s ultra stable and helps keep the club face square for a tighter dispersion.
Not only does the VeloCore help stabilize the tip section for better control, but it also reduces twisting of the head on mishits. Some would call this “reducing torque” in the shaft. By reducing this twisting action in the shaft, the center of the club face will find the ball more often and “preserve ball speeds” on typical misses. The end result is much tighter dispersion and incredible control.
I would describe the Ventus Hybrid Black’s performance as hitting a ball down a narrow hallway. The flight is absolutely piercing with impressively minimal drift on mishits. There were multiple occasions where I should have seen a borderline slice but instead saw a light leak to the right. Similarly, I couldn’t hook the ball to save my life! (Don’t confuse that for not being able to snap-pull the ball. They’re two totally different shots.) If you play a draw, especially a tight one, you won’t have a problem hitting your shot. Also, flight and spin are definitely low, so that’s something to be aware of if you like to play high floaters in your hybrid. If that’s the case, the Blue might be a better option for that shot.
Final Thoughts – Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Black Shaft
Just like the wood shafts, the Fujikura Ventus Hybrid Black has impressive control with some of the tightest dispersion I’ve seen. Hitting low-to-mid bullets with my hybrid was almost automatic. Players with higher swing speeds and more aggressive tempos are definitely the ideal candidate for this shaft. It’s not uncommon for that player to see hybrids balloon and spin too much. With the Ventus Hybrid Black, these players should be able to keep a more reasonable ball flight and spin rate. This may help them achieve better control and performance in their hybrid which may have previously eluded them.
Hi. What is your average swingspeed? Trying to gauge whether or not to go blue or black? Lower flight would help on the Scottish links I play.
I don’t think the difference between blue and black comes down to swing speed, but more your tempo and angle of attack, trajectory, etc…
I haven’t hit the blue hybrid yet, but if the difference is anything like the driver shafts were, I’d look at it this way. Do you tend tend to hit your hybrids a little high and could use a much lower and piercing flight, the Ventus Black and the appropriate flex is a great choice. Could you use a little help getting your ball to launch more and a little extra spin to help keep the ball in the air a little longer? Blue is the way to go.
I personally tend to find my hybrids to get a little spinny and balloony just because how I swing the club (somewhat of a steep downward angle of attack – I don’t love it), so the Black helped my really keep my launch down and get the hybrid under better control. Now, that sounds like a perfect Scottish links setup, but for my particular game, I might actually want the blue to take a little heat off the shot running down those runways! But that’s just me.
I too am curious about your average swing speed. I want to get the ventus black for a driving iron. I tend to hit all my clubs a little too high and too spinny. The only thing I’m worried about is the TX stiffness. My driver swing speed is around 110mph but I know that’s no where near tour level stiffness speeds. I definitely want something stout, I tried some other stiff shafts like the Oban Devotion 85g stiff, but it felt too whippy and like I couldn’t control the club. From all the research I’ve done and Reddit comments I’ve seen, everyone says that you can’t hit the black 10TX unless you have crazy 125+ driver swing speeds and that it will be too stiff. Is that true and should I stay away from the ventus black?
Tough for me to say, but I’d see 10TX be pretty difficult to get around with a 110mph driver swing speed. It would more depend on how you tend to hit a hybrid. If you hit balloons with a hard hook, maybe the extreme stoutness would be beneficial. But for what you’re looking to answer, it’s really going to be difficult to do without swinging it, unfortunately. You’re looking at needing to understand finder details and your personal interaction/response to the components.
Unfortunately, I went to get fit for my driving iron at a True Spec and they didn’t even have it as an option to try. I do want something very stout with little to no give but just worried about the TX even if it was the 9TX. Will try to look more into the blue 9X and hopefully I don’t start hitting it too high. Thanks for the response!
You can always tip it.