Fujikura Speeder Evolution II Shaft

I don’t know what witchcraft Fujikura is doing over there, but the Fujikura Speeder Evolution II is the best I’ve ever felt about a shaft in my driver or 3 wood.  Is that a bold claim?  Yeah, maybe, but multiple seasons of consistent performance and optimal numbers through numerous fittings seem to validate that feeling for me.  The Speeder Evolution II is the lowest launching and spinning shaft in the Evolution lineup and has a counter balance to help balance swingweight while offsetting modern heavier driver heads.

The Looks

I’ve always enjoyed how Fujikura has toed the line with traditional looks and the modern flashy hockey stick vibe.  The Fujikura Speeder Evolution II has a really sleek flamey look with hits of orange, yellow, and red.  The graphics are on brand with the previous releases of Speeder Evolution shafts and fit well with the color scheme.  I wouldn’t say the Evolution II draws attention to you, but it is a noticeable aftermarket shaft when you catch it in the wild.

How Does it Feel?

Smooth feel is a common characteristic of Speeder-branded Fujikura shafts from over the years.  Like its predecessors, the Fujikura Speeder Evolution II has an extremely smooth feel with lots of action.  Compared to the rest of the lineup, the Evolution II does have a little more of a notable kick due to its stiffer tip.  The Speeder Evolution II is also full of life.  Admittedly, feel is very subjective but I have never felt a more lively golf shaft in all my years.

As mentioned earlier, Fujikura designed the Evolution II to better fit with modern driver heads that tend to weigh more.  Fuji did this by adding counter balance to the shaft (added weight to the butt end) and some extra tip stiffness.  What I appreciate the most about how they did this is that you can tell it makes a difference, but the difference doesn’t slap you in the face.  The balance is virtually perfect.

On-Course Performance

Per the usual, I can’t stress enough how important proper testing and fitting is.  In my case, the Fujikura Speeder Evolution II is nearly a perfect shaft for my swing based on fitting.  I am willing to admit that another player could experience something totally different, but I can only comment on my experience.  The numbers are great, but what sealed the deal was the consistency and control.  I couldn’t find the center of the face anywhere near as consistently as I was with the Evolution II.  Not only does that make my control and confidence better, but it helps me achieve much more optimal numbers.

Speaking of numbers, it’s hard for me to say much.  They kind of speak for themselves.  I’m not a professional golfer.  I used to be close-ish to scratch in a small window of my prime, but that data is tough to argue with for me these days.  The Evolution II makes me feel comfortable to swing away and put every ounce of strength into my shot without feeling like I’ll lose control.  I’ll tell you that I think this shaft excels with the rising mid-launch flight, but it’s easy to control and adjust as necessary.

Final Thoughts – Fujikura Speeder Evolution II

Looking through my past golf nerd data, I’ve been in the Fujikura Speeder Evolution II coming up on three years – basically ever since it came out.  I’ve had it in three different fairway woods and countless drivers with varying shaft weights.  Frankly, I’ve amassed quite a collection of Evolution IIs in my basement!  Perfect feel, consistency, and strong numbers are about all I can ask for.  If you’re a seasoned fan of the Speeder legacy and want something geared toward lower spin and launch for your new driver, the Evolution II is well worth checking out.

Previous Next