Fujikura Ventus Red
With the introduction of the updated VeloCore+ in the Ventus Blue shaft, Fujikura has rolled this technology out in Red and Black options as well. The Fujikura Ventus Red is designed for players seeking the ultimate in stability with an enhanced feel all in a mid-high launch and medium-spin profile. Through new materials, the Ventus Red delivers an improved feel and performance over its groundbreaking predecessor.
The Looks
Fujikura’s updated Ventus lineup features a matte finish with colors that slightly differ from the originals. In the case of the Fujikura Ventus Red, the finish has a deep, black cherry-like hue that almost verges on maroon. The pictures don’t totally do it justice, but there’s a slight “color change” effect where the finish darkens at the right angle. The matte finish gives the shaft a sleek, modern look. Out of the three new 2024 Ventus shafts, the Red is easily my favorite when it comes to looks.
Like the Blue, the Red keeps the signature Ventus graphics with a slight change to the Ventus wordmark. The wordmark is now a white outline instead of solid white lettering. As always, no one will mistake the Ventus band just beneath the grip section of your club. At the tip section, there’s a new VeloCore+ graphic representing the new technology.
How Does it Feel?
Alive! From the first swing, I was extremely impressed at how well the Fujikura Ventus Red managed to blend stability with a “lively” feel. A best of both worlds “Goldilocks” option, if you will. The original Ventus Red and I just weren’t a match because the feel was way too soft. Not the shaft’s fault, it just wasn’t designed for me. That’s fair. The Ventus TR Red was a much better match for me with a more stable/tighter feel that I was able to control. I even went so far as to use it for quite some time in my three wood. With the implementation of VeloCore+ and a “multi-material bias core”, the 2024 Ventus Red feels very controlled and consistent with excellent feedback throughout the swing. The tip section has a firm feel, but the lower kick point is very noticeable and still feels easy to load and release.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113.7 | 167.1 | 14.7º | 2579 | 292.1 | 300.9 |
As mentioned above, I just wasn’t a good mix for the original Fujikura Ventus Red. Though I had success with the TR Red in my three wood, it was still ultimately a little too soft, spinny, and high in my driver. For both previous Ventus Reds, I found I could still hit them a long way, but I had to take a good bit off of my normal swing to keep them under control. I don’t know why, I don’t know how, but I don’t seem to have that issue with the new Ventus Red. The updated VeloCore+ combined with more premium carbon materials really stabilizes the shaft and tightens up dispersion. Ultimately, I was able to make my normal full swing and realize the launch and spin benefits exactly as designed. Though there is added spin, it was by no means something I’d consider “high”.
The ability to launch the ball in the air with Fujikura Ventus Red was incredibly easy. Designed for a medium-high launch, one might expect the Ventus Red to balloon, or even have too steep of a descent for me to “optimize” my performance. Well, I found myself hitting greater carry yardages than I’ve seen in a long time. Sure, a little more roll would be nice, but I can live with it if I’m carrying this far. Especially with such ease. Additionally, I could still reliably flight the ball down as necessary. Combine that with the signature VelCore+ control from above and the Ventus Red certainly has my attention.
Final Thoughts – Fujikura Ventus Red
It’s still early, but I wouldn’t be surprised to see a lot more players adopting the updated Fujikura Ventus Red. From the first swing, I was impressed with how easy it was to get carrying with a tight, controlled feel. The Pitch 70 Ton carbon gives the shaft even more stability, but still delivers incredible feel. Like the Ventus Blue, I do think the 2024 Ventus Red is 100% worth the upgrade from the original.
I’m still in the honeymoon phase, but I’m strongly considering giving the new Ventus Red some time in the bag. I can’t tell you the last time I had 300 yards of carry from my driver, and I saw this multiple times during my testing. With that kind of potential, that could be a game changer for me if I can keep it under control. The 2024 Fujikura Ventus Red with its VeloCore+ is making a compelling case and I’m certainly going to explore it further.
