Fujikura Ventus TR Red Shaft
Earlier this season, Fujikura Golf introduced the Ventus TR Blue to their highly-acclaimed Ventus family. Through their proprietary enso analytics, Fujikura identified that the shaft’s handle and mid section were the highest points of stress during the transition and downswing. To address this, Fujikura added a new “spread tow” carbon fabric to increase “torsional stiffness” in those two sections. Combined with VeloCore, the end result is a more stable shaft with the same sweet feel expected from a Ventus. With so much immediate success, Fujikura naturally had to expand the Ventus TR family. By enhancing the stiffness and lowering launch and spin from the original counterparts, Fujikura has now filled out all of the Ventus TR profiles. The new Fujikura Ventus TR Red is the mid-high launch/medium spin version of the family.
The Looks
The Fujikura Ventus TR Red is far and away my favorite out of the entire Ventus family in regards to appearances. The red sparkle finish absolutely pops and the darker contrasts of the visible carbon weave is perfect. That visible carbon section is a rich wine red color that gives me a ruby, as in the precious gem stone, vibe. I would go so far as to say that it glistens in the sun without being distracting. Seeing one in play will certainly catch your eye and I promise will leave you impressed.
How Does it Feel?
As the medium/high representation of the Fujikura Ventus family, the Ventus TR Red has a slightly softer feel. There’s a lot of action in the shaft that you can really feel load and release through impact. This is essentially what is helping get the ball in the air easier for those that benefit from that assistance. However, rest assured, the Ventus TR Red is far from loose or noodley.
Fujikura’s VelCore platform has been notorious for its stability, but the addition of their new spread tow carbon fabric really tightens up the feel across the entire TR family. In the case of the Ventus TR Red, there’s the action of a softer shaft, but a tight stability that gives you better response and allows you to feel confident with swinging away. The increased “torsional stiffness” in the mid and handle sections of the shaft is absolutely noticeable. In my opinion, this has made a massive difference in stepping up the feel of the already solid Ventus shafts.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 115.3 | 172.9 | 14.4º | 2504 | 288.2 | 295 |
My biggest takeaway from testing the Fujikura Ventus TR Red shaft was how easy it was to get the ball up in the air. Allow me to explain… My aggressive swing tempo doesn’t tend to mix well when it comes to controlling shafts in this category. So then I end up taking a bit off of my swing to keep the ball “in play”, but then I end up not maximizing the benefits of the shaft and hit these sort of bunty knuckle ball things. With the Ventus TR Red, this didn’t happen. I still released the shaft and the ball would get carrying in the air. The slightly extra spin would hold the ball up for more than enough carry yardage with a more moderate swing tempo.
There’s also the control factor which I just alluded to. Shafts that are designed to launch and spin a little extra will typically whip all over the place with my harder, aggressive swing. (I would kill to settle into a swing with a smoother tempo and the same speed, trust me.) This is to be expected by nature of a higher launch/spin shaft design. With the new torsional stiffness added in the TR Red, the stability discussed in the Feel section greatly improved my ability to control the shaft. Rather than losing the ball left (or right), I found that if I stepped on it a bit too much, I’d just hit the ball a little higher with more spin. My shot would stay on its line, I just might lose some of my usual distance compared to a more optimal shaft fitted for my game.
Final Thoughts – Fujikura Ventus TR Red Shaft
The additions of the Black and Red models really round out the Fujikura Ventus family nicely. By adding the new spread tow carbon fabric, the Ventus TR options provide more stability and a tighter feel when combined with the already-impressive VeloCore technology. While the Ventus TR Red isn’t the ideal fit for maximizing my tee game personally, I can certainly see the impact of more stability and control built into the profile. Players seeking some extra launch and spin to hold the ball in the air will find the Ventus TR Red to do just that while maintaining a tight and responsive feel with that signature VeloCore reliability.
Watch us talk to Spencer Reynolds from Fujikura Golf and test out the new Ventus TR shafts below!
I have two choices of shafts, the fujikora ventus red stiff and the Project X HZRDUS Smoke Black RDX Shaft. I don’t want to go to a fitting, but was wondering if you could give me some guidance on which would suit me better. I am a 12-14 handicap. I am a left handed player that tends to slice the ball for my miss. Typically I double cross the ball to keep it straight. Which shaft would you think is more optimal for me?
Ventus Red and Smoke Black RDX are about as opposite as profiles can get. Ventus Red is designed to launch a little higher and have a little more spin. Smoke RDX is designed to be stout, super low launch and spin.
Depending on why you’re slicing will also play a role in this. Is the shaft too stiff, or is it face angle at impact? You need to know that answer to really correct that in the right way. If it’s face angle and/or swing path, no shaft is going to correct that.
So really, there’s not enough in the information you provided to really give you helpful guidance, but maybe those basic descriptions of the shafts’ designs will help you make a choice.
I’m playing a ventus velcore red 5r with my 95mph 70yo swing and am very happy with it..Will the TR add any yards ?.. thanks
I think it sort of depends on your current flight/carry/spin. What I would say is that the TR will knock the launch and spin down a bit from the stand Ventus Red while having a more stable feel. To know if that will actually add yards for you, you’d have to test the two side by side on a launch monitor. Otherwise it’s sort of a guessing game.
How would you say the Ventus VelCore Red 5 compares to the Oban Isawa Red 55? Thank you!
I have no familiarity with that Oban at all, sorry.
I am choosing between Ventus TR Red 6x and TR Blue 6s – 6x.
I am struggling with too low ball flight and duck hook but my ideal ball flight is a power fade. I don’t have problem with spin and often time too low spin. I love the feeling of Ventus and I have tried Tr Red 6s and Tr Blue 6x. TR Red 6s gave me the higher ball flight I needed but sometime high snappy hook. The surprise is Tr Blue 6x gave me more club speeds, more ball speeds, and straighter ball flight. But I still struggle with too low ball flight.
Please give me suggestion. My friend suggested to increase my head weight and swing weight.
A lot to unpack here so I’ll do my best.
The comparison of Red and Blue is really going to be more about spin and launch angle. If you’re comparing a blue X to a stiff red, you’re really in apples to oranges territory. Flex is going to influence (more or less) “right and left” more than up and down. So what you’re experiencing between the two makes a lot of sense. Sure you can get the Red in the air easier like you’re looking for, but the stiff flex and more active tip section is likely too soft for your speed/tempo based on what you’re describing, thus the hooks. Whereas the more stout x-flex of the more mid profile is letting you swing away more freely so you’re keeping your swing speed up and the dispersion is more controlled.
So based on the X vs S experiment you’re conducting, why aren’t you trying to TR Red in x flex? Stiff Red and X Stiff Blue are naturally going to be worlds apart.
As far as the weight suggestion at the end, that’s not going to fix shaft profile. That will largely influence feel and head awareness. At least that’s my opinion. You need to focus on the source first – the shaft.
Have you noticed that the Ventus Blue TR 5S has a softer butt and tip flex than non TR, according to Fuji website specs. Have you tried them?
I have not as that weight and flex aren’t in my range.
Can red fit a 84 moh swing speed
Any of them can fit any swing speed. It’s more about the characteristics of your swing and fitting the correct profile to your needs, such as launch angle, spin, etc.
Hi Bill –
Thanks for the review. I am currently testing out driver and shaft combos. My swing speed is currently around 100 (probably will trend up to 102-105 in season). I actually was fit into a ventus black 6s in a callaway Pardaym Triple Diamond (2g weight front, 14g in back). The fitting into the black profile surprised me and I am still not convinced (we went through the TR blue, blue, red and several other brands and shafts). The one shaft they didn’t have was the TR red. How would that compare to the regular black? As an FYI, my angle of attack is 5-5.5 degrees up with 14-15 launch and spin was right around 1900-2100. Any thoughts are helpful, thanks!
Opposite ends of the spectrum. Ventus Black is low launch/low spin with a more stout profile. Ventus Red/Red TR are higher spinning and launching with a little more action in them on paper. While a fitting may reveal your specific swing gets along with it differently, on paper, I don’t see that launch angle benefitting from the Red family. But that’s just me. Only way to really know is to see what it does in YOUR hands.
Hi Bill. I have a swing speed of 100 ball speed 152 average
Spin is high at 3000
Presently have vanquish 4 stiff shaft and I only get 230 carry
Looking to switch
In the ventus family what would you try first
Red 5 or 6 tr or blue. Thanks
Do you have any idea what you’re angle of attack is or your launch angle? Shot apex? What are you looking to achieve? More carry? Lower launch? Less spin because…? Need more information to really advise. Spin should help hold the ball in the air so taking your spin down could hit your carry even more.
I have some assumptions of what’s likely going on, but I’d really need a lot more shot data to give you a suggestion on where to start and why.
Bill,
Love the content. Currently in a ventus black 6x. Getting up there in speed after speed training (aiming to get my coasting speed above 110). 90% of the time, I love my ventus black. On days my swing isn’t there or I am not warmed up it can be a long day. In your opinion, would the ventus TR red in the same flex provide the stability of the black, but when you just don’t have it that day, you can dial back and get good results?
I don’t think so. They’re pretty opposite of each other and very different profiles.
Hi Bill,
I am currently playing a hzrdus RDX red in my driver, do you think the Ventus TR red would play similar? Do you think it would spin a little lower? Thanks
Can’t speak to the spin difference, especially given your specific swing and angle of attack will play a huge role, but overall, yes, I’d say the two would play somewhat similar. Mostly going to see a difference in feel and control I would think.
This is a superb shaft. But as you say in the review and the comments, a golfer really needs to be fit to see what works for their swing. I went to a local custom club fitter. After spending 15 minutes getting baseline measurements and how I deliver the club, I told me the Ventus TR Red 60s profile was a really good fit for my swing. We used that to test all the new driver heads. Then after I narrowed down to my 2 favorite – he had me try different shafts to try to tweak more performance. The Ventus Red TR was still king.
My buddy got fit at the same guy. We have the same swing speed. He ended up with the same G430 head, but a lower loft and TOTALLY different shaft profile. But on the course, our drives launch in the same window, height and near identical distance.
It made me realize that trying to self fit or apply what you read to YOUR swing is nearly impossible. All these folks asking ‘what do you think about X?’ in the comments need to pay the money to get fit and know instead of guess. 🙂
How does this compare to the non TR Ventus Red
More stable, a little lower launch and spin. Think o fit as the step between Ventus Red and Ventus Blue.
What difference would there be , in ball flight and spin, between the ventus tr red 6s and 7s?
It’s a weight difference so it’s going to depend more on your swing and your ability to get the club around at the same speed and angles. On paper, flight and spin shouldn’t be different between the weight classes. Now, what your swing does between the different weights may have an impact, but that will be specific to how you respond to it.