VA Shafts Raijin Black Shaft
The VA Shafts Raijin Black – the biggest beast of the VA lineup that can only be tamed by the most powerful and daring of golf ball drivers in the Universe. Ok, maybe that’s a bit of an aggressive statement on my part, but the Raijin Black really is a beast. It’s by far the most advanced shaft in the VA family as well as the stiffest bend profile of the series. Through the use of “exotic aeronautical grade 4-Axis weave prepreg material,” Victor Afable created a premiere low-mid launch, low-spin shaft best suited for more aggressive and faster swing players.
NOTE: The VA Raijin Black should NOT be compared to the original Raijin. They are completely different shaft profiles. 
The Looks
Like the VA shafts before it, the Raijin Black continues the legacy of sick graphics. Similar to the Drago, the Raijin Black has a matte black finish but with silver and rose gold accents. VA’s Raijin Black carries the signature mythical dragon theme with a silver and gold dragon wrapped around the center of the shaft. The Raijin Black’s graphics are artistically bold, yet tasteful, and perfectly represent a premium exotic golf shaft.
How Does it Feel?
Typically shafts that are designed to be low launch and spin feel extremely rigid and almost like Thor’s war hammer. What’s nice with the VA Raijin Black is that it doesn’t have that super rigid telephone pole feel to it. Don’t get me wrong, it has the most “stout” feel of the VA lineup, but it has good kick if you have the swing for it. The extra “stoutness” not only helps you keep the ball down, but makes the Raijin Black feel more stable and easier to control through the entire swing for better accuracy.
VA’s use of exotic materials prevents “ovalization” of the shaft during the swing. The 4-Axis prepreg material makes the Raijin Black hold its circular shape better as the shaft flexes throughout the swing. This keeps the shaft’s feel consistent and precise in addition to providing performance benefits. The end result is much better club head awareness and impact response.
Take note, given the Raijin Black is more on the stout side, it’s extremely important to get fit. Getting the right flex and weight will not only make sure your performance is optimized, but will also make sure it feels right in your hands. As stated by VA, players with faster tempos and/or higher load will most likely be the best fit for the Raijin Black. If you fit that bill, you’ll find the Raijin Black to be very sturdy with nice whip through the ball. The energy transfer is just about perfect.
On-Course Performance
| Club Speed | Ball Speed | Launch Angle | Spin | Carry (Yds) | Total (Yds) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 113.2 | 169.9 | 13.1º | 2480 | 280.9 | 303.3 |
From the first swing, it was quite obvious that the VA Shafts Raijin Black was indeed a lower launching shaft with low spin. My first three shots were low ropes that could have rolled a mile. Once the adjustment period was over, I settled in at a nice 12-13º launch angle and my best shots of the group fell in the 2200 rpm spin range. Remember, the Raijin Black is a low-mid launch and low spin shaft. 12-13º is on the lower end of a mid launch and 2000-2200 rpms is low spin for me these days so I think that’s a fair assessment. The Raijin Black also makes it easier to take the ball lower than 12º if need be. If you have enough power for the Raijin Black, you’ll also be able to raise your launch angle enough to ride a helping wind.
I briefly touched on control and consistency in the “Feel” section. In regards to performance, the Raijin Black’s 4-Axis prepreg preventing shaft ovalization makes a big difference in performance as well. With the shaft maintaining its shape and stability throughout the swing, it’s essentially easier to just swing away. You can put everything you have into the swing and the Raijin Black will hold up against the load. This, theoretically, should tighten up your dispersion and make you more accurate. Bigger swingers will see big distance gains from that little bit of extra launch mentioned earlier.
Final Thoughts
I still stand by my statement that the VA Shafts Raijin Black is a beast and you better have the swing required to tame it. One thing I’ll point out is that I think the Raijin Black is more playable with better feel than the usual shafts in this category. You can still keep the ball down, but it’s not a battle of resistance to get the ball airborne and carrying. There’s a little extra pop to get the ball flying. Players looking to be able to keep their spin down and control their ball with a more aggressive swing are the wheelhouse candidates for the Raijin Black. Should you fit that bill, rest assured, the Raijin Black is about as premiere of a golf shaft as it gets.
