50 Words or Less
The Fujikura 2024 Ventus Blue shaft is an upgraded version of the original. Tighter feel. Excellent dispersion. Mid launch with low spin.
Introduction
There’s a reason the term “one hit wonder” exists – following up a huge success is tough. In the world of shafts, there haven’t been many hits as big as Fujikura’s Ventus. Since it first came out, Ventus – in all its flavors – has been a consistent winner on Tour and in fitting bays.
After five years in the studio, is the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Blue shaft going to be like Nevermind or will we wish they’d just stuck to the original? Let’s find out.
Looks
The look of the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Blue shaft gives a very clear idea of what this shaft is about: tweaking the original Ventus Blue without messing things up. Fujikura has changed from the original navy to a slightly brighter blue with a “Phantium finish.” Also the Ventus branding has been changed from solid text to a thin outline. I like both of these changes a lot, particularly the new shade of blue.
One thing that hasn’t changed is the geometric graphic just below the grip. When I first saw this on the original, I shrugged. It was fine, certainly not a negative, but nothing to write home over. After seeing it on the PGA Tour every single week for five years, I think it might be the most ingenious design in shafts. Despite being very low key, it’s instantly recognizable (at least by gear nerds). Whether this was the result of hours of planning or just a happy accident, kudos to Fujikura.
Feel
Keeping the theme of gently tweaking the original Ventus Blue [review HERE], the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Blue feels very similar. This is a classic “blue” profile taken to its technological end. The tip is very stable. Even when I hit a poor shot on the heel or toe, I felt almost no twisting.
In the butt and mid section, there is a smoother, softer feeling that’s just short of a kick. To me, the 2024 Ventus Blue feels a little tighter in the butt and mid than the original, but I wouldn’t bet much on my ability to tell them apart in a blind test. If you like the original Ventus Blue, you’re going to like this.
Finally, something I noted about the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Blue is that it was accepting of my swing regardless of my effort level. There are a lot of shafts that demand to be swung gently and others that only want your most violent transitions. With the 2024 Ventus Blue, I got the same sensation whether I stood on it or made a passive swing.
Performance
The big change in the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Blue shaft is the addition of VeloCore+. According to Fujikura, this is “a multi-material, bias core construction technique that not only increases and enhance the original combination of Pitch 70 and 40 Ton materials, but incorporates an all-new third premium material to give players tighter dispersion and better ball speed.” In short, it’s VeloCore, but better. The structure has been tightened to make the new Ventus even more accurate than the original.
My testing of the 2024 Ventus Blue mirrored what I saw when I tested the original. The dispersion is what stands out above all. Yes, you can hit a foul ball with this shaft, but it takes a truly poor swing. Every swing that’s decent or better puts the ball right where it’s aimed. Interestingly, I found that the Ventus’s preference for straight shots gave me more freedom to try to shape my shots because I was not afraid of a big miss.
On that note of swinging fearlessly, the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Blue helped me to produce excellent ball speed. I could swing all-out knowing that the shaft would keep up with me and not let the ball get too far off line. As I noted earlier, what’s unique about the 2024 Ventus Blue is that it’s just as good at 75%, so you don’t have to worry about bad results on the back nine.
In terms of trajectory, the 2024 Ventus Blue is mid launch and low spin. The ball wants to bore through the wind on a strong trajectory. If you’re looking for a shaft that can reduce spin a bit without feeling uber stiff, this could be a great choice. Also, the numbers from this shaft are extremely consistent, leading to predictable distances off the tee.
Find low launch and spin in the 2024 Ventus Black HERE
Finally, a quick word on how the Fujikura 2024 Ventus Blue compares to the Ventus TR Blue [review HERE]. In short, they’re very similar. I think the TR Blue feels a little stiffer in the butt section, but the difference is small. There are likely measurable performance differences on a robot, but the performance gap for any given player will depend on how they interact with the different feels.
Fujikura offers the 2024 Ventus Blue in weights ranging from 50 to 90 grams. The heaviest version is only available in X flex. At 80 grams, there is a stiff and an X. 2024 Ventus Blue 7 is available in stiff, X, and TX. The 50 and 60 gram versions have the most flexes offered – four. At 50 grams that goes from R2 to regular to stiff and X. The 60 gram version has regular, stiff, X, and TX.
Conclusion
The Fujikura 2024 Ventus Blue shaft is the follow up that the instant classic deserved. This shaft maintains everything that players love about the original while adding just enough to be its own thing. Whether you’re a current Ventus player or not, this shaft is begging to be tried the next time you visit your Fujikura fitter.
Visit Fujikura HERE
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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25 Comments
Got my hands on one when it released. You are spot on with your description of this shaft. I was originally fit for the OG Blue and after playing that for 1.5 seasons, my need to tinker had me seek out a TR Blue and played it most of the time last season (had a few rounds with the Diamana GT). While the TR Blue and Diamana GT also worked for me, this new 2024 Blue has already kicked the both out of the bag after one round.
My first round with the shaft I played at Schaumburg GC and hit 16/17 fairways. The one fairway I missed, was due to a hard kick right after carrying the fairway bunker on Tournament 9 but was only a few yards in the rough. This shaft is a lock to stay in the bag!
Hi Jon,
Can you comment on the comparison to the Diamana GT? The GT 60X is my current gamer and I (like everyone else) am curious about this new Ventus and will likely test the 6X or 7X soon.
Thanks,
Stephen
Hey Jon, I am interested in knowing more about your experience with the new shaft v the TR. I currently play the Blue TR 6-S and am intrigued by the new 2024 blue plus. Any details would be greatly appreciated.
I own both, both are excellent but at the end the TE performs better for me because the feeling is more compact. Just try to demo it somewhere. And both are better than the diamana in my hands – better feedback less dispersion.
Hi Matt. Instead of buying a whole new driver, can I get my PingG 400 SFT refitted ( I love the look and sound and size of this Ping), and get the benefits of what this shaft can offer?
Thanks. Love reading your reviews and listening to your pods.
Kevin,
You can certainly have a builder put a PING adapter on this shaft. A fitter like Club Champion can also probably let you test the new Ventus with your current head, but I wouldn’t expect to find that everywhere.
Best,
Matt
Spot on description. I got a great deal on one from Golf Shaft Warehouse Inc and couldn’t be happier with the feel and performance.
At 165 ball speed you should be getting more carry out of that. Either way, good to see your numbers improving
Not enough spin is very likely the reason, Drew. The Ping Chart isn’t the be-all, end-all, but it likes 2400 at 12.7 vs 1900-ish he’s at. That low of spin, at 165, it wants him at 17° launch or so and knuckle-ball city.
As a devoted reader, it’s easy to see that Matt’s certainly had his Wheaties lately. Great job! Inspirational effort in coming back from your injury this well!
It also should drive some traffic to his reviews on the various exercise equipment and swing speed improvement gear mentioned at PiG.
I think what I appreciate the most about the 2024 version of blue is the 5X option. You couldn’t get it in the OG blue or the TR.
Swapped my hzrdous black gen 4 for a 2024 Ventus blue 5S in my AI Smoke and your description of this shaft is exact. Dispersion is impressive and balls dont balloon. Trajectory is mid and spin is low. Played on a windy day in Ohio with a pro V1x and it was boring a straight line through the wind. After the first two tee shots I had so much confidence in my driver going exactly where I aimed. My clubhead speed is right at 100 typically 103 if I step on it and this shaft fits perfect. Im very curious how the 5x would perform for me but I think I need to be closer to 105 consistently. Best equipment change I may have ever made!
Thank you for the review, Matt, always informative.
I’m planning to update driver testing and fitting soon and wondered if you could offer any comments on this shaft compared to the Diamana GT. The GT in 60X is my current gamer and I’m curious about what I can expect when testing/fitting the 6X or 7X.
Thanks in advance.
Stephen
Stephen,
I have a full review of the Diamana GT here: https://pluggedingolf.com/mitsubishi-diamana-gt-shaft-review/
Comparing that review to this one is your best bet as I haven’t hit the GT in a couple years.
Best,
Matt
Thank you Matt. I enjoyed the GT review and read it many times before I picked it up.
Hi Matt, Nice review.
Currently I am playing the 6s velocore tr black. If I consider this one. Should I pick 6x or 6S? Swingspeed around 108-110mph
Menno,
I would guess X. I think the TR Black probably feels a full flex stiffer than standard Blue.
Best,
Matt
Hi Matt,
Thank you! just bought the x6 version. I will try it next week, let you know the results.
Best regards,
Hey Matt and Menno,
How’s the 6X? I’m currently gaming the TR Blue 6S and have the same swing speeds as you. Thinking of getting either the 6S or 5X (I think 6X is too stiff).
Also interested in the same. Currently have Blue TR 6S and considering the Blue velocore+ 6X… 🤔
Hey Matt,
With all of these shaft reviews, are you using the same head for them? With new technology, the spin and performance is changed based upon both the head and shaft in my opinion. When reading these reviews (which are great), I’m always curious what head you’re using.
Trevor,
I use whatever head I’m gaming at the time. Currently that’s the PXG Black Ops.
-Matt
I just bought a new AI Smoke Driver and moved from a 5 year old Callaway Epic, with a HZRDUS Smoke low spin, 6.0 – 60 gram shaft. I was fitted into a Cypher Fifty + 5.5 (does this mean a 55 gram shaft weight?) shaft regular flex. I am 64 years old, coming off rotator cuff and labrum surgery with an average swing speed of 101 and a hdcp of 10.8. I have a hard time feeling the club head in my current driver set up. I asked my playing partner, who I respect a lot and who plays to a 5.2) to hit my driver and he said he had a hard time feeling the head as well and thought I would better served to get a lower weight shaft (45 gram) as that might make the head feel more pronounced? He recommended the Ventus 45 gram with VeloCore+. I would like to get your thoughts before I pull the trigger.
Michael,
My advice is always to get fit. “Not feeling the club head” could be any number of things, and you can explore each variable in a fitting.
Best,
Matt
Hi , Matt. Another great review here. It is pretty much a given we’ll see a great product from Fujikura Golf. Sounds as though there were great strides made on new Ventus Blue for 2024. Since Blue was much improved , I suspect Red will likely take a strong leap forward , as well. Black may also increase. Just wondering when we may see reviews on the newly completed line of Ventus , especially the Red. Thanks.
Grant,
I should have reviews of Ventus Red and Black publish by late August.
Best,
Matt