of Top winning driver axle family from last season has a new member – and has already started getting steam.
of Fujikura New Ventus TR Blue with VeloCore+ launched on tours around the world in mid-January, but has already found its way into the bag of PGA Tour pros.
Danny Walker and Kensei Hirata were some of the earliest adopters of the new axle. Recently, Harry Hall and Rafael Campos added it to the bag. This does not include the many players testing the new shaft (like Nicolai Hojgaard).
While it may seem quiet so far, Fujikura Tour representative Marshall Thompson says the new TR Blue is actually ahead of schedule compared to the introduction of the first Ventus axles to receive VeloCore+ two years ago. A lot of it had to do with timing.
“It’s a lot better. It’s a lot more accepted,” Thompson told GOLF. “When we launched (the previous one) it was mid-year, mid-July. A lot of guys aren’t really testing and a lot of guys by July are already locked in for the year.”
This time, Fujikura launched the new shaft in January, just as the pros were unveiling their bags with a deluge of new products from OEMs.
This has led to faster adoption, but there is probably more to come.
“These presentations always take some time,” Thompson said. “There are shafts that I build for certain players that I think have a really good chance of going in, and then I don’t see it for five weeks. Then all of a sudden the player pulls it out of the garage and says, ‘Okay, now I’m ready to take it to the course.'”
Thompson noted the 2024 introduction of the first Ventus with VeloCore+ as slow, but dozens of players now have the updated versions, including US Open winner JJ Spaun and recent converts like Min Woo Lee AND Tony’s controversy.
And while the name is the same as its predecessor, the transition to the new version may not exactly be plug-and-play. Thompson said the Fuji team knew how good the original Ventus TR line was and wanted to improve on it without going too far.
By adding VeloCore+ to the shaft, the new TR Blue has increased torsional stability (a resistance to twisting), which promotes stability throughout the shaft and center-to-face contact.
Fujikura 2026 Ventus TR Blue Wood Shaft (Velocore+)
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This extra stability meant that engineers could reorient the Spread Tow fabric in the shaft grip section – the material that distinguishes the Ventus and Ventus TR lines – to make the grip stiffer.
The result is a slightly stiffer handle with a slightly softer middle section while maintaining the same ultra-strong tip. Thompson said they’ve noticed that the narrower grip allows players to feel like they can go after the ball a little more, while the softer middle creates a smoother feel during the swing.
