Equipment
TESTING: Fujikura Atmos “Tour Spec” Red vs Atmos Red driver shafts
For an average golfer, what’s the difference between a regular Fujikura Atmos Red shaft and a “Tour Spec” Atmos Red? That’s what we wanted to find out.
In our new club testing series, average golfers will be hitting either different shafts or different club heads, testing them against each other. The process will simply be to hit an equal number of shots with each shaft or club head, eliminating any outliers, and then report the numbers. These are all one-variable tests. Since the club tests are all done at Club Champion in Royal Oak, Michigan, the testing is under direct supervision of professional fitters.
First, some information about both shafts in this test.
Fujikura Atmos Tour Spec Red 6S facts
Fuji says: “New for 2017, the Atmos Tour Spec line is geared towards the performance golfer looking to keep the ball flighted down with low spin. Continuing with our iconic ‘Tour Spec white’ paint, Atmos is a true tour flighted line of shafts with a simple color coding – red as the higher launching, blue as mid launch, black as the lowest launch – similarities include keeping the handle flexes the same for feel, but adjusting mid and tip sections for launch and spin to achieve your desired ball flight.”
Specs
Fujikura Atmos Red 6S facts
Fuji says: “New for 2018, we’re excited to introduce the higher launching and softer profile Atmos. The Atmos has a similar design profile to the Tour Spec version, but is geared towards fitting a wider spectrum of golfers. The Atmos has a consistent, smooth feel, and has the red launch profile to signify the higher flight and spin… the blue profile is for mid launch and spin performance.”
Specs
The Test
We had two testers each hit the Fujikura Atmos Red Tour Spec 6S against a Fujikura Atmos Red 6S. Player A is a lefty and a 17-handicap. Player B is a righty and a 9-handicap. Both fight shots to the left (one being a slice, one being a hook, respectively). Here’s what happened when they both hit the shafts:
Player A
| Atmos Red TS Red 6S | Atmos Red 6S | |
|---|---|---|
| Club Speed | 91.6 mph | 91.4 mph |
| Ball Speed | 128.3 mph | 127.1 mph |
| Smash factor | 1.40 | 1.39 |
| Spin Rate | 5339 rpm | 5194 rpm |
| Side | 129.8 L | 143.9L |
| Launch | 14.8 degrees | 16.0 degrees |
| Carry | 186.6 yards | 185 yards |
| Total | 198.4 yards | 196.1 yards |
| Height | 92 feet | 97 feet |
| Attack Angle | -3.6 degrees | -3.4 degrees |
Player B
| Atmos TS Red 6S | Atmos Red 6S | |
|---|---|---|
| Club Speed | 103.4 mph | 104.3 mph |
| Ball Speed | 150.2 mph | 150.8 mph |
| Smash Factor | 1.45 | 1.44 |
| Spin Rate | 2652 rpm | 2915 rpm |
| Side | 74.1 L | 65.8 L |
| Launch Angle | 12.1 degrees | 11.4 degrees |
| Carry | 246.5 yards | 242.7 yards |
| Total | 272.0 yards | 267.2 yards |
| Height | 88 feet | 89 feet |
| Attack Angle | -0.9 degrees | -2.0 |
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- Taylor Montgomery what’s in the bag accurate as of the Cognizant Classic. Check out more photos from the event here.
Driver: TaylorMade Qi10 (9 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 7 TX
3-wood: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (15 degrees)
Shaft: Graphite Design Tour AD VF 8 TX
Hybrid: TaylorMade Qi10 Tour (19.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi MMT HY 100 TX
Irons: TaylorMade P7TW (4-PW)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Wedges: TaylorMade MG4 (52-09SB, 56-12SB), Vokey Design WedgeWorks Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: TaylorMade Spider Ghost S
Grip: Elite
Grips: Golf Pride MCC
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At the 2019 Valspar Championship, Englishman Paul Casey took the trophy at the Copperhead Course for the second year in a row. On a difficult Sunday, Casey’s 1-over 72 was good enough for a one-stroke victory over Louis Oosthuizen and Jason Kokrak as Dustin Johnson faltered.
Check out Casey’s clubs from five years ago below.
Driver: TaylorMade M4 (10.5 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ Limited 70 TX (tipped 1 inch)
3-wood: TaylorMade M1 (15 degrees)
Shaft: Mitsubishi Diamana D+ 80 TX Limited (tipped 1.75 inches)
Irons: Mizuno MP-25 (3), Mizuno JPX 919 Hot Metal Pro (4), Mizuno MP-5 (5-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 TX
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM7 (52-08F, 56-10S), Vokey Proto (60)
Shaft: Nippon N.S. Pro Modus3 Tour 120 X
Putter: Scotty Cameron Circle T 350-SSS
Grip: Scotty Cameron Matador
Grips: Golf Pride ZGrip Cord Midsize
Golf Ball: Titleist Pro V1
Mizuno’s Senior Club Engineer, Chris Voshall told us Casey’s somewhat surprising setup in his long irons is simply the product of Casey hitting the windows he wants to with the particular clubs in question.
“It’s all based on the height of the ball flight,” Voshall said. The MP-25 3-iron was more penetrating and better for him off the tee, so he kept it in there.”
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Equipment
Coolest thing for sale in the GolfWRX Classifieds (3/22/24): Nike Vapor Pro Combo 4-A iron heads
At GolfWRX, we are a community of like-minded individuals that all experience and express our enjoyment of the game in many ways.
It’s that sense of community that drives day-to-day interactions in the forums on topics that range from best driver to what marker you use to mark your ball. It even allows us to share another thing we all love – buying and selling equipment.
Currently, in our GolfWRX buy/sell/trade (BST) forum, there is a listing for a set of Nike Vapor Pro Combo 4-A iron heads.
From the seller: (@DrCoFo): “Nike Vapor Pro Combo 4-A heads in really nice shape. Just bought these recently- thought I would be the cool kid on the block with the Nikes. Was going to do a custom look, but I was way too ambitious and would rather just have a new set of irons. So here we are. Heads are already pulled from the shafts. Ready for your project needs. $550 shipped.”
To check out the full listing in our BST forum, head through the link: Nike Vapor Pro Combo 4-A iron heads
This is the most impressive current listing from the GolfWRX BST, and if you are curious about the rules to participate in the BST Forum you can check them out here: GolfWRX BST Rules
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Jim Giles
Aug 24, 2018 at 12:03 pm
I was curious on the significant change in Attack Angle for Player B . Did the shaft cause this ? Cuz I am no expert, but wouldn’t that have a lot to do with the resulting Launch Angle (thus flight) being so different. Player B’s stats confused me.
Someone
Aug 24, 2018 at 11:19 am
Need more data. Greater sample size. Two players is insignificant especially considering the skill gap.
Bark Chuck
Aug 24, 2018 at 1:31 am
Did I miss the type of club head, loft, etc.?
CrashTestDummy
Aug 24, 2018 at 1:25 am
For any strong consistent swings, the standard Atmos Red will feel like a noodle and most likely have poor dispersion groupings compared to the TS Atmos Red. Those shafts are polar opposites in specs except for the name.
james
Aug 23, 2018 at 3:59 pm
Based on these numbers, one would think the stock shaft is really, really good!. why spend $300+ for the tour spec? does not seem worth it.
Kevin
Aug 23, 2018 at 1:01 pm
So even a “mid” and a “high” handicap golfer hit the tour spec shaft further…minimally, but further. If this is truly legit data it would seem there is no need to make both versions. Just make the tour spec and let everyone hit it a little further…
Jim Giles
Aug 24, 2018 at 12:01 pm
for a Manufacturer in making it, your comment is correct… .but for a consumer, these things are hundreds of dollars different. So I think it provides validation that for the weekend golfer you don’t need to spend $$$ on the Tour Spec shaft to get similar results.
Josh
Aug 25, 2018 at 1:00 am
Ding Ding Ding Ding Ding
The Club Nut
Sep 3, 2018 at 12:00 pm
They’re really not that different in price. If youre comparing the Atmos that comes “stock” in the M4 with the shaft they tested, you’d be comparing two different shafts. The graphics may be more similar than any Fujikura stock offering in recent years, but the final product is different. Having physically tested a stick Atmos red and an aftermarket Atmos red, the stock option is lighter flex (at same marked rating) and more tip soft.
Picky
Aug 23, 2018 at 11:49 am
You lost me at .620 butt diameter. I’m not spending hundreds of dollars on a shaft that I can’t have a standard size cord grip on.
The Club Nut
Sep 3, 2018 at 12:01 pm
You can stretch it, or have an undersize built up to standard.
Dan
Aug 23, 2018 at 11:31 am
This is a tiny sample size and TXG did a better version of this where they show how it affects the flight
Francis
Aug 23, 2018 at 11:31 am
Love this concept. I know you said that the object of the experiment was for “average” golfers, but it would have been even more interesting if you threw in a scratch since the TS is designed for “performance golfer.” I would have liked to have seen the performance difference (if any) between the three handicap levels. Great work!