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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- Sam Burns’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Callaway Paradym Triple Diamond S (9 degrees @10)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 7 TX
3-wood: Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond T (15 degrees @16)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Hybrid: Callaway Apex UW (21 degrees)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus Blue 8 X
Irons: Callaway Apex TCB ’24 (4-AW)
Shafts: Project X 6.5 (4-PW), True Temper Dynamic Gold X100 Tour Issue (AW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (56-14F @55), WedgeWorks Proto (60-T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold S400 Tour Issue (56, 60)
Putter: Odyssey Ai-One #7S
Grips: Golf Pride Tour Velvet Align
Ball: Callaway Chrome Tour X
Check out more in-hand photos of Sam Burns’ WITB in the forums.
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- Will Zalatoris’ what’s in the bag accurate as of the RBC Heritage.
Driver: Titleist TSR2 (9 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Black 7 X (44.5 inches)
3-wood: Titleist TSi2 (15 degrees, A1 SureFit setting)
Shaft: Fujikura Ventus TR Blue 8 X
Irons: Titleist T350 (3), Titleist T150 (4-PW)
Shafts: Nippon N.S. Pro Prototype G.O.S.T. 10 ST X (3), True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100 (4-PW)
Wedges: Titleist Vokey Design SM10 (50-08F, 54-10S @55, 60-04T)
Shafts: True Temper Dynamic Gold Tour Issue X100
Putter: L.A.B. Golf Mezz.1 Max
Grips: Golf Pride Z-Grip Cord
See more photos of Will Zalatoris’ WITB in the forums.
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New Level has been making some really good golf equipment since the company started up in 2018. Offering irons that are more geared towards the better player, precision has been a fundamental philosophy for New Level in creating irons and wedges.
The 480 line of irons has been the flagship of the brand, and the newest member of that team is the 480-DB iron that is now open to pre-orders. A new cavity design is what the whole 480 line is about, and the 480-DB takes advantage of that with added ball speed and a larger sweet spot.
For players who require their irons to offer the best feel, rest assured the DB is a fully forged (from 1020 carbon steel) one-piece golf club. No multi-piece, hollow design with this iron.
While the 480-DB is the next generation of the popular 902-OS, New Level didn’t follow the current trend in golf by chasing distance with the new iron. They actually weakened the lofts on the 480-DB with the spec sheet showing a 33-degree 7-iron and 45-degree pitching wedge. These lofts allow the DB to have less offset while still offering consistent distance off the face.
A traditional design was also at the forefront of the new irons to make sure that golfers with an eye for detail can look down at them with confidence that they will perform under any condition.
A weight low in the back cavity will allow their master club builders to dial in the perfect weight for the golfer, no matter the length or shaft being used. New Level believes that the new 480-DB is one of the most forgiving one-piece forged irons on the market today. A pre-worn leading edge on the sole should get through the turf quickly and with reduced digging for better turf interaction.
You can pre-order the New Level 480-DB right now on the New Level website.
Pricing specs availability
- Irons: 4-PW
- Price: $149/oron
- Availability: Pre-order
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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!