Fujikura released the original Ventus Blue back in 2019 to showcase its VeloCore technology. VeloCore is a full length bias core that adds stability to the shaft and promoted more consistent center face contact. Despite the success of Ventus, companies like Fujikura are never satisfied. Continued refinement is what has made Fujikura shafts the most popular shaft on tour and in amateur bags. Now, five years later, we have the updated 2024 Ventus Blue wood shaft with VeloCore Plus technology.

For a full and more in-depth review check out the Club Junkie podcast below and on all podcast platforms.

When it comes to driver shafts, I usually gravitate towards the mid-launch sector as I am not a player who hits the ball exceptionally high. I remember getting my hands on the original Fujikura Ventus Blue and immediately being impressed with the performance.

This new 2024 Ventus Blue looks really good in the lighter blue hue with the matte finish. The graphics still say Ventus, but there are subtle differences between the new Ventus Blue and its five-year old sibling. There is a VeloCore+ logo down near the tip to signify that the shaft has this new technology under the hood.

More on Velocore+ from Fujikura: “Velocore+ is the next generation of Fujikura’s ground-breaking proprietary technology. The technology is designed for ultimate clubhead stabilization and promotes consistent center-face contact, tightening dispersion and increasing control of the club throughout the swing. Featuring a re-engineered multi-material bias core, Velocore+ enhances the feel and performance of Ventus with an additional premium bias core material, promoting even tighter dispersion and increased ball speeds.”

I took the new Ventus Blue took the course and the range over the past couple of weeks to get in a lot of time with it. I built up the new Ventus Blue with my usual All Fit universal adapter, no tipping, and cut to play at 45 inches in the driver.

Swinging the 2024 Ventus Blue gave a somewhat familiar smooth feeling of the shaft loading and kicking at impact that I remember from the original Blue. I did notice that the shaft does feel a little tighter and more stable with my quicker tempo swing. For me, the quick swings that I would normally hit low heel seemed to be a little closer to center and produce a straighter shot. While Fujikura shows the bend profile on the 2024 Ventus to be the same as the 2019 model, it does feel just a touch stiffer to me.

Ball flight is very similar, and I noticed just a few differences between the 2024 and 2019 models. For me, the new Ventus Blue launched about one degree higher and produced about one mph more ball speed. Spin was basically identical and the new Ventus seemed to offer me a slightly straighter starting line with a touch less draw on my poor swings. For me, the big toe hook is a scary shot and the first one of those actually produced a medium sized draw that stayed in the rough, where usually I am in the trees.

Overall,  the new 2024 Ventus Blue is a great evolution from a shaft that will go down as one of the most iconic of all time. Players will like the added stability and ball speed while keeping the similar feel and launch conditions of the original shaft.