Fujikura’s tweener shaft profiles get the VeloCore+ upgrade, rounding out the TR lineup with updated low- and mid/high-launch options.
When Fujikura launched the Ventus TR Blue VeloCore+ earlier this year, I noted that it was only a matter of time before Black and Red got the same treatment. That time is now. Fujikura is expanding the TR VeloCore+ lineup with updated versions of both the Ventus TR Black and Ventus TR Red, giving the rest of the TR family access to the same construction upgrades that made the TR Blue update worth paying attention to.
Will we see a TR White? Who knows? (I don’t.)
The TR concept (a quick refresher)
If you missed the TR Blue piece, here’s the short version. Ventus TR profiles sit between the models in the standard Ventus lineup. They’re tweener shafts—stiffer than their color-matched Ventus counterpart but not quite as extreme as the next step down the launch/spin ladder. Generally speaking, if you’re swinging hard enough to load a TR, you’re probably going to see lower launch and less spin than you would with the standard Ventus equivalent.
What’s new with VeloCore+ is the pairing of Fujikura’s Spread Tow material with the updated VeloCore+ construction. The promise is more stability, tighter dispersion and improved energy transfer without changing the launch and spin characteristics that define each profile. If you liked the original TR Black or TR Red, the VeloCore+ versions should feel familiar but perform better.
Ventus TR Black VeloCore+
The original Ventus TR Black was, to put it charitably, not for everyone. It slotted between the standard Ventus Black and a piece of rebar, making it one of the stiffest aftermarket driver shafts you could buy. Low launch, low spin and a tip section that did not suffer fools. If you had the speed to load it, it was a laser. If you didn’t, it was a ground ball.
Fujikura says the new version is more playable while still delivering what golfers expect from a Ventus Black profile. The TR Black VeloCore+ is stiffer in the mid section and very stiff in the tip and handle compared to the TR Blue, maintaining its low/low character for faster swing speeds. But the word is that the profile has been dialed back just enough to be less punishing without losing its identity.
That’s a welcome adjustment. A shaft can be low launch and low spin without being so niche that it only works for guys who hit it 180-plus on the ball speed gun. Making the TR Black more accessible without turning it into something it’s not is the right call.
Ventus TR Red VeloCore+
On the other end of the spectrum, the TR Red VeloCore+ is slightly softer in the mid and tip sections compared to the TR Blue, delivering a mid to high launch with additional spin. It’s designed for golfers who need help in both areas and it slots in between the standard Ventus Red and the Blue.
This is the one I’m curious about. I’ve been a TR Blue guy for a couple of years now—a happy one, for the record—but I’d be lying if I said I wasn’t at least a little Red-curious, especially in fairway woods where the higher flight and additional spin are often desirable. There’s a version of my game where TR Red in a fairway wood makes a lot of sense and I’m probably overdue to explore it.
As for Black? That ship has sailed. I used to be a Ventus Black guy. A proper one. Then age, injury and a general lack of fitness intervened and I devolved into a TR Blue guy. I’d like to think I could earn my way back but that would require getting off my ass and putting in work and, honestly, maybe I can just get one in senior flex.
The full TR VeloCore+ lineup
With all three profiles now updated, here’s how the TR VeloCore+ family lines up.
TR Red: Mid/high launch, higher spin. The friendliest TR option for golfers who need help getting the ball up and keeping it in the air.
TR Blue: Mid launch, low spin. The middle child. Stiffer in the tip than the standard Ventus Blue without being as demanding as the TR Black.
TR Black: Low launch, low spin. The stiffest option in the TR lineup, now reportedly more playable than its predecessor.
All three share the same VeloCore+ and Spread Tow construction so the differentiator is purely profile. Pick the profile that matches your swing and on-course objectives and let the construction do its job.
Pricing and availability
The Fujikura Ventus TR Black VeloCore+ and Ventus TR Red VeloCore+ will be available at retail beginning April 20 through authorized Fujikura Charter Dealers and select OEM custom programs.
MSRP is $350, consistent with the TR Blue and the rest of the Ventus VeloCore+ lineup. Both models are available in weights ranging from 50 to 90 grams and in regular through extra-stiff flex options for driver and fairway woods.
Fujikura doesn’t enforce MAP pricing so street price is at the dealer’s discretion. OEMs have some flexibility on upgrade pricing as well although with the need to maintain margins being what it is, expect most to command every penny.
For more information or to find a Charter Dealer near you, visit FujikuraGolf.com.
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