50 Words or Less
The Fujikura PRO Black shaft is a low launch, low spin shaft. Much more active than most low/low shafts. Not as stiff or low spin as Ventus, which is not necessarily a bad thing.
Introduction
The Ventus Black [review HERE] is a favorite on Tour, but it’s one of the more extreme shafts on the market. It’s very stable with low launch and spin. It does exactly what it’s designed to do, but it can be intimidating. The Fujikura PRO Black is the more approachable low/low shaft, meant for the player who wants to see a stronger ball flight but doesn’t want a shaft that demands 110% effort on every swing.
Looks
Like the Ventus, the Fujikura PRO Black shaft leans heavily on a medium-sized graphic to give it visual interest. A spiraling geometric design is unique, but the black color keeps it low key. “PRO” branding sits at the middle of the shaft next to “Fujikura” and the shaft’s specs, all in black, also.
The base color of the shaft is silver with a light sparkle that looks great in the sun. There are no graphics or logos on the lower third, so you won’t be distracted at address. You can’t get a true “logo down” installation, but the underside of the shaft (above and below) is less busy than the top.
Feel
If you want low launch and low spin, but don’t like the feel of typical low/low shafts, the Fujikura PRO Black may be perfect for you. On feel alone, I would never have pegged this as a low/low shaft. There’s a substantial kick just below the grip. Most low/low shafts are softer in the handle than the tip, but the PRO Black has a genuine kick, not just a comparative softness. The middle and tip of the shaft feel relatively stiffer but not as stout as shafts like the Ventus Black.
Per Fujikura, the PRO Black is stiff in the butt, firm in the middle, and stiff in the tip. This contrasts with the PRO Blue which is firm, medium, and stiff, respectively [PRO Blue review HERE].
Performance
The Fujikura PRO Black is a great choice for players who want a low launch, low spin shaft but don’t want to swing a chunk of rebar. This is low/low with the rough edges sanded off; stable but not exclusively for those who carry is 300+.
In my testing, I saw the PRO Black produce a strong, boring ball flight. It launched on the lower end of my normal window and was largely unaffected by the strong falls winds here in Chicago. If you need the lowest possible spin, you’ll probably find it in the Ventus line, but the PRO Black should be low enough for many players.
Looking at dispersion, the Fujikura PRO Black felt stable on mishits and did a good job keeping the ball where it belongs. As a player who fights a hook, the PRO Black was a good fit, but it provided more flexibility than the extreme low/low shafts. Some ultra stiff shafts take away my ability to hit a soft draw as the price for preventing the hook. The PRO Black was more moderate in both regards.
As I noted in my review of the PRO Blue, the Fujikura PRO Black may be a faster option for many golfers, just like the Pro 2.0 [review HERE] before it. With many stiffer shafts, you feel that you need to do all the work, often resulting in overswinging and reduced speed. The PRO Black takes some of the burden off, allowing a freer, faster swing.
The Fujikura PRO Black is available in three weight classes: 60, 70, and 80 grams. There are stiff and X-flex versions of the 60 and 70 gram model. The 80 gram PRO Black is only available in X-flex.
Conclusion
The Fujikura PRO Black is a great shaft because it’s a friendlier low launch, low spin option. For players that need some spin reduction but don’t want to give up a smooth, active feel, it’s something they should definitely try during their next driver fitting.
Visit Fujikura HERE
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
- Wilson DYNAPWR Carbon Driver Review - February 19, 2025
- SuperSpeed Speed Sticks Pro Review - February 18, 2025
- PING G440 MAX Driver Review - February 17, 2025
2 Comments
Have you tried the Motore X F1 ? According to Fujikura’s website the specs are nearly identical and MSRP is the same. I’m looking at the 80X for a fairway and the Pro Black is 3.5 grams lighter with the same torque but 5 points less on the tip flex. But interestingly the pro black EI profile on their website says it’s a firm mid section whereas the Motore X F1 says stiff. So maybe the Pro Black is supposed to be smoother with a stiffer tip?
Laban,
We have a review of the Motore X here: https://pluggedingolf.com/fujikura-motore-x-shaft-review/
-Matt