Introduction
A new era in MyGolfSpy shaft reviews begins today! No more apples to oranges comparisons!
(Written By: GolfSpy Matt) Today we are going to review an entire line of shafts to break down the key differences between the various models so that you can make an informed decision about which one might be best for your game (not that you’d ever buy equipment without being fitted, of course). The first shaft line to be tested under these new protocols is the Motore Speeder line by Fujikura.
The Motore Speeder represents the pinnacle of Fujikura’s technological prowess. Among the technologies present in the Motore Speeder are 7-Axis Technology, Quadra Axis composite and Triax Woven composite. That’s 14 total axes! What does that mean? I have no idea! I do know that Fujikura claims that these shafts deliver unparalleled distance and accuracy. Sounds damned good to me, let’s find out if they deliver…
Feel, Price, and Miscellaneous Notes
The Motore Speeder line is laid out fairly logically: the first number represents the weight (6._ would be a 60 gram shaft, 7._ would be a 70 gram), and the second number represents the profile. The .0 shafts are the highest launching, highest spinning, the .1’s are the middle, and the .2’s are the lowest. The .2 Tour Spec is the lowest of all with the Tour Spec .3 being a little higher. At least that’s the theory.
You can find Motore Speeder shafts to fit any flex from R2 (senior flex) to X-flex and in weights from 55 grams to 74 grams.
Ok, enough technical stuff, let’s move on to something inconsequential: the looks. All of the Motore Speeder shafts share a common graphic on the top that I can best describe as flaming geometry. From there, the pattern dissipates through the “Motore Speeder” logo into a solid color. In the case of the Tour Spec models, the lower portion of the shaft is pearl white, which contrasts with the red or blue top. For me, the looks hit a nice sweet spot between garish and boring. I’m particularly fond of the blue 6.1 shaft, but, if you’ve seen my bag, you already knew that. I also think the Tour Spec shafts would look filthy good in a white head…not that they look bad in my RAZR Fit by any means.
Finally, something highly consequential but highly subjective: feel. The bookends of the series, the 6.0 and the Tour Spec 6.2, have very distinct feels. The 6.0 has a distinct kick, but, to my taste, it’s a little too loose in the tip section. The Tour Spec 6.2, on the other hand, can verge on being boardy. It’s definitely the type of shaft that allows you to swing out of your shoes without fear. Whether or not that’s a good thing…that’s up to you. The other models all fit somewhere in the middle: a little bit of kick and a little bit of torque. The 6.1 is a bit softer, and the 6.2 and Tour Spec 6.3 are nearly equal.
Fujikura’s Motore Speeder shafts have an MSRP of $300, $400 for the Tour Spec models, and can be purchased through most high end club fitters.
Performance
For the Performance testing, I hit each of the shafts in a Callaway RAZR Fit 10.5 head on a FlightScope X2 launch monitor. Since these shots were all hit outdoors with FlightScope, there is no longer a need to divide performance into Launch Monitor and Real World: these are real world results measured by the best launch monitor technology. I hit 10 “good” shots with each shaft, changing frequently so that fatigue was not an issue, nor did I get grooved with one shaft to the detriment of fairness. I went through this process three times and averaged the sets of data.
TEST RESULTS
ANALYSIS
The testing played out very similarly to what I expected, with the stiffer, lower torque shafts offering more accuracy for me. My club path is (overly) right, so a shaft with too much torque can lead to a closed face and “FORE LEFT!” or, in reaction to that, a big block to the right. The lower torque shafts allowed me to swing more naturally without fear of the lefts. Players who have club paths that tend to be to the left might prefer the higher torque shafts since it should help them square or close the club face.
One thing that I found interesting was the similarity in the carry distance across the different shafts. From highest to lowest, there was a variation of almost 1,000 RPMs of spin and 2.6* of launch angle, but the carry distances only varied 8 yards. The big differences showed up in total distance: 21 yards between the longest and the shortest, primarily due to getting more roll from lower spin.
It should also be noted that the launch and spin numbers came out pretty close to the way the spec sheet would have predicted. The one small anomaly was that I spun the 6.1 lower than the 6.2, but I could attribute that to the fact that I put some of my best swings on the 6.1 (I think it was the color).
Overall, my takeaway is that, at least for this line up, I could probably get decent distance numbers from any of these shafts due to the fact that I tend to be fairly low spin. The biggest difference was accuracy: when I found a shaft that I felt like I could swing freely, my shots ended up much closer to the center line.
Conclusion
With the Motore Speeder, Fujikura has created a family of shafts that can fit almost any swing. I like this because you don’t have to be a 300 yard driving machine to take advantage of Fujikura’s best technology (14 axes! Can’t get enough axes!). Regardless of the profile that fits you best, the consistency that you get from swing to swing is excellent. But don’t take it from me: go to your favorite club fitter and test them for yourself. Then you can decide is Fujikura is right when they say, “The ultimate value is performance.”
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Steve
9 years ago
I picked up a used Tour Edge CB# 3-wood with a Fukijura Motore shaft in it – X flex. What are the specs on this shaft. It says 80 over the flex but most charts I’ve found do not show this model having an 80 gram shaft. Its pretty stiff for me. Wondering about torque, bend point, etc. Help?