Fujikura Introduces New Shafts for 2010

Superior Technology, Designs, Materials and Tour-Proven

(Vista, CA – January 21, 2010) Fujikura, the #1 Driver Shaft Brand in professional golf for the past nine years, is proud to introduce its next generation of performance shafts for the 2010 golf season.

The new shafts demonstrate Fujikura’s commitment to superior design, technology and materials as well as its collaboration with leading Tour professionals and the world’s premier clubmakers. The new line includes:

The Motore Speeder™ is supercharged with Fujikura Quadra Axis Composite™ and Triax Woven™ material creating our 7 Axis Technology™. This uniformity throughout the shaft helps eliminate deformation yet provides the maximum amount of feel through the entire swing, increasing overall performance and stability. The new Motore Speeder shaft won the first week it was launched on Tour at the Barclays Singapore Open.

The Motore F3 is a complimentary addition to the highly successful Tour proven Motore F1. The Motore Series features Fujikura’s proprietary and proven High Inertia Tip (H.I.T.) Technology which stores more energy during the downswing and releases the energy just before impact maintaining the shaft and club’s stability. The result is greater distance and accuracy in all clubs. Motore’s "smart" shaping of the tip enables these benefits while minimizing weight, allowing the tip end to accelerate faster than conventional tips.


The FitOn Max™ Series was designed with our proprietary Swing-Sync Design Technology. This design platform gives each shaft optimal flexural rigidity. Swing-Sync provides exceptional feedback to the player in order to immediately obtain the best control. FitOn Max comes in four different weight ranges to maximize speed for all player profiles and better fit all levels of golfers.

"This new line of shafts clearly demonstrates Fujikura's commitment to superior design, materials and technology," says Dave Schnider President/COO of Fujikura. "These shafts also reflect our successful collaboration with leading Tour professionals and club makers to produce the highest performing shafts in golf."

"Fujikura’s exceptional 2009 performance across all Tours, especially our ninth consecutive year being the #1 Driver Shaft Brand on the PGA Tour, gives us confidence that our new shaft introductions will help Fujikura grow and solidify our expanding leadership position," says Schnider.

Our R&D team has worked closely with our Tour team to develop the innovative Motore Speeder shaft and evolve the Motore F series," says Alex Dee, Fujikura’s Vice President of Engineering. "These truly revolutionary shafts continue to reinforce Fujikura’s superior technology and performance."

"We’re excited to have these new shafts on Tour. A number of players have been testing and started putting them into play already," says Pat McCoy, Fujikura's Tour Manager. "As Our Barclay’s win and ongoing Tour leadership indicates, Fujikura continues to be recognized as Tour’s highest performance shaft."

Building Momentum
Fujikura is building momentum entering the 2010 golf season having the #1 Wood Shaft Brand at the SBS Championship in Hawaii. Motore was the #1 Driver Shaft Brand for all four 2009 major championships and lead the Darrell Survey National Consumer Report on new driver shaft usages for the second consecutive year.

The Fujikura shafts will be introduced in January 2010 at the PGA Show. They will be available through Fujikura’s Charter Dealers across the United States and around the world beginning in February.

Fujikura is the primary supplier to many national brand OEM’s offering both proprietary and brand product shaft designs. Fujikura products also can be custom fitted through its network of over 900 Charter Dealers. To learn more about Fujikura, visit www.fujikuragolf.com.

Fujikura Takes Getting Fit For Shafts to Next Level

By John Torsiello, publinksgolfer.net

A simple question: Would you buy a high-priced sports car just because it looks good? Won't you also look under the hood and check out the engine? Of course you will. Well, why don't more golfers take the time to "look under the hoods" of those sleek, pricey new drivers that are constantly coming onto the market and consider what really makes the club work….the shaft? Fujikura, one of the leading shaft makers in the world and the number one metal wood shaft brand on the PGA Tour for eight years, is doing its best to inform the consumer on the vital importance of being fit for the right shaft in order to maximize on-course performance.


What PGA Tour pros and serious amateurs have known for so long average players are becoming aware of: The shaft is perhaps the single most important tool in optimizing the playing potential of any club. To that end, Fujikura early this year launched what it calls the Fujikura Fit-On Academy at its California facility. Golfers can schedule a visit to the Academy where they will be put through a comprehensive fitting experience that will produce a wealth of detailed information that will allow the participant to determine what shaft is right for his or her particular swing. If you can't make it to the Fit-On Academy don't worry.


Fujikura has developed an extensive list of custom clubmakers all over the country that have access to testing procedures and information direct from Fujikura via the Internet. When customers call or visit the Fit-On Academy at the company's website, www.fujikuragolf.com, he or she will receive a list of dealers in their area and contact information. Simply set up a meeting with the dealer and get fitted. "We used fitting technology from Japan and put a U.S. spin on it," said Fujikura president, David Schnider. "We developed our own software and opened the fitting center to educate our OEMs, sales, technical and customer service people how it all works. Then we set up an extensive network of clubmakers that are Fujikura dealers. We passed our information about clubfitting along to our dealers so they can use it effectively."

Those who choose to visit the Fit-On Academy in person enjoy a unique experience similar to that of a Tour pro who wants to refine his or her game, said Schnider. "There is so much information that we produce. The fitting takes about four hours--an hour just for the driver--and it's a true fitting experience. We aren't in the business of selling Fujikura shafts. Rather we give our customers information and recommendations and they can choose to use it as they see fit. They can buy through an OEM dealer or visit a clubmaker, who will look at the numbers and perhaps tweak things a bit and make his own recommendations."


Well known and appreciated by Tour players for years, Fujikura has in recent years made a determined effort to get quality shafts into the hands of players of all levels. "We have always started at the top of the pyramid of influence with PGA Tour players," said Schnider. "We have a Tour Series line of shafts that are a little more expensive and made with high grade materials that are for the stronger players. We launched a line that we call the Essential Series that has shafts ranging from a shaft for women and a player with a slow swing speed right on up to professional players. I think we have increased awareness of the importance of the shaft, and we believe the average player can benefit greatly from geeing fit properly." He added, "The average golfer sees a new driver on a television commercial and thinks that's the one for him. He buys it off the shelf and hits it pretty well. But he may not be maximizing his performance because he might not have the proper shaft for his swing.


It's amazing when people come to the Fit-On Academy. We haven't had anyone who hasn't had better ball performance by going through the fitting lab. On an average, people are getting 15 to 20 yards more distance with a driver." Think of buying a golf club as you would a new suit, said Schnider. "You can go in and buy something off the rack and look pretty good. Or you can have your exact measurements taken and then have something custom made. You are going to look 100 percent better and feel better about the suit having it custom made." Schnider said feedback from those who have visited the Fit-On Academy or the network of Fujikura clubmakers and dealers has been "absolutely tremendous. "Usually, people follow up if they have had a bad experience and sometimes no news is good news. But in this instance we have had an overwhelming number of people call back and say "Wow, this really works for me.'" While perhaps not as unique as a visit to the Fit-On Academy, Schnider said getting fit at one of the clubmakers in the Fujikura system is a detailed process. "Don't worry if you can't come out to California. We have people at Fujikura talking to our dealers every day helping them understand how our fitting works.

The dealers have access to an online calculator and they are plugging the same numbers in and coming up with recommendations on shafts. Maybe they have their own techniques, but you are getting a similar fitting." Schnider believes golfers are taking heed and finally grasping the importance of the shaft when it comes to the overall performance of a club, whether it is the driver or a set of irons. "The young guys really get it and they are always switching shafts and experimenting. We have aimed some of our focus on the plus-35-year-old golfer, the weekend players who may be 15 handicappers but want to improve their games. Those are the people that our Essential Series can help and the word is getting out. You don't have to be a Tour player to benefit from technology and that's especially true when it comes to the shaft." For more information about Fujikura and the Fit-On Academy visit the Fujikura Golf Shafts website.

To buy Fujikura golf shafts in Asia contact www.golfshaftsasia.com

An Inside Look at Fujikura's Fit-On Academy

From Golfwrx.com
By Apryl DeLancey, on September 23rd, 2008

The Fujikura Fit-On Academy gives the everyday golfer a fitting experience that is fit for a pro. Using proprietary software, Fujikura compiles measurements of every club and all aspects of a swing in order to recommend the perfect shaft. The Academy is headed by Pat McCoy, a PGA of America member with years of experience fitting tour pros. McCoy and his staff find the "unique, one-of-a-kind thumbprint for a swing" that every golfer has.

Depending on the fitting package chosen, your experience can include a tour of the R&D Facility. During this time, you may hear something like when we visited McCoy and his intern Marshall Thompson:

"We at Fujikura needed a place where we could quickly test shafts and evaluate product quickly and easily for all of our customers and tour professionals. We test inside with Trackman and have an additional facility where we can test performance outdoors. Ultimately we also wanted to be able to bring in the consumer to see how we fit tour professionals and give them the experience and information to improve their game. We have many different heads to try out, nearly every one on the market and just about every golf ball so that we can fit any golfer. The common denominator with all of that is, of course, the shaft. We can fit for so many different swings with so many different shafts and wanted to show the customer that differences in shaft, loft, lie, weight, etc. can make a difference in their game. For example, one manufacturer with several head models enables us to offer 987 different fitting combinations.

We have a proprietary software program that we are able to put in all of a player's information and have access to it everywhere we travel. In addition, the software is able to help other fitters with finding a player's ideal fit since there are so many possible combinations."

Part of the experience of the Fujikura Fit-On Academy is a complete measurement of your current bag. At this point, the loft, lie, etc. are carefully measured and recorded. A golfer will learn whether there is the right amount of loft between irons, both numerically and with graphical representation among other things (like lie and face angle).

McCoy went on to explain the engineering processes and machinery in a tour of the facility, which included a sneak peek at some soon-to-be released technology and a bit of the Facility's history:

"The EI Machine is a new prototype that Fujikura will be selling to the industry in the future. This can measure the EI or flex curvature of a shaft in less than 2 minutes and can even measure an assembled golf club. Basically the shaft is measured by how well it retains it's flex throughout when it is deflected. The machine bends the shaft and measures the entire length via laser and records the outside diameter and inside diameter while it is being flexed. It is a unique technology to the industry due to the speed and the fact that it can measure an entire club. In the past it would take over 10 minutes to measure a shaft and you could never measure an entire club.

We also have a fatigue machine that OEMs have purchased from us. What we do with this is bend the shaft while it is turning. This finds out where the shaft might fail. The machine goes up and down the shaft while it spins in tension. We run a computer program with this that tells us where the shaft failed and how long it took to fail. For example, the program will apply a certain amount of pressure for a specific time period, say two days, and tell us when that shaft failed. This machine will be a Fujikura-branded machine that will be manufactured and sold in the future.

When I first started eight years ago, Fujikura had a manufacturing facility with a staff of about 400 employees here in Vista, CA. Because of rising costs, we shut our facility down. In order to still support the major golf club manufacturers with top quality designs, we opened the Fujikura R&D facility. This facility has the same machinery and production capability of our factories overseas but at a much smaller scale. This has enabled Fujikura to design rapid prototype shafts and then easily transition these designs to our overseas facilities for mass production. The Fit-On Academy was created to use this prototyping capability to test and help design new and improved shafts designs for all level of players."

The Making of A Shaft
McCoy takes us through the making of a shaft: "What makes our shafts as good as they are is the material that we have in the shafts. One material is the TRIAX which is in our Speeder, the go-to shaft. Triax enables the shaft to return to its straight shape more quickly than conventional graphite shafts. It almost acts like a spring or a whip through the hitting area for increased clubhead speed. We have several other materials that are patented that only Fujikura uses in the golf shaft industry. Depending upon whether we are putting together the Speeder, Rombax, or next generation shaft s, all our shafts use the highest technology materials in the shaft industry." During this time one sees the different sheets of the materials that will eventually become the shaft. The components are cut into the constituent parts and carefully layered. McCoy explains that there can be from about 5 plies of material up to 15 depending on the weight and flex of the shaft. The overall goal is always to make the shaft as round, or circular, as possible. The engineers at the facility have taken out all matter of chance in making the shafts as all specs are pre-determined. This means that it is known how each shaft will turn out (tip and butt flex, EI, weight, torque) before it is even made. There are machines that cut all of the materials and rolling presses in order to keep the integrity of the measurements, leaving nothing to chance. This makes reproducible, predictable results of a high quality. The process includes checkpoints that assure the quality of the shafts before they are cured. After shafts are cured they are meticulously examined for any flaws. The flex is checked digitally after the process is complete. There are machines that check the flex of the shafts with weights that some of the OEMs use to also check the specs in a more old-fashioned method. There is no "standard" for the shaft industry – most manufacturers have their own set of measurements that they consider to be ideal. In addition, measurements are not always taken from the same part of the shaft, further differentiating specs between different manufacturers.

The Fitting
Fujikura did not want to be in the dark about any club and wanted to be the source for knowing everything about a club. The first thing that happens with all of the products used in the fittings is meticulous measurements. When you see the drawers full of heads and other club pieces, each has a sticker that tells exactly what its measurements are (loft, lie, bulge, roll, etc.). They know everything about a club before putting it into a golfer's hands. Everyone knows that a club that says 8.5 is not always an 8.5, after all. This is the case for the heads as well as the shafts (length, weight, etc.). In fact, Fujikura teaches other fitters to have different lengths, kickpoints, and other metrics in order to have more options to do a proper fitting. Indeed, the Fit-On Academy is quite thorough.

Trackman, the software, the screen…it's all there…your measurements are meticulously recorded. Your clubs, your swing, everything. You don't realize just how thorough your fitting was until about a week later. There you are, still euphoric over the entire experience when you check your mail. In your mailbox is a large manila envelope from Pat McCoy and his staff. You open it to find a folder with measurements of your club (or entire bag, depending on which fitting you opt for). The club, head, shaft, grip, loft, lie, and length are all recorded in a table. Next, if you have your entire bag measured will be graphs of length, loft, lie, swing weight, and weight. This is to show any gaps in your current system. Finally, a recommendation page with specs for what you have been fitted for. In addition, for each club that you are fitted for will be shot-by-shot Trackman details with averages, a graph of dispersion, and a trajectory graph are included. You'll find these for both your club and the recommended club. Finally, a DVD (if included in your fitting package) shows your swing and includes lines for you to see your swing plane. When you come back down to Earth, you'll realize that you have extremely valuable information that can only serve to improve your game. Now, you must act on it.

A Word From The President
Newly-minted President of Fujikura, Dave Schnider, has been with the company for nine years and at his current post since April 2008. Prior to his tenure with the company he was with Grafalloy, True Temper, and a college golfer at San Diego State University. We found out from Schnider that the Fit-On Academy is a big part of Fujikura's plan here in the States. The company has done fittings in Japan for nearly ten years and they have more recently made this available to the US market. The company has learned so much about fitting from Japan and tour pro fittings that they now offer the everyday golfer this exceptional experience to improve their game. Being tied in to the R&D facility also gives them the ability stay in touch with all golfers' needs. Fitting remains a top priority for the company.

The new shaft line – the ATL, or Academy Tour Limited – will soon be available. This line is designed for the PGA Tour and better players out there. In fact, the shafts will first be seen on Tour in late November/early December. Even so, the company is interested in being accessible to all golfers. The Fit-On Academy is to give the rest of us that Tour fitting experience that used to only be available to the pros. "The Tour player gets such a benefit from being properly fit. We wanted to bring this to more golfers", says Schneider. The future of shafts at Fujikura will expand to fit mid-handicap and more players. Essentially, the E Series will already suit a large majority of golfers.

And By The Way
Everyone we met at the facility is an exceptional golfer in their own right. McCoy claims that he's "not that great at only about a 4 or 5 handicap", intern Thompson is a scratch golfer, and Schneider is a +2.

Fujikura Builds Momentum Entering 2010 Golf Season

2010 Recap for Fujikura
On January 05, 2010 - By Brandon de la Cruz

(Vista, CA – January 5, 2010) Fujikura is building momentum entering the 2010 golf season based on these 2009 accomplishments:

* #1 Driver Shaft Brand on the PGA Tour for nine straight years.
* Leading the Darrell Survey National Consumer Report on new driver shaft usages for the second consecutive year.
* Motore was the #1 Driver Shaft Brand for all four major championships.
* The new Motore Speeder shaft won the first week it was launched on Tour at the Barclays Singapore Open.

"These accomplishments build great momentum for Fujikura entering 2010, and continue to demonstrate the superior design, technology and materials of our shafts. The new Motore Speeder winning the first week it was launched on Tour was especially impressive and encouraging for the coming season," says David Schnider, President/COO of Fujikura.

"As always, we're proud of our strong partnerships with OEM partners that allow us to create and produce superior performance products. Fujikura is also excited to introduce new innovative shafts and fitting technology at the upcoming PGA Show," says Schnider.

Fujikura is the primary supplier to many national brand OEM's offering both proprietary and brand product shaft designs. Fujikura products also can be custom fitted through its network of over 900 Charter Dealers. To learn more about Fujikura, visit www.fujikuragolf.com or to purchase Fujikura Golf Shafts throughout Asia visit www.golfshaftsasia.com

Fujikura Golf, Vicon and Bentley 3 form strategic partnership

VISTA, Calif. -- Fujikura Golf has formed a strategic partnership with Academy-Award winning motion tracking systems company Vicon Motion Systems and accomplished biomechanical sports performance company Bentley 3 to produce breakthrough and proprietary 3D golf clubfitting technologies to be introduced at the upcoming PGA Show in Orlando, January 28-30.

" Vicon and Bentley 3's technologies and expertise will allow Fujikura to take custom fitting and golf shaft design to a level that has never been seen before," David Schnider, President and COO of Fujikura. "This breakthrough technology will be a game changer in improving the performance of golfers of all skill levels."

"With their established success in golf industry and experts in fitting technologies, Fujikura and Bentley are exceptional partners to introduce Vicon's 3-D motion capture technology to the golf industry, says Douglas Reinke, CEO and President of Vicon. "We're excited to join these innovators in bringing Vicon's leading technology and innovations to a new and important market for our company."
"Leveraging Vicon technology and Fujikura shaft and fitting technologies, Bentley can provide proven swing and fitting solutions to golfers and PGA professionals to help them improve their performance and avoid injuries," says Michael Bentley, President of Bentley 3. "These partners perfectly match our competencies and experience in creating golf specific training and performance enhancement technologies."

Fujikura is the primary supplier to many national brand OEM's offering both proprietary and brand product shaft designs. Fujikura products also can be custom fitted through its network of over 900 Charter Dealers. To learn more about Fujikura, visit www.fujikuragolf.com.

Academy Award®-winning Vicon is the world's preeminent developer of precision technologies and software focusing on human movement analysis combined with CG imaging. For over 25 years, Vicon has provided innovative solutions for customers in Biomechanics, Sports Performance and Engineering as well as the Film, Visual Effects and Games markets. F0r more information, visit www.vicon.com

Bentley 3 LLC, headquartered in Encinitas, CA, is a company which specializes in developing and designing technology and educational training programs to enhance biomechanical performance and sports specific skills. B3's initial focus on golf has revolutionized the swing through the first complete motion capture and analysis system. Visit www.bentleythree.com for more information.

This strategic partnership will introduce its innovative clubfitting technologies at room 205A at the PGA Merchandise Show January 28-3o. The room will be open for media and customer demonstrations of the new technologies.

Fujikura Tour Platform Golf Shafts

Fujikura is a company that has traditionally made products that appeal to the highest level of players. The Tour Platform, though appropriate for more accomplished golfers, is designed with a more flexible tip section than many other high-performance models, making it an easier, more forgiving shaft to hit for the average golfer.


The mid-torque, mid-bend attributes of the Tour Platform, as well as the extremely high-quality materials from which it's made, make it a perfect choice for the serious player who needs some extra help achieving the desired high-launch, low-spin shot characteristics of exra-long drives.

Like all Fujikura products, the Tour Platform is made with only the highest-quality materials, which not only increases overall performance, but creates superior consistent from shaft to shaft. As a result, any golfer who invests in a Fujikura product can feel confident that he or she is getting a shaft that will perform the same as any other in the same Fujikura family. In addition, all Fujikura shafts are made with state-of-the-art production methods that further ensure the quality and consistency of the company's products.

Courtesy golflink.com. To buy Fujikura golf shafts in Thailand and throughout Asia contact www.golfshaftsasia.com

Fujiukura Golf Shafts

Fujikura golf shafts are available to Asia's leading golf retailers at www.golfshaftasia.com. Have you tried equipping your golf clubs with graphite shaft and steel shafts yet neither of these are working for you? Are you in search of a different kind of Asian golf shaft, one that will give you the ultimate control and power over your shots? If you answered yes to both these questions then you should think about buying Fujikura Golf Shafts.

Fujikura is the biggest producer of graphite wood shafts in Asia. No mean feat since Fujikura only began producing golf shafts just thirty years ago. They are also number one when it comes to supplying wood golf shafts to the best professional golfers in the PGA Tour. And it’s not only the golfers who have fallen in love with this Asian golf shaft producer.


Leading golf club brands such as Callaway, Nike, Taylor Made and Cleveland all equip their golf club sets with Fujikura golf shafts. If these big names in the golfing industry use these shafts for their line of graphite shafted golf clubs, then the shafts must really be that good. There are dozens of different Fujikura golf shafts that you can choose from if you want to change shafts of your clubs.

Thee golf shafts from Golf Shafts Asia will give you unparalleled performance when it comes to shot control and power. Buy this shaft and you will see why graphite shafts are truly a much better choice than steel ones. Fujikura also offers golf shafts created specifically for women. Fujikura's Sakura shafts were designed, so you can keep the ball in the air for a longer period of time without the need to swing the club too powerfully.

If you are a woman golfer who wants to put even more power into your shots then the Sakura Sport golf shafts are right for you. The unique design of this golf shaft allows you to swing your club faster without having to add any more power on your part. This means you no longer have to suffer using heavy steel shafts or straining yourself using poor quality graphite shafts in order for you to reach your desired distance.

Fujikura is also the first golf shaft brand that sells its products in the aftermarket. This means that you can buy the shafts in pro shops all around the world instead of having them shipped from Japan. Make sure to test the different kinds of graphite golf shafts available before deciding on which one to buy.

Ask the golf shaft experts at Golf Shafts Asia if you can do a few practice swings for each club, so that you know which one to have your clubs equipped with. If you want to give yourself a significant advantage over the other golfers you play with then equip your clubs with Fujikura Golf Shaft from the leading distributor in Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore and Asia.