Does anyone have any information about this new Fujikura shaft series?

Ditto my post on the Tour AD MD... just announced... no info except low kick high launch.

How come the specs are so different between the Japan and US model Rombax Z?

That's a good question... I wonder if those US specs are right? 50 gram range shafts with 3.2* torque... pretty low. And those 7 and 8 series torques are even more LOW!! Very interesting.

If they are correct then they are very different shafts, even the kickpoints are different, as well target audience... according to Japan the Z is more for the smooth body swing:

(IMG:http://www.golfdigest.co.jp/special/0712fujikura/images/profile2_contents.gif)

I'm not sure the japanese specs are right. The 67 gram shaft in X is listed at almost 4.0 torque. A high kick tip stiff shaft with 4.0 torque, say hello to the next fairway over.

Not uncommon at all for Japanese spec shafts to have higher torque X Flexes. Axiv has an SX shaft that's over 4.5* torque and Roddio 6 series X flex which are 74g are also the same as the 67g Z at 3.8* (which is listed as a mid kick). Other brand X-Flex's like GD and even the Rombax X in the high 60g range are 3.5-3.7* torque as well.

Fujikura Japan has not listed the shafts yet strangely but they've already been in all the magazines and reviews as well as live video reviews with those "japanese specs".

Haha it'd be a shame if they were wrong! (^_^)

http://www.golfdigest.co.jp/special/0712fujikura/default.asp

http://www.golfdigest.co.jp/special/0801fujikura/

Actually correction fujikura Japan does have it listed here:

http://www.fujikurashaft.jp/rombax_z.html

Gocchin:


Do the shafts that you have listed have a firm tip? I would think it would be ok for a softer tipped Mid/High kick shaft to have more torque then a Z type shaft. The US specs are for the 67 Gram X are2.9 torque. The 74gram in X is 2.5Torque(seems very close to a Speeder 757, by the way). Hey, I only hit them. Physics was not my Forte.

Actually I quite agree with your thinking epsecially when it comes to the kickpoints and tip stiffness.

The US site does list the tip stiffness and yes it definitely is a tip stiff shaft according to the US specs but that is the opposite of what the Japanese descriptions say (though Fujikura Japan does not list the actual tip stiffness.) as they recommend the shaft for those players with more of a body turn and not those with wrist lag or wrist action....

Interesting... it is quite possible that there are two different shafts for different markets. I've sent Fujikura an email asking.

As for the torque of Japanese shafts. I've learnt over time to take them with a grain of salt. I don't pay as much attention to those torque numbers anymore as it seems that the high end shafts use such good materials and design that a higher torque number doesn't always translate into worse dispersion or less stability. I tend to pay more attention to the bend profile, kickpoint and how stiffness is distributed in a shaft and it's overall balance.

Take the Tour AD for EMB for example... on first impression everybody thinks this shaft must be out of control due to the high torque numbers however it's the complete opposite. It is in fact very very stable as those who have one have found out. Soft... maybe, but wet noodle and all over the place... NO! Very stable even with torque numbers like these: R = 7.3*, SR = 5.7* S = 5.7*....

I've been researching a lot about the design of shafts this year and it almost seems as if Japanese manufacturers stay away from torque that is too low on most occasions as that can transfer into boardy lack of feel... I guess it does make sense....

Shafts are hard to understand... that's why we have to try so many. (^_^)

I would be very interested to learn if there are two different shafts. I would also be willing to believe that higher torque shaft would be far more stable in a high MOI head like the EMB then a more traditional head. The hardest thing for me to do is keep the tempo nice and relaxed during a tournament. Someone who swings hard, and likes to work the ball may appreciate less torque than one who likes to smooth it. Unfortunately you are correct about our obsession with "shaft testing and on course research". It can be an expensive education.

Good info guys. Its looking more to me that they are 2 different shafts. i doubt a big name company would post wrong information about their products. Guess we'll just have to wait for gocchin to get a response back from fujikura. can anyone chime in on how the japan model plays? i'm looking at purchasing the 8z08 model.

I've demoed 5z08 in R and S on a G5 10.5 head and a TM CGB Max head and they definitely weren't 3.2 torque. The 5z08's I tried were US distribution shafts and I'm sure the US Fujikura site has incorrect specs. Someone should write to them about it. Its only hurting their marketing and sales. I doubt there are two types of the same shaft line.

I emailed Fujikura USA and received NO response at all. The Japanese specs for the Japanese Rombax Z are indeed correct but I have no idea about the US ones since they won't reply me.