Prior to the 2005 Tokyo Golf Fair I noticed many of the Japan OEM catalogs not mentioning or offering Fujikura shaft options in their woods.

Tourstage

Callaway

Titleist

Fourteen

Gauge Design

SYB

Royal Collection

Nike

and more...

Instead they offered Graphite Design and Diamana shaft options..

What happened to Fuji?

I put that question on a long list of questions for each OEM at the show, including Fujikura. The rep from Fuji America had no clue about it and the Japan Fuji guys didn't want to talk about it, with no answers from the horses mouth I had to ask each OEM.

to my surprise the majority of the OEMS were singing the same tune that went something like this:

Graphite Design is the #1 shaft in Japan

When asked why not offer Fujikura the question was deflected with Graphite Design and Diamana are the most popular shafts.

What is going on? Is this a boycott? every OEM interviewed had a very similar generic answer.

Interesting. They are probably too hard to do business with. Still diggin the 553 though.

Interesting.  They are probably too hard to do business with.  Still diggin the 553 though.

:wink: :whistle:

i wouldnt doubt it has somethin to do with price point. fuji prolly isnt goin low enough and other companies are takin advantage.

Indeed you don't see the OEMs offering Fuji options anymore. The new king of shafts is definitely Graphite Design. Having played a few of each brand, I would definitely rank the GD shafts higher in performance than the Fujis. I have played the W70, M65, M75 and I65 and in spite of varying torque and cpm ratings, all the GD shafts are lively yet tight. What else would you look for in a shaft?

The only Fuji I'd be curious to try at this point is the 764 but only if I come across someone playing one - not interested in buying it.

That is very interesting I could never get on with the M-75. It seems after speaking with Joe that fuji is more suited to my swing. I got a higher ball flight with the M-75.

That is very interesting I could never get on with the M-75. It seems after speaking with Joe that fuji is more suited to my swing. I got a higher ball flight with the M-75.

Untipped M75 does produce a higher ball flight. My M75 is installled in a F-ST+ tipped 1/2 inch.

thats crazy

Manufacturers are always pressing suppliers to lower the cost of raw materials. My guess would be that Fuji took a hard line and refused to meet the demands of the OEM's. When GD and Diamana agreed you see those being offered instead. Just a guess, but that's how it works in the 2 industries of my experience.

IMO fuji is tough to deal with, after testing drivers @the tm test facilities (about 4/6 months ago) in calsbad my tour reps had to jump through hoops to get me ZCom's. after i did some heavy emailing to chad embry after about a month tm finally got them for me, too bad all that work was for nothing, went with SIX's in my r7's & arent using fuji in my R5 dual TP's. i think its crazy that fiji gave TM (US) trouble after all they make all tm shafts, even exotics. they are a pain in the ass that nobody wants to deal with, especially if someones gonna dump $250+ on a shaft

Update.

Michael Beal (Director of global operations) has left Fujikura USA.

Why? who knows, just a little inside info that came down the grapevine.

Whatever the case is with Fuji, they gotta be feeling some hurt, The amount of sales lost due to the Japan OEMS not supporting them must be staggering.

Update.

Michael Beal (Director of global operations) has left Fujikura USA.

Why? who knows, just a little inside info that came down the grapevine.

Whatever the case is with Fuji, they gotta be feeling some hurt, The amount of sales lost due to the Japan OEMS not supporting them must be staggering.

Chris, I think they need to foster more support through the Internet channels too. I'm not sure if they realize exactly how much a guy like Joe Kwok, for example, really advances their cause in the United States and throughout the world through his efforts. It's not only results in direct sales, but enhances the entire channel. I'm not sure they get that. Joe K. is one of the most respected and talented clubmakers in the United States. He's like E.F. Hutton :laugh: ... When Joe says something positive about Fujikura, the world listens!

Fujikura has a big edge on Graphite Design, but they don't seem to take advantage of it. They need to use guys like Joe Kwok to show the incredible depth and selection that they have. No other shaft maker can touch that. Joe has vast knowledge about ALL of their shafts and is also a Master clubbuilder. When Joe talks about fitting the golfer to their characteristics it's important to Fujikura because they have a shaft for everyone.

Unfortunately, the typical Joe Blow golfer in the U.S. doesn't know about that. Joe K. does his part through 3 or 4 forums that I know about, to educate the masses so they don't think a Speeder means a 757. Fujikura needs to attack the market using guys like Joe to compete.

They don't understand the effect that he and a very few others like him have through the web.

Manufacturers are always pressing suppliers to lower the cost of raw materials. My guess would be that Fuji took a hard line and refused to meet the demands of the OEM's.  When GD and Diamana agreed you see those being offered instead.  Just a guess, but that's how it works in the 2 industries of my experience.

I think you are right shoe. I can't figure out why they don't think the market will support more of their line in the U.S.

They are arguably the best shaft brand out there no doubt but IMO its the management who ultimately fail the company.

They still have time to turn things around even though they squandered their huge lead over the other shaft OEMs.

Graphite Design is now #1 on the JPGA tour. Diamana's are big on the PGA, Axiv is HOT & seriously underrated and Fujikura needs something more than just a Tour Spec Rombax to regain its firm standing as the #1 shaft maker in the world.