Fujikura Motore Speeder vs. Mitsubishi Bassara Griffin

[gocchin]

via our blog at golftoimpress.com

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I've been writing a lot about shafts lately and for good reason. There are just so many good shafts out there to choose from. Today Yamato dropped by and delivered the new Mitsubishi Bassara Griffin that we have been talking about on GTI as well as the highly touted Fujikura Motore Speeder. These two new summer 2009 releases could very well be the shafts of the year. Will these shafts live up to the hype?

While the Griffin was just officially released today to big fanfare in Japan, the Motore Speeder has been out now since late April. It was first previewed by us way back in February at the Japan Golf Fair at Tokyo Big Sight. Our initial impression back then was that the had a very nice kick and feel to it though we only had a chance to test it in the nets at the show. Talking with the Fujikura reps at the time they described the Motore Speeder as being a great feel shaft made for distance and most reviews out in Japan seem to have proclaimed the same positive feedback.

Fujikura claims that the Japan only Motore Speeder is the most advanced shaft they have ever made, featuring the world's first 7 PLY cross axis design. The Fujikura 7 Axis technology (a special 3 axis design layered with a special 4 axis weave) minimizes energy loss and creates a shaft with little to no rounding during flex. This creates great feel and kick as the shaft unloads with full force creating even more head speed for the golfer. Stability is placed at an equal importance to distance for the Motore Speeder and the shaft produces minimal twisting for accuracy in addition to distance. The Motore Speeder is designed for low spin, high ball speeds and mid to high launch for maximum carry and run out.

The Motore Speeder with its feel, gives the impression that it is softer than the Motore F1 which we confirmed that it slightly is. This however does not make it any less accurate because of its design and technology, this is one stable and tight shaft even with all its feel. Using a VC5.0 paired with a forgiving and easy head like my PRGR GN502, creates an automatic driver. Just swing and the Motore Speeder does its work to make sure the head meets the ball flush at impact. I found this to very much be a user friendly shaft with the VC5.0 providing a good kick with a mid to higher trajectory for max carry but still giving good run out. The VC5.0 and 4.0 are definitely the distance models in the Motore Speeder lineup, great shafts for higher handicappers or those slower swingers who want more distance. More advanced players or harder hitters should look to heavier weights and stiffer flexes of the Motore Speeder. If you look at the specs of the entire Motore Speeder lineup you will see that the bend profiles for each model become stiffer overall as weight increases.

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[Duffer19]

Hi T,

Do you have any CPM numbers on the two shafts you have been using? I understand that there are many factors such as head weight etc but CPM does give a good reference point for shaft stiffness. I know my stiffness comfort zone is 230 to 240 cpm @ 45" with a head weight of 200g with torque of 3.5 to 4.5.

[gocchin]

Hi T,

Do you have any CPM numbers on the two shafts you have been using? I understand that there are many factors such as head weight etc but CPM does give a good reference point for shaft stiffness. I know my stiffness comfort zone is 230 to 240 cpm @ 45" with a head weight of 200g with torque of 3.5 to 4.5.

R the clubs I was testing were demos and not my own.

I am waiting for my driver and Griffin now but I suspect the R will be around 230-235.