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The Fujikura ATMOS shafts allow you to choose your ball flight – high, medium, or low – while retaining similar smooth feel.
Introduction
A flighted series of shafts is nothing new – virtually every manufacturer offers high, medium, and low launching options. Where Fujikura has innovated with the ATMOS is in keeping the handle of each shaft the same to maintain a consistent feel throughout the line. I tested each of the new ATMOS shafts to see if this is the key to selecting your perfect launch conditions.
Looks
For the ATMOS series, Fujikura brought back their “Tour Spec white” as the base color of the shaft. The color of the shaft – red, blue, or black – is displayed in the amoeba-esque graphics near the grip and on the branding. Overall, ATMOS looks sharp without trying too hard or being distracting.
Feel
Fujikura delivered on the promise of a consistent feel across the ATMOS line. While there is a slight difference in the way the tip flexes across the three models, the torque is nearly the same and the butt of each shaft feels similar. Each of the three shafts produces a solid kick that reminds me a bit of the Fujikura Pro.
Performance
If you want the quick and dirty version, here it is: each of the ATMOS shafts does the job they’re designed for. The Black launches the lowest, the Red launches the highest, and the Blue is in the middle. If you want to get into the weeds of exactly how each performed for me, here we go.
My expectation heading into this testing was that the ATMOS Blue would be the best for me. While we all want to think we’re outliers, most of us live in the middle of the bell curve, and I’m no exception. In most lines of shafts, mid-launch is my jam. The ATMOS Blue did not disappoint: good swings got great results and mediocre swings weren’t punished too badly. It didn’t invite me to swing out of my shoes, but it held up well to a hard swing without going wide left.
The ATMOS Red was the shaft that most intrigued me based on the specs. I was curious to see if Fujikura could deliver a shaft that launched high without feeling noodle-y. By and large, they did. Though the ATMOS Red is the softest in the tip section, it’s miles from your typical whippy rain-bringer. You can see in the data that the launch and spin were higher for me, but not wildly so. This shows that the ATMOS line is ideal for good players who want to really dial in their numbers.
Despite my expectations, the ATMOS Black ended up being my favorite. The numbers are very similar to the Blue with spin and launch being slightly lower. What was more important to me was that it kept my wild swings a little straighter. Again, I love that the differences between these shafts are small and allow you to get exactly what you want.
The Fujikura ATMOS shafts are available in 60, 70, and 80 gram weights in stiff and X flex. The ATMOS Black is also available in Tour Stiff and Tour X in the 80 gram version.
Conclusion
For the good player seeking to dial in the exact launch conditions and feel that they want, the Fujikura ATMOS shafts are perfect. The differences in feel are subtle, allowing the golfer to optimize their numbers and get every bit of distance off the tee. If that sounds appealing to you, book an appointment with your local Fujikura fitter.
Fujikura ATMOS_0030
Fujikura ATMOS_0031
Fujikura ATMOS_0033
Fujikura ATMOS_0039
Fujikura ATMOS_0043
Fujikura ATMOS_0048
Fujikura ATMOS_0057
ATMOS Blue
ATMOS Black
ATMOS Red
Matt Saternus
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Matt what driver loft was used in your test?
Avery,
I use a PING G LS Tec 10.5* turned down to 9.9*.
Best,
Matt
What flex were you using?
X flex.
-Matt
Matt, thanks for the review. My driver swing speed is 102. I was just fitted by PXG for a new driver and my best results were with the Hazrdus Black in stiff on their prototype 9 degree driver. I purchased a Epic 3 wood today after hitting one for a couple of rounds……loved it……and want to try an Atmos shaft in it. Noticed you liked the X with 105 speed…..should I go for X or do the Stiff?
Mark,
I would recommend a fitting to get a definitive answer. 105 is a little slow for me, and I prefer a little too stiff to a little too soft, so that’s why I went X.
Best,
Matt
Matt,
Enjoy your reviews very much, can you compare Atmos to Evo3? Also out of both shafts which produced the better numbers?
Thanks
Dan
Dan,
The ATMOS has a more conventional feel, the EVO3 has a “whip crack” feel like I described in that review. I haven’t tested them head to head, so I can’t say which produces better numbers for me.
-Matt
Nice Review!
How did you find the blue vs hzrdus black and yellow?
Allan,
ATMOS is entirely different from HZRDUS Black or Yellow. Totally different feel.
Best,
Matt
I love your shaft reviews, keep up the great work.
Thanks!
Have finally upgraded fairway woods to M4 with R shaft flex. Have been playing Burner FWoods 8+ years old in S flex, no problem. Swing speed 86/90mph. Too flexible?
Ron,
Are the results good? There’s no standard for what speed should swing what flex, so if the results are good, play it.
Best,
Matt
Can you compare with tour ad tp-6 with atmos black?
Sc,
I have a review of the AD-TP here: https://pluggedingolf.com/graphite-designs-tour-ad-tp-shaft-review/
Best,
Matt
Are these the regular atmos shafts? I was looking at the atmos red ts was wondering how it compared to the project x HZRDUS red shaft?
Laban,
I have a review of the HZRDUS Red here: https://pluggedingolf.com/project-x-hzrdus-red-shaft-review/
Best,
Matt
Matt,
With your knowledge per Fuji Atmos and Graphite Design AD, I have a question for you!
So my current set up is a Graphite Design Tour AD GP 7TX (untipped) with a Taylormade SLDR tour head at 6.75 loft
I’m hitting it the best out of any driver set up am able to hit it high when needed. But when I raise the loft to 8 degrees, I overspin. I’m about to put an Atmos Black 6TX into play and hope that I’ll get the same performance or even better (low spin & high launch) so that I can hit a high ball at a higher head loft (8 perhaps) with lower side spin than what I’m probably getting out of the 6.75 loft with a 7TX Graphite Tour AD GP set up.
Does the Atmos black profile play stouter than a TX mid launch low spin profile of the Tour ad GP (or even Tour AD MT series)?
I don’t mean to put you on the spot here, but I’ve got no other leads in shafts that dramatically lower spin and perform like the Atmos.
Mason,
I haven’t tested the AD GP, but based on the specs, I would be surprised if the ATMOS Black was substantially lower spin. That said, the way that ATMOS Black works in your hands may be much lower spin than the AD GP. That’s the unpredictable human element.
Best,
Matt
I currently am gaming a Aldila Rogue Black 60g shaft in a 2016 TM M2 10.5 degree head. I just finished a driver fitting hoping for a better performing combination. My fitter said my 16.5 deg launch angle was too high for my 145 mph ball speed. He had me loft down to 9.5 deg w/ a M4 head and a Tensi CK white shaft. Numbers got better. Which Atmos shaft would compare?
John,
The Tensei White should feel most similar to the ATMOS Black.
Best,
Matt
Hey matt, gonna get my 25 yr old son a set of m4 irons for xmas but not sure about which shafts to get in them, he hits 5 iron with his old rac irons between 190 and 200 yards with a high flight 7 iron between 160 and 170 so what wud you suggest the standard kuro kage shafts or upgrade to atmos. Thanks Thomas
Thomas,
The best thing to do would be to get your son a fitting. I recommend Club Champion or True Spec. There’s no way for me to give a good recommendation without seeing him in person.
Best,
Matt
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Matt, I read a review you did of the Fubuki ZT a few years ago. I have the shaft in Callaway 815, and was pleased by how well you liked the club and how well it did for you (285 yards) at the time. I hit high drives, but thank God above, have hit some of my best drives the last 2 years, playing very little, with this club. Could you remember the ZT well enough to compare it to the Atmos? Considering getting the Atmos black in a 70 weight, whereas my ZT is a 60, is there much difference in these two shafts? Both seem to be low spin, I tend to have trouble staying in the correct fairway, which is probably me more than the club. Thanks, I always enjoy reading your reviews.
Mark,
Honestly, no, I don’t remember the ZT well enough to give you a good comparison. My standard advice applies: get fit, compare the new to your current, and see if it’s worth a change.
Best,
Matt
Thanks Matt, I would have liked to have made it to CC while they have their special, but i am not going to get there. Thanks again for the reviews, I do enjoy them.
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Matt, How do the Tensei Orange and Tour Ad IZ Compare to the Atmos Black? I had the opportunity to test both the Orange and AD IZ, on course. The IZ played stiffer and dispersion was a little tighter which I liked, Orange was surprisingly softer than I expected… if in a launch monitor the orange might have produced a little more ball speed. Either wouldn’t have been a bad choice. X flex in the orange would have played a little more to my liking.
Duane,
I have reviews of the AD IZ here: https://pluggedingolf.com/graphite-design-tour-ad-iz-shaft-review/
and the Tensei Orange here: https://pluggedingolf.com/mitsubishi-tensei-orange-shaft-review/
-Matt
Hi Matt. Probably a dumb question but I’ll ask anyway. I just ordered a TM M4-D 9.5* with regular Atmos Red shaft. Of course, I can lower or increase the loft of the TM by 2*. So, if I find the launch angle and spin rate too high, will lowering the loft reduce spin rates? I would normally use a still flex shaft but as I’ve aged, my swing speed has slowed a bit (probably 95 +/- now). Your thoughts? Thanks in advance!
Kim,
All else equal, yes, lowering the loft will decrease the spin. However, lowering the loft will open the face, which may affect your ability to square the face at impact which could actually cause the spin to go up.
Best,
Matt
I’m having trouble figuring out the difference between the shaft weights, what does the 40, 50, 60, or 70 numbers actually mean? Is it the stiffness of the shaft? Thanks
Steve,
The number relates to the weight.
Best,
Matt
Matt – What is the difference between the Atmos red 5R and the Atmos red 5R2? I am a senior player currently use a Ping G400 10.5 degree, Alta CB Senior flex 55 gram shaft with very good results. Smooth swing in the 85 mph range. Thanks. Duke of the North
R2 is a senior or lite flex.
Best,
Matt