What We Tried
AXIOM. A premium graphite iron shaft from Fujikura.
Your Fujikura AXIOM Tester
Tony Covey. MyGolfSpy Editorial Director, gear junkie, occasional sufferer of tennis elbow and a religious believer within the potential of graphite shafts for each membership within the bag.
The Requisite Background
As a man who routinely suits into iron shafts with a nominal weight of 120 grams or extra, I’m continuously looking out for severe graphite shaft choices in my weight class. And whereas they’re admittedly few and much between, expertise with merchandise like UST Recoil and Mitsubishi’s MMT has given me hope for a high-performance, vibration-reduced future on the hyperlinks (and in an indoor golf league).
Whereas they’ve by no means generated the excitement of Ventus, Fujikura has provided graphite iron shafts for so long as I’ve been within the business. For all of the noise from guys in my swing pace demographic (and above) about not having any viable graphite choices, choices of 115 grams and extra have been a continuing a part of the Fujikura catalog.
About Fujikura AXIOM Graphite Iron Shafts
AXIOM is Fujikura’s newest graphite iron shaft providing. It’s the primary iron shaft from Fujikura to function the VeloCore expertise that makes a real-deal (that’s for you, JB) Ventus a Ventus.
It’s admittedly a little bit of an odd providing in that Fujikura elected to forgo a taper-tip design in favor of three discrete size (lengthy, center and quick irons) parallel-tip choices.
AXIOM is offered in three weights (75, 105 and 125 grams) with a number of flexes provided at every weight besides 125 (X solely).
In keeping with Fujikura, AXIOM shafts “ship final consistency, stability and unmatched workability to present golfers excessive confidence with each swing.”
The Setup
My Fujikura AXIOM shafts (125x) had been put in in PXG 0317 T heads. I performed the 0311 GEN5 T all final season (and completely beloved it) so I used to be anxious to attempt the up to date mannequin. Since PXG heads are among the many few non-game-improvement/tremendous game-improvement designs that may settle for a parallel-tip shaft with out sanding the tip or boring the pinnacle, it appeared like a super pairing.
To provide me a greater alternative to isolate the contribution of the shaft in efficiency, PXG additionally despatched me an in any other case identically spec’ed 0317 T 7-iron with my gamer shaft (Nippon Professional Modus 120x) put in.
As a part of this assessment, I attempted the Fujikura AXIOMs on-course earlier than bringing them inside to gather a bit of knowledge with a Titleist Professional V1x and my Foresight GC Quad launch monitor.
On-Course with AXIOM
By way of ball flight, nothing specifically stood out with the AXIOM. Anecdotally, the trajectory was just like what I had skilled with the prior era of PXG T irons with my Nippon shafts. Properly-struck photographs hit the quantity and flew (roughly) how I’d count on them to.
I didn’t obtain ball-striking perfection.
The obvious space of distinction with my avid gamers was within the nebulous space of really feel. What I observed instantly was that the Fujikura AXIOM shaft felt heavier and fairly a bit stiffer. A more in-depth have a look at the specs offers a wise rationalization.
The AXIOM 125 X is nearer to 130 grams, making it roughly 12 grams heavier than the Modus. Extra knowledge from the Cool Golf equipment S3 shaft-fitting database reveals the AXIOM to be considerably stiffer within the mid and tip sections.
With that, I might have anticipated AXIOM to provide an appreciably completely different ball flight. Extra on that beneath.
Transferring from static really feel to the dynamic stuff (whenever you really hit a golf ball), a few issues caught my consideration.
First, hitting the AXIOM off mats on a chilly morning (48F once I arrived on the course), I instantly appreciated the vibration discount properties of graphite. Should you’ve ever thinned one on a chilly morning (or been struck by lightning), what I’m speaking about.
That’s undoubtedly a “professional.”
Second, and this would possibly go within the “con” column for a few of you, is the truth that to no small extent, vibration is really feel and, whereas decreasing vibration will scale back unhealthy feels, it may well additionally masks your misses.
Working example: I had about 130 in on my strategy on the fifteenth gap at Saratoga Nationwide. I hit a pitching wedge and felt like I flushed it. Actually, it seemed good within the air … till it landed 15 yards in need of the inexperienced.
WTF?
Did I miss some wind?
Perhaps a contact however what I actually missed (practically, anyway) was the a part of the face with grooves on it. Influence was method out on the toe and, whereas that’s usually the form of factor I’m totally conscious of with my gamer shaft, if not for the ball mark on the face, I might by no means have recognized.
So, yeah, there’s a little bit of a tradeoff right here. Don’t get me unsuitable. Pured photographs nonetheless gave me all of the pleased feels however mishits definitely aren’t as apparent.
On the upside, for these of you enjoying irons with completely trash really feel, AXIOM will make enjoying them a bit extra nice.
Frankly, I’m tremendous with all of this as a result of, right now of yr, morning tee occasions begin beneath 50 levels (typically beneath 40) and, as we transfer into the winter months, I think vibration discount goes to be useful for these of us who hit loads of balls off mats as nicely.
The Information
Gathering the information on the Fujikura AXIOM graphite iron shaft was fascinating.
It’s essential to know that I’m completely dialed in with the Modus 120x. My final three PXG fittings, my final two Titleist fittings and an iron becoming I did with TaylorMade final December all landed on Modus 120x.
There’s little doubt that it’s the correct iron shaft for me.
With that, I might count on it to be tough for any shaft (no matter what it’s comprised of) to outperform the Modus for me. As famous, the AXIOM is quantifiably heavier and stiffer within the butt and tip sections although it’s value mentioning there are some normal similarities within the EI profiles, notably a extra versatile mid-section paired with a stiffer tip part.
At a minimal, I might count on AXIOM to provide decrease launch, flight and spin.
As an alternative, the averages had been remarkably, maybe even oddly, related.
Ball Pace: .3 MPH distinction
Launch Angle: .2 levels distinction
Spin: 15 rpm distinction
Peak: .3 toes distinction
Descent Angle: .1 diploma distinction·
Carry Distance: .3 yards (principally 1 foot) distinction
All of these variations recommend there isn’t really a lot in the best way of variations.
That stated, a few different factors stand out within the knowledge.
I swung the Modus slightly below one mph quicker. We will most likely chalk that as much as the load distinction however, as I coated above, I didn’t get a lot in the best way of ball pace profit for the additional effort.
Taking a look at the usual deviations, AXIOM was extra constant, although solely only a bit, for a majority however not all the metrics.
Essentially the most considerable distinction was in dispersion space the place photographs hit with the AXIOM had been extra tightly grouped as a consequence of a narrower front-to-back distribution, albeit with a barely wider left-to-right sample.
In a becoming state of affairs, I will surely level out the tighter dispersion however every part else makes it a case the place I’d be inclined to ask the golfer what he feels extra comfy with.
The Takeaway
On one hand, it’s arduous to make a powerful argument (no less than for me) for AXIOM. I’ll take the vibration discount all day lengthy however the worth is roughly 3 times that of my beloved Modus for an almost indistinguishable efficiency profit.
Alternatively, I imagine within the potential of graphite each by way of efficiency and its potential to cut back the stress of influence. Whereas graphite iron shafts typically get pigeon-holed as being for senior golfers, it’s by no means too quickly to begin enthusiastic about longevity, particularly with indoor golf (extra mats) changing into extra widespread.
I’m technically out of fingers however, if I had a 3rd hand, I’m undecided how I might maintain a golf membership however, additionally, I’d think about the truth {that a} shaft I imagine is heavier and stiffer than I must be enjoying nonetheless matched the efficiency of my well-fit gamer.
Finally, that’s the rub right here. No matter what a shaft is comprised of, the profile nonetheless wants to suit and, whereas AXIOM isn’t wildly off, the 125x isn’t precisely best, both.
What if Fujikura AXIOM graphite iron shafts had been obtainable in a weight-and-flex mixture higher suited to my sport?
I really feel like there’s one thing there and I might wish to be first in line to seek out out.
Right here’s hoping Fujikura expands the lineup (and a taper tip providing can be good).
Fujikura AXIOM graphite iron shafts retail from $105 to $115 every. For extra data, go to FujikuraGolf.com.
