Rahm switched to Fujikura’s Ventus Black shaft before the US Open.
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Jon Rahm’s victory at LIV Chicago confirmed something we’ve known for a long time: the Spaniard is good at his craft. Even more so when he is healthy. After dealing with a foot ailment that forced him to skip the US Open, Rahm won two of the last three LIV events – with a runner-up showing in the middle – to claim his title and $22 million.
After Sunday’s win, Rahm was asked to identify what has changed following his withdrawal from the US Open. A foot injury would have been the obvious choice, but the 29-year-old took things the other way.
“[T]”There was a back and forth between Singapore and Houston when I changed that driver shaft to something that works a little better with my swing speed and makes me less compensating,” Rahm said. “It kind of feels better, it’s a natural swing, it’s easier for me to hit the fade, and that’s where I saw the biggest difference.
“From Nashville onward, my level of golf was a little bit higher, more relaxed, where I didn’t feel like I had to try too hard. At that moment, that’s when I felt that victory was almost at that moment and it was just a matter of time and I did it [LIV United Kingdom] it was unbelievable.”
Shaft products don’t often get the respect they deserve because they are often considered a secondary part of the overall structure. The head usually receives most of the fame of the technology packed inside. However, if you go back and look at Rahm’s history with the driver, you will see that the shaft was not changed before this year.
During his time at Arizona State, Rahm relied exclusively on Aldila’s Tour Green 75TX driver shaft. Even when he switched teams from TaylorMade to Callaway, in 2021, the Tour Green remained the one constant. Rahm didn’t even think about changing the shaft until earlier this year when he did a driver test with the Fujikura Ventus Black 7X shaft that confirmed it was the best option for his Callaway Paradym Ai Smoke Triple Diamond head.
“For a long time, Jon’s Aldila Tour Green worked well for his timing and switch tempo, but as he got stronger and faster he was finding it more difficult to plan his delivery on the ball and get his feel,” said Johnny Wunder, Callaway Tour Content Manager. “This has led to a large pattern of disintegration and relapse on the left, which is when he knows it’s time for a change. He recently spent some time in Carlsbad to test several shafts, including prototype options, to find the one that works best for his swing and helps eliminate left-handed misses.
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“The Ventus Black profile helped Jon feel better and allowed him to swing at his natural tempo without cheating. This has led to better tee dispersion and helped eliminate misses to the left. It wasn’t just about raising Jon’s ceiling or adding distance as he’s a good driver of the ball, but instead, raising his floor.”
One of the most popular shaft profiles on Tour, the Ventus Black is intended for high swing speed with a significantly lower launch and spin rate achieved through a reinforced butt section and tip. Stiffening the tip helps stabilize the shaft at impact, especially on heel and toe shots. And if you’re swinging at Rahm-esque speeds, reducing torque can be a huge benefit for golfers at the higher end of the speed spectrum who need a more stable profile to minimize mishits.
The head is always an important part when building a new driver, but if anything can be gleaned from Rahm’s successful shaft change this season, it’s to stay open and willing to explore other options in the marketplace, especially if something goes wrong. It has worked since Rahm and can do the same for your game.
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