VA Composites is a manufacturer of premium graphite shafts. The shafts have been used on professional tours and are also found in amateur bags. Victor Afable, who has been designing shafts for many years, brought all that knowledge to VA when it was founded. Six years ago, the original Raijin was released and it has been a popular model in the lineup.
Raijin 2.0 is a new shaft that offers many updates but still retains the original Raijin DNA. The 2.0 profile is the same as the original, with the same handle section and stiff tip. Both the 2.0’s have a slightly lower torque rating and are mid-high launching shafts. VA has always excelled in graphics and the Raijin 2.0’s matte finish is very attractive.
The shaft was amazing when I tried it out in my Titleist TSR2 Driver. It feels a little more robust than the original, but still has the same smooth feel. It launched a little lower than the original Raijin, and it had a slightly flatter flight. I would consider it a mid-high launch. The launch angle of the TSR2 was 12.4 degrees. This was close to the shaft I’ve been playing. Even though there was a slight fade, the flight was flat and monotonous with no rise to shots.
The Raijin 2.0 is quick and has a good kick at impact. It’s easy to square up without worrying about hitting a big hook. The toe and heel were well protected and the shots that missed them did not have any curve. It was easy to see that shots that struck the low heel tend to go right but with no fade curve.
The hybrid Raijin 2.0 looked very similar to the Tour Edge Exotics C722 heads. The ball was very easy to launch from the deck and provided a straight shot. Even though shots were hit low on the face (my miss with hybrid), the ball could still get in the air a lot and add some carry. Good shots flew high and landed softly. It was easy to use off the tee, but it didn’t roll very well off the fairway. The Raijin 2.0 provided excellent stability for miss hits and kept it online. The shaft was very easy to square up on impact, but it didn’t add any left bias.
I was impressed overall with the VA Composites Raijin 2.0. It is a solid upgrade. Victor and his team did not change the original profile, but gave us a tighter and lower-launching version. For more information on Raijin 2.0, visit vashafts.com
Listen to the complete review of the Raijin 2.0 hybrid shaft and driver on the podcasts below. Or search GolfWRX Radio using your preferred podcast app.
