Hi all,

I wonder if you guys are able to help me in this matter as it is driving me mad!!

I am currently playing with a YONEX ARMORTEC 500, which I think is a great racquet - but I just don't have that "feeling" with it. I have given it a while so that I may adjust to the racquet, but still feel that the weight / weight distribution?? suits me?

I have an agressive style of play - taylored more to the smashes and drives with the odd drops, but I definitely like to be on the attack and am mainly a Men's Doubles player.

These are the types of racquets I have been considering:

• INFLIGHT PREDATOR 1000
- weight = 85g
- stiff shaft
- balance is slightly towards the head

This is the only racquet that I have tried out. Although it is about the same weight as the YA500, I felt it to be much lighter and I had far more control with my play.

• YONEX ARMORTEC 700
- I haven't tried this racquet, so I don't have a clue about it apart from what is in the brochure.

• YONEX ARMORTEC 800 OF
- I had a look at this at the Yonex stand at the ALL ENGLAND championships and felt that it was nice, but you can't make that call just by holding it and looking at it.

• YONEX ISOMETRIC 900 SA/SS/SR/SX
- Never seen any of these racquets, but have seen a few threads that say that it is as good as the YA700.

I tried a friend's MUSCLE POWER 88 and could not play with that at all, but don't wish to rule the MP's out as I have heard good things about them.

I am also open to other suggestions . . .

. . . or do I keep going with my YA500 and hope for the best?

I would really appreciate some input from anyone that has played with these racquets or knows more about them than I do (which is not hard, or I would have made my choice by now!)

As you may have guessed by now - I am totally :confused: :mad: about this hence why I turn to you for help.

Thanks a lot.

Armortec 500 is suppose to be good for aggressive doubles because it is light(easy to manuevre for defense) yet head heavy(good for smashes). If I were you I'd play more with it first.

What racket did you use before Armortec 500 and how long have you used it?

It might be the case that you are better off with a racket that is flexible instead of stiff and/or even balance instead of head heavy. All MPs are even balanced. AT700 is flexible and head heavy. MP33,77,99,100 are stiff. MP22, 88 is flexible. Ti 7 is head light and stiff.

Check out the reviews at badmintonreview.com. Also some info about the new rackets are available in this thread. (http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=14358)

Each racquet is different, and it is your ability to adapt to each racquet quickly, that has some bearing on whether you like it or not. I switch between a Yonex MP99 2U, AT700 3U, an Iso Tour 800 3U, and a Gosen 3400 4U. They are all different; they will not play well initially when switching from another racquet, until I start adjusting my play, and then they feel great. The problem repeats itself when I change the racquet again. To minimize this , I now change racquet only at the end of each game.
Also, the same racquet (AT700) will play differently when strung with BG85 at 20 lbs as against 26 lbs, to the extent that you would think it is not the same racquet.
The best way to find out what suits you is to ask a friend or friends to let you play a game or two of the following racquets : AT700, MP99, MP100. I suggest this approach because this is what I do everytime I buy a new racquet. It is cheap and you know exactly what you are getting. I am sure others will only be too pleased to be able to let you try their racquets. I do offer my racquets to anyone who would ask.

I agree with Taneepak. A racket would play differently with different string tensions. I recently bought a Gosen Gavun Roots Aermet 5300. I first had it strung with Yonex BG 65 at 26 lbs and it played poorly. So after a few days I took off the strings and had it restrung with BG 85 at 22 lbs. This time it played differently. So much power and control. In fact I feel its even better than my old Yonex Ti-10. By the way the Gosen is slightly head heavy and stiff. Very ideal for offensive players like me. I got the 3UG5 one. I would also recommend this racket to you. Anyway before you go out and buy another racket, I would suggest you to try a different string/tension with your Armotec. You might get the right combination thats good for your style of play. At least its cheaper than getting a whole new racket. Just my .02 cents :)

it's usually the string that's the problem with a high end model, like your AT-500. Get it re-strung with some BG85 string at 20-22lbs, should be good. I'm guessing it was strung with bg-65ti.....i really don't like that string...heh....u sound rich enough to afford a restring at least b4 getting another racquet:)

Thanks a lot for all your input, it appears that the general consensus is to keep on with my AT500 for a while and see how it goes - I have only had it for a few months.

TheGr8One: In answer to your "previous racquet" question - it was the Yonex Ti5.

SheldonZhang: I have had the racquet restrung to 24 (with BG65ti :) ) and have found it to be a little bit better.

taneepak & kukula: I have started asking people to try their racquets . . . a couple of strange looks from them when I walk up and start analysing their racquets though! :)

I recently spoke to a Yonex rep and he told me that I have a good racquet for my game, but I would have to adjust my technique slightly as the Armortec does not need as much swing power in the shots as the other styles - basically he was getting at letting the racquet do the work rather than try more power (sounds a bit like golf!) - I'll give that a try, though it is hard train myself not to hit as hard in order to get more power . . . it will come.

Well, thanks again for your input and it has all been taken on board. I'll let you know how it goes.

that's good.....what's a yonex rep...and how do i contact one:)?

Next time try using BG 85. I really dont have much success with titanium coated strings personally. I feel they dont give much control. I read somewhere here that it is due to the titanium coating making the strings too slippery; and somehow I think it makes sense. Besides the 65 series of strings arent really known for their power, instead they are known for durability.

Anyway I tend not to agree with that Yonex rep you spoke with. Personally i believe that it is the player that generates the power and not the racket. Just look at any pro player. You can hand them any racket and they can use it well. Thats bec they have awesome power and technique. I simply couldnt imagine letting the racket "do the work" for you. I suggest you continue with your training and improve your technique. As your arms and wrist develop more muscles from training, your shots with bec more powerful. Just my .02 cents :)

Hi again,

SheldonZhang: I met this Yonex rep (sales person) at one of the local sports shops that supply Yonex equipment - he was just passing through. I thought that I would ask for his opinion - biased that it may have been :) .

kukula: Both yourself and SheldonZhang have mentioned trying the BG85, so I will by a packet and keep it for the next time that I re-string my racquet - thanks for that. I will also use the tension that SheldonZhang recommended and see how that goes. I agree with your comment about what the rep said as the racquet is, obviously, only as good as the player although it does have some part to play. I will continue with my AT500 for now.

I have heard that doing a few practice strokes with a squash racquet, before playing a game, sometimes helps. What are your views on that? I have a 110g squash racquet if it aids in anyway :confused:

110g? Is that all? As you know Zimbie ole mate my coach makes me train with a squash racquet sometimes. Can be useful. An easy alternative is to warm up with the cover still on your racquet. Although that does have a slightly different purpose.

Originally posted by Zimbie72
Hi again,
kukula: Both yourself and SheldonZhang have mentioned trying the BG85, so I will by a packet and keep it for the next time that I re-string my racquet - thanks for that. I will also use the tension that SheldonZhang recommended and see how that goes. I agree with your comment about what the rep said as the racquet is, obviously, only as good as the player although it does have some part to play. I will continue with my AT500 for now.


try 20-22lbs....i wanted 22 at first, but the stringer was a little unsure saying it was very high for a badminton racquet?! so i had it down to 20lbs....it will prob lose some tension so i would go with a little higher next time:)