How do you tell if a racket is for defensive or offensive? I don't see any difference. :confused:

Offensive racquets are USUALLY head heavy. Smashed-base racquets.

Defensive racquets are USUALLY head light. For fast swing.

However, the yonex NS8k is head light yet it's an offensive racquet :rolleyes:

What he's saying Keith is that you generally dont SEE the difference, you will feel it.

I guess an exception would be in the Armotec 800s which actually SAY "defensive" or "offensive" on them. This is also the case with the ISO Ti series rackets.

Would the titanium 601 fit in the defensive or offensive category? I find it very slow and it isn't as powerful as my MP33. I'm not really sure of this because it just might be the MP's isometric head. This titanium isn't isometric.

try to get a offensive racket like armortec series and a more defensive racket say MP99 and play with with them in a doubles match. it is easier to tell the difference like that then to just swing the racket. a defensive racket one that is usually even balance like a rod and when you swing you can easily change direction when you want to, thus giving you better control and faster response. an offensive racket is head heavy like a hammer, when swing at one direction it is definitely more powerful due the head being heavier. but when you need to change direction, it is more difficult and requires some preparation. however all this is rather subjective. e.g one may consider the Ti10 a singles head heavy offensive racket but another may find it just nice for both defense and offense.

defensive = control and offensive = power.

a good or suitable racket is one that yields enough power and give enough control for you own style of play.

though armortec700 is powerful, i find it too slow for defensive play. yet many many ppl out there are using it for doubles and playing very well with them.

How do you tell if a racket is for defensive or offensive? I don't see any difference. :confused:


if you are in a shop you can try this. hold the racket with the head point down and rotate the racket like stirring a cup of coffee. try changing direction when stirring. if you have 2 to compare you will find that the offensive racket has more momentum and needs some force to turn the racket around but a defensive can change direciton very easily

if you are in a shop you can try this. hold the racket with the head point down and rotate the racket like stirring a cup of coffee. try changing direction when stirring. if you have 2 to compare you will find that the offensive racket has more momentum and needs some force to turn the racket around but a defensive can change direciton very easily

Thanks surge, I'll do that the next time I buy another racket.

How do you tell if a racket is for defensive or offensive? I don't see any difference. :confused:

The racket is dead piece, whether a stroke is a defensive or offensive stroke (even this, hard to tell some times) is determined by the player not the racket.

Personally, I believe no player can win a game just purly on defense or offense only. The more all-around players tend to last long in a competition, as they can handle all different situation.

Many ppl tend to say head heavy racket is used as an attacking racket, while head light ones is prefered by defense. However, many cases I saw ppl using MP100 / AT700 doing amazing control strokes to make an impressive save, while also saw players with MP44/66, Gosen Miracle light (86 and 77?) to have thunderous smashes. ;)