My current/new racquet I got for Christmas.

String: BG65Ti @ 22lbs
Grip: Yellow Towel Grip

- Is this is a Review? not quite...but on that note:-


Nice, good looking racquet
Good power, better than my SLTi-80 IMO due to the string, (racquets same weight)
Mid/Fairly low Flex racquet, stated as Stiff
Fair bit longer than my last racquet, Karakal SLTi-80, 1-1.5cm?
Supposedly even-balance, however...it feels more Head Heavy to me?
I know this is a nice racquet, and all but...I just Cannot seem to get used to 'some' racquets (Only used it once for 5 games though!), in terms of Control shots (i.e. Drop shots, cross net drop shots, etc.), smashes are fine.

It's my fault, not the racquet's, but If I go back to an old racquet with 'similar specification' (e.g. Balance is suppsoedly the same, etc.), my control is perfect (relatively speaking); Do I just need to 'Get Used' to the racquet, e.g. keep playing with it for a few weeks/months and I'll be a lot happier?

I find it hard to adjust to a new string/racquet, getting used to the amount is repulsed off the string bed, etc. (I'm not a beginner or anything, I just find this hard.)

And, for those that might suggest "use your old racquet" :p, I'd really rather not, they don't make them anymore and I only have 1 of 3 of them left.

Thanks for any suggestions.

well, you just said your strings were different and you didn't get used to the repulsion of the strings yet, right?
thats why your control is still not as you wish it to be.

if its the new yellow or black/silver SL80s, then yep, it should identical to the slightly older SLTi-80 (blue/silver), so the only thing thats different is the strings. and i always did think strings played a bigger role than a racquet did.

so until you get used to the strings or decide they're not even the right strings for you, you might not be getting what you want out of your shots, control wise.

another factor is the grip taht is used. if you used overgrip vs this racquet's towel grip, balance is almost certainly different since towel grips are much heavier...

let me know if the racquets ARE indeed the same. my friend was looking for another one, but the blue/silver ones are long-gone...

Thank you for your advice :).

The SL-80 I have is indeed a new one, the Yellow variety rather than the black colour.

However the SLTi-80 I have is either 'newer', or Quite old, it uses the actual Cat (Karakal) logo on the racquet/strings rather than the logo I've seen on most Karakal racquets, and it's a dark blue/chrome colour all over.

Infact...I think I have a picture of it I took a while ago but attach image doesn't seem to work for me.

As for the blue and silver SLTi-80 your friend used... I think they are still acquirable here in the UK at least:
http://www.shop4sport.co.uk/acatalog/Karakal_Badminton_Rackets.html
^-- Don't think they do international shipping but link below *may*.

http://www.holdall.co.uk/product.php?xProd=657&xSec=281

Although that may be of little/no use to you being in Canada.

Edit/NB:- The new SL80s are Different from MY SLti-80, is all I can say...the SLTi-80 I have is much more perfectly balanced, And about 1cm to 1.5cm shorter than the SL-80. My SLTi-80 also doesn't have an 'Muscle Tec' (Muscle-power type technology) on it, although I consider that of little difference.

let me know if the racquets ARE indeed the same. my friend was looking for another one, but the blue/silver ones are long-gone...

Also sells the SLTi-80:
http://www.pwp.com/badmintonrackets.asp?id=8&cat=Karakal

Again, having not ordered/registered with them I don't know if they do international shipping. But it's just if you/your friend is interested.