Grip

[Don N]

Hey, I've been playing with the CAB20 Long for a few years now and I'm planning to get a new racket just to experiment, I am probably going to get the Ti Power Swing SX/SS. I have two questions:

1. The grip on my CAB20 right now is a G2, and the Ti Power Swing only comes in G4 and G5 at the store I'm planning to get it, my question is, as you go up from G2 to G5, does the grip get bigger or smaller? Because the G2 fits my hand very well with the original grip of the racket and I can't imagine how much bigger/smaller the G5 would be. If it's smaller I guess it's okay, all i have to do is wrap it with a thick grip. So please tell me if G4/G5 is bigger or smaller than G2.

2. I'm not too sure if i should get the SX or SS, is there a noticeable difference between the two? I'm an advanced offensive doubles player.

Any suggestions/comments would be greatly appreciated.

[Don]

g5 is smaller

[Andrew]

G'day Don,

G2 is bigger than G4 and G5. If you are going to increase your racket grip from G4 or G5 to G2, it would be probably better if you increase the thickness of the handle cork by packing it out first with extra layer of balsa wood, before over wrapping it with standard grip. If you simply put extra thick grips over to pack it out to G2, you will find the racket a bit "spongy" to play with especially when it comes to net shots - as your hand won't be able to get a "solid touch" for the racket.

There's a small but definately noticeable difference between SS and SX model - SS swings faster than SX, especially when it comes to defensive smash returns. If you are an advanced offensive doubles player I think SX with good string will be better for you.

Hope this helps.

[Don N]

Do you know the actual difference between G2 and G4? in measurements that is, what are the measurements anyways for these grips?

[Matt]

Don,

I don't know but then you can use a sewing measureing tape and meausre the circumference of it.

A G2 grip? It seems a bit too big thou so you may want to start small and build your grip up. Where are you getting the Ti rackets from because I know the Ti rackets that I got (the SA and SS) are G4.5. I like that size because I use about one tape of overgrip which comes out to be the size similar to that of a G3. This way it reduces the shock and you can probably throw more energy into the racket.

I have a G3 Cab22 but I don't really like it because when I overgrip it, it's too big (this is before I gotten the Ti). I still use it but not as much.

About the Ti SS/SX, I would not recommend the SX unless you have a strong arm because you will get an arm strain after a while using that racket. For me, I use the SA for the speed because I know I don't have a strong arm but I do have a fast arm speed so I use speed to generate the power.

[Don N]

Humm....now i totally don't know which of the Ti Sp's i should get, where did you get your Ti sp?

[Matt]

I got my Ti rackets in two places. The SA I got from HK, and the SS I got from US. Both of them are G4.5. If you would go to a place where you can test all the series, it's a good idea. SA has a center balance even thou it's light so you can do quick defensive shots and a speedy smash. SS, more powerful than the SA since it's a bit heavier and has a different balance which is closer to the handle. The swing speed is slower so you can control your shots, more like a regular racket would feel. SAs control is different because it's quick but the control is still just as good as the SA.


I suggest that you try the rackets on the court before you make a good decision.

[Don N]

humm...I wish I could try them on the court, but i don't know anyone with these racquets. It's kind of a waste to make this kind of investment and end up not liking it.

[Matt]

Well you could try the Ti SS first since it's almost idential to the ISO 800.

[Don N]

Yeah, I'm really considering the SS, but the SX got very good reviews on badmincentral and i'm not sure which one, my problem is getting a hold of these racquets so i can try them on the court, but noone i know owns any of these. Trying it out in the store is definitely not the same. I would probably just buy the SS if it wasn't so expensive, but since it is, i want to get the right one.

[Matt]

Yeah, it really depends on preference. I tried the SX but I didn't like it because it felt like some extra leverage was on the head so it felt like that I wasn't in full control of the racket. Does the store have demo rackets which you can borrow and try out on the court? I know the badminton store where I go does that.

I do understand that trying them out in a store isn't useful but if that is the only way, I would go for it. Not sure if the store has a huge open area where you can actually do a full swing and whack some birds without damaging anything thou.

[Don N]

What store do you go to? what country?

[Matt]

I go to Tad's Sporting Goods which is in Vancvouer, BC, Canada. (note, the rackets in Canada will be a G3.)