Racquet similar to Yonex Isometric Slim 10 ?

[Endless]

Hello,

I've been a dedicated user of the Slim 10 over the past few years. Having gone through 2 Slim 10 racquets (each cracking at the upper area of the head), I've decided to go with the crowd and buy into the Titanium series racquets.

I've purchased the Titanium - 7 Long strung at 19-21 lbs.

At first, I had quite a lot of trouble adjusting to this racquet.
First off, the racquet is of longer length, unlike the Slim 10.
Secondly, the racquet is stiffer than the Slim 10.

Being more flexible, the Slim 10 feels easier to swing as there is less strain on my forearm when is snap back.

It's been about 2 months already and I still feel as if i can't atttain the same level of power as when I played with the Slim 10 racquet.

I was wondering if there is a racquet that is closer to the design of the Slim 10. Since, unfortunately, the Slim 10 model has been discontinued and is known to break when strung at high tensions.

Many thanks.

[VINCENT]

I suggest MP-88.

[Cheung]

Have you tried it?

[Yogi]

I can suggest some rackets that have similar build! as to playability i have not played with them! U can try The Hiqua 2000, forza TT900, 1200, U can get Hart slim 10 or even the prokennex Boron 815(Black)!

I have played with Prokennex Boron 815 and i think it is Okk but it is nowhere near Iso slim 10! I can call myself a proud owner of a 2slim 10's as well. i guess i will fel it when i run out of it!

i play only singles games with it and i play with Ti sp SS when i play doubles!

[Endless]

=)

I've only used Yonex racquets ever since I started to play seriously. So I probably won't end up buying non-Yonex racquets.

I'm finding that recent designs for racquets have taken on the Muscle Power frame ideal. I'm sort of against the whole movement as Slim 10 had a light-headed feel to it. Most of the weight was in the handle, althougth the racquet wasn't particularly light when holding it, it felt light as it was swung.

I chose Ti-7 because it only has half of a complete Muscle Power frame. Ti-10 was a bit too stiff for me and I couldn't wait until the release of Ti-7 Lite (which will be normal length and a bit lighter as well)

I probably won't go for any of the true Muscle Power frame racquets as I'm looking for something that is flexible with handle-focused weight distribution.

[Yogi]

if u are lucky U can still land up with a slim 10! ask someone in Sg who will sell u a slim 10! I think cheung saw one for 1000HK sometime back! so if u can lay hands on one then u might be happy! i think i would tell u not to string the Slim 10 over 20Lbs! Even if u buy a new one it is sometime since it was manufactured! If u want to presere it then just play with it at 20!

[Cheung]

Yogi, you have an excellent memory. I confirm the slim10 price.

[modious]

Hi, I've both the Slim 10 (2UG5) and the MP 88 (3UG5).
I feel that the MP 88 is pretty much like a lighter version of Ti-10 (2UG5).
It doesn't pack as much power definately, but it's really pretty light and manueavarble. It'smedium stiff, has a slim SHAFT and head heavy distribution. (It's not as heavy as u think)

If u like the Slim 10, I dun think you'll find much trouble adapting to this racket except that it's 10mm longer. :)

[Brett]

Congratulations Endless. You are an official Yonex Zombie. YY's marketing department has you trained very well. You admit that the racquet you like is defective (it's a pretty well known fact that the Slim 10 suffers from design defects, if not manufacturing defects as well) and like most other Slim 10 owners you've suffered through two expensive broken racquets, yet you continue to want to reward Yonex with your customer loyalty.

Why won't you try another brand's products? I've never seen, let alone played with a Slim 10, so I don't have the answer to your question about a replacement, but if someone else recommends a Carlton, Forza, Gosen, Victor, etc... racquet with similar characteristics to your old Slim 10's, why wouldn't you try it out? Are people in your club so silly and snobbish that they would look down on you if you didn't play with a Yonex? Would you really care what that sort of person thinks?

If you or any other person happens to feel that a particular Yonex racquet fits your game well, then that's certainly not a bad thing and you should play with equipment that you like. However, it is incorrect to assume that Yonex is the only company making high quality badminton equipment.

[Endless]

I don't remember putting down any other racquet manufacturers or users of non-Yonex racquets.

It's just within my nature to stick to Yonex, as there's no science behind preference.

But to go ahead and make assumptions about members of my club...

I see the kind of mindset I'm up against if this debate were to continue.

[Brett]

Endless, by stating that you will only consider Yonex, you are also stating that no other brand is as adequate, i.e. all other brands are inferior. There's nothing instictive or "natural" about one's equipment selection process - you didn't come out of the womb a Yonex fan, so don't try pretending that "it's just your nature" and there is no thought process of any sort behind your preferences.

If you had a good reason for considering only Yonex products, you: a) would have stated it; and b) would not be as wound up about this issue as you seem to be - you would have more confidence in your decision and not be as bothered by my comments. If you want to buy Yonex products only for the image, you certainly have the right to do so, but don't be surprised or offended if someone isn't impressed with your reasoning.

If someone uses perceived status as the primary criteria for evaluating a product, that makes them a snob. I merely inquired if the members of your club were snobs and didn't come right out and "make assumptions." But if your club members are not snobs, then is someone else?

My point isn't to attack you personally or start a flame war, but to encourage you to find the best racquet for you, regardless of brand. Maybe it will be a Yonex, maybe some other brand. I'm not a fan of people who make blind decisions based on preconceived notions or prejudice. I think it is a good thing for people to think and consider all options before making their decisions. Don't you? If all badminton players started selecting Yonex racquets without even giving other brands any consideration, would that be good for the sport?

[Mike]

Everybody is entitled to his/her comments, Brett. Try not to imply or guess what other people 'will' say. When I post a message, I certainly do not appreciate other people "trying" to finish it.

[Brett]

I'm not guessing about the meaning of words, I am interpreting what someone has stated based on the most likely meaning of what they have written in their post. If people don't want others to speculate about what they mean, they should write more clearly. If you finish your own thoughts, others won't be tempted to do it for you.

Certainly everyone is entitled to have any opinion they want and to post any reasonable opinion here that they like that relates to badminton. I'm not trying to discourage anyone from posting here simply because my own subjective view might be different. But this is a public forum. Anyone who posts here should expect that others will consider and respond to his/her messages from their own perspective, a perspective that may differ from his/her own.

So what it all boils down to is the following:

1) People should consider other brands as well as Yonex - they might find a non-Yonex racquet that will make them happy.

2) Being close-minded isn't a good thing.

If you feel I am a nasty person for writing on those two related topics, then so be it - that is your opinion, one you are entitled to have.

[David]

If someone posts a message asking specifically for Yonex information, apparently they have already narrow down the search. Maybe you're the one being closed-minded.

[Troy]

Everybody has a little Yonex in their blood. :) Except Brett of course. :) No problem going with only one brand for badminton gear. Some people only buy GM cars does that mean it is wrong to only choose GM? No, they love GM cars with a passion. Same with badminton. Some people only buy Yonex because they like the racquet's design, paint job etc.. They want to fit in with their friends, what's wrong with that? Brett, you have all the freedom to post any remark. Just cool down a little with people choosing only Yonex. You frequent BC and don't like the Yonex following. That's ok, but you don't have to make the atmosphere change from friendly to a war of words.

[Mag]

Hey, my blood is 100% Yonex-free, so don't include me please... ;)
OK, before anyone bashes me, I confess I use the MP-100, but that doesn't stop me from disliking Yonex as a company. Just as I hate McDonalds, and yet I have been known to buy their products (rarely, it must be said)...

If Endless wants Yonex equipment for whatever reason, then fine. If Brett gets upset about what he percieves as narrow-mindedness then that's fine too. Isn't this a discussion forum?

[Mike]

True. Everything you've said is true. This is a discussion forum and we all enjoy the freedom of speech. Just to remind someone that this freedom should not be used to limit other parties to enjoy theirs. :-)

[Brett]

Troy, two days ago* I would have told you that my last racquet acquisition was an MP-77, so I'm not altogether an anti-Yonex person. I'm just opposed to a number of people (who thankfully seem to be diminishing) who blindly scream "YONEX IS BEST!" whenever anyone asks a question about racquets. I'm opposed to the girl who, ten years ago, didn't want to go out with a friend of mine because he drove an older, midsize American sedan (no "Friends don't let friends drive Oldsmo-buicks" jokes, please - I'm no fan of GM cars either) and she wouldn't want her friends to see her riding in "that." In one fashion or another I'm opposed to all of the wrongs of the world, but I guess I can leave some of them out of my posts here on BC.

Mag, part of your aversion to McDonalds may be related to the fact that European McDonalds do not receive as high of quality meat as American McDonalds.** Us lucky Americans don't have quite as many particles of grisle and meat by-products blocking the free flow of fat into our arteries as you European fast food connoisseurs. ;)

I still feel like I should have the right to rip a Yonex out of Endless' hands, slap him twice and give him a Carlton (one whose handle won't fly loose), but I guess I'll shrug my shoulders and wish him the best of luck with his Yonex. If he can live with the knowledge of all the child laborers who die in Yonex factories to produce his bloody racquet .... All right, I'll stop. Just kidding. ;)


* I just ordered a Talbot Torro Quadrapower 951 Ti, very cheap, off the internet. It has very cool, non-Yonex graphics, funky, non-Yonex technology (except for the Ti) and was decidedly non-Yonex priced. I'll post a review soon.

** This is true of all American fast food restaurants that have franchises in Europe, judging by the food I've had when I lived there and subsequently visited there.

[Endless]

Forms have been divided by topic for a reason.
Yes you can rant about anything you want but why not do that in the General Section?

I am looking for very specific information.

I used the Yonex Slim 10 when I began to take badminton seriously, before that, I was using Slazenger racquets (Age 12) and I believe my first racquet was a Dunlop. Not that any of that matters.

All of your posts have amounted to very little helpfulness.

What I seek are models of racquets that are similar in design to the Yonex Slim 10. If you cannot provide any Yonex models that fit this description, you could suggest non-Yonex racquets that fit the same description. But instead, we've all seen the context of the previous few posts.

Philosophical rants, poor assumptions and claims, examples of utter closed-mindedness.

I truly hate to wade through the quicksand of other people's minds.

"Blah"

[Mag]

Endless, being arrogant is certainly not going to get you anywhere. You've already got more pointers than you need if you look through the responses. You should have realised by now that Yonex has nothing particularly close to the Slim-10. Forza, however, does have several models with similar weight balance and frame design.

Endless wrote:
> Philosophical rants, poor assumptions and claims, examples of
> utter closed-mindedness.
>
> I truly hate to wade through the quicksand of other people's
> minds.
>

Then wade off, Schopenhauer, or relax your attitude a little. This is the Internet, not the @!#$ Mensa club.

[Sony]

Best thing to do is use the "search function" BC has to offer. I always use the search function and sit for at least one hour reading the posts about what I am interested in. Of course, most people won't have the patience to sit for one hour reading the archives of any forum. Remember, all sites are sections of a large library that we call the internet. Brett, Yonex is not the best. I agree but the paint designs are pretty damn good. :) People that are new to badminton think only YONEX. Why? Yonex is everywhere. Friends talk about it, the internet is full of Yonex, BC is full of Yonex. Automatically, everyone thinks Yonex is the best. Can't blame them. I thought Yonex was the only good supplier of badminton racquets when I was young. My first racquet was a Slazenger which to this day is in one piece. No cracks. I would say that is pretty durable. Yonex does produces good racquets which I also own as my only badminton gear. Yonex is in my blood also. ;) Guess most of us are superficial and we need Yonex to keep our "badminton image" when we are at the clubs playing. Yonex was very good for their durability in the 80's but has diminished in the last 5 years. Lastly, McDickies is not quality food no matter where you eat it in this world. :)

[Brett]

Endless, take a look at this brand new Victor racquet. It has a slim shaft and an Iso head, which are Slim 10 characteristics. Whether this racquet will resemble the Slim 10 in any other way, I can't say, but you can't claim I'm not trying to be helpful, at least not now.

<http://www.badmintonwarehouse.com/item.jhtml?UCIDs=687572%7C699471&PRID=1161913>


Complain about me - that's fine, but don't complain about the other posters' responses here. Knocking them for not perfectly solving your problem isn't warranted - they were trying to help you, even if they didn't have the answer you were seeking for your very specific inquiry. Maybe there isn't any close replacement and you'll need to find another racquet.