Need help to look for a racket that suits my playing style:

I'm a single players that prefer to play a very fast paced long game. I always try to make my opponent move around the court rapidly and I do travel around the court rapidly as well when I'm playing against people my level or better. I prefer to smash repeatedly about two to four times to win the rally instead of a single full power smash, however I am constantly swinging a Ti 10 at home with my wrist to strengthen it so I get more power for my smashes without feeling the extra effort being put out. I usually lose the rally when my opponent smashes straight down the sideline even though I'm at ready position, this happens when he gets a shot at smashing straight down the sideline (might need advice on this one as well...)

After writing this, it seems like I am looking for a racket that can be swung fast and easily controlled, as well as durable enough to hold about 30lbs for that extra control. I was looking at getting the Iso900 SR CN or MP 80 JP, but I can't decide which one to get as I have no experience with a CN or a JP racket. Can someone please help me out? If you have any other racket in mind that you think suits my playing style, please feel free to give me an input about it. Btw, can someone please tell me if the JP version of rackets are as strong as the CN/CP versions?

Iwan.

1) if you always play fast, your opponent always expects the shuttle at a certain speed. They can get used to it and match your pace. I suggest you look up Steplantis' translation of the Japanese article in the General forum and the piece about pace. That's a good article.

2) stringing at 30lbs is sure gonna be expensive because of racquet breakages. I only know one other amateur in HK stringing at this tension. Most people string at 26lbs or below and that will be true across the whole world. (so will it make much difference for you?)

3) If you have the patience, working on footwork and technique with a coach will definately bring dividends. This is personal experience.

4) Very light racquets such as MP80/88 may let you think you swing faster but you'll lose out on trying to play clears.

5) Perhaps you can try varying your smash direction. Take off a little power but get it going steep. Occasionally put in the heavier smash towards the right hip.

Cheung, I have no problems with playing clears. I've played with Iso900 SA before and I perform great clears with it. Infact, I don't notice a loss of power between my Ti 10 and the Iso900 SA. That's why I choose to use a lighter racket, I get more control, maybe a slight loss of power in smashes, but that's ok because I'm more of a speedy player than a power player. I'm 168cm 51kg and travel fast around the court. I consider speed and reaction to be my main weapon on the court. I always try to make use of this edge that I have to make my opponents run for the shuttle and make a hasty shot, hence my preference for a light racket.

PS, I have read that article, though I'm beginning to forget that I've read about changing the pace. But anyway, I do change the pace, drastically some times. I draw my opponents into a rally of clears, then when they drop, I make them run for it and try to kill the rally that way. Or sometimes, I'll lure them into net games, flick the shuttle here and there around the net, make them come to the same spot of the net two or three times and then suddenly send the shuttle back and change the pace. I'm learning :)

Get a slim-10

That's good to know your clears are sufficient.

But I am interested why you should want to string so high a tension on a very light racquet. Wouldn't you need quite a quantity of racquets for potential racquet breakages?

PS. Are you based in Oz? I'll be trying real hard to go to Sydney and Tas next Oct. Perhaps we can meet up for a game.

sorry me in perth ;) hehe but if you do come to perth, I'll definetely be interested in playing with you :) Im sure Zhi would be interested too. Anyway, isn't Kwun using 30lbs on his Iso900 rackets? :D I just wanted to have a feel on the "greater control" 30lbs offers compared to 24lbs.

I'm not sure if Kwun is using 30lbs now.
I had an e-mail from somebody whose got fed up of their BG85 breaking so easily at 28lbs. That guy says he's going back to BG65. Not sure if that would help you. Going back to BG65 sure helps me out financially with the less frequent restringing needs.

Yeah, prolly going to have to use BG-65 at 28 or 30 lbs. Im saving my BG-85 for big games ;)

Back to the original question.
slim10 - where can you find one easily?
Iso 900 SR CN - Ricky and Kwun can answer that one.
Are JP version equivalent to CN?. Dunno how many people have had the chance to compare the two.
Would MP80JP be a good choice? Treading into unknown waters, ISO900 has been out much longer so the intricacies of the racquet are more well known. MP80 has only been out this year.

actually I already have a slim10 :) well I had... I gave it to my brother because he's used to his Ti10 (2u) which he broke while playing.... no clashes or whatsoever btw... hehehe

Try the Airblade 600 Ti or Airblade 2000! They both can take up a lot of tension and they are manuverable and quite powerful yet include good control.

As u seem to be wanting to play with Yonex Iso rackets i woudl suggest u to try The Iso Ti SP SR Cn or SX sp version! I know that there is a huge difference but then those are the 2 rackets that will take 24Lbs easily and also Ti sp is kind of better than Iso 900! I think Ti SP is better built for a fast game than Iso 900!

If nothing works out then try to buy a Ti 10 3U! Prob that will be great!

How durable is the TI SP series?

26lbs. on my Iso900 SS CN, and only 24 on the SR. (SP only version).

even though i haven't tried anything more than 26lbs, i feel that 26 is a good compromise between feel and racket/string breakage. i break a string every month or two. and i break a racket every few months.

i agree with Cheung, you should consider the balance between feel and cost. CN racket don't have infinite supply. ;)

i haven't used the MP80. i have used the SR extensively and i think it is an excellent racket. if you get the CN version, it will be even better. i haven't used the CN myself, i only have the Iso900SR SP. i however, have used the Iso900SS CN, which is very good.

Iwan, you are home to perhaps the most amazing guitarist on the planet, Dave Hole. He is a blues guitarist who uses a metal slide on the fretboard (plays "slide guitar") and is talented beyond belief. I have seen him play twice and am just bowled over by how this small, 53 year old guy can scissor kick and jump across the stage like he was 23. Anyone else out there that is a fan of guitar music, you should definitely check this guy out if he is playing in your part of the world. Sadly, I doubt he'll be back in the States for another year or two.

ok, the one I'm going to order is IsoTI SR CP. I've asked the person at Luxis to string it at 26lbs for me... now... i just want to know if you have broken any CN/CP rackets at 26lbs :D

He must be a great badminton player.

Personally, no.

I posted up this question a while back. Since not a lot of people have these racquets, it's difficult to get a true gauge of the durability.