Racket to improve my play?

[blueorange]

Well first off I am neither a beginner or a pro. I played the game as a child for around 3 years and recently I picked up the game again.

Nowadays I mostly play with my friends and it is not at any "high level". It is just for fun, but every time I play I feel like I have lost a lot of power in my play.

I love to play aggressive and I hit quite hard but still I am not satified with the speed and reponse I get. My netplay is the only thing that is in place.

I am still using my old carlton racket and it is pretty much the same as I bought it except the grip and scratches. It is all black and silver and the name is Carlton Powerflo BR-PRO, thats about all I know about it.

I also borrowed my friends racket once, a Yonex carbonex ti something and it felt like it has better bounce and power to it, but less control.

Also the thick grip on his racket felt more right to me, compared to the towelgrip around mine, but I cant find it in the stores around here.

Now to the questions:
1) should I get a new racket or stick to the carlton one?
2) how can I improve the carlton racket? new strings? new grip?

please give me suggestions,

Many thanks
Blueorange

[Jurethatsme]

Hi Blueorange,

You cannot improve your racquet, but by all means change the strings, especially if you haven't change them since your childhood! I know only yonex strings and therefore can suggest you strings Yonex BG-80, which are made to make your shots more powerful. I use them and I'm very satisfied. Or you can save a little money and buy classic BG-65. And don't string them over 23 lb if you're not experienced player. It is also possible that your shots will be faster in lower tensions like 18-20 lb, it depends on your technique!

But if you can afford new racquet, go for it. Through the time, racquets loose elasticity and therefore it's maybe time to consider about getting a new one.

Good luck!

[blueorange]

If I go for a new one, which one should I look at? yonex all the way?

ps. I dont know how to string a racket and it seems quite expensive to do in the stores.

[cryptail]

It depends on the money you wanne give for it... If you don't care about the money you could buy armortec 900P(or 700,costs less) if you want lots of power

[blueorange]

how cheap can it be? are there any rackets I should avoid?

900p and 700 seems a bit too much at my level.

I am willing to give at most around 100 usd, but I rather buy a cheap one as long it is decent since I play a lot of double it hurts when it scratches =)

thanks for all the responses so far.

[azncloudz]

with 100, you won't be able to buy a new racquet that easily, unless you want to get a carbanex like your friends. Or may i suggest a Muscle power?

[Smichz]

No need to go for just a certain brand or any certain model at your level.Just pick a racket that suits ur style.There are alots of brands n kinds of racket in the market.Search through the forum,then u'll find what kind of racket u're looking for.

[blueorange]

sounds fair enough, I guess I try one of the muscle power rackets. Thx for all the responses

[Jurethatsme]

If you want to save the money, then you should maybe consider to buy some non-Yonex brand... Try with Winex which makes Yonex clones and sell them for 30% lower price. But it is a question if stores at your place sell different brands. Or maybe try cheap Yonex models like Muscle power 18 or 29Light and Isometric-75mf...

[blueorange]

yes I happen to come from Sweden, where we have fukuda and winex but are they any good? We also have forza over here.

[UncleFester]

Forza and yonex are pretty much priced the same in scandinavia. Exept the new and hyped racquets from yonex, they cost a bit more. So you won't save that much money by choosing forza.

Look at some of the lower model yonex muscle power racquets. They are all good racquets at an affordable price.

[Jurethatsme]

yes I happen to come from Sweden, where we have fukuda and winex but are they any good? We also have forza over here.

I haven't heard much about Winex except that one I know play with this racquet quite seriously (he is in league in Austria I think...). I had some of these racquets (that he sent me) in my hand (Armanitec 800, Mighty muscle 99 = Yonex Muscle Power 99...) and they felt like Yonex (of course, they are clones - in colour/appearance and characteristics, I've read only that they are little less stiff). But I don't know how quality are they truly. I was also thinking about buying one, but on the end I decided to choose Yonex AT500 because there was no Winex clone of this racquet and the most similar was only Armanitec 800 which was maybe 10% cheaper than AT500 (but 30% cheaper than Yonex Armortec 800!)...

[kikks9]

why dont u message jerby. he may be able to help you out with some sotx rackets.

[blueorange]

yes forz was also too expensive for me and I am not ready to spend 220usd on a AT700.
I guess I will have to go for a cheaper racket like AT150 or Muscle Power 21/22/29 or whatever they have over here and buy me a decent one on my next trip to US.

thanks for all the help.

[cryptail]

yes forz was also too expensive for me and I am not ready to spend 220usd on a AT700.
I guess I will have to go for a cheaper racket like AT150 or Muscle Power 21/22/29 or whatever they have over here and buy me a decent one on my next trip to US.

thanks for all the help.


Hmm i would check other stores first... you say 220USD for a AT700, well I bought mine over here for 125€(180USD) string included( own choise of string)

Cryptail

[UncleFester]

Hmm i would check other stores first... you say 220USD for a AT700, well I bought mine over here for 125€(180USD) string included( own choise of string)

Cryptail

You cannot compare the scandinavian prices to your own. 220 USD is actualy not that much for an at700. It's a bit below average. Buying racquets here is very expensive. It differs a bit from country to country, but if you're looking for a highend yonex below 200usd you probably should start believing in santaclaus:p

Blueorange: I'd say you're making a good choise. All the racquets you listed are decent. They all have good playability and a price that will allow you to break one without having to much grief. Good luck :)

[Ar Dan]

blueorange, For around $116USD, you can get a brand new Yonex Muscle Power 66 (SP). The price is slightly higher than your budget, but you're getting a much better racket than the lower range Muscle Power series. String and postage are already included in the price. The racket is very easy to use and produces good power.

Muscle Power-66
Flex: Flexible
Frame: H.M.Graphite
Shaft: H.M.Graphite + Ultimum Ti

Racket review - http://www.badmintoncentral.com/reviews/showproduct.php/product/440

[Ar Dan]

or you can consider the Yonex Ti-3, which will be around $90USD shipped.

[blueorange]

Thanks for all the tips. I will look at these rackets at our local store, if they have it.

Maybe I am old fashioned, but I won't order anything over the net unless I have seen it in person.

Once again thanks for all the replies =)