Manouverable racket

[dubber]

So I recently "upgraded" my head metallix 2000 to yonex AT900P. So far im finding it awesome the yonex that is, I do full court clears with more ease and the backhand full clears takes much less effort then before. The one thing that slightly bothering me is the head heavyness, Ive always been an offensive player and I love to smash but as I stopped playing seriously when I was 16 and started again last year im finding myself more and more controlling. Im not a control player who never put outs offensive moves but I found that I practically never smash unless theres a perfect opportunity for it and that made me wonder if I really benefit from the power of the at900P.


Im thinking of getting another racket, one that isnt so head heavy so I can manouver it with more ease as the 900p do feel sluggish in defence and quick net exchanges. I dont know why but the head metallix 8000 has become somewhat of an obsession to me recently and I feel I simply has to try it :p.

Why im set on the 8000 is solely on their sites info as the info on this site seem to be old but I guess its still the same but cant hurt getting some more. According to head.com the 8000 has the advantages of power and speed wich basically is what im looking for but then theres the 4000 wich by looking at the balancepoints is mor headlight then the 8000 or do I get balance points worng? 4000= 284 8000=285.

Any one here whos has used/using both of these as these rackets are the ones im most interested in, in particular the 8000 ofc. I know I could try at900t instead but the head rackets are what, half the price or less of the yonex?

[Athelete1234]

You can try the less extreme ARC10, MP99 if you can find it, and the more moderate AT900T, which is less solid but much faster than the P. The ARC10 is more flexible, and the frame you'll feel flexes a touch as well, giving some more "hold". The MP99 is the king of all-rounders, great power and control, and stiff like the AT900P.

[Sketchy]

the 8000 has the advantages of power and speed wich basically is what im looking for but then theres the 4000 wich by looking at the balancepoints is mor headlight then the 8000 or do I get balance points worng? 4000= 284 8000=285.

First of all, I guarantee you can't feel a 1mm difference in balance point - I doubt the factory can even produce rackets with balance points consistent to within 1mm. Same thing goes for the 1g weight difference.

If you didn't like the 2000, I certainly wouldn't get the 4000, as it seems very similar - almost as if Head have decided to just make some tiny modifications to fill a gap in their product range....

The 8000 does seem to have some genuine advantages however - it uses different materials in its construction ("High Modulus" instead of "Full Carbon" Graphite), which I can only assume is to increase strength (which is why it can be strung to higher tension), and possibly power.

Of course, I'm just going by the info on their site too - I've never actually used any Head badminton rackets (very poor build quality on their skis though, not that that's exactly relevant).

[Sealman]

dubber, are you using a 3U or 4U AT900P? imho i would rate the manouverability of the Head Metallix 8000 > Head Metallix 4000/4U AT900P > 3U AT900P

[ice man]

If you're looking for a maneuverable balanced racquet, you should take a look at the Babolat satelite energy

[dubber]

Its 3U (myat900P), havent even considered looking at babolat sofar mostly because I love the power my metallix can generat and thats a really cheap racket but I find it awesome in every way except for control and the fact that my dad bought an babolat x-feel light i belive it was wich hade the frame cracked just above the handle when he got it.

Ill look into the satelite energy aswell thanks for the tip

[ice man]

I'm playing with a Babolat booster force for 10 months and it is solid as a rock, it went through lots of clashes, whereas they are against other racquets or the floor. In my opinion durability isn't an issue, the frame has no damage, only paint chips, and the racquet still feels sturdy

[dubber]

Im not sure on babolat, only played with the x-feel lite, his new one ofc not the broken one :p and I find it to perform well but theres no feel for the shuttle in the racket its like hitting the bird with a really really light frying pan.

[ice man]

Maybe the racquet/string combination isn't good for you...

[dubber]

The strings i believe was bg-65 and strung at around what felt like 20-22 lbs so that could be it as i play with either bg-65Ti at 24 lbs or as of recent bg-85 at the same tension.

[tcy148]

Babolat FTW!!! I think the problem with the X-Feel is lite, is because it's simply far too light for you. I'm using the Babolat Satelite Star, and it is the best feeling racquet i've played with. (personal opinion obv). Babolat's aren't overly expensive and are generally very good quality racquets. My racquet hasn't even got a single paint chip yet!! After 6 months playing with it! woopwoop!

[dubber]

Well the satellite star on a swedish racket dealer site is like 10 dollars cheaper then a yonex at900T or P so I sure wouldnt call them cheap :p

[tcy148]

!!!! Thats far too expensive.!!!!
Here in the UK. The Babolat Satelites price range from £50-£100. The Yonex high end ones (At700/NS6000/Arcsabre7 upwards) price from £90-£140!
I got my Satelite Star for £75. The At900t is priced at £114!!
Must be a Swedish problem then. You should try and order from other online sites based in other countries.

[Sketchy]

Still expensive for just about any brand besides Yonex, and perhaps one or two others. I think you'd have to be insane to buy a high-end Babolat.

[dubber]

Yea if I have to pay that price I would buy the at900T as I already have the P and it plays awesome so the T would probably be of the same quality.

I was interested in the 8000 or 4000 because I think the 2000 has awesome power and precision for being as cheap as it is and the 8000 or 4000 isnt exactly expensive and are of the same series.

[ice man]

Get the metallix 4000, no real difference between the 4000 and the 8000

[tcy148]

Still expensive for just about any brand besides Yonex, and perhaps one or two others. I think you'd have to be insane to buy a high-end Babolat.

Insane or not insane. There are in fact many people, if not the large majority of them on this site and in the badminton world that would pay that sort of ridiculous money for a badminton racquet.
I've got friends who have bought the Arc 10 (£125) and NS9000x (£115), and most of the questions here on this forum are targeted at those high end racquets as well. It's an insane world.

[dubber]

Well I dont think he means the money invested more that why pay so much for babolat when you can get a yonex thats more proven. Not very wise to start out at that price, I think many players like me avoid them for just that reason. Whne you at the shop and holding the babolat and the at900T and they cost about the same and youve heard practically only good on the yonex and nothing on the babolat I think most would go for the yonex.

[Sketchy]

"A badminton racket" yes - but not a badminton racket from a brand only really known for making tennis rackets.
Do you seriously believe that someone looking at a £100 Babolat racket, isn't going to just pay the extra £15-25 to get a Yonex instead? Your friends would - you said it yourself, they bought Arc10 / NS9000x's.

[tcy148]

That is awefully true. That is a problem in the badminton market - It's just dominated by Yonex. I think the circumstances are very similar to the Watch industry if you think about it...
People buy Rolex simply because there have been many good things said about them, and they are the dominant high end watch company in the market.
Other companies like, IWC, Patek, Jaeger (which i doubt people here have heard of) etc are not even considered, even though they make as good or even better watches than Rolex.