has anyone used an ISO 500? the OLDER version where they didnt even have SS SA SR SX shafts! was it any good? its
claimed weight is 89g

Can't help but I can emphasize with you. I also was thinking about picking up one of these cheap, but wasn't sure what the old Iso 500 would be like - I'm guessing it is probably like the subsequent SS model, but who knows?

Damn it's frustrating to have an inquiry about a racquet that is really interesting, about which you know nothing, but no one responds. Other than AF, nobody has tested out the Hi-Qua racquets, which also look really interesting. Also, no one responded to my questions about the difference between the Iso 750 and Ti-7, which seem like they could be the same racquet judging from the specs, features and price. Good luck.

bleh ok thanks heh. i still want to find out! i can get one really cheap too ugh

guess i'll be the ginnea pig here and try it out.

can u tell me how is it when u get it?.......

Nice racquet, and nice paint job.
Classic Isometric racquet.
Probably the best one out of the entire bunch, not including the swing power stuff...
If you haven't tried any of the older isometric racquets, basically it includes the same characteristics as the first generation... eg iso 800tour, 300, and whatever else is below.
In general nice racquet, and fairly durable, however back then they were made with the oval/aerodynamic head shapes.
If you don't know about these... then I suggest you stick with the newer stuff, and only buy if you want to try something different.

whats wrong with the oval/aerodynamic head shape? and i think this is a swing power cos its a 7mm shaft...just without different shaft stiffnesses available

I guess I agree with Shaun - that was not your usual clear and informative opinion Kelvin. You must be getting tired from slaving away on this site 22 hours a day over the past week ;).

-Are the old Iso 500's the same color as shown in the reviews section? If not, how do they look?
-Are they Swing Power models (lighter shaft and handle with more weight in head)?
-Which of the newer, swing power Iso 500's would the older version compare with most closely? How is it balanced?
-If the old model 500 has an oval-shaped head, why is it called "Iso" 500?
-To what current, newer racquet do you feel the old Iso 500 compares most closely?
-slightly different topic: how do the newer Iso 500SS and SX models compare to the more upmarket Iso 900 and Ti SP SS and SX models? A bit heavier I would imagine?


Shaun, your source for the Iso 500 (as well as the CN $135 Cab 23) is the Racquet Doctor, in Canada, correct? Why is no one naming this retailer by name, out of the several Canadian posters who seem to have found it? Is it because you suspect they have a very limited availability on some of their racquets, particularly the discontinued ones and don't want to run the risk that someone else will buy from them first? Have you or Don or anyone else ever ordered from this company? It has several decent customer service ratings on the site where I first spotted their "auction." Should I reveal their e-mail address to others, as they don't seem to have a website?

Thanks.

um stay low about the racquet doctor stuff i guess "] yes they do have limited inventory but if u want the email i can give it to u. and YES kelvin plz answer bretts questions as i am considering the purchase of the iso 500...for 75 bucks why not "]

Hi there,

Just because I use HiQua nowadays doesn't mean that I didn't start out with a Yonex at one time myself. heehee, actually I still do own 2 Yonex racquets, an Carbonex 8 TI and an original Isometric 500. The 500 is temporarily on leave, my friend in another city that I see once in a blue moon has borrowed it. This was one of the early Isometric racquets, along with the Iso 300 and Iso 80. Eventually the Iso 800, 600, 100 came out. The racquet is a bluish purple, more blue than purple. It does has a Super Slim shaft, like the carbonex 21. Made of Titanium graphite, one of the earlier models to use this stuff. Not titanium mesh inserts but the racquet was made of titanium graphite. Stiffer than the Iso 300 and a bit lighter if you weighed it on the scale. Balance was towards the head. This racquet was by far the most powerful of the ones that I owned, I could hit hard with it, didn't really matter about the string. My fav was Gosen Hy Sheep on it, nice loud POP sound on the big smash.

Anyways, I will answer your questions to the best of my knowledge.

> -Are the old Iso 500's the same color as shown in the reviews
> section? If not, how do they look?
Bluish Purple, no fancy graphics like the swing power 500's.

> -Are they Swing Power models (lighter shaft and handle with
> more weight in head)?
No, totally different racquet. They should never of called the new swing power series 500. Anyways, head heavy.

> -Which of the newer, swing power Iso 500's would the older
> version compare with most closely? How is it balanced?
Probably the higher stiff versions, never played with the new 500's or any of th swing power series (900, TI or 500). It was balanced as head heavy, good momentum generated on a swing for heavy, solid shots.

> -If the old model 500 has an oval-shaped head, why is it
> called "Iso" 500?
It isn't oval as far as I can tell, it is Isometric square shape to me.

> -To what current, newer racquet do you feel the old Iso 500
> compares most closely?
I always thought it was like a Carbonex 21 with an ISO head on it.

> -slightly different topic: how do the newer Iso 500SS and SX
> models compare to the more upmarket Iso 900 and Ti SP SS and
> SX models? A bit heavier I would imagine?
Don't know exactly, but the main difference was the quality of materials used. 500 was just plain graphite, nothing wrong with them, just cheaper to make. 900 was hi mod graphite and so was the TI, but TI had titanium mesh inserts.

I fowarded the price list for the racquet doctors to a few people, Shaun included probably.

Thanks AF...
I was getting a little dry in the mouth from all my constant blabbing on the site lately, so I thought I would take a bit of a break yesterday. ;)

However, I want to point out one thing...
To my knowledge the Isometric 500, in North America was more of a brownish/reddish color.
It did not contain any sort of titanium composition, to my knowledge, as our the spec in our catalogue did not indicate any of this, and when I was helping Yonex market these to the small clubs, it had a fairly stiff/thin shaft... I don't think it was quite as thin as the Cab 20 tour when it came out... but the price if I remember back then was roughly $200-$250 CDN. They were 2U specs, and G2-G5.
In Yonex speak... 2 being larger, and 5 being smaller... other manufacturers are different.

This was my second time out with the Yonex reps, going out to the clubs helping promote/generate some sales and hype about the products. (yes I got paid)

As for the similarities between the racquets of today... Other than the fact there are 4 different racquets, it seemed to me that the weight bias was just slightly to the head.
I've seen people break these racquets a lot!!! More so than the Ti10, and other racquets of today... I think once again they had messed up in the racquet design, but closer to the shaft, as all the racquets snapped in the shaft....

Let me think...

Yes, it was near the t-joint, as Yonex didn't have the Carbonex t-joint piece in the racquet. It was too weak in that area, thus the breakage, and release of the Iso Tour 800.
I wouldn't try to argue with me on this point, because I knew this for a fact and if you're a Yonex purist I'm sure you knew that NOT all Yonex racquets at the time, were constructed with the t-joint built in.
The t-joint itself is like a little piece of medal (not sure of the composition...), that adds stability between the head, and shaft. Making the racquet face more stable during impact, and reducing vibration slightly.
The t-joint is pretty much Universal now, with exception of the lower end models.
Yonex Canada realized this, and discontinued buying the racquets rougly... hmm... 6-8 months after it's initial launch here in North America.
Back then, it was too Pricey, too fragile, and there just didn't seem to be a market for it, as Isometric racquets were relatively new... not too many people wanted to switch. (this is just for the Canadian market... I'm not sure about the US)
This was the era in which the Cab21/Cab 20 tour reigned supreme again... (after the Boron 200's time)

As for actually buying it for $75 Canadian, I'd say that's relatively a good deal!!!
It's definitely a classic you will want to add to your collection for collectors purposes, however as for play... I'm a bit wary about playing with it myself... I know most of my limitations, and I definitely know a lot of my strengths...

Shaun, if you buy it, I hope it stays perfect for you.

Again... these are just my personal experiences with the racquet, while on my promotional tour through the city clubs, and seeing them in sanctioned tournaments in my province.
Who knows... could have been a bad batch of some sort...

As for answering your questions directly Brett.
-Are the old Iso 500's the same color as shown in the reviews section? If not, how do they look?
Nope... as described above, the ones I helped to sell, were Reddish/Brown.
Nothing fancy, the paint didn't have too much shine if at all to it.


-Are they Swing Power models (lighter shaft and handle with more weight in head)?
Definitely not swing power models... the weight distribution back then was not that big of an issue, as they relied more on the player to generate the power from the racquet, rather than the other way around.... but as previously mentioned, the weight is just slightly towards the head, because of the slimmer shaft. I can't remember a direct comparison, as the 300 was my favorite out of the bunch... but again the Iso metric head... it was a bit larger than some of todays frames...


-Which of the newer, swing power Iso 500's would the older version compare with most closely? How is it balanced?
This is a very good question... Hmm... I think the 500 would be close to... hmm... the composition of the old 500 was HM graphite/HM graphite... similar to the 800tour.
90-94 grams in spec.... err... I'm going to reserve comment on what it compares to... because I would have to compare it outside of the series. It was very unique to say the least. as mentioned the balance is slightly towards the bulky head... which in my opinion, is why the racquet broke so frequently. Slim shaft, heavier head, no t-joint = fragile racquet easy to break. Classic Yonex design flaw ;)
If you must twist my arm to get an answer I'd say it's more closely related to the SS, doubles racquet... but that's just my opinion. Today's Iso's are just about unbreakable. Unless you shave away the graphite, and screw up the structural integrity.


-If the old model 500 has an oval-shaped head, why is it called "Iso" 500?
I seem to have confused you on this one... sorry.
by oval shaped head... I mean actually the frame is more of a widebody Isometric design, but not near as smooth as the Aerotus serious. Very comparable to the Iso 250 tour (same racquet but actually has a t-joint), and the Iso 800 tour.



-To what current, newer racquet do you feel the old Iso 500 compares most closely?
Actually, since you widened up my choices... I'd say it compares more to the Aerotus series :? not sure if that helps anything at all???
But in terms of Iso, your best bet would be the Iso 500 again SS of course... but that's just my opinion.

-slightly different topic: how do the newer Iso 500SS and SX models compare to the more upmarket Iso 900 and Ti SP SS and SX models? A bit heavier I would imagine?
The upmarket 900, and Ti Swing power... here is a nice comparison to make.

The Swing power itself places even more emphasis on weight distribution, and adds Yonex's titanium marketing gimmic to the fray.

The Ti's are much stiffer, because of the Ultra HM graphite composition.
The 500s are made of regular graphite??? that doesn't sound right to me... If I'm not correct, I think they are made of HM graphite, or all these racquets would be extremely flexible, which they are not. :?
As for the weight of the racquet itself, I hope when you said heavier, you meant that the weight distribution was more concentrated in a certain area, because that's what it seems to be.
As for play, again the Ti's are not beginners racquets, nor are the 500s

The 900s were discontinued, because of certain flaws again!!!!
So that the Ti could take it's place, and also the marketing factor... it's easier to market the Ti Swingpower because of the Titanium.
I heard that the 900s didn't sell too well here in Canada... not sure how true this is... but most of the 900s I see were bought in Malaysia. B)

Anyways... I hope this rant serves to quell your questions, and I guess this announces that I'm back after a very brief 10-12 hour absence??? :p
Talk to you soon.

Okay, sorry Brett, but this year's Longest Post Award goes to...

Kelvin!

Congratulations! ;)

I don't know if that's something to be proud of... LMAO.
but thanks!
I'm honestly tired of trolling this website, I'm going to take normal intervals like you guys do.

It's really great meeting all of you, and getting into these chats with you guys about one of our favorite sports! :)
Also thanks to Kwun, for even making the website, for without him, this wouldn't be possible.

I noticed it - I think that my apprentice in message writing no longer needs my tutelage - the student has now surpassed the master. Henceforth, I shall refer to Kelvin as either Grasshopper or Cain.

Actually, I really appreciate Kelvin's thorough review and opinions. Before I got my Carlton (which I have now shipped back to Carlton, USA for inspection and hopefully an exchange), I was seriously thinking about the Iso 500 and I might yet buy one. Kelvin's review sure beats comments like "Good racquet."

The one i am getting(ISO 500) contains 500. so AF described it right, as for the colors, i have NO idea as i have never seen it before. i'll pick it up this saturday i think

Are you guys serious?

I didn't really consider that a review of the 500... but thanks for the encouragement.
If there's someone willing to read what I have to say, then I'll continue posting more indepth coverage of products... I will be reviewing other products as well, so keep your fingers crossed, and maybe I can find some good stuff from the other manufacturers as well. :)

No.. no... Brett still holds the record for longests posts... :)
I think he's been here a lot longer than I have.

Kelvin, u prefered the ISO 300 over the ISO 500? how come

The shaft wasn't quite as thin... call me crazy, sometimes I prefer models that aren't top of the line. :)

ah whatever, i've changed my mind once again....carb 10 tour...i dont want to try ISO heads just incase i dont like it

The model that the Racquet Doctor in Toronto is the bluish purple version, the one that I have. I emailed them to find out if it was the same as the one I have. First generation as far as I can tell, all the pre-swing power 500's that I have seen around are the bluish purple colour. I haven't seen the reddish brownish one that Kelvin describes.

I got mine used through a guy on the Internet in the US in 1997. The first person that I knew who got this racquet, got it Hong Kong, a 500SP, I believe in 1994 or 1995, when the first Iso's came on the market. At the top of the racquet, it says the composition of the racquet as Titanium Graphite, no hi-mod graphite in this racquet. Durability, my racquet is still going, even if I am not the one using it. The one from Hong Kong is broken, met its fate against the net post. I know one guy who currently uses them, he has 2 and still going strong after so many years.

Good luck Shaun, I can't complain that you aren't going to try the HiQua 800 or 200, but to each their own.

Regards,
AF