RKEP Pro 6000 Review

[cycilver]

Hello everybody, I am here today to review one of the two new rackets Eric of Squash Mart has manufactured -- the RKEP Pro 6000.

Specs of the tested racket:

Dry weight- 86g
Dry balance- 292mm
Overgrip- one RKEP Elite to the cone/ferrule
String and tension- Yonex BG80 Power
Shaft stiffness- medium-stiff to stiff
Time on court- approximately 40 hours, doubles and singles

Background- So after testing the racket for a few weeks, and playing in two tournaments with it, I finally feel confident enough to write about it. For those who don’t know it, the shape of the head is a copy of the Victor BraveSword series although I didn’t find it as pronounced as the Victors. What I mean by that statement is that although the “sword” shape is present, the frame is not as thick as the Victor BS09 I have owned in the past.

First Impressions- The racket is pretty nice looking being predominantly blue with splashes of white, black, and foil-like material. The paint quality is definitely a step up from the first RKEP racket (AT800P). The racket overall feels very solid upon impact, not too much vibration, and good-looking grommets. I didn’t fear losing the racket on my first hard clash, nor did I worry about paint chips. Swing speed is rather fast – producing a nice whipping sound – although I still find the Arcsaber Z Slash far faster.

Game Time- The Pro 6000 is indeed quick. My personal preference is doubles is to play the front with a lot of kills, drives and nets and this racket does the job. The very slight head heaviness doesn’t factor in the speed at the front as the swing speed and light overall weight compensates for it. Clears were likewise effortless although I did have some timing issues at the start of using the racket. Drives were quick and zippy, this racket makes me want to keep it up and receive the next drive as it inspires a certain confidence with the speed, so addicting. Smashing is not the greatest with this racket although that greatly varies with the person and the respective form. I found that the racket wasn’t head heavy enough, nor was it stiff enough to consistently kill from back court.

Singles with the Pro 6000 was quite fun. I like to place shots more than anything in singles so I prefer something very quick and responsive. All shots were effortless with just my wrist alone. After an adjustment period of a few days with the racket, I was able to defeat my arch nemesis in badminton XD (a good friend). Backhand smashes were simple, but backhand drops – especially cross-court – were the most fun.

Conclusion- After playing with the racket for a few weeks, I finally got my first chip. Nothing major. I was actually expecting something more with the force of the clash. But anyways, the Pro 6000 is definitely a good racket for those who like to play the front of the net in doubles. It lacks the extra oomph necessary for power players but performs admirably in singles. For those who want something low cost and high reward, this is definitely the racket to get. Let’s give a round of applause to Eric for this marvellous racket.

Power- 8/10
Defense- 9.5/10
Control- 8.5/10
Value- 10/10

Everything written here is subjective and may not be true for everyone who uses this racket.

[yurimaster2010]

bro,
looking forward for side by side comparision to PRO 9000 soon