*New! Adidas Badminton

[mzheng168]

Part three


Rackets

The three rackets I tried were the Adizero pro, the Adipower tour and the F500. The racket I currently use is the Meteor X80. I’m technically not good enough to make full use of the stiff shaft, but it doesn’t cause me injury and I like the feeling of it. It probably does limit me slightly though.

One note on all the rackets, everyone said they looked shorter than our normal rackets, but we didn’t get a chance to compare. Kwun, was this down to the handles being shorter creating an optical illusion, or are they actually shorter?

The Adizero pro and F500 were too head light and quick swinging for me. When I actually connected with a smash it was powerful enough but I felt a bit disconnected from the shuttle. There was more feel there with the Adizero pro than the F500 but I couldn’t get to grips with either in the short time I had with them. However my friend who like head light rackets quite enjoyed it. Personally I struggled to clear full court with either of them and all my shots were dodgy because of my timing issues. I wouldn’t use my impressions to judge the racket.

The Adipower tour on the other hand was much more like it for me. The balance was similar to the MX80. It was considerably flexier however. The flex seemed initially very flexy before becoming much stiffer. This created an interesting kick effect on smashes which I quite liked the feel of. It had plenty of power, I could get good angles when smashing. Defence was fine, slightly slower than the MX80 but a lot easier to get deep lifts from. Drops and clears were good also although I did have a slight habit of blasting it out the back on clears when I was off balance, just because I wasn’t used to the racket. The racket reminded me of an Arcsaber z-slash in terms of stiffness and general play feel. Only with a much larger sweetspot. My friend who like head light rackets hated the adipower tour, saying he felt like his hand was going to fall off from swinging it. Thus proving everyone has their own like and dislikes.

thanks a lot for the review, Sevex.
Did the Adipower Tour really feel as stiff as Arcsaber z-slash? that' s quite stiff (to me). it's labelled as medium by Adidas...

[j4ckie]

Looks very much like the ArcZS. Rather light, even balance, medium shaft. The ArcZS is not stiff, nor is it really head heavy (the balance might be, but then the weight would have to be rather low...it's definitely a low swing wt).

[demolidor]

Looks very much like the ArcZS. Rather light, even balance, medium shaft. The ArcZS is not stiff, nor is it really head heavy (the balance might be, but then the weight would have to be rather low...it's definitely a low swing wt).

Is the Z-Slash light weight or do you just happen to have a light one? Stock Z-Slash I have here [strings, original grip + plastic] weighs 93 gram. AT700 in same condition also weighs 93 gram. Even the bp is the same at ~303mm (but BG65 and G4 on Slash and BG68Ti and G3 on AT700)

[mzheng168]

Looks very much like the ArcZS. Rather light, even balance, medium shaft. The ArcZS is not stiff, nor is it really head heavy (the balance might be, but then the weight would have to be rather low...it's definitely a low swing wt).

if adipower Tour is not stiff and has the balance like the Victor MX series (not too head heavy) then this will be the one i am going to get... i just can handle stiff rackets

[j4ckie]

I had this one and a ZS TH, both were not head heavy. Neither was stiff. If your AT700 and ZS have the same BP and weight, somethings wrong With string and no heavy grip it should be in 310+ territory.

Edit: which generation AT700 is that? I only know the one LD used, which is basically the same as the N90 (which I own)...

[demolidor]

I had this one and a ZS TH, both were not head heavy. Neither was stiff. If your AT700 and ZS have the same BP and weight, somethings wrong With string and no heavy grip it should be in 310+ territory.

Edit: which generation AT700 is that? I only know the one LD used, which is basically the same as the N90 (which I own)...

They are indeed not headheavy or very stiff but they are not light rackets by design or something (Z-Slash). And the AT700 are the originals yes and indeed quite headlight ones (both produced on April 20 2004, one is 303 and the other 305 strung with BG68Ti). The 2006 I have from just before the new colour is around 300 unstrung but has those mp strips ("continuous grommets") added. Just tried to weigh some loose ones and they don't even register on the scale so makes probably no more than a few mm difference.
On the BBE webshop iirc the second gen was listed as more headheavy as well and 4U's are a little more headheavy in general as well when measured (which are the only ones sold in the US and perhaps responsible for the more extreme measurements reported )

BBE AT700 old: 298mm +/-3mm (http://www.bbeshop.com/yonex/yonex2005/racket_at700.htm)
BBE AT700 new: 302mm +/-3mm (http://www.bbeshop.com/yonex/yonex20...t_at700new.htm)

• Adidas ... yada yada yada ... all in ... . Shoes rrp 100 euro I believe, store price <=90?
• As for the marks on Axelsen's shoe, that is where the AdiTuff extra protection is added and Shintaro Ikeda went through the AdiTuff on a pair of the old model in 2 months ... and frankly it looked tougher on said model

[Limited328]

I'm more interested on the quality and pricing of their feather shuttlecocks.

[kwun]

I'm more interested on the quality and pricing of their feather shuttlecocks.

quality. very good. at least the highend ones. pricing is also very high. hopefully the street price will be more affordable.

i am expected to get the rest of the shuttle range to be tested so let's see how they fare.

[j4ckie]

They are indeed not headheavy or very stiff but they are not light rackets by design or something (Z-Slash). And the AT700 are the originals yes and indeed quite headlight ones (both produced on April 20 2004, one is 303 and the other 305 strung with BG68Ti). The 2006 I have from just before the new colour is around 300 unstrung but has those mp strips ("continuous grommets") added. Just tried to weigh some loose ones and they don't even register on the scale so makes probably no more than a few mm difference.
On the BBE webshop iirc the second gen was listed as more headheavy as well and 4U's are a little more headheavy in general as well when measured (which are the only ones sold in the US and perhaps responsible for the more extreme measurements reported )

BBE AT700 old: 298mm +/-3mm (http://www.bbeshop.com/yonex/yonex2005/racket_at700.htm)
BBE AT700 new: 302mm +/-3mm (http://www.bbeshop.com/yonex/yonex20...t_at700new.htm)

• Adidas ... yada yada yada ... all in ... . Shoes rrp 100 euro I believe, store price <=90?
• As for the marks on Axelsen's shoe, that is where the AdiTuff extra protection is added and Shintaro Ikeda went through the AdiTuff on a pair of the old model in 2 months ... and frankly it looked tougher on said model

Well I only had a few hits with a friend's AT700, but it was definitely a whole other racket than the whippy ArcZS. Even when using my Braveswords, that thing still feels light and unstable :S

Well, if the shoe held up 2 months with Ikeda, it's definitely good! I have killed 4 or 5 pairs of shoes at that spot (most of them Yonex), and it's usually after 2 or 3 months. In the last season, I went through 3 pairs of shoes (Season started in September) - 1 Victor 9000Ace (had used it for 2,5 months prior, so it lasted 3 months), which got a hole where the left big toe is, 1 Yonex SHB86, which had the hole on the side (just like in Axelsen's pic) and just tore completely in a training session, and 1 SH-F1M which had that hole as well, which I sent into retirement because the dampening was just gone (right heel).
In the 3 years I've been playing, I went through a total of 10 pairs, being on my 11th now.

So a pro's shoe lasting 2 months doesn't bother me much

[visor]

In the 3 years I've been playing, I went through a total of 10 pairs, being on my 11th now.

So a pro's shoe lasting 2 months doesn't bother me much

Dang! So where do you have money left over to buy any rackets?

[CantSmashThis]

quality. very good. at least the highend ones. pricing is also very high. hopefully the street price will be more affordable.

i am expected to get the rest of the shuttle range to be tested so let's see how they fare.

May I test one this Sunday @CBA?

[Licin]

In the 3 years I've been playing, I went through a total of 10 pairs, being on my 11th now.

That was really shocking...my question is the same with visor, where do you have money left over to buy rackets?
If i wear out shoes in the same speed as you, i might end up buying Astec or Flypower shoes, instead of Yonex or those expensive brand . On top of that, i will buy racket once in two year, instead of once in a year.

[j4ckie]

Dang! So where do you have money left over to buy any rackets?

That was really shocking...my question is the same with visor, where do you have money left over to buy rackets?
If i wear out shoes in the same speed as you, i might end up buying Astec or Flypower shoes, instead of Yonex or those expensive brand . On top of that, i will buy racket once in two year, instead of once in a year.

Well, I got most of my rackets in the first year, where I only used 2 pairs....after that, not so much money for new stuff anymore Stringing rackets helps....still, some kind of sponsorship would be immensely helpful for next season. Won't be able to afford another 3 rackets breaking like this season!

[Sevex]

thanks a lot for the review, Sevex.
Did the Adipower Tour really feel as stiff as Arcsaber z-slash? that' s quite stiff (to me). it's labelled as medium by Adidas...

I have never thought of the Z-slash as stiff... It is medium flex to me. But I haven't had one around to compare to in about 8 months, maybe my memory is deceiving me.

From what I remember of the Z-slash the adipower tour is a lot more stable. In fact it felt incredibly stable for a more flexy racket. I went back to trying to the panda power trinity 2 last night for comparison and the tour was more stable than it and on par with the MX80 (not quite as solid feeling on impact though).

j4ckie, I wouldn't say the tour or the z-slash is light. Both are a fairly "normal" weight for a badminton racket. Especially with the oncoming silliness of the flash-boost. I would say the tour is around the weight of most Victor rackets, including the MX80 and also the balance of the MX80, 70 and 60. It is probably why I could adjust very quickly to it.

The adipower zero or F500 on the other hand are not much lighter but they have a very light swing weight. It was like a feather. They also weren't quite as stable, but that might have been from me mis-hitting a lot more with them.

[kwun]

One note on all the rackets, everyone said they looked shorter than our normal rackets, but we didn’t get a chance to compare. Kwun, was this down to the handles being shorter creating an optical illusion, or are they actually shorter?

i compared my adipower pro with a AT900P and the adipower pro is actually slightly longer!

any length differences will be illusion of some sort. the handles are shorter compared to Yonex.

Shuttles

As for the shuttles, they were very good, not sure what type they were, I forgot to look. Flight was consistent and they didn’t want to break. The Adidas rep missed a tube when he was packing up so we used them up after he had gone. After a bit of hitting around half court and a game of singles (which ended 21-19) the shuttle still looked brand new. Admittedly me and the person I was playing against don’t slice or mis-hit much but I was expecting it to look a little worse for wear. However with Kwun suggesting the price of them won’t please anyone I am not surprised they are very good!

depending on the model, they are really really good shuttles. totally reminds me of the old Aeroplane Black that no longer exist. hopefully the street price will come down a bit compared to what i was quoted.

[j4ckie]

I have never thought of the Z-slash as stiff... It is medium flex to me. But I haven't had one around to compare to in about 8 months, maybe my memory is deceiving me.

From what I remember of the Z-slash the adipower tour is a lot more stable. In fact it felt incredibly stable for a more flexy racket. I went back to trying to the panda power trinity 2 last night for comparison and the tour was more stable than it and on par with the MX80 (not quite as solid feeling on impact though).

j4ckie, I wouldn't say the tour or the z-slash is light. Both are a fairly "normal" weight for a badminton racket. Especially with the oncoming silliness of the flash-boost. I would say the tour is around the weight of most Victor rackets, including the MX80 and also the balance of the MX80, 70 and 60. It is probably why I could adjust very quickly to it.

The adipower zero or F500 on the other hand are not much lighter but they have a very light swing weight. It was like a feather. They also weren't quite as stable, but that might have been from me mis-hitting a lot more with them.

Well, compared to any N-series Li Ning, they are, but just swinging the ZS around I have to agree - it doesn't really feel extraordinarily light. It has a very head light feeling on impact though (at least to me). Just swinging, it feels rather close to a Bravesword in weight and speed, but in actual play it's just two worlds.
Concerning the racket length - if they were in fact shorter, you would've noticed. 1cm shorter makes a huge difference, you'd mishit all over the place
Hoping the handles aren't too short though - I like longer handles, like on the N70. Makes me grip higher around the net (as I always grip with my index finger just below the cone when serving/attempting a kill...)

[demolidor]

Well I only had a few hits with a friend's AT700, but it was definitely a whole other racket than the whippy ArcZS. Even when using my Braveswords, that thing still feels light and unstable :S

Well, if the shoe held up 2 months with Ikeda, it's definitely good! I have killed 4 or 5 pairs of shoes at that spot (most of them Yonex), and it's usually after 2 or 3 months. In the last season, I went through 3 pairs of shoes (Season started in September) - 1 Victor 9000Ace (had used it for 2,5 months prior, so it lasted 3 months), which got a hole where the left big toe is, 1 Yonex SHB86, which had the hole on the side (just like in Axelsen's pic) and just tore completely in a training session, and 1 SH-F1M which had that hole as well, which I sent into retirement because the dampening was just gone (right heel).
In the 3 years I've been playing, I went through a total of 10 pairs, being on my 11th now.

So a pro's shoe lasting 2 months doesn't bother me much

He is still using the original BT Feather (sold as handball shoes in Europe: Feather Elite). These later versions have a hard plastic/rubber looking AdiTuff patch (http://heppo.no/mediaarchive/1246792...-w-1028638.jpg) rather than the canvas looking thing on the first version and the upcoming 'new' BT Feather ... Maybe the old stuff works better than the plastic . But you are right: the hours a pro turns in in 2 months will last a normal user half a season to a season. But the model is too narrow for me anyway to even consider trying it ...