*New! Adidas Badminton

[ZeroSOFInfinity]

About an hour ago, I have been on the courts. Somebody gave me sample racquets to try out.

Unfortunately, time was limited but the racquets I tried were robust and good quality. Well balanced. I didn't take any pictures (cuz not really supposed to). Aargh - such a scoop story as well.

There's a good chance I will try the racquets again when my elbow feels a bit better. Trying to get some terms with them myself. Hehehe

Going by your comments, looks like we have a rival for Yonex and Li Ning soon

[Licin]

Going by your comments, looks like we have a rival for Yonex and Li Ning soon

Didn't you consider Victor as a competitor for Yonex and LiNing ?

[Cheung]

TBH, I haven't tried the LiNing range at all (nor looked at the prices). I managed to play with a MX80 over the Christmas and that was quite good. However, not that many places sell Victor in my location (or rather I have to make quite an effort to find it).

If the rest of the range feels as good as the ones I tried, yes, we will have 4 main players in the market. I tried only 2 racquets out the samples. I do feel top end racquets have become overpriced and I guess Adidas racquets are going to near the same prices. I have used Yonex in the past and frames have broken easily. (i.e.Isometric 800 and Slim 10). That partly pushed me back to the carbonex 20 which I still use now - the earlier production line seems to be tougher. If the Adidas racquets are tougher (we had a clash today and the racquets survived!), then uptake is going to be good amongst consumers. However, the distribution network is important as well for good sales as is the profit margin per racquet for the retailers.

I am moving to playing more doubles now and have been wondering about a change of racquets to accommodate the different playing style. I might change soon.

Unfortunately, I didn't have footwear to try out. The early version samples (I am told) were more all court wear types. So the sole, whilst suitable for general indoor sports, wasn't quite what we need as badminton players. Adidas, after getting feedback, have hopefully improved on the shoes.

[Cheung]

Normally, I don't post a lot on the equipment but this news has got me buzzing.

[ZeroSOFInfinity]

Didn't you consider Victor as a competitor for Yonex and LiNing ?

Did I? Can't remember though. When?

[Mark A]

Viktor Axelsen will be sponsored by Adidas soon.
He already signed the contract.

This bodes well - a top-32 player isn't going to use beach rackets... looks like Adidas is serious.

[HEADATP]

I'm just hoping Adidas puts more efforts in their badminton racquets than they did with their tennis racquets. Their tennis racquets were borderline failure. *crosses fingers*

[george@chongwei]

first and foremost, i think they are focusing the europe's market first.. Asia market is too early and hard for them to venture in and compete with the likes of yonex, li ning and victor

[Cycril]

maybe more and more EU players will be sponsored by adidas. if they are successful in this, they might take over Head and Babolat in badminton in Europe!

[demolidor]

Judging by the gushing reactions the rackets will sell themselves in Asia, no need for sponsored players German quality, wah!.

HEAD is out of badminton for a year already . And Babolat is not really big outside of the few sponsored players ...

If they are only focusing on Europe first they wouldn't launch in 50 countries from the start?

[Cycril]

Judging by the gushing reactions the rackets will sell themselves in Asia, no need for sponsored players German quality, wah!.

HEAD is out of badminton for a year already . And Babolat is not really big outside of the few sponsored players ...

If they are only focusing on Europe first they wouldn't launch in 50 countries from the start?

didn't know that . so you're saying that they want to compete with the big companies like YY, LN and victor? If yes, babolat and other smaller companies in EU will slowly become like HEAD
P.S. i think Nike should do this too - Niketon!

[demolidor]

Babolat and HEAD are big in tennis already so no need for pity and Adidas failed to get into the tennis rackets so far. Maybe badminton was the backup plan ...
BadNike ... BadNike

There is plenty of info on the adidas badminton facebook page if one cares to go through all the comments . The bad mania forum also has a comment the prices will be in between 119 and 169 euro.

[Cycril]

Babolat and HEAD are big in tennis already so no need for pity and Adidas failed to get into the tennis rackets so far. Maybe badminton was the backup plan ...
BadNike ... BadNike

There is plenty of info on the adidas badminton facebook page if one cares to go through all the comments . The bad mania forum also has a comment the prices will be in between 119 and 169 euro.

Adidas failed in tennis career? I thought tsonga was sponsored by them. BadNike...Bad bad Nike. LOL
the price is like YY's high end racket price already .
P.S. 200th post, yippie!

[R20190]

I don't want to sound pessimistic but for some reason I just can't see Adidas making that much of an impact on the sales of the heavy weights in this market.

Look at the likes of Wilson for example, a huge racquet manufacturer with as much (if not more) experience, know-how and history as any other manufacturer yet they've struggled in the badminton. They're massive in the tennis world but when it comes to badminton, there's only a small percentage of players at each level using their racquets. And with the recent rise of Victor and LN racquets, that would make it even more difficult.

My suspicions are that they would come on the scene with a few lines, sponsor a few players, but after a few years they'd realise they're not making much money and slowly withdraw their investment.

Don't get me wrong, I very much welcome new manufacturers to the market as it keeps the big boys on their toes and gives us consumers more choice. But it is a big challenge and the odds in my view are stacked against them.

[Cheung]

Market penetration is a multifaceted process. Sponsorship of top players is one. But just one player is not enough - even if they are top of the world. That player has to have some charisma as well.

One needs a few top players and this is where things are interesting. Just how many top players are available with the ability to sign an individual equipment contract?

What about finding the racquets? I have hardly seen forza for sale, sotx only a few places, babolat rarely. Head, well, nothing in asia.

Sponsoring tournaments? That's an idea. I hope we can see more of this. Adidas sponsoring a world championships?

Li Ning has been making a loss as well. Wonder how long they can stay in the market....

I hope another manufacturer can stay in the market long enough to help the players push up their incomes.

[adidascanada]

I don't want to sound pessimistic but for some reason I just can't see Adidas making that much of an impact on the sales of the heavy weights in this market.

Look at the likes of Wilson for example, a huge racquet manufacturer with as much (if not more) experience, know-how and history as any other manufacturer yet they've struggled in the badminton. They're massive in the tennis world but when it comes to badminton, there's only a small percentage of players at each level using their racquets. And with the recent rise of Victor and LN racquets, that would make it even more difficult.

My suspicions are that they would come on the scene with a few lines, sponsor a few players, but after a few years they'd realise they're not making much money and slowly withdraw their investment.

Don't get me wrong, I very much welcome new manufacturers to the market as it keeps the big boys on their toes and gives us consumers more choice. But it is a big challenge and the odds in my view are stacked against them.

I don't think Wilson (and other tennis companies) had/have a FULL resource commitment to badminton and that is where they failed. To them badminton is sort of the other child while they spoil their favourite (tennis). Sort of like squash and racquetball.

These tennis companies do not have the apparel and footwear experience and resources that adidas does. Adidas stands to gain more from this than just selling badminton racquets.

[demolidor]

The big difference imo with Adidas is that they are big in football (and sports in general), and football is the most popular sport in the world. Everyone knows Adidas, unlike Wilson, etc. People will buy it because it is Adidas and feel part of the rest of the world of sports (the apparel at least, if the design hasn't been messed up, rackets will indeed remain to be seen)