hi everyone, i'm currently looking to try some oval shaped rackets out on the market right now, doesnt necessarily have to be yonex, but i'd like to check out a few other brands such as carlton, bk, any clonex etc. i'm mainly interested in a stiff, even to head heavy balanced oval shaped racket. price range of $160 CAD max thanks! -joe
Heh! Check out this thread... http://www.badmintonforum.com/vb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=13461 I am in a similar situation as you. The racquets I listed on my profile are all ovalheads with reputed stiff shafts (as claimed by their respective companies). However, there's not many very stiff racquets out there cuz there's not much market demand for them.
yea, i've been reading that thread as well, but i'd like to see what other options i have first. perhaps tad's will lend me some demos once i narrow it down here on bf. anyone know if tad's has demo rackets for customers?
carlton ab pro, ab as1, ab 2000; talbot torro "arrowspeed" ; victor magan beryllium cx 1500 , b. cx 500, zeus magan cx 10, fung 2000 ti, aramid cx 10, aramid cx5, phoenix 2000, phoenix 500....
I currently use a Karakal SL-70, which has an oval head construction. This particular racket may not be to your taste since it's so light, but I believe the entire Karakal range is oval.
i think it actually is 1 cm shorter than the standard although i dont own one, but i've compared the actual racket to my ti10 long and it was approx 2 cm shorter than that... hm... another criteria i guess i can put down is... preferably a long racket any BK suggestions?
BK: 2012 I purchase for $119+tx at sports experts but that was a 40% off sale. IT is head heavy, medium flex, long, iso. I use BK-865 Rapier , it is fairly stiff, light balanced, long, iso. Another BK favorite is the PC-890 , yellow color , long , medium flex head heavy. I just spoke to the Karakal rep, all of their racquets are standard length and oval head. Their September 04 lineup includes many long (+1cm) racquets, but all will maintain the oval head shape.
The Karakal SL-70 is almost exactly the same length as my previous racket, a Yonex MP-88. In other words, they are "standard" length rackets.
I have used the Mp88 and sl70, and they are very different IMO. The sl70 is head light (or even), and the mp88 is head heavy (slightly). With the sl70 I found control a real problem, simply because it was just too light, and was mis timing it, I prefer rackets in 3u/2u range (87-92grams)
hehe...so u didn't like the MP88 either then? man its strange switching between 2u cab20 and 83g sotx woven5a oh well, good for learning proper timing, and not just being used to hitting without thinking