Well I've read both the racket reviews on either racket and I have done research on the racket specifications. However, the problem that faces me is that I won't be able to try out these rackets, therefore I would like to get the advice from fellow badminton players who have used these SOTX rackets. I am not worried about the price difference between these rackets only performance difference. Which racket would you choose? I am an intermediate player that plays guy's doubles. I rely on my smashes, dropshots from the rear court and offensive clears. Therefore, I would like a racket that builds on these strenghts but will also hopefully improve my net shots near the net. Also I would like to know the stiffness of rackets. Thanks in advance, gg_n00b!
Woven 8 / 8a is defiinitely better for you. Its heavier than 9 so the smash power is more but still light enough for good defense in doubles. Both rackets are pretty stiff.
I disagree that the 8 is more powerful. It may be overal heavier, but the 9 is a bit longer and the balance is more in the head, so it still turns out with more swingweight. I own the Woven 8, 8a, 9 and 9a, and the 9s are heavier hitters than the 8s in my opinion.
I don't know about the 9 but you cannot go wrong with the 8. The 8 is an excellent all-around racket. I also have the 7. Now that's a real offensive racket, a smashers dream. GGNoob, since you can't test the rackets, get an 8 to be safe.
how are sotx's racket quality? are they comparable to yonex? oh, are their double digit racket lines good? or if anyone know about their super carbon? their racket look abit old but definitely a good idea putting those custom hood in cars into rackets
Ok, I've decided to update my experience with the SOTX Woven 9. I've been using this racket for about 2 and 1/2 months now and I can say it doesn't disappoint. I've had it strung with BG 65 Ti at 23 lbs. The feel is extremely comfortable and solid on impact. Due to its lightnes, this racket makes net play extremely easy. Also, I find it quite powerful and effective in clearing and smashing. Overall, it is a superb racket. The quality of the racket is also amazing. You can actually see the woven in the racket head and shaft. In essence, this is a great racket for intermediate to advanced players.
The quality of the SOTX rackets is no doubt very good. Every detail of the racket is nicely made, like the grommets, grips and the paint around the edge of the handles, which does not chip off easily like my Yonex rackets. The design might not looks as cool as Yonex, but performance wise it is just as good if not better, but much cheaper.
IMHO, the performance is better than Yonex's; the quality is better and the woven technology is definitely way superior as you can string the woven rackets up to 31lbs. and 35lbs. for the Woven Super Carbon, as opposed to Yonex's 22-24lbs. max recommendation. Yonex's next step should be to go woven.
Woven 7 While we are reviewing SOTX racquets, s4madman has first hand experience hitting bombs with Woven 7 from baseline! Tell us about the bombers you generated, Dan.
Lol, anyone looking for SOTX in canada let me know, I have my connections On a side note-- between Yonex and SOTX, I can't really say the the performance of one brand is better than the other because it really depends on personal preference. But, in my opinion, it is financially a lot easier to get a racket that matches your expectations from SOTX than it is from YONEX. Between the 8 and 9, I prefer the 9, but not to discredit the 8 at all-- the 8 was my primary racket until I got the hang of the 9. it just works better for me, there's no right answer that works for everyone-- like how some people use MP99 and others use AT800. If you like the 8, you should also consider the 12... the 12 is the same weight and balance as the 8s, but they're made from the supercarbon.
What are the advantages of SuperCarbon? Jinryu, could you further describe what you like about the Woven 9 over the Woven 8.
Well, put it this way... Everything I could like about a Woven 8 is in the 9. Plus, I find that the 9 hits harder. The thing is-- an even balanced racket is supposed to be equally useful for power and quickness. To me, power is mostly the ability to do quality clears and smashes. Quickness, which is maneuverability, is the racket's ability to deffend quickly against smashes or to allow you to use certain types of deception (that require a lot of wrist). Usually a heavy racket is more powerful. Usually a light racket is more quick and maneuverable. But where the equation got interesting is that companies make rackets that, though overal are 'heavy' or 'light', you can change where the weight is distributed to alter it's swingweight and thus, it's power or quickness. The 8, i find, is an excellent starting point-- what i look for in a 'good racket' is mostly stability against torsion and a nice solid feel to impacts. Balances and overal weights are not exclusive to any one brand-- so the only way that i measure a racket's 'quality' is it's ability to produce the same results when i hit in exactly the same way. Say I hit off center shots-- does the racket twist in my hand, or in the shaft, or does the racket 'plow' through the shot and do roughly what i want anyway? Ummm... getting off topic. The 8 is a good stable racket that if i had to make and arbitrary scale, i would say is neither deffensive nor offensive-- it is MY middle ground racket. The 9, on the other hand, adds on some power by being longer and head heavier , thus more swing weight. At the same time, it reduces sluggishness normally characteristic of a heavier racket by being overal lighter. So in my opinion, the 9 is about as good as an 8 on deffense, but better on the offense. As to the supercarbon-- say you take the WOven 12 and the WOven 8, the only difference being the supercarbon. THe supercarbon i find makes the racket feel even more stable. Less vibration, less feeling of 'inaccuracy' due to torsion. I have a few dozen SOTX rackets in my personal arsenal (on account of my store-- and these are demo rackets for my clients too, so don't look at me as if im some sorta rich guy!) and out of my gear, my primary racket is at the moment the Woven 9, while my secondary (backup) is the Woven 12 Special Edition. Between the 9 and 8, I prefer the 9. But between the 9 and 12, i find the two are equally good because the sheer stability of the 12 makes up for what in my opinion is a slightly inferior weight distribution scheme. But this is just MY opinion-- there are a lot of players better than me who swear by even balanced rackets of course. Best scenario is to try them out and see what works for you.
additional to Jinryu, Super Carbon only available on Woven 10 and up. And I agree that Woven 8 is a very well made all rounded racket, recommanded for all starter to SOTX.
No, I meant people using SOTX. Within the people using SOTX rackets, the Woven 8 is the most popular.
I picked-up a Cab30MS on Friday and hit with it for one day and compared it to my Woven 8. For me, the Cab30MS it does not perform nearly as well as the Woven 8 or 9. I sold the Cab30MS on Saturday.
