Racket recommendation for power/smashing. Okay, I've just got back into badmington over the past year after a long 15 year break. I'm 40, but fit as hell and can run around a court all day long. I posted here a year back asking for recommendation for a racket that will allow me to play offensively and smash shots so hard that the opponent stands no chance of returning to me. The guy I play with regularly is pretty good and my best chance of winning points is with un-returnable smashes. The racket I was using many years back was a Yonix Isometric Power 200. When I took up badminton after a long break and I asked for a recommendation of a racket for offensive fast/hard smashes, one suggestion was the Prince M+87, which I bought for £70 (I'm based in England, UK). Having used the Prince for 10 months, I find that I'm experiencing problems with it so I would like a recommendation for a better racket. The problem I'm having with the Prince is this. I can get power from it, but I really have to put my whole arm and shoulder into the action, which means after an hour of playing, I can feel it in my right shoulder. I never had this with my old/cheap Yonix. Seconding, the (don't know the technical name for it) circular frame that the gut is stretched across is a bit on the thick side, I find the shuttle catches it a lot and ruins your shot; it kind of gets in the way too much. If I hold it side on, compared to my old Yonix it is about 4cm thicker, it protrudes. Third problem with this racket is when it comes to those very gentle/soft/light taps just a few inches over the net. There is zero bounce off the gut, you have to physically give the shuttle a tap and it is impossible to judge for a very light 'just over the net' shot. It either stops dead on the racket hence I lose the point, or it goes 4 feet over the net and is easy for my opponent to return. I am starting to get tuition as of Wednesday this week by a tournament player, so hopefully I'll learn a lot about techniques etc. In the meantime, I know it is down to the player, but the racket helps right? So can anyone give me a decent recommendation for another racket for offensive playing that will allow me to totally smash really fast and hard shots that my opponent will find impossible to return. Also must be able to smash long shots from the back of my court to the other side of opponent's court. Just while I'm here, I'd also like a recommendation for decent shuttle cocks for playing in normal inside sports hall UK heat conditions. I've tried Yonix Aerosensa 30 reaf feather ones. Found too slow and they break up too easily. Also tried Yonix Mavis 300 blue cap, which I find too slow and they frey too easily. Also tried Yonix Mavis 370 in red and blue, too slow and frey too easily. So can anyone also recommend fast shuttlecocks for indoor UK playing that will also last a bit longer. I originally posted here in August 2005. I've changed my username slightly since then and re-joined as I screwed up with the username somehow. Now I've signed up again with username that I can remember I'll be able to post here more often with feedback and findings etc, and hopefully at some point, a bit of advice for other forum users. Here is the link to my post from August 2005; for what it's worth: http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=25921&highlight=nigel Money, no object. Cheers guys and girls. Nigel
1. Sounds like the tension is the issue for you, rather than the factor. Maybe the tension was way too low (judged from your discription of net rallies)? 2. There's no un-returnable smash in theory, even international level of players, can't produce those. Of course, better timing and placement (rather than brutal power) can eliminate the opponent's chances to excute an effective return.
If i remember it right, isometric 200 is a brute-study racket(the all black one??). Since i'm more familar with yonex than other brands, i would suggest you go to a store or try one out from a friend the 3U Armortec 800 offensive (copper color) and defensive (olive color). These are similar rackets but the OF version is a bit more head heavier. The AT800's are very safe choices. There are also the newer Nanospeed 9000's but they are even more stiffer. NS9k is definitely a required taste. If you think u mishit often, the AT800 weakness is it lack one more cross string at the frame top. However, i never had any string breakage problem because of this. Only heard them from some posters here. (and from one 1 progressing 11 year old junior i string for) for feather shuttles being too slow, find out the correct speed for your area or just smash harder If mavis 300 blue cap is too slow, try the red cap. As Lazybuddy said, u should also find out what string and tension is right for u. It has great influence on how the racket respond.
cooler, just checked out the Yonex Armortec 800 Offensive on www.directsportseshop.co.uk and the specs say it is designed for the 'doubles player', I didn't realize there was such as thing as doubles and singles rackets, can anyone clarity the basic difference?
What i've noticed, is that the grip/handle of the AT800's is longer than other yonexes, thus making it easier/more comfortable to grip higher. That's the only thing which is making it a doubles play racket in my book. But you can use just as well for a singles match, if that's your concern.
i think the 'armor type' frame and new grommet pattern introduced that year make the AT800 more marketable for racket clashing in double.
Hi Nigel-DV, Since you are use to YY iso power, other choices might be higher end YY Muscule Power Series. Like Cooler and Lb said, borrow or demo as mony racquets as possible before you buy. My suggestion is to borrow or demo one and play a game with it. Some racquets are love at first swing. Some you need to get to know them. Also, there are reacquet reviews on this forum you can read to get better idea from. One more thing, like tennis, a well position shot is better than a powerful shot. PS. Please read these 2 posts. you will know why there is no unreturnable smashes. This player is a BEAR!!! http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34717 http://www.badmintoncentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=32634
Where I am based near Cambridge in the UK there are no shops that have demo stock. It's a UK thing. I have no choice but to buy.
Where I'm based near Cambridge in the UK, there are no dealers with demo stock. It's a UK thing. I have no choice but to buy.
Anyone in your club or any of your friend uses AT series or MP series that you can borrow to hit a few shots?
I don't play with the club as they are a funny bunch, same for the 'social evening', they are both a bit like: "the first rule of badminton club is, you do not talk about badminton club, the second rule...". You get the point, they are a snobbish bunch. I only play with my regular playing partner. However, on Wednesday I start lessons with a badninton genious. I'll ask him.
if u really like smashing, i think the 3u 800OF is a safe choice. sounds like u play mostly doubles too
No, I only ever play singles. When I say 'badminton partner' I mean the guy I play against on a regular basis. Sorry for confusion.
at700 is the most headheavy piece by yonex, you might want to consider that if you are into attack at500 and mp88 are also nice too ns9k x/s are good too, depends on your strength i guess its hard to recommand a racket when we don't know you much... from your net play seems like your tension is too high, making it less bouncy, but net play and tension just take time to get used to... maybe if you are uncertain rather what kind of racket is good for you, throw away some money by buying a kason lepton f1 and see if you are alright with it? its flexible, head heavy and very light weight, if later you think this racket is too flexible for you, you can then spend more on stiffer rackets? kason is chinese junior sponsor, shouldn't be too bad i supposed, it maybe only half of what yonex would cost on such model but if you are a hulk like sir dinkalot, sotx is always a good choice as well
Woven...extremely powerful. Other options: SOTX D600, Woven 7, Woven 12, Woven 13, Yonex 2U Ti10, 2U MP100, Cab 9.
Yonex introduced the AT800 series in 2004 specifically for doubles play. The length of the handle does not determine if it is for singles or doubles. The sole reason for Yonex's "AT800 series for doubles" is based on a re-design of the grommets at the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock part (most vulnerable to racquet clashes) of the frame to allow only one string to pass instead of two. This reduces the size of the grommet hole at the vulnerable part of the frame, where racquet clashes, a common thing in doubles, often result in broken racquets. A reduction in the size of the grommet means more material in the frame (less is drilled out) which will enable the racquets to withstand clashes better than the "2-strings through one grommet" racquets. The flip side of this design is a gaping unsupported-by-cross strings area at the racquet top, which becomes a nightmare when you mishit-the string will kaput.
Though from a technical standpoint what Eepak stated is true, I find the Yonex AT series one of the weakest rackets, structurally. They break quite easily, relative to its peers. Fortunately, from a performance standpoint, in 4U, I have found no equal to the ATs.
