Hi everybody, Have been trying out a new pair of shoes this last week. Before that, I have been using Yonex. Why Yonex? Not because it was the best(!) but because it was so difficult to find any other half way suitable badminton shoes. These new shoes are from the Mizuno range. Designed as a badminton shoe the model name is "Mastercross LB-R" (that's what the box says, the shoe doesn;t even have a model name on it). The distinguishing feature is the Mizuno logo(blue colour) on the midpart of the shoe both sides with the material underneath the logo being a cloth mesh. My impression this last week is that it is an excellent shoe. I have quite wide feet and have felt a bit unstable when using other shoes! But not with this Mizuno. There is also enough padding so my heels don't need extra shock absorber pads (used to get very sore heels in the past) The price is comparable with some of the Yonex range at about HK$300. Being a very severe badminton fanatic, bought an extra pair at the same time. Didn't buy a third pair because I had too much shopping that day to carry! I recommend actually trying to fit the shoe in the shop rather than getting somebody to buy the shoe for you. My Yonex Shoe is size 26.0(Japan), 7(UK), 8 (US) but this Mizuno size is 26.5 (Japan) for me. Just as a reference, for ordinary shoes, I take UK size 8 instead of 7 because of my wide feet. I bought from the "Luxis Sport Net" shop in Hong Kong. 1st floor, 41 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong. To get there, go to "Jordan" MTR station. Walk out of exit "C2" and you will be immediately on a cross roads junction. Walk straight ahead(Bowring St) to the next junction which is the Bowring St and Parkes St junction. Look to the 2 o'clock position and you can see the blue sign. Steps lead up to the 1st floor (2nd floor if u come from North America) I had a chance to look at racquet prices. HK$600-700 for the Ti range. Add HK$150 for Ti Swing Power. Iso 900 was about $650 CN versions add $300 more ISO 800 still available, I think HK$600 Winex racquets also available There's a couple of Sports centres very near by so you can buy your shoes & racquet, wait 30 mins for the stringing (use this time to book the court) and go try them out immediately! Happy badminton in HK!! P.S. For those guys who are really desperate, the owner also does badminton coaching (sorry, forgot to ask the cost). He will even play at 8am in the morning. Any fellow junkies willing to play at that time?! (FYI, yes, I have played badminton at 8am) Hey Kwun, it's like a tourist package deal for badminton.... ) Guess I'll have to make some additions to the badminton fanatic section.....
Luxis is my favorite shop for badmintion equipments too (I live in HK). Besides the reasonable price, customer service is pretty good as well (especially in compare with another badminton specialty shop in Mongkok's Sin Ta Square, even they may carry newer products, such as Yonex Ti-75, from Japan). In addition, it is the only shop which I know in HK having Yonex's CN racquets for sale (these racquets really have difference with normal retail mode, try them yourselves !). Regarding Mizuno badminton shoes, I think I've a pair of LBR as well (since I'm not sure the exact model, the price is more or less the same). Another pair of badminton shoes I've is Yonex's SHB-92 (just bought few weeks ago, attracted by as "Power Cushion"). From the preliminary experience on SHB-92, I think LBR is a very good and affordable badminton shoes as well. I found that it is more comfortable than Yonex, light and having good grip on floor. You may also find the top model of Mizuno badminton shoes in Linux if you are luckily enough (they sold out very frequently). As they are imported models, the price is very expensive - HK$1000+. While I do interest to find out whether they worth the price (one of the model is called Ti something, Titanium in a pair of shoes ?), I can't afford to spend so much just on badminton shoes (and I think two pair of badminton shoes are already enough for me). Remember to have a good tour in HK if you come to Linux !
I am very tempted to try out the CN racquet. $1000+ for a badminton shoe?? wow, extreme. Have to agree 100% on the service. The guy is very friendly and informative. Ricky, do u play the local tournaments? if so, I probably see u around. Hey, maybe we know each other already!!!!???
I'm just an amature player, or someone with strong enthusiasm on badminton. I don't think I'm good enough to play in tournaments (in fact, I'm thinking about advancing my skills through a good coach). I play badminton more for fun. It's a really nice to see a lot of professional players (or enthusiastic players like me) to share their ideas in this forum. While someone may think that there is no point to discuss too much on equipments, but in my opinion, if we can have fun during the discussion, why not ? Hopefully more and more people will actively participate in this forum. When I first this Web site, I really round it amazing ! Cheung, perhaps I can learn more from you someday (I'm really an amature). - p.s. I've two CN racquets so far - Ti 10 and Ti 8, the Ti 10 CN is particularly good - it out performs all the racquets I've (including my new MP-100 SP) in smash. The only racquet I've which has similar power is the Carlton AS-1 (strung at 24 lbs with Carlton high tension string - the brochure said that the racquet can be strung up to 40 lbs !). If you are a offensive player, I strongly recommend you to try this racquet (even though it is very expensive - HK$1000+).
How can u say you only play for fun and have two CN racquets?? I try not to succumb to the marketing from Yonex now. Things like "ultimate power smash" etc - then next yrs model will be described as "infinately multiple ultimate power smash". Given the choice, I would have to think very hard on spending HK$1000+ for a racquet when I could get two cheaper racquets with the same cash. At least I'd have a spare....(admittedly I am thinking of a CN racquet because i am very curious now) This is not meant to be personal but my feeling about getting the newest racquets every yr is this is a big con for most of us. Reasons for getting a new racquet: 1) it's a fashion statement 2) it's the newest and most expensive (At Uni in UK, one of my HK coursemates had the 2nd most expensive Yonex racquet - Why? Because the most expensive one had sold out!! FYI, he didn't play much badminton but I suppose that's besides the point. At least he looked good.) 3) the newest badminton stars use this current model so it must be good. (sorry to say but many times it's what the sponsor supplies. There is an ex-HK ladies player now coaching who gets asked which is a good racquet. She hasn't a clue because she just used what Yonex gave her in her playing days!) Ricky, I'm not really a fantastic player. ) Just an addict who is always looking to improve and likes to judge my progress by entering the small local tournaments. Kwun's a good player. He's got a great badminton physique....he looks like that very famous badminton player...........the name is...Kwun! BTW, I'm currently playing in the Corporate Games at Kln Park. Will be there Wed and Thur. See ya
Have had a chance to drop by this store the past weekend after knowing that there's such a shop nearby where I live. I have to agree with you guys totally on his service, and his opinion is very subjective as well. I do think racquet is something personal as well. One playing good with a racquet doesn't not mean it suits others playing style. It's more on the skillset that makes a good player. I have seen a player who's using Fleet racquets only, and he can play with others with brand name racquets with no problem. But I do believe that a racquet does distinct a good and best player. It's also good to have such forums to be able to discuss badminton with others. Hope to play with you guys someday.
Got an idea Well I think by now alot of ppl are wondering how the writer's of this page looks like! Why don't you guys put a link in describing yourself a bit..like a personal profile..! I'm very curious of how great Kwun's badminton physique looks like!~
RE: Got an idea A bit taller than me and thinner than me. His alter-ego is ............Taufik! (It's true, he told me himself). Don't ask me where he gets changed.........................!?!!!
Taufik Sorry, I meant the smash is like Taufik. Really should have my head examined - memory failure!! Height? av HK height. 1.7m I think
RE: Got an idea i am a so so badminton player. no Taufik or anything even close to that. i regularly go to the local gyms here in the San Francisco Bay Area and get my ass kicked by the better players. as Cheung said, i am taller and skinnier than avg.
beat this... woke up at 5am. went biking for 100miles (endurance training for badminton, biking is just the excuse!), came back by 1pm, played 6 hours of badminton from 6pm-12am. went home and sleep like a baby....
Mr.Jon Hi everybody, I would like to express my hard feeling after I went to the shop: "Luxis Sport Net" shop in Hong Kong. 1st floor, 41 Parkes Street, Jordan, Hong Kong. To get there, go to "Jordan" MTR station. Walk out of exit "C2" and you will be immediately on a cross roads junction. Walk straight ahead(Bowring St) to the next junction which is the Bowring St and Parkes St junction. I have read the message from Cheung before and thought that this shop should be reliable and professional for badminton. But it was very disappointing after I went to this last Friday. Because my badminton racket YY-AT800 strings was broken so I bought it to this shop to fix it and change the new YY-BG68Ti strings. I had requested for 25 pounds for this strings. The lady said that no problem and said they are professional in badminton equipment and strings. However, after two hours I came back to pick up my racket. I found that the strings was very soft (I think around 21 pounds) and the serious problem was the way she made the strings was very bad and unprofessional. The bottom part of racket was without strings to connect. ( I meant there was only vertical and no horizonal strings on the bottom part of racket). I had complaint this problem but the lady insistent said they made it correctly 25 pounds. She said even to make the strings 30 pounds will be the same problem as this soft touching. I can't believe the lady will say like this... This shop should be felt that it is professional for badminton. The owner Mr.Sze who is also a badminton coach. but I don't understand they are not responsible for their mistake... It's my personal feeling but I hope baminton fans must be careful when choosing the badminton shop to fix the strings or to buy badminton equipment. :crying:
