Panda Power: A Racket That Can Take 40lbs. String Tension!

[Staiger1]

for a quality designed racket , finest graphite , and each matches the specification of each individual player , unless you are a professional , it is hard to find a cheaper alternative .

The specs is most important to me, anything else (such as aerodynamic design) is a bonus

[visor]

Just had a solid 2hr session with my new 87.3g bp293mm PPro, strung with VS850 @ 24x25 lbs ECP with 20%(!) prestretch. Sounds and feels like 26-27 lbs.

Had tried a lighter demo (85.9g 293mm) but it was too light to generate the power that I'm used to with my MX70.

Previous reviews are bang on re a few characteristics that truly stand out.

1. Crispiness.
This has to be the most crispy feeling racket. The feeling and sound of the bird hitting and almost instantly leaving the stringbed is very nice and reassuring. Provides amazing feedback to your hand as to whether your timing and technique is correct or needs tweaking.

2. Attacks like its 1-2g heavier, but strangely defends like its 1-2g lighter.
Obviously it's a drastically different frame design, but compared to my VTZF (82.9g 308mm), the PPro hits harder and defends better.

3. Shaft is just the perfect stiffness in between VTZF and MX70. Stiff enough for accurately placed shots, but flex enough that end to end clears and backhand are effortless.

Will update further when I get more playing time in the next 2 weeks.

[CanucksDynasty]

Just had a solid 2hr session with my new 87.3g bp293mm PPro, strung with VS850 @ 24x25 lbs ECP with 20%(!) prestretch. Sounds and feels like 26-27 lbs.

Had tried a lighter demo (85.9g 293mm) but it was too light to generate the power that I'm used to with my MX70.

Previous reviews are bang on re a few characteristics that truly stand out.

1. Crispiness.
This has to be the most crispy feeling racket. The feeling and sound of the bird hitting and almost instantly leaving the stringbed is very nice and reassuring. Provides amazing feedback to your hand as to whether your timing and technique is correct or needs tweaking.

2. Attacks like its 1-2g heavier, but strangely defends like its 1-2g lighter.
Obviously it's a drastically different frame design, but compared to my VTZF (82.9g 308mm), the PPro hits harder and defends better.

3. Shaft is just the perfect stiffness in between VTZF and MX70. Stiff enough for accurately placed shots, but flex enough that end to end clears and backhand are effortless.

Will update further when I get more playing time in the next 2 weeks.

Crap.

Now you got me wanting to buy this racket too!!!

[Borbor]

n00b question

This PPro racquet I keep reading about, it's the "Precision" on Panda's site right? <--- that's the only racquet I see with a "P" hence the assumption.

[yeeah]

Nope, different racket.

The Precision is to the Precision Pro as the Trinity 2 is to the Trinity Pro. Website is not up-to-date with the Precision Pro line. You'll have to check back several pages to get the stats on the PPRO line.

[raistian]

Active lurker here I'm in Melbourne (Australia) & play at MSAC/ Albert Park. My main racquet is the venerable Carbonex 20 (yes, showing my age here) followed by Armortec 800DE.

Favourite string is BG66 at 28+lbs (not economical) so for the last few years have compromised to BG80 at 28lbs.

I'm after a Panda that's has similar characteristics to either racquets (preferably Cab20). Within reasonable parameters of course (I understand that one's oval head shape, the other isometric etc). Appreciate any suggestions people may have.

[BlueTornado]

It came a little later than expected, but I just played with my new 88.1g, BP298 PPro for about 2 hrs. Yes, those are the right specs. I don't know how you guys can all be playing with silly old 85g BP293, this is the way to go.

I'll need some more time with it to be able to think of some of my own comments, but I can definitely affirm the following things stated by others BC'ers so far:

1) It hits as hard as if it were heavier/head-heavier, and defends as if it were much lighter and more head-light.

2) It's not as forgiving on off-center shots. If you don't hit on the sweet spot, it won't coddle you and provide you with the same nice feeling or power as when you hit the sweet spot. Off-center will give you a thump compared to the nice crisp sound of hitting the sweet spot.

3) I would give the MX80 the edge on speed as well. Maybe my MX80 is spec'd differently, so I can't be sure if the difference is the result of a lighter weight or anything along those lines. But for me, the MX80 has a more direct feeling because of the frame shape and stiffer shaft. That's not necessarily a deduction for the PPro; I could use the PPro pretty much right off the bat whereas I still haven't gotten completely used to the swing of the MX80 and probably won't have the time to. It's difficult and annoying to have to get used to a different racket every time you play, especially if you're doing so in a tournament... Now that I think about it, my MX80 feels like it has a lower swing weight than my PPro, so that probably explains the faster swing and more direct feeling.

4) Synergy. This racket's got it. The frame aerodynamics and shaft stiffness complement each other well. ZM62 Mk1 would be really nice on this racket but I don't have the time to restring it every game or so

5) A side note, not related to the racket itself. ZM62 Mk2 definitely has much greater durability at the expense of lesser performance when compared with ZM62 Mk1. This holds true for the entire Mk2, not just the red color. Mine is strung with ZM62 Mk2 white @ 24 lbs and it was very different when compared with my ZM62 Mk1 yellow @ 24 lbs on a different racket.

I think that sums up the racket pretty well. Or to put it another way, get one (or two, or three, or ...)

[bobbinbette]

Haha, I think Blue tornado's comment on the 85g 293mm pppp may be towards me

I had one in those specs and now my brother uses it as it is far too light for me.
I now have a new 88.4g 296mm pppp that I can't wait to try out.

However I have to let my shoulder impingement heal first =[.
I will post a review after trying it out!

[visor]

Haha, I think Blue tornado's comment on the 85g 293mm pppp may be towards me

I had one in those specs and now my brother uses it as it is far too light for me.
I now have a new 88.4g 296mm pppp that I can't wait to try out.

However I have to let my shoulder impingement heal first =[.
I will post a review after trying it out!

Shoulder impingement?! Check out my thread on it, went thru it myself.

http://www.badmintoncentral.com/foru...-know-about-it

[bobbinbette]

Thanks Visor!

Yes, I read that thread. I received a cortisone shot and some therabands for rehab, but it's still not at 100%.

My PPPP is just laying there taunting me...

[DarthHowie]

Neatly packed. Arrived in a week.

Like XMAS, the wrapping is removed:

6 new Precision Pros in their soft cloth bags:


The 2 Precision Pros I already have are weighted at 85.5g and 85.6g @ BP 285mm.
6 new Precision Pro weight and BP specs:


The rackets all laid out ready to be strung and one day stenciled with dimcorner's angry panda or my attempt at replicating the DC logo in a stencil:


If there was one thing to nitpick at all was that after I removed the plastic wrap covering the grip, 2 of the butt cap logos fell off. I guess it wasn't glued well enough. Not a big deal. Odds are I'm going to leave them off.

My plan is to string one with Zymax 65 @ 26lbs and another with Zymax 67 @ 26lbs (88.5g and 88.6g w/ 291 BP and no butt caps - probably lighter now). We'll see how they perform compared to my 85.5g 285mm BP version. That evaluation won't happen until i'm back from vacation in a month.

[Fidget]

.... That evaluation won't happen until i'm back from vacation in a month.

Oh, what a tease!

[Borbor]

can't wait to get mine

[DarthHowie]

Oh, what a tease!

Well I did right an initial review here: http://www.badmintoncentral.com/foru...t=#post1935198

I actually liked the lighter weighted version because i'm a counter-attack style doubles player and it proved especially useful in mixed doubles play. I'm very curious and excited to try the beefier version of the Precision Pro. Hopefully nothing is compromised (in a negative way) in my play with these babies.

As background info, i previously used a YY Carbonex 30MS (I had 7 of them).

[Fidget]

Darthhowie, I had read your previous review. Good stuff. My precision pro is light and even balanced, too. So it will be interesting to hear how you find the heftier versions. But I can be patient. Enjoy your vacation! :-)

[ucantseeme]

Does anyone know when the Revelation will be released?

[DinkAlot]

If this latest iteration, the 10th or so, is up to Panda standards, then as early as two months.

Does anyone know when the Revelation will be released?