Ashaway and Forza

Even Forza's Power Trainer 115g & 130g are very similar in paint job to Ashaway's Trainer Pro (at least in terms or racquet head).

 

There is definetely a strong resemblance between the two. Ashaway's Viper range is almost identical to Forza's Ti series. Whether they are made in they same factory, I'm unable to say. Whilst I rate Ashaway products very highly I suspect it is Ashaway who have 'borrowed' Forza's designs, rather than the other way about.

Good thread.

 

Yes, they are produced from the same factory.

 

How do you know? Will they be of the same quality then?

 

i found out when i was researching to oem my own. not only these 2 brands, check out the top end FLEET rackets as well. all i can say is im pretty impressed with the quality of rackets coming out from the factory.

 

So who does the research into new racket technologies? The sports brand i.e. Forza and Ashaway etc, or the actual OEM company? I'd really love to go and visit one of these factories and see for myself.

 

while we are at it, I think that Ashaway and Black Knight have there rackets manufactured in the same factory, just a suspision.

 

That wouldn't surprise me as the UK Ashaway site promotes numerous Black Knight products, including BK squash rackets and holdalls.

 

Ashaway and Forza - Yes.
Black Knight - I doubt it. There's no similarity in the graphics, design/technology, or materials used in their rackets.
The website "Ashaway.co.uk" does not belong to Ashaway - it belongs to a company called Goode Sport, who are merely a local distributor for Ashaway and Black Knight products. There's obviously some kind of partnership between the two companies (eg. BK recommend Ashaway strings) but I don't see how that points to them both having their rackets made by the same third-party.

 

Thanks Sketchy. I knew that Goode Sports were the official UK distributor for Ashaway products but was unsure of its connection with BK. I know that some Victor rackets distributed and sold in the UK come pre-strung with Ashaway strings, usually Micro-Power or Zymax. Funnily enough, my rackets are strung with MicroLegend XL. However, the small type in the string reads 'Ashaway Goode' rather than Microlegend. Also, Ashaway has just recently updated its 'Viper' range. Its new flagship racket is the the Viper XT-1000, which on closer inspection looks remarkably similar to Forza's new racket, the Ti-666. Both have similar specs - head-heavy and stiff shafts, and asking prices too, around £130.

Have a look for yourself

 

Anyone knows which 3rd party OEM they use?

 

Raksasa.gorgon does, Dinkalot does, I do... (not my place to say though)

I don't really understand the logic behind copying the graphics (I assume it's Ashaway copying FZ Forza and not the other way around, just on the basis that they clone Yonex products as well). I wouldn't have thought FZ Forza were that prestigious a brand, and they certainly don't make pretty rackets.

 

Ashaway has Yonex lookalikes too, while Forza doesn't.

 

Yes, that would be correct... the FZ Forza Ti 666 has been out for almost 1 year now...