Hello you all, I made a quick search in the forum but didn't find what I was looking for. Here is my concern: I may buy a new racquet soon, and I hesitate between these three, and it seems that I can't find the answers I need to take a decision. I think I'm an intermediate player, more and the low side. I'm playing badminton for almost 3 years, with an allround style, depending on my mind. I need a racquet that I can tame. I own an armortec 700, but there is something wrong with the feeling of that racquet that makes me continue playing with my first racquet, a Babolat booster force. So here come my questions: which racquet has the bigger sweetspot ? Which one is the easiest to play with ? From which one can we generate power with less efforts ? What are the stiffness of these 3, not the stiffness that is written on adds, but the one that we feel when playing ? Please rate them. And if you think that I'm not good enough to master these racquets, don't hesitate to let me know Thanks in advance
Have you even tried out these rackets? If so, which one you like best? My personal opinion is that the NS9000 type S is not easy to use at first until you adjust. Might not be good for you. Most BC members will probably go for the Arc 10. It has more power than the Arc 7. I don't think the sweet spot is any different.
I didn't have the opportunity to try them out for now. It should be possible soon. You say that NS 9000S is hard to play with at first, but I assume that this is even more hard with arc10 as it's stiffer and head-heavier. Arc7 seems to be the most balanced of the three, medium flex, maybe the most easy to play with ?
If you can't adjust with AT700 (assuming the new color) .. well you are certainly not alone. There are many people whom I met thru out many occassions shared the same feeling. AT700 is the head-heaviest high-end Yonex racket. You may feel the racket is too stiff and sluggish. I own and use all the three options (AS7, AS10 and NS9000S); and my favorite is AS10. However, I went thru a difficult fist few weeks to adjust with its kinda "unique" flex shaft. I would say it is not so easy to play with. Compared to AT700, AS10 is rather lighter head and flexier shaft. NS9000 S - as a typical Nanospeed series - has the lightest head amongst all three options, but surprisingly it can produce quite powerful stroke and ball control is truly excellent - perhaps due to its stiff shaft. But again, it requires adjustment period before you can get the best out of it. AS7 on the other hand is rather user-friendly racket. Power may not be as great as AS10 & control is slightly lesser compared to NS9000S, but it is a good & forgiving all-around racket.
I'd say arc10 is the closest to AT700. The shaft is around the same stiffness, but with the new cs cap and a thinner frame and shaft, swinging the Arc 10 feels easier. Adjusting to the arc 10 takes a while. It took me a few weeks, after that, I realized that the Arc 10 is the greatest racket in the world (in my opinion). The frame is very special, because it also 'flexes'. The frame flexes so that generating power is very easy and the sound is a very loud 'pop' The nanospeed 9000s feels too light and I cannot generate power with it. The paint durability is also a big issue... The arcsaber 7 is even stiffer than the arcsaber 10 and the NS9ks (no joke, I've flexed all of the rackets at the same time). It is head lighter than arc 10 and it has a very even balance, good for net play and defense. These are my opinions based on these 3 rackets. I'd say go for the Arc 10 since you have a AT700 already..
If you buy the racket just to test, and don't really care about the financial aspects of the "investment".. Anyone of the mentioned rackets will be different enough from you current to rackets to warrant a "buy to try"... If you however are not a gadget freak (like me ) .. The sane and most logical reccomendation is to stcik with the Babolat booster and maybe buy a backup of that! /Twobeer
I don't think I'm a gadget freak, well sometimes I like to try something different but I don't want to botch my money, this is why I need some advices before buying. I really don't want a racquet that I will not be able to use and take pleasure with. How can the arc 7 be the stiffest of the three ? It's rated medium and usually people admit that it's not as stiff as others high end models. Don't forget that I'm looking for a rather user friendly model, which can produce good power with not so much efforts (as when you're late on the birdie). And if it can help, I got a good wrist work but can play with full arm too
Arc-7 is the least!! stiff of these 3. Your babolat booster is really much more fitting to those requirements than the 3 YY models you mention. Also keep in mind that your stringing probably affects sweetspot and "effort" far more than selecting ddifferent racket does.. What strings/tension do you use? /Twobeer
Actually I use BG 65 at 24/25 lbs, which is too high for me, because I come back from injury and also I don't like to feel that I got no power margin in my racquet
Oh and I forgot to say that I add lead tape on the top of my booster shock and I put athletic tape on the frame of all my racquets
But see my logic with racquets is to just use whatever feels right in your hands. Then take every opertunity to try out your friend's racquets (assuming they're not the possessive type) cuz one day you'll bump into something you like. Then you could either get that one or just get something similar. But on the topic of these 3 yy racquets...hmmmmmm actually I always believed it's better to see the playing style before you decide on what you think is best. Because, well a racquet has to suit you lol either way good luck ^^
I have the same problem as you, I'm currently deciding between AS10 and NS9kS. There is this website that has some rating about badminton racquets and the stiffness. The website is http://www.tenniszon.com/Produits/CatByCo.asp?CoID=9&S=1&PTid=9 and on the way they rated their racquet, the NS9kS is actually 1 point stiffer than the AS10. As for the way they used to rate their raquets, I have no idea how they did it... You can just take a look. I'm using currently, it's a NS9kS and I should probably take the same one but I'd like to try the AS10. I didn't play much with my NS since I've played only 5 times with it and I was 3 months ago. The feeling was great when I changed from my Black Knight C2C Shadow to that one. Every characteristic of a badminton racquet is so subtile that it's hard to define if a racquet is good for you without trying out the racquet. It is also in the psychology, you think that a racquet is better cause it's new and you paid more. I wonder if someday they will do a research by making pros testing racquet that have no paint so they don't know what kind of racquet they are using.
NS9000s takes a bit of getting use to. Arc7 lacks a bit in power but is great in every other aspect Arc10 is up'd version of ARC7 but for me, theres something about the feel that isnt my "cup of tea" In the end, id opt for the ARC7.
Yes this is a tough call to choose the right racquet. But for those who know, which racquet flexes the most easily ? That is to say, can you rate them from the less stiff to the stiffest ? Which one is the most user-friendly, the most easy to play with ?
I think AS10 will be a good choice. I have NS9Ks and it is not ideal for me. I tried but still not to my liking. The feel is different...the power is there but its head is light. So it drained my energy after some hard smashes. AS10 is more powerful and the racket balanced weight helps to generate that extra power for me.
Once you get used to the timing, AS10 is probably the most easy and relaxing racket to use. It generates massive power with minimal effort. However I personally don't like its soft shaft which causes all my speedy smashes to go haywired. I've used transititioned from AT500>Nanospeed9000X>AT700>soon to be AT900P. And tested the AS10 and found that it not "my cup of tea", however it definately fits your criteria.
AS 10 has a quite flexy shaft ? Or is it because its shaft is longer than usual shafts ? I was inclined to get NS 9000 but if what you say is confirmed arc 10 will be more than welcomed
as10 and ns9kS has a stiff shaft while arc 7 has a medium, which is perfect for an intermediate. i highly recommend arc 7, i see it as a cross over racket. use it to train and u can still use it when you turn pro.
