Brave Sword 10 Review

**Yoppy** · 04-14-2011, 09:57 AM

I finally found new replacement for my NS9900, it's called BS10. Absolutely happy with it's performance. I will write a proper review soon.

**Yoppy** · 04-14-2011, 08:03 PM

First of all, thank you to ants for providing the review template.

I think i need not to provide any intro for this Victor racket. Instead I should provide an intro about myself (the player). I started playing badminton at the age of 8 (although taken time on and off since then) I played mostly doubles, and we enjoy fast attacking play both at the back and at the net. And therefore I always wanted a fast and stiff racket, and up to last night I have never come across anything better than NS9900. Perhaps many of you know already know that Im a die hard NS9900 user as i always said in this forum that NS9900 is the best racket ever hahaha, i do love every bit of it.
I injured myself about 2 month ago (the doctor said it was tennis elbow), since then I rested for 2 weeks and I dare not to hit as hard as I would previously (as Im still feeling pain on my elbow)

Anyway, I was become aware that Victor has come to Sydney, and to cut the story short I get the BS10 among many others (which will bring my total collection to 30 plus). Honestly I don’t know much about this racket before, not even this thread. All I know is people giving short comment about this racket, that’s about it.

Name: Victor Brave Sword 10
Specs: 4U/G2
Shaft stiffness: Extra Stiff
Balance point: Balance/Head Light
Strings: Victor VS-850
Tension: 26lbs
Grip: RKEP

Paint work and design:
The things that strike me with BS10 were the metallic paint and sharp pointy edges of the frame as well as the waving section inside the frame. Please forgive me if these info are all too common for Victor regular users, as a new Victor user that were the things that set BS10 apart from other non-Victor rackets. IMO the inside wave will give extra strength to the racket (hence it can handle higher tension) the same way an arc window would do to the building structure.

Warm up:
I had a bit of hard time adjusting to the timing and the feel of this racket. But when 2 mins warm up ended, i know straight away that this racket is really2 good. I have absolutely no complaint about every aspects of this racket.
But at this point I was still in denial that nothing beats my NS9900. I only thought that this BS10 is only as good as NS9900. I did not believe that there is any lighter and stiffer and more dynamic racket out there.

Game play:
As i mention previously, i was injured and playing at perhaps 70% of my max power. One thing that i notice straight away, BS10 was faster than NS9900. Maybe its because of 2 things, the NS9900 that i use was 3U and this BS10 was 4U, another thing would be the frame design which BS10 has. That sword like edges cuts through the air effortlessly.
Naturally, the next thing I was eager to know is the power department. For a start there are 2 disadvantages, me being injured and the racket strung 2 lbs below my normal tension. But to my excitement I was hitting harder than ever and the angle/accuracy of the smash was amazing, it really surprised me. I know that in a way, me being weaker and the tension being lower help in one way. Therefore, I ignored my injury and started hitting 100% as hard as I can. The next thing I know, the strings starting to shift all over (none of the middle main strings were straight LOL) and I could feel that the string telling me “You’re hitting too hard!!” LOL. At that stage, I could not hit the bird any faster/harder, its just simply not possible at that tension. And I know 2 things from that: 1. BS10 is more powerful than NS9900 and 2. If I strung this BS10 at 28 lbs (at my normal tension) it will be even more powerful.
All I can say now is that I have found a new wife and its the best racket ever made!!
And that leaves me wanting even more to try the rest of the Victor rackets.

Im not sure where the fibe coming from about BS10 being an evenly balanced racket. This racket IMO is a balanced toward head light racket suitable for attack minded doubles player.

Racket ratings out of 10:

Feel: 9/10
Control: 9/10
Power: 10/10
Defense: 9.5/10
Looks and finish: 8/10
Value for Money: 10/10

**Naim.F.C** · 04-14-2011, 08:15 PM

It is indeed a sublime racket. Fastest most precise racket I've ever used.

**Maklike Tier** · 04-14-2011, 08:17 PM

Of course it's better than the NS9900. That's why I sold my 9900, yet still have a BS10 in my bag!

Be warned though, the holographic bits on the head will start to flake off any day now.

Someone suggested that they make the BS10 with a woven head and Filament wound shaft, and you know, I reckon Victor would be on a winner if they made a BS like that.

Or they could just make a medium-stiff MX80

**Yoppy** · 04-14-2011, 08:26 PM

Im feel so lucky to find this racket LOL. But not enough for me to sell my NS9900 (have 2 of them), after all its still my 2nd best racket that accompanied me to many journeys hahaha....

**Yoppy** · 04-14-2011, 08:26 PM

ATM I want to give BS11 and BS12 a go, what do you guys think of them? Any better than BS10?

**Maklike Tier** · 04-14-2011, 08:36 PM

I like my new BS12 better than my BS11 or BS10. The BS10 is very much like the Armortec Tour - Medium shaft, slight head-heaviness, whereas the BS12 is just a less stiff version of the BS10 as far as I can ascertain, yet has a nicer feel for me somehow.

My 10 and 11 have similar BP's (BP293/295), but the 11 carries more weight in the head, whereas the 10 it feels more evenly distributed.

The 12 however is more headlight (BP288) but seems to carry more of that weight in the yoke and shaft, which sounds weird but I like it.

You might like the 12, certainly worth a go. I don't find it any less directionally stable than the 10, and as you've discovered, more importantly I don't have any shoulder or elbow issues wielding it.

**Yoppy** · 04-14-2011, 10:32 PM

Thanks for that Maklike Tier, I will certainly give BS12 a go. Especially the part that its more head lighter than BS10. How about the stiffness? It will be a monster if BS12 is stiffer than BS10.

**Naim.F.C** · 04-14-2011, 10:36 PM

Originally Posted by Yoppy

Thanks for that Maklike Tier, I will certainly give BS12 a go. Especially the part that its more head lighter than BS10. How about the stiffness? It will be a monster if BS12 is stiffer than BS10.

BS12 is actually a medium stiff rated racket. Compared to the BS10's stiff but not very stiff rating.

**Maklike Tier** · 04-14-2011, 10:38 PM

Nah man, it's not stiffer than the 10 - my 10 is TW coded while I understand other codes are stiffer.

TW = oo•Oooo

Others = o•oOooo

If you want stiffer than the BS10, you need to find a KR coded version or something, or try the MX80 or SP21 or 22.

**Yoppy** · 04-14-2011, 10:47 PM

Originally Posted by Naim.F.C

BS12 is actually a medium stiff rated racket. Compared to the BS10's stiff but not very stiff rating.

I see. I will give it a go anyway. So in the Victor range is there any racket head lighter and stiffer than BS10? Im a strong believer in having super light head and super stiff racket, its a deadly combination of speed and power.

**Yoppy** · 04-14-2011, 10:49 PM

Originally Posted by Maklike Tier

Nah man, it's not stiffer than the 10 - my 10 is TW coded while I understand other codes are stiffer.

TW = oo•Oooo

Others = o•oOooo

If you want stiffer than the BS10, you need to find a KR coded version or something, or try the MX80 or SP21 or 22.

. Mine are all TW coded too (as they have not come up with AU code). I tried the MX80 3U (just for a short brief), and looking forward to try the 4U next week. Also tried SP21 a while back but did not impress me as much. Dont know about the SP22, again I will certainly give it a go.

**Naim.F.C** · 04-14-2011, 10:52 PM

What strings do you use Yoppy?

**Maklike Tier** · 04-14-2011, 11:03 PM

Originally Posted by Yoppy

. Mine are all TW coded too (as they have not come up with AU code). I tried the MX80 3U (just for a short brief), and looking forward to try the 4U next week. Also tried SP21 a while back but did not impress me as much. Dont know about the SP22, again I will certainly give it a go.

There are AU coded Victors - Lucas Yao down here in Melbourne is the AU distro and his are AU coded. Same as the TW coded though wrt stiffnesses.

I think the SP22 is the next model I'd like to try. Now I just have to go sell a kidney....

**Yoppy** · 04-14-2011, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by Naim.F.C

What strings do you use Yoppy?

ATM BG65Pro, but last night for the 1st time i used VS-850. In the past I used NG95, BG65Ti and BG65. Basically, I like any genuine string between 0.68 - 0.7 mm strung at 28 lbs (I tried 30lbs but it got me injured) which smacked me in the head not to go there anymore LOL.

**Naim.F.C** · 04-14-2011, 11:04 PM

Originally Posted by Maklike Tier

There are AU coded Victors - Lucas Yao down here in Melbourne is the AU distro and his are AU coded. Same as the TW coded though wrt stiffnesses.

I think the SP22 is the next model I'd like to try. Now I just have to go sell a kidney....

Lol tell me about it. These things aren't cheap. For some reason I now have the itch to try a VT80. I need to quell my curiosity before it swallows my wallet whole lol.