Looking for first new real racket

Do you play more singles or doubles? From your description I'd guess singles? Don't like to smash? More control?

 

Maybe list which rackets in your price range you're considering.

 

1) Where in US are you?
2) Can you demo or borrow someone's racquet to try?
3) Care if it is used?

 

No offense but doubles is a power game, typically the first team to get on the offensive (smashing) wins. This is not always true but is the goal for most teams.

If you're having troubles with smashing it may be the racket, look for something that is well rounded that may help you improve your smashes.

 

For beginners and intermediates it's not.

At all.

 

If he plans on playing on his high school team competitively then it is, at least it was at my high school.

It's true at any level in any sport, assuming skill levels are relatively close, the team/person to go on the offensive first wins the point most often.

 

You said -

"doubles is a power game, typically the first team to get on the offensive (smashing) wins"

Offensive doesn't always mean smashing, it means exploiting an opportunity when it presents itself. It's only a 'power' game if that's your style.....heck I've played doubles against guys with almost no smash ability to speak off but their touch game, they way they create angles....were devastating.

I think you're doing Cheese a disservice telling him "it's all about offensive power" because it's not.

 

I'm not trying to put down drop shots or other offensive shots, which make the opposing team have to lift the shuttle. What I'm saying is that in general, doubles is won by the team which is more offensive and smashing is the best IMO weapon for offensive play. It puts the other team on the defensive, you almost have to lift or risk having the net person get a kill and puts pressure on the defensive team.

Show me one good doubles team, high school to international, that does not have a good smash as a major part of their offense.

I think you're doing a disservice as well arguing against smashing. Sure there are other weapons but not as effective, again my opinion, as a powerful smash.

 

Smashing is only half the offensive equation, so you'd be an idiot to buy a racket that favours offensive play at the expense of speed and/or defense....and double the idiot if a newish player to the game came to you specifically saying that smashing was not their strong suite, and you recommended something like an AT7OO.

Smashing is just not that important at the level Cheese is telling us he is at. You're much better off having a well rounded racket that's going to help develop overall skills.

 

I think you should read all my posts before going off....

 

dinks chart is only his view on them. You should get your own view by testing them. where do you play at on saturdays? bintang?

 

Apacs are gunna probbaly provide you with better value for money at your pricepoint I reckon. Even Dross would probably agree with that.

 

I've had trouble finding apacs in local stores and as for online buying, I've seen that only that one ebay seller that sells cheap apacs. The other store online was from canada and buying the racket along with shipping was just as much as any other brand.

If you do live in the bay area you can get the hl ben lee 8800 at Asbys. its a great racket thats only about 90$ but has the punch of most 130$ I know many players thats moved on to more expensive rackets but keep the ben lee as a back up or still play with it from time to time. I as well am trying to save enough money for one.

 

easy there tiger, if you're going to use someones name please spell it correctly.

I do have some apacs rackets and they are good value for the money. I also can't see how shipping could be that much ($15 to $20)? and when you say "any other brand" what brand and models are you talking about?

In order to make any apacs racket the same price as my arc10 the shipping would have to be $100.