My review: Yonex Nanospeed 9900 vs Yonex Armortec 900 Technique

Discussion in 'Racket Recommendation / Comparison' started by LD rules!, Dec 14, 2009.

  1. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    hi guys

    I have both these rackets and I thought I would give you a quick review later on and a comparison between the two rackets I am very impressed with both of them and I must say they are both very good to play with
    Review shall follow shortly
    LD
     
  2. cooler

    cooler Regular Member

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    please please put some decent tension on the strings:)
     
  3. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    I did cooler
    Last week I changed the strings nanospeed 9900 had BG80 @ 24lbs (yellow colour) and AT900t has BG80 @ 24lbs (White colour) review soon to follow
     
  4. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    Ok sorry guys I have been busy and also I fractured my wrist so that's why I haven't posted the review
    Here it is
    Firstly nanospeed 9900
    Paintwork:
    Nice design makes a change from the usual red overall I rate the design of the racket 9/10
    How it plays:
    Very well to answer in short
    It is such a nice racket for defensive play retrieving smashes is easy and using drives to counter attack in a game of doubles is really simple
    In singles play it is just as good smashes are fast for a head light racket and I would say are about as powerful as my AT900t control is good however playing net shots isn't one of it's strong points however it still does well in this department
    Manueverabillity is fantastic
    Here's how I rate it
    Power:8.5/10
    Manueverability: 9/10
    Defence:9.5/10
    Control:8.5/10
    Ease of use : 8/10

    Overall I would rate this 9/10
    Based on a 3UG3 with original grip remover and replaced with karakal ripple grip and BG80@24lbs
    AT900t review to come in a few minutes
     
  5. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    Armortec 900 techinque
    Paintwork :
    Again like the nanospeed the paintwork is very nice and "refreshing" the White colour is nice on the eyes and I think is the nicest looking racket in the AT range
    how it plays:
    Again, like the nanospeed it plays really well smashes are very nice great control and IMHO it excels at net play In a game of singles I just love that feel of serving high when returning a smash it is just really good at blocking to the net and also my favourite shot with the AT900t is a cross court push shot which is just so nice and easy to play, dropshots are fantastic and clears are good aswell in a game of singles I can't really think of any weaknesses
    In doubles I think this racket excels as well however maybe not as well as the ns9900 although it's not that far off drives are excelent and manueverabilityis good as well
    Here's how I rate it
    Power 9/10
    Manueverabillity 9/10
    Defence 9/10
    Control 9/10
    Ease of use 9/10

    Overall I would also rate this racket as 9/10
    Based upon a 4UG4 with original grip left on and a White yonex super grap on top strung with BG80@24lbs
     
  6. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    also would like to add this extra bit
    Nanospeed 9900
    Singles play: 8.5/10
    Doubles play:9.5/10

    Armortec 900 technique
    Singles play: 9/10
    Doubles play: 9/10

    Would like to add that the AT900t is more forgiving than the nanospeed 9900
    If you can't get your timing right with the nanospeed most of the time then your shots will not be very accurate whereas the AT900 is really easy to use and I think it's a really good racket it doesn't matter if you yourself is having an off day the racket will keep performing at it's best
    I think there isn't much between the two rackets I would recomend the AT900 to everyone and the nanospeed to people that have a fast wrist action and to intermidiates/club level/ national level
    Hope you enjoyed my review
    Questions and comments are appreciated
     
  7. bauklo

    bauklo Regular Member

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    Thank you for this review!
    I have been contemplating buying the Nanospeed 9900 for some time now.
    Maybe You can offer some advice if the Armortec 900 T is the better choice for me.

    I think I am a fairly moderate player only.
    I played badminton when I was a teenager and started playing again 2 years ago. Alas, only once a week and only for one hour.
    Currently I play with an old Carlton Aerogear 700 which I think is fairly headlight. I lack comparison with other racquets, however when I play with the clubs cheap racquets it feels as if those are a lot heavier at the head and my smashes are a lot more powerful, while I have more difficulty getting the racquet where I need it to defend against smashes or doing quick, short hits.

    My play is based both around smashing and my legwork/agility, while at the same time my technique is fairly pathetic and my upper body strength is, too.

    To explain that:
    With 32 I am the youngest player in my (very "hobby", mostly double) group, there are some heavily overweight, some middle aged women and some retirees who kick my ass most of the time because they are actually able to put the shuttle where they want it to be.
    So even though my upper body strength is fairly poor, my smashes in comparison to the other players are pretty good, as I get them over the net with a fairly high speed when the shuttle lands in my half in a place favorable for smashing.

    So yes, I do smash, but lacking the strength my smashes are not the greatest.

    Because of this, my play instead focuses around being in the right spot most of the time and actually having the will to go after the shuttle if it can't be reached from the current spot. I am blessed with quite powerful legs, so I jump higher than most and I am quick and nimble.

    So basically I survive, because regardless of my poor technique I manage to get most shuttle-cocks back to the opponents field (very defensive) and hit the occasional smash home.

    I rely heavily on my current racquets ability to be moved around relatively quickly to defend, but at the same time I would love to have a racquet that compensates for my poor strength.

    Basically thats the dilemma I face:
    I believe I need a balanced or headlight racquet because I play very defensively, but at the same time I profit massively from a bit of head-heaviness to support my smashes (let alone what shaft-stiffness do I require?). I am led to believe that to obtain both, balanced and defensive and supporting smashes is impossible.
    I was thinking, that the Nanospeed 9900 was balanced with a less stiff shaft and would therefore be a good choice.
    But since my technique is not great I need a forgiving racquet...

    Your review reads as if the Armortec might be the better choice for me.
    Can you make a suggestion in this regard?
     
  8. Fidget

    Fidget Regular Member

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    Very good review, LD rules.:)

    Of course, the high marks and ease which you had with certain shots speaks to your high level of play as much as it flatters any aspect of the racquets.
    Nevertheless even lowly duffers may take useful information from your report. Thanks.;)
     
  9. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    yes the AT900 is really easy to use and takes little time to get used to it's just a really good racket and really nice to use
    Actually I myself am an good (ish) player but I like to test myself against really good people and that's how I gathered this review from
    4 3x21 games of doubles and 4 3x21 games of singles 2 games each with each racket every game I played of singles in my opinion I played better with the AT900t but in doubles the ns9900 performed better I think because the way it is set up however an aspects of the ns9900 that really let's it down is it's net play I m dissapointed with it it is almost the complete package apart from this area
    The At on the otherhand excels here I honestly can't think of a area where it is poor or even just "good" it's fantastic honestly can't think of any weaknesses maybe could be a tad more stiffer (but that's just me being picky) :D:D
     
  10. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    By the way fidget merry Christmas and a happy new year !
     
  11. Trmun

    Trmun Regular Member

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    You are comparing a (moderatly) headheavy with a (extremely) headlight racket - it is not a wonder that you feel let down by the net play with one of them depending on which sort of racket you've used before.

    I happen to have played with both rackets, now using the NS9900 since I've always used headlight rackets and it felt more natural for me. My netdrops are incredibly tight with the NS9900 whereas my netdrops with the AT 900 usually end up being too high or going straight into the net. What I'm trying to say is - it's not because the NS9900 is a bad racket for the finesse play, it's just that you are probably more used to headheavy rackets :p

    Besides this I have to say I agree very much with you - though I actually found it a bit hard to get the timing right with the AT 900; again because I'm not used to a headheavy racket, would probably come quite fast though. This also meant that especially my defence got worse. I do agree though that the AT 900 was quite forgiving when I messed up my timing, so I can only say just like you did, the AT 900 is for everyone; the NS9900 is for people with explosiveness in their swing who are willing to work with their timing.

    Merry Christmas
     
  12. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    I actually started off with a ns9900 and then bought a AT900 I alays felt let down with the nanospeed at the net it's still ok it's just not it's strong point
    Also I wouldn't say that the ns9900 is extremely head light I would agree that drop shots with the ns 9900 is easy for anyone to do. Also I would say the nanospeed is a very good racket and also that it's good for being on the defence
    Merry Christmas to you
     
  13. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    You have a PM regarding your querie
     
  14. demolidor

    demolidor Regular Member

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    Whatever is in it, neither should be the choice ;).
     
  15. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    How ? What do you suggest ?
    I though the AT900t would be best for him
     
  16. demolidor

    demolidor Regular Member

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    Out of the two it would be but for the playing level that's just overkill isn't it.
     
  17. LD rules!

    LD rules! Regular Member

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    Well it depends at the playing level he is at it is maybe a slight overkill he mighht be better looking at a AT600 but for the price difference i dont see the point
    What did you think of my first ever review demolidor ?
     
  18. Yoppy

    Yoppy Regular Member

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    IMHO you shuold opt for more all rounded and basic Yonex racket. Perhaps something like Arc7, AT700, NS7000, MP100 or MP99. And as your game develop you can adjust it and take into consideration the racket balance, stiffness, weight, grip size, and most importantly string tension. ;)
     
  19. bauklo

    bauklo Regular Member

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    Thanks a bunch for the advice.
    Looks like the AT is the way to go.
    I kind of agree with the racquet being "overkill" in terms of price and performance, however whenever I buy something I like to spend a lot of time researching before I make my decision. I've been contemplating a new racquet for over a year now and want to keep the new racquet for a long, long time (as in: a decade, at least). So price is not an issue, really. Even got my wife's OK for it already:)
    And performance wise: Well, I would like to train up to it in the next couple of years or so. It would very much go against my principles as an "educated consumer" to buy a new racquet in a couple of years.
    And if asked: Then "Why now, not when your play has improved?"
    I would answer: My old racquet is more than 10 years old, bought used for very little money. It still has the original stringing, minus 2 strings which I got replaced to tighten it up without getting a new string altogether (I was told new string would be very expensive, although now I realize there are online-shops where string can be obtained at a fraction of the price that was quoted for me). This "repair" to tighten the string made a huge difference, I suddenly found it a lot, lot easier to place my shots and generate power for smashing. I would very, very much like to have a second racquet to alternate between, one high end, one low end, in order to get a better feeling for my play, what is actually "me" and what the racquets part in my play.
    So if the AT is the optimal racquet for the kind of play I do, then I will go for it. It's really a shame that I have no chance of trying out a racquet before I buy it, but with the amount of information I got here I think I can well take that risk (and if I cant play with the racquet I can still sell it at ebay with a little little loss and have learned a lesson;))

    Thanks again and:
    "Merry Christmas" from Germany
     
  20. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    LD, a couple of nice reviews:D.

    My own experience with the NS9900 gives me the impression that it is the perfect all-rounder as far as doubles is concerned: one minute I think it's a defensive racket that happens to be good at attack, and the next minute it's the other way around. I would, like you, mark it down for singles, though, as it's slightly too much work for repeated clearing.

    AT900T was a treat for me, as I could play it in singles and doubles. Excellent in the flat stuff. The frame was too fragile for me, though; I didn't break any myself but I saw less powerful players manage it.
     

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