hi guys, i need a recommendation for a good doubles racket, I'm more of a back players but would like to be doing net shots in the future, the current brand i have in mind are Mizuno, apacs and victors. Yonex and Lining are just too expensive for me. I'm keeping my options open so any other models within USD100 - 150 are welcomed! thanks
I've only tried the apacs rackets, hope to get a couple of victors in the next few weeks though. The Apacs lethal 60/70, visible hollow 1800/2020 and tantrum 200/300 rackets are all good.
Victor: BS9 (defense, front), BS11 (back) Panda Trinity 2 Yonex: Arcsaber 10 (balanced) or AT900P (back)
Apacs Nano Pro 9600 Tour is an awesome racquet for doubles. Awesome defensive and control and smashes aren't that lacking.
If the racket does not come from factory set up for doubles (headlite, under 84 gram) then it really is not intended as a doubles racket... Please consider what makes up a doubles racket vs singles...balance point and weight.... Doubles play is lightening fast and for the normal level players we can not move the racket quickly enough using the normal 29.0--31.0 balanced rackets.... There are many rackets that can also be used for all around play but they are not specifically intended for one style... Head heavy for singles and Head lite for doubles....its really quite simple. Sotx has come out with a new series called the 7 Swords and they are a little bit oversize frame...it gives the racket a super big sweet spot which helps doubles players more than singles... This racket has improved my game simply due to fewer mis-hits This racket does not have any fancy technology only good carbon.. The retail price is also quite low...under 50usd All 4 models play great because of the huge sweet spot.. When the other models come out this year I will do a review of them all at that time...We have tested all the Sotx and Karakal rackets very well using all levels of players... My comments are garnered from numerous players feedback as well as my own.. Any player looking for an easy playing racket should check out this new series..... Just keep in mind what makes it a doubles racket in the first place
i would suggest to go for tantrum and not the lethal, as the is a bit on the heavy side for doubles... this is assuming ur only playing doubles, if u play singles as well go for the lethal
thanks for the input guys, i am using carbonex 8 sp tour now. it's my first racket i got from ym dad when i started badminton almost 15 years ago. I started playing 1 year ago and bought another one of these for its sentimental value. I find that my smashes aren't really powerful enough compared to my friend's ProAce racket. Could it be the tension of the string as i strung it 2 years ago and the first time i played with it was a year later. I plan to use the new racket for both single and doubles but would like it to be more oriented to doubles as i will be joining a tourney doubles in 3 months.
Back in the old days when wooden rackets were the norm, the issue of weight or whether a racket was head heavy or light did not come into play. Maybe during those days, other aspects of the game were more prominent.
Head lite vs head heavy has been universally (although maybe not in your area) agreed that head lite and lighter weight rackets are better for Doubles play and head heavy, heavier rackets for Singles players...Since when??? Since I began playing and I am over 62 now.... We are trying to give advice to a question and not critique others post....
Explain why so many doubles players use Armortec 900's and ArcSaber's then? Oh you were talking about normal level players . Is the game still lightning fast then?
The oval head rackets have smaller sweet spot and therefore are harder to play with than the ISO frames... Old string has lost its tension so this also would contribute to lack of power...but also the smaller sweet spot is harder to hit consistently and so you dont generate much power...Some Higher level players still use the Oval frame but most have now gone to ISO...
It has a lot to do with the availability of brands in your area... Here we have all brands and all fakes to try so the testing covers almost all brands...I am also trying to talk from a normal players level....The higher level guys can play with a broom and make it work
The way I play doubles now is not so lightening fast...more like the thunder....at my age one must hit the shuttle where there is no one to return it...
