New Victor Racquet - The Meteor X80 ( MX80 )

**LD rules!** · 03-29-2011, 12:11 PM

I have a feeling that I will be buying an MX80 very soon.

it looks amazing!

**GT0ro** · 03-29-2011, 02:45 PM

Some initial impressions of MX80. Played two sessions with it but haven't tested it out with any quality games.

What I previously prior to MX80: N-Forze ti-550VS and SW35
Version: 3G2 TW - BG65 pre-stretched 25 x 27 lbs Haribito one piece stringing
Shuttles: mostly RSL Classics

Appearance and quality:

This is quite subjective but everyone's seen pictures and the design is quite nice. Like with most of the newer Victor rackets, the quality is top-notch. Good paint job, nice weight to the racket, good grommets.

Initial feel of the racket:

Feels solid when swung. No evident torsional or shaft bending. There is good weight in the racket but does not feel head heavy. Swing is fast compared to both forza and sw35.

Warmup Impressions:

Took some time to get used to. Timing was off, swing was quite a bit faster. Liked the balance of the racket. Felt it was more even balance than HH. Good solid feel when hitting the shuttle. Hitting shuttle confirmed the stiffness and build of the racket. No evident torsional bending in frame or shaft. However, with most rackets, this tends to change with increased use.

Smash: Compared to my 550VS strung at 23 x 25 lbs, it was about the same. I am moving to even a little less but I contribute it mainly to timing. Not quite used to MX80. MX80 quite a bit stiffer than the 550VS. more precise, less give on the racket. Power is hard to generate but then again, i play against ppl with good defense and i've always had trouble "pounding through them". i emphasize, timing was off and not fully utilizing the potential of the racket (didn't feel much flex in shaft when smashing).

Drives:
was quite natural with the MX80. stiffness and lack of head heaviness helps with speed and accuracy. good feel.

Defense:
quick and precise, responsive. did not feel head heavy. stiffness provided better accuracy and response. better than my 550VS even though forza was lighter. probably because i prefer stiffer rackets on defense, less bending.

Net:
surprisingly more feel than the forza. i found the 96 grommet system of the forza to give good touch and feel at the net. mx80 was just as good if not better. could be the racket or could be that the tension was tighter on the victor.

Important things to note about the MX80.

- very stiff racket. one of the stiffest i've tried (and i've tried quite a few)
- solid overall weight in the 3U but doesn't give off head heavy feel. more even balance.
- quick and responsive, kinda like the NS9900 but i feel that the MX80 is stiffer
- need good snap/technique to generate good power, a "wristy" racket, not an "arm" racket, if you know what i mean
- good build quality

Will try to provide more details when I get to play better quality games with it. I find you can't tell the strengths and weaknesses until you play a "heated" match.

**GT0ro** · 03-29-2011, 02:53 PM

If you guys watch a lot of international badminton videos online of the top mens doubles team, you guys might understand if I would compare this type of racket to certain players with a certain type of style.

I would say this racket is like a Setiawan/LYD/KKK style balanced towards Paaske/Cai Yun. If anyone knows what I mean =P

**visor** · 03-29-2011, 03:17 PM

Originally Posted by jump-smash

woven carbon versus woven kevlar (frame)

even the shaft is made of woven kevlar

Beautiful!
I think I just wet my pants!

Confirms the mx80 is completely woven frame!

**Dokkie** · 03-29-2011, 03:18 PM

It looks really hot, I'm so tempted to get 1

**LD rules!** · 03-29-2011, 03:51 PM

Originally Posted by Dokkie

It looks really hot, I'm so tempted to get 1

Did you ever get a SW35 ? I think you were considering it at one point weren't you ?

**Dokkie** · 03-29-2011, 03:55 PM

I still am :x I got a N90 for a bargain though, but it is too heavy for my likings which means the SW35 is still an option, just send me free smaple you have 3 anyways

**blindfury** · 03-29-2011, 03:57 PM

Originally Posted by GT0ro

I would say this racket is like a Setiawan/LYD/KKK style balanced towards Paaske/Cai Yun. If anyone knows what I mean =P

Yay! nice review, but I have no idea what you mean by Setiawan/LYD/KKK style -___________-

**Dokkie** · 03-29-2011, 03:58 PM

Style they play which means probably good reading of the game and very creative

**LD rules!** · 03-29-2011, 04:06 PM

Originally Posted by blindfury

Yay! nice review, but I have no idea what you mean by Setiawan/LYD/KKK style -___________-

front court doubles players.... Probably more likely to be used by KKK if sponsored by Victor, he uses 8DX which shares similar characteristics to the MX80 from what I have read...

**Dokkie** · 03-29-2011, 04:07 PM

Yh there's an 8 and an x in it as well :P I left out about front court doubles players, I knew it but I guess he did as well :P Paaske used to play with and 8DX as well btw

**LD rules!** · 03-29-2011, 04:08 PM

Originally Posted by Dokkie

I still am :x I got a N90 for a bargain though, but it is too heavy for my likings which means the SW35 is still an option, just send me free smaple you have 3 anyways

haha, if you were close by then yeah, you could have borrowed one...

I would definetly recommend it though, worth a try.

**LD rules!** · 03-29-2011, 04:24 PM

Originally Posted by Dokkie

Yh there's an 8 and an x in it as well :P I left out about front court doubles players, I knew it but I guess he did as well :P Paaske used to play with and 8DX as well btw

yeah well remembered

Paaske was quite prolific with the 8DX, both KKK and Paaske would be better with MX80 though

**jump-smash** · 03-29-2011, 05:30 PM

Originally Posted by visor

Whoa! If you strung that up with Kevlar strings, you'd have a bulletproof racket for those occasional gunfights! :eep

hahaha LOL good one man ...
I don't know about kevlar strings though
could you please tell me which string is made of kevlar?

Originally Posted by visor

Beautiful!
I think I just wet my pants!

Confirms the mx80 is completely woven frame!

hahaha LOL
now that's racket porn ...

**jump-smash** · 03-29-2011, 05:40 PM

guys ... I think I agree with you guys ...
MX80 is quite similar in spec with AS8DX (although I never owned one but tried one only for stroke)
they are both good all-round rackets, even balanced and very stiff shaft
yes I think they are suitable for front court players such as HS, LYD, KKK, CY etc
they are all good play makers ... but don't get it wrong guys ...
they could smash really hard too whenever necessary