Yonex Voltric 80 ( VT80 )

[Yoppy]

I actually care less and less about power. Honestly, smashes just have to be disruptive enough to put the opposition on the back foot so you or your partner can get an easy kill. At my level anyway, 90% of smashes just come straight back anyway, so I'd rather utilise their disruptive qualities and concentrate on good placement, and the best way to do that is with a fast racket.

Anyway, I get more satisfaction from winning a tight tussle at the net. It's the guy at the front that wins the point the majority of the time, and power is worth nothing there.

Just my 2c

I agree with that. Especially in the MD, its not the hard hitter who win points, but it is the front man who set up the play and opportunities for the hard hitter to make a kill. At Thomas cup match between HS/MK and FHF/CY, i actually counted now many FHF and MK scored. The result was incrediblly low, at one set that HS/MK won MK scored only 3 points. Also the same with FHF, he actually scored less than 10 (7 if i remember correctly). This is not to mention the amount of errors a hard hitter ussually makes.

Therefore i conclude, unless you are a hard hitter or single player. Forget about head heavy racket, they will not add anything to your game in fact it slows you down unnecesarily

[Naim.F.C]

I actually care less and less about power. Honestly, smashes just have to be disruptive enough to put the opposition on the back foot so you or your partner can get an easy kill. At my level anyway, 90% of smashes just come straight back anyway, so I'd rather utilise their disruptive qualities and concentrate on good placement, and the best way to do that is with a fast racket.

Anyway, I get more satisfaction from winning a tight tussle at the net. It's the guy at the front that wins the point the majority of the time, and power is worth nothing there.

Just my 2c

Totally depends on your play style. But I still find around 35% of point wins in my doubles games are from smashes (25% from good placement, 15% drives, 15% net play, the rest drop shots). If you can smash hard enough, and with a good enough angle (forcing the opponent to stretch or run for it) often it doesn't matter how fast they are because the force at which the shuttle hits their racket ends up sending the shuttle in to oblivion (i.e out of court bounds).

For me, lately I'm caring more about power as it's usually a quicker means to end a game or win a point. Whereas placement or net play requires a lot more patience. Rallies can be very long and drawn out before either side concedes, generally from a mistake.

But like all things, it's just a matter of opinion. Different strokes for different folks. I am afraid that when I get my VT80, I'll find it's sacrificed too much speed and control in place of power.

[Yoppy]

To me, I dont mind having a powerful racket. But if in order to do that I must sacrifice speed, no no. The solution, increase the stiffness (while maintaining the head lightbness) and huuuulaa you can have the best of both world, power and speed.

[Maklike Tier]

Totally depends on your play style. But I still find around 35% of point wins in my doubles games are from smashes

Yeah but what part of the 35% is from half court where you'd win the point smashing with any racket, and how many are big hits from the back?

I reckon it's less than 35. Say on average you spend half your time attacking (front/back) and the other half defending. Then you're already only spending 25% of your court time at the back of the court in a potentially smash-winning position. Then of that 25% when you are at the back, how many winners are you making through back court smashes, as opposed to fakey-drops, flat drives, or soft mid-court pushes?

Combine that with the fact that we've already ascertained that racket head speed plays an exponential part in the kinetic energy you can impart on the shuttle, and it all starts to smell like doo-doo, doesn't it?



Anyway, we're derailling this thread *cough* yes, VT80, splendid racket, go buy one *cough*

[samsudd_s]

Yeah but what part of the 35% is from half court where you'd win the point smashing with any racket, and how many are big hits from the back?

I reckon it's less than 35. Say on average you spend half your time attacking (front/back) and the other half defending. Then you're already only spending 25% of your court time at the back of the court in a potentially smash-winning position. Then of that 25% when you are at the back, how many winners are you making through back court smashes, as opposed to fakey-drops, flat drives, or soft mid-court pushes?

Combine that with the fact that we've already ascertained that racket head speed plays an exponential part in the kinetic energy you can impart on the shuttle, and it all starts to smell like doo-doo, doesn't it?



Anyway, we're derailling this thread *cough* yes, VT80, splendid racket, go buy one *cough*

pewhh...so much technical & mathematical involve here, i hv to write down and do my maths in order to understand it but, in total, i must say that who wins the game, he must be completely balance in his power/control/defense departments...total quality from inside to outside.

[Quelray]

I gave the VT 80 a whirl tonight, and I have the AT250, NS 100, and Wilson Jet to compare it to. Power wise it's about the same or more powerful than the AT 250, and yet it's speed and defense were much closer to the Jet and NS 100. Net shots and crosscourts were tighter than with the AT, and it seemed to take next to no effort to clear and smash, forehand or backhand. The power I was expecting as the VT 80 is a head-heavy, but the defense and speed I certainly wasn't.

If the rest of the VT series are like this, then I'm sure they're going to be a great replacement for the AT series.

[Quelray]

Oh, and the specifics are 3UG4 AT250, NS100, and VT80. BG 66-Ultimax 22lbs for the AT, and 24lbs for the VT. Nano and Jet are factory standard, strings and tension.

[bunbun]

I actually care less and less about power. Honestly, smashes just have to be disruptive enough to put the opposition on the back foot so you or your partner can get an easy kill. At my level anyway, 90% of smashes just come straight back anyway, so I'd rather utilise their disruptive qualities and concentrate on good placement, and the best way to do that is with a fast racket.

Anyway, I get more satisfaction from winning a tight tussle at the net. It's the guy at the front that wins the point the majority of the time, and power is worth nothing there.

Just my 2c

u mean power is nothing..i think u must be a very good player..

[bunbun]

I agree with that. Especially in the MD, its not the hard hitter who win points, but it is the front man who set up the play and opportunities for the hard hitter to make a kill. At Thomas cup match between HS/MK and FHF/CY, i actually counted now many FHF and MK scored. The result was incrediblly low, at one set that HS/MK won MK scored only 3 points. Also the same with FHF, he actually scored less than 10 (7 if i remember correctly). This is not to mention the amount of errors a hard hitter ussually makes.

Therefore i conclude, unless you are a hard hitter or single player. Forget about head heavy racket, they will not add anything to your game in fact it slows you down unnecesarily

never play mix double ....

[Jimmy C]

Yup, pretty sure. My Armortec 500 cone got loose also, and I glued it back my self. LOL. The performance still the same though.
There is one guy at this thread has some problem already with VT80. You can check it.

wicked...!!
can you tell which page it is?

[Naim.F.C]

Combine that with the fact that we've already ascertained that racket head speed plays an exponential part in the kinetic energy you can impart on the shuttle, and it all starts to smell like doo-doo, doesn't it?

It does indeed play an exceptional part in it. But as we've also ascertained, so does mass, weight, user speed and user power. If you can swing a long sword as fast or nearly as fast as a short sword, the long sword will do a lot more damage. As proven not only through history, but even through episodes of myth busters etc. The extra weight essentially adds it's own speed, momentum and power, much like if a heavier person were to be thrown from a plane compared to a lighter slimmer person.

Where it gets more sticky is in non-smash related topics, where the speed of the racket imo makes more of a difference in defensive shots and in quick instant reactions (drives etc).

[Yoppy]

never play mix double ....

Yes i have, and you??

[Yoppy]

It does indeed play an exceptional part in it. But as we've also ascertained, so does mass, weight, user speed and user power. If you can swing a long sword as fast or nearly as fast as a short sword, the long sword will do a lot more damage. As proven not only through history, but even through episodes of myth busters etc. The extra weight essentially adds it's own speed, momentum and power, much like if a heavier person were to be thrown from a plane compared to a lighter slimmer person.

Where it gets more sticky is in non-smash related topics, where the speed of the racket imo makes more of a difference in defensive shots and in quick instant reactions (drives etc).

Yes assuming that the two have the same stiffness, then a heavier one is more powerful. But we can also compare a solid object and a soft object, while they are both weight the same, the solid object have more impact.

[Naim.F.C]

Yes assuming that the two have the same stiffness, then a heavier one is more powerful. But we can also compare a solid object and a soft object, while they are both weight the same, the solid object have more impact.

Yes I completely agree.

[bad_fanatic]

Got my VT-80 last weekend. 3UG5 strung with BG-65 at 32 lbs. This makes it easy to compare to my VT-70 3UG5 strung at 32lbs.

Prior to this, I demo a VT-80 4UG4 for about 10-15 and I thought it was great. So great that I decided to purchase one myself. The 3U is significantly heavier with more weight at the head then the 4U. It's still not as head heavy as the AT700 with the same spec.

Put in a total of 6 hrs in two days, playing both singles and doubles, and I stand by my original comment that Clear, back court drop, net drop, smash and drives are pretty easy with this racket. The racket gives good shot feel, which makes shot replication/consistancy more attainable.

Comparing the VT-80 to VT-70, the 80 is slightly more head heavy, and the shaft is more flexible. The chart doesn't say so, but the racket is more flexible. Even though it's more head heavy, I felt as though the racket maneuver faster then the VT-70 making fast interchange easier to handle then the VT-70. The VT-80 is also more forgiving so bad timing shots or off centered shot isn't as negative as the VT-70.

Power wise, the VT-70 and 80 are pretty much the same. The VT-80 gives a little more power or speed on wrist snap shot that utilizes a lot of wrist movement with zero to little arm movements.

To me, the VT-80 is like a blend of the AT900T and Arc10. A good all around racket, that's probably more suitable for offensive player, but doesn't hurt defense at all. If you like the AT series, or Arc10, most likely you'll like the VT-80.

[Blitzzards]

Got my VT-80 last weekend. 3UG5 strung with BG-65 at 32 lbs. This makes it easy to compare to my VT-70 3UG5 strung at 32lbs.

Prior to this, I demo a VT-80 4UG4 for about 10-15 and I thought it was great. So great that I decided to purchase one myself. The 3U is significantly heavier with more weight at the head then the 4U. It's still not as head heavy as the AT700 with the same spec.

Put in a total of 6 hrs in two days, playing both singles and doubles, and I stand by my original comment that Clear, back court drop, net drop, smash and drives are pretty easy with this racket. The racket gives good shot feel, which makes shot replication/consistancy more attainable.

Comparing the VT-80 to VT-70, the 80 is slightly more head heavy, and the shaft is more flexible. The chart doesn't say so, but the racket is more flexible. Even though it's more head heavy, I felt as though the racket maneuver faster then the VT-70 making fast interchange easier to handle then the VT-70. The VT-80 is also more forgiving so bad timing shots or off centered shot isn't as negative as the VT-70.

Power wise, the VT-70 and 80 are pretty much the same. The VT-80 gives a little more power or speed on wrist snap shot that utilizes a lot of wrist movement with zero to little arm movements.

To me, the VT-80 is like a blend of the AT900T and Arc10. A good all around racket, that's probably more suitable for offensive player, but doesn't hurt defense at all. If you like the AT series, or Arc10, most likely you'll like the VT-80.

Interesting review from someone who also uses a similar string type and tension as myself. Thanks a lot

I find it a quite weird that you would find the VT80 having a more flexible shaft compared to the VT70. Perhaps what you really meant was that the VT80's shaft is more elastic meaning that the whip effect (most times misunderstood as flexibility) is more pronounced?

[Naim.F.C]

32lbs....wow. Higher than many of the worlds top pro's lol.