Kason C7 vs TSF500 SHOOTOUT!

Well honestly, I think the C7 is a very nice racket. It's fast for something at this BP - the only two other rackets I've had with the same specs are the AT900T and SW310 from Victor, and the C7 is head and shoulders above them. Do keep in mind though, that in the grand scheme of things it's not particularly stiff - something around the MX60 in stiffness perhaps - and the TSF500 is less stiff again. But the upside of that is that you have a very accessible racket that for Intermediates gives a good balance between speed and power.

I will give you fair warning though, that if you get a C7 and come straight off a MX80? It's gunna feel all sorts of wrong. Give yourself time to get used to it and you'll be rewarded.

 

Then I'd get the MX60.

 

Honestly, why have a C7 as a back up for when you're having an off day, when you can just use an MX60? If the 80 didn't kill my shoulder, that's what I'd be inclined to do, because they're essentially the same racket.

It makes sense to use the 500 as a 'back up' for the C7 if you're not feeling like using something that head heavy, because they have a similar lineage.

 

Okay, so I've had a bit more time getting to know the TSF500 so I can further elaborate on the feel and characteristics of it.

First the good bits.

I think when summing up Kason rackets, their major selling point is their tactility, and the 500 is no exception. They just feel right, like an extension of your hand - they feel like a lot of time and effort has been put into design - you can feel that there is a lineage with these rackets. With some brands and models, you can really tell that they're just following trends or just making rackets with little focus on feel or damping or giving the product character. You can't argue that with the 500 or the C7.

In terms of a direct comparo, the 500 very much seems like a less head heavy version of the C7, despite the fact that they don't share any similarity in the cross-section design of any part of their heads. The C7 is marginally stiffer than the 500, which is a good thing. As a more direct comparo, it probably would've been better to compare the 500 with the F9, but personally, I wouldn't want anything less stiff than the C7 so I'll leave that comparo to somebody else.

And now the not so good.

If you're all about stiffness, then probably neither of these rackets are for you. The C7 has a decent amount of stiffness, but even for me - a guy who doesn't generally like super stiff rackets - I think both of these could do with some stiffening. This was very apparent when you play with something that has a super stiff head, like the Victor Meteors or the RKEP Pro9000 which I had a hit with last night - the stringbed on those is super rigid. Despite any Kason propaganda in regards to the torsional stability of the racket face, it could definitely be improved.
In terms of shaft flexibility, I think both are a decent match for each particular racket, but overall both rackets are only the stiffness (playable stiffness, not armchair stiffness) of something like a mid-stiff Victor like the MX60, with the 500 less stiff again.

Conclusions?

Despite the lack of stiffness, it's the feel and the tactility of these rackets that makes you like them. If you like that 'tool' like mechanical feel to your rackets then you'll hate these, but personally I find the tactility really addictive.

In the race for the 'uber' racket, it's mid-spec rackets like both of these that often get overlooked by those who seem blinded by the game of buying the 'latest and greatest' only to sell it a month later when they realise it doesn't suit their game, or worse. In my opinion, this mentality is a huge mistake, and personally I'd like to see more 'intermediates' reach for more accessible and tactile rackets like these.

The pick here is the C7. It's just a tad stiffer than the 500, with a bit of weight in the head and speed belying its weight. If you're used to rackets in the upper end of the 'balanced' scale (BP295) and want to venture into slightly more weight in the head, this is your go-to racket.

In summary, both are solid, great feeling 'middling' Intermediate rackets, and if you like that sort of thing then you'll definitely find something to like in both. However, some more stiffness would elevate both into the realm of the greats - in their current spec the C7 reaches a bit higher, but the 500 falls a little short of the mark. However, when it comes to feel and tactility, these two Kasons have it in spades.

 

I haven't had a hit with an Arc7 for ages, but the C7 is not particularly stiff. Even though its been years since I owned one, I'm reminded a bit of the AT900T. It's about the same stiffness the old spec BS11 and MX80. Very usable.

 

Its not a particularly stiff racket, but if that's not a problem and you like mildly head heavy rackets, then sure. Otherwise, I'd look for something stiffer and head heavier like a SW35, MX80 or VT80. You might also want to look at the RKEP Pro 9000, too.