Panda Power: A Racket That Can Take 40lbs. String Tension!

Discussion in 'Badminton Rackets / Equipment' started by DinkAlot, Apr 22, 2009.

  1. Avenger

    Avenger Regular Member

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    haha, that's brilliant drawing
     
  2. Teebs

    Teebs Regular Member

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    I wish...

    Apparently this message was too short, this comment is simply to make it longer.
     
  3. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    The People appears in shot, so he must read it... for shame!

    I don't read ANY newspapers, but I especially don't read tabloids. The front third tells us which pointless bint was seen with which pointless twerp, the rear third is all football nonsense, and the middle third tells you how to get rid of cellulite by eating yoghurt with volcanic ash stirred in.

    *end rant. Thanks, James, I needed that:D.

    In other news, I tried the PPro today. Never played with a racket quite like it... it's going to be an interesting review.
     
  4. Teebs

    Teebs Regular Member

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    Review faster! This is genuinely the first thing I've been excited with for a while, on a par with degree results...
     
  5. amleto

    amleto Regular Member

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    and this is how brits self deprecate. I said dep-re-cate!
    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=X8rrFP2RMmo
     
  6. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    This just in: a spare PPro may have popped out of the system:D. I'll be contacting all back-up buyers in turn.
     
  7. Teebs

    Teebs Regular Member

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    In all fairness Newcastle is a land upon it's own... And ooh so tempted, shame I'm not backed up :(
     
  8. jamesd20

    jamesd20 Moderator

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    Pray tell....please....

    Also, reads no papers...so you ARE a stereotypical illiterate british person?! :)

    Insults over....otherwise my pp might never get here :)
     
  9. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    I'm not illiterate - I speak very good England! Your PPros will be presented on 31st July.

    Back to Panda-ery.
     
  10. Staiger1

    Staiger1 Regular Member

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    review , pls ?
     
  11. jamesd20

    jamesd20 Moderator

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    Ok, nice1 cu den. Luk 4wd 2 it. :)
     
  12. Fidget

    Fidget Regular Member

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    Are your PPro's doing the nasty and procreating in that Panda box? Or are you running them off on one of those 3D-copier machines that the BBC technology webpage goes on about?

    And more to the topic:
    What did you mean by saying that your PPro review is going to be "interesting"? That is such a loaded word. Certainly we want your considered mature opinion based on a fair assessment after adequate experimentation ..... but come off it, man, and give us a teaser of what you think of it! How long do you think our current doses of Ritalin can keep our heads from exploding with impulsive impatience?!
     
    #5932 Fidget, Jul 4, 2012
    Last edited: Jul 4, 2012
  13. forumer

    forumer Regular Member

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    Hi, how is your A/B comparision getting on?It would greatly help in finalsing my decision.Thanks
     
  14. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    I suppose I can do a review now (but it might be revised a bit as I get to know the racket).

    Precision Pro - 286/85. BG80 (violet) @ 30 lb.

    Looks

    Excellent - no production racket quite like it. Reminiscent of the "naked carbon" prototypes I've had in the past, but it's not really like any of them, either - it's not "pencil lead" coloured; it's just BLACK. The diffused highlights... beautiful, and the flashes of silver on the shaft are just enough to break it up. I would have italicized the "Precision Pro" text, though, but I'm splitting hairs. (The finish also grabs hold of fingerprints like mad - be warned:)).

    It's weird to see exposed grommets at the top of the frame, but you do get used to it (and they're there for a very good reason).

    Stringing

    Standard 22/22, but there's room for a 23rd cross like on some of the Li Ning and Victor rackets – I’ll be using it next time. Plenty of big grommets for good knotting flexibility.

    Took 30 lb and didn't seem bothered in the least. Indeed, the 9/12/3 area is disproportionately strong compared to other rackets - the groove is missing, remember.



    Power

    9/10. Such an easy racket – made the TPro slightly reluctant by comparison. It’s a shade stiffer, but the faster frame gets to the shuttle a lot earlier. Result: free power. I was mis-timing a lot for a while (also because of the faster frame), but when I caught one full in the face… goodbye, shuttle, send me a postcard.

    My smashes scared me, it drives absolutely superbly off the mid-court, and I managed to send several backhand clears LONG. The “sudden” stiffness makes for some really good deception shots – I taxied several people with punch clears, for example.

    Defence/Control

    10/10. Here’s where it gets odd: mine hits like a 3U, but defends like a 4U. It borders on effortless, moving like there’s no head on it. Even down the forehand side I had time to build a house of cards before getting the (often crosscourt) block. That free power comes in handy as well – you can get tangled up and still put the shuttle deep. As a masochistic defender/control player, it’s close enough to perfect to make no difference.

    Stability, Feel

    8/10, 10/10, resp. Compared to the majority of rackets there’s very little frame at all, but what’s there is pretty difficult to knock off line, especially at the top. There’s comparatively more torque at the bottom, though. The sweet spot is slightly smaller than usual, and going outside it doesn’t feel very good.

    Feel… I’d give it 11/10 if I could. Even the gentlest shot reaches the fingers, but when you really, really unload it’s like bomb going off in your hand (in a good way). Stepping into a drive is almost foreplay… the sheer punch from the thing…

    The mysterious word synergy applies here, if ever – it feels more of a “unit” than any other Panda so far, with the parts seeming to blur together.


    Summary

    I didn’t rate the old green Precision – I thought the frame was far too soft, and the shaft could be bent in half without snapping it – so you can imagine my surprise at the PPro. Has excellent power when you need it, excellent defence when you need it, and outstanding feel whether you need it or not. Has it displaced my TPros? Provisionally... yes.

    +
    Looks;
    Loves high tensions;
    Really helpful power – hits 2-3 grams harder than the weight;
    Defends without any input from me, 2-3 grams easier than the weight;
    Extraordinary feel – deserves some sort of award for it, in fact;
    Looks.

    -
    The exposed grommets up top take some getting used to;
    Sweet spot is smaller than most, and doesn’t like it when you miss;
    A bit more frame torque at the bottom than usual.
     
  15. Fidget

    Fidget Regular Member

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    Thanks for the review, Mark.
    Didn't seriously want you to rush your review... I shoulda put smilies in my goading post.:eek:

    I strung my PPro up last night. The rivet-look of the grommets seemed a bit unusual, but they were perfectly functional with no difficulty stringing. The frame is solid and could no doubt take a lot higher tension than I will ever use. I will add my "duffer's review" to the thread when I get a chance to use this Black Beauty. :)
     
  16. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    ^It made enough of an impression for me to do a tentative summary. Comparing it, in my head, to the red TPro did make life a bit easier as well. I'll be throwing it around again tomorrow to refine things - some ratings may change half a point or so.
     
  17. Staiger1

    Staiger1 Regular Member

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    It would be great if you could post a video of yourself playing as well, so we can match the review with your standard of play , also the different types of players would also affect the suitability to the racket. Thanx
     
  18. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    The BC get-together matches will be videoed, I think, and at least one Panda player - me - has consented to appear:).
     
  19. DinkAlot

    DinkAlot dcbadminton
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    Let the plastics fly! LOL! ;)...:p...:D:D:D
     
  20. Mark A

    Mark A Regular Member

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    LET IT GO, brother! I think I lost some serious cred when I let that slip...

    The shuttles are being provided by not-me (Mat, I think), so I'll just have to grin and bear it.
     

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