There's been a few grumblings around these neck of the woods by the local Victor distributor about online prices undercutting theirs. The have been trying to stem the flow of foreign code Victor rackets and I'm sure some the noises made have reached Victor HQ. Online vendors may have been told to up their prices in order to protect the distributors.
Prior to Victor line being pulled from RKEP...the MX80 was going for US$150 + US$25 shipping = US$175 total. Victor line re-instated to RKEP...the MX80 is US$175 + free shipping. So basically works out to be the same. Buy bulk or group buy to maybe get a discount? Ask Eric if you want to know for sure. Last time I checked...the local prices (Vancouver, Canada) for MX80 was going for CDN$165 + 12%tax = CDN$185. The difference is about $10 and 10 free RKEP grips. Still worth it to buy from RKEP (as long as you like the RKEP grips).
Just got my MX80 with bg80 @ 27lbs. 3U G3. Racket feels very very nice, finish is pretty top notch on it too!
You're right, he's been using it ever since the WC. The ad that he uses the SW37 is not correct, just like the one advertising the MX80 as LYD's racket (saw both at badmintonshoponline).
I like MX80 more and more... it's really amazing one u get used to the timing could u guys recommend a racket for the substitute when i'm tired playing with MX80? the one that doesn't need to change the hit-timing but more forgiving..
hmm... good idea, but the color scheme really turned me off.. how bout Spira22 or BS12? btw, i've tried BS10.. it's soo good, but it's faster than MX80, so if i have to change during games, i'll have to re-adjust again..
Let me tell you something now. I have played with so many racquets and none and i mean none compare to it. There is something to it that just defies everything. Its really fast (one of the fastest if not the fastest head heavy racquet out there) and yet even with slow shots, the weight in the head gives it the power almost equivalent to the VT80 with less effort. If u need a backup racquet, buy a lighter one or get one of same weight but lower tension. my 2p
He changed to the MX80 before the WC, probably because Victor wants to discontinue the SW35. Ko changed to the SW35, Yoo uses the BS12 (just watch the WC matches of both pairs, the bwf channel on youtube has them in amazing quality).
No question about JJS's racket. There's no doubt he uses the MX80. Seems like the SW35 players are devided - some change to the MX80, some prefer the SW37....although I'm a bit surprised Shon Wan Ho chose the MX80. Most singles players go for head weight rather than stiffness...but if I remember correctly, his game was kinda defensive and based on accuracy rather than power.
^^Shon Wan Ho used Explorer 68 (?) before... And yes, for ^^shon it's accuracy over power. Not a lot of aggression. ^^As a SW35 user, I don't feel comfortable with the MX80 as much as the SW35 (maybe cause I've used the SW35 for more than a year) im interested to try the SW37, but I prefer the SW35 to anything, so why change?
I just ended up in that US Open thread for some face recognition. The Explorer was of one o the TPE players ... I believe Wan Ho Shon used SW35. Shin Baek Cheol is/was also a SW35 user so keep an eye out I thought Wan Ho Shon was the Korean equivalent of Sho Sasaki but perhaps I'm remembering incorrectly ...
I haven't seen much of him, just the match against LCW in the 2010 AE and another random match, but he played defensively in both. Of course he smashes at times, there's no way you can win matches at the level without a smash, but he bases his game on a solid defense and accuracy, not powerful attacks. Imop, the only Korean that compares to SS is Lee Hyun Il, although he plays more patiently.