Need help in choosing a badminton racket. (Ended up with Adidas Spieler P09.1)

Discussion in 'Racket Recommendation / Comparison' started by Nguyễn Tín, Jul 28, 2020.

  1. Nguyễn Tín

    Nguyễn Tín Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2020
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Việt Nam
    Hi, a little background from me.
    I'm starting to play badminton again after a year off due to an injury and abdomen surgeries, I'm perfectly in shape to play now though.
    I have been using my friend's Yonex Voltric 0.9DG Slim with BG66U string @24lbs tension, towel grip since I sweat a lot. I prefer all rounded but slight offensive playstyle, having no trouble using 300mm balance 3UG5 rackets (my friend's racket), though I'm not entirely tied to that. However, I do notice some problems while playing.
    I sometimes can't hit deep court shot from the back, even with new string in its first 2-hour lifespan. My smashes are not steep and strong (arguably because of my weak wrist or improper technique), Net play is fine though.
    So I'm currently in the market for a personal racket, initially been looking at Adidas Wucht P7 and P8, but I would like to hear from y'all for any suggestions, my budget is around US$110, I'm in Vietnam so rackets are a tack cheaper here.
    Sorry for the long post, I can't find any better way to make it shorter.
     
    speCulatius likes this.
  2. Dave1011

    Dave1011 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,524
    Likes Received:
    391
    Location:
    Notts, UK
    If your struggling to hit to the back of the court and say you a weak wrist and bad technique then i wouldn't suggest the Wucht P7 or P8.
    They are great rackets but not if you don't have the strength or technique needed.

    I think your string tension may need to lower if you can't reach the back of the court.

    I suggest a restring if your friend will allow that or to buy yourself a mid balanced and medium stiff racket to help you work on strength and technique.
    The Kalkul A3 is a great all round racket that's more user friendly than the Wucht P7/P8.
    I would advise stringing at 20 or 22lbs initially with something like bg65 string.
     
    speCulatius and Nguyễn Tín like this.
  3. Nguyễn Tín

    Nguyễn Tín Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2020
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Việt Nam
    Hi, thank you for your feedback first hand, really appreciate it.
    Regarding the wrist or technique problem, it's really more like I just need a bit more time to get back to where I was, so it's not too big of a deal to be honest, the string tension I find it suitable since I have no other problems other than occasionally failing to hit to the back of the court, and my friend's racket is a Hi-flex one as well. Maybe let me try lowering the tension until my technique is up again, thanks for the tips.
    KalKul A3 is not available in Vietnam or that's what I ended up with after many searches, so do you any other recommendations? I did lurk around in the forums for a while but still nothing fits my preferences.
     
  4. Dave1011

    Dave1011 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,524
    Likes Received:
    391
    Location:
    Notts, UK
    Its a shame if the Kalkul A3 is not available, the Uberschall range are very good too so it may be worthwhile seeing which of either of those two ranges are available.
     
  5. Nguyễn Tín

    Nguyễn Tín Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2020
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Việt Nam
    I just read @Mark A KalKul A3 racket review and I think I have a very high chance of having success using the A3, can't find KalKul or even Uberschall here in Vietnam though. So does any racket pass through your mind having similar specs or feel like the A3 (maybe better feel as well)?
     
  6. Dave1011

    Dave1011 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,524
    Likes Received:
    391
    Location:
    Notts, UK
    Yeah its a great racket, i would offer to sell you one of my A3 rackets but the shipping to Vietnam would be very costly.

    If Adidas aren't available then Apacs Virtuoso Performance or Virtuoso Pro would be good alternatives
     
  7. pughon

    pughon Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2018
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    144
    Location:
    somewhere unknown
    Where exactly are you in VN? I check there are some stocks in HCMC.
    If not, the biggest retailer has a wide range of Spieler, probably @Dave1011 can have another suggestion.
     
    speCulatius and Dave1011 like this.
  8. Dave1011

    Dave1011 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,524
    Likes Received:
    391
    Location:
    Notts, UK
    The Spieler A09.1 is great value for money, I suggest you replace the standard string.
    Maybe its best to see what is available and then we can suggest the most suitable.
     
    Nguyễn Tín and pughon like this.
  9. pughon

    pughon Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2018
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    144
    Location:
    somewhere unknown
    speCulatius and Dave1011 like this.
  10. Dave1011

    Dave1011 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 22, 2009
    Messages:
    2,524
    Likes Received:
    391
    Location:
    Notts, UK
    The pricing is very strange! The A09.1 is more expensive than Europe (around £67) but the P8 is reasonably cheap (around £96).
    I think the A09.1 is still a good option.
     
    speCulatius and pughon like this.
  11. pughon

    pughon Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2018
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    144
    Location:
    somewhere unknown
    Yeah the price is mostly based on market demand. When first released if it is a well-marketed product from well-known brand, the price is quite high, but if the sale is bad, then the price quickly declines. Not as stable as in Eu.
     
    speCulatius and Dave1011 like this.
  12. Nguyễn Tín

    Nguyễn Tín Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2020
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Việt Nam
    I’m in HCMC, ShopVNB is my go-to badminton retailer, they offer a wide range of products for a relatively reasonable price, I believe you can buy combos as well, a great bang for the buck.
     
  13. Nguyễn Tín

    Nguyễn Tín Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2020
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Việt Nam
    Are there any Yonex counterparts?
    It’s a shame that I can’t find the A3 anywhere, maybe international site would do.
    The P7 is a little bit more forgiving than the P8 though, the new color in 2020 really has caught my attention for a while, do you think the P7 is a good fit, given my skill improved over the years?
     
    #13 Nguyễn Tín, Jul 28, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 28, 2020
  14. Nguyễn Tín

    Nguyễn Tín Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2020
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Việt Nam
    One of the reason I was considering the Wucht line was the pricing as well.
    Rackets are cheaper in Vietnam, you can find a Voltric ZFII LD for as low as US$100.
     
  15. Budi

    Budi Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 10, 2019
    Messages:
    1,845
    Likes Received:
    878
    Location:
    Indonesia
    1st technique. Probably you need to polish your technique for that, but without seeing you playing, i cant tell much.
    2nd 3U & 300+BP. 100gr (the heaviest racket nowadays, exclude training racket) weight is light enough that even 3yo slim girl can lift it & toying it. But swing it in controled way (badminton stroke) repeatly are different story. Heavier & head heavier racket give the most punch coz of its swing weight but if you cant generate the speed needed for optimal stroke, then your hitting will be weaker. So maybe you want to try lighter racket (4U) or less head heavy (balance) racket instead. Maybe it will sync better with your swing speed & strength.
     
  16. pughon

    pughon Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2018
    Messages:
    287
    Likes Received:
    144
    Location:
    somewhere unknown
    speCulatius likes this.
  17. speCulatius

    speCulatius Regular Member

    Joined:
    May 17, 2017
    Messages:
    1,129
    Likes Received:
    1,210
    Location:
    'round here....
    From what you wrote in the beginning, my first thought went to the P2 or a Spieler A09.1 (maybe P09.1, but I didn't have the chance to try that one yet), but the A3 might be a good fit, too, but on the lighter side.

    Unfortunately, I don't know the recent Yonex rackets well enough, but the Babolat Satelite Essential is very close to the A3. Slightly more flexible maybe...

    Price wise, the A3 and P8 are around the same?! That's insane! If you can get a P7 for below 100$ (around 2,500,000?), it's worth a shot. You say you like the colors and the specs, but be aware that it's a compact head racket, judging from your first post, I don't know if that would be the best choice. Do you hit the sweet spot consistently?

    With a 30$ difference between the Spieler and the P8/P7, I'd go with the higher quality and better feedback of the latter ones. I prefer the compact head though.

    edit:
    Even with much higher tension than they usually use, not many people disliked my P8s when trying them, even when they're used to lighter, more flexible, regular head sized rackets and don't have great technique. I never tried the P7, but judging from the spec (in comparison to the P8), I do not think you need to be too shy about that either.
     
    #17 speCulatius, Jul 29, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2020
  18. ucantseeme

    ucantseeme Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 21, 2010
    Messages:
    5,053
    Likes Received:
    2,401
    Occupation:
    Z-Force II
    Location:
    Z-ForceII
    @speCulatius isn't the P8 an extra stiff racket which is ZFII/DuoZS like with a compact head? I wouldn't recommend anything close to it, if somebody struggle to hit back to back and came from injuries. I know many here are on the Adidas hype train (that's fine if you like them), that many people here like stiff compacts (that's fine if you can handle them), but do you think that the OP match the requirements for it?

    Even if people like your P8 with weak technique, the liking is just a short time impression. Testing and ownership a different story. Do you think this racket is a long term solution for them? If it must be Adidas there must be somthing more forgiving and I think there come something different in your mind. :)
     
  19. LenaicM

    LenaicM Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 9, 2018
    Messages:
    1,280
    Likes Received:
    1,035
    Location:
    Europe
    Silly question but are you owning any racket at the moment or not?
     
    ucantseeme likes this.
  20. Nguyễn Tín

    Nguyễn Tín Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 28, 2020
    Messages:
    38
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Việt Nam
    #20 Nguyễn Tín, Jul 29, 2020
    Last edited: Jul 29, 2020

Share This Page