Just demoed the Woven 8 for a bit and love the overall performance of it. Coming from a Yonex 96VF, I am definitely getting a lot more power albeit at the cost of defense but you can't have everything right? I feel like there's been a 20% increase in power with a 5% decrease in manoeuverability which is something I'm more than willing to accept. (To me, defense = manoeuverability so I may use them interchangeably) Now on to the questions... price aside and referencing the Woven 8, is there anything currently available with a similar stiffness that: a. Has MORE power while maintaining the SAME manoeuverability b. Has the SAME power while having MORE manoeuverability c. Has MORE power AND has MORE manoeuverability (A guy can dream a little rite? ) (For more information on my play style, equipment etc, refer to my previous thread)
well, there's no general rule for a racket that is absolutly better than the other...I think 1 demo will get you a lot farther (or is it further?) than 1000 reviews. But to keep it in the sotx topic: I quite like the D500, it's more aerodynamic than the wovens and slightly headlight. In your terms, the D500 is 110-115% power of the w8, and 95-100% defence. But that is my personal opinion and I can imagine a lot of people disagree, but that's fine ..actually, in a way is great that people do disagree but then, I'll be testing the cp5k a lot more the coming week (little baddy, but still testing) so I might dump my d500's, who knows?
Hi Jerby... hehe... Pardon my "ratings"... I have little experience with varying rackets so the best I can do is compare the Woven 8 with my 96VF albeit a little crude. I've been following your SOTX and CP reviews and I was thinking about the D500 too. I await your final decision on D500 vs CP5k. At the end though, it doesn't have to be a SOTX. I'm willing to give anything a try. The question is, what to try next. PS. It's further =P
well, whatever my judgement would be on the CP5k, I'd say it's a totally different racket from the w8. It's longer(675 vs 670) heavier (88 (all my cp's are 88gr min) vs 85) headheavier (mine are 300mm vs 290mm) and stiffer. I don't think it'll be what you're looking for actually, I wasn't critisizing your ratings, I was trying to get on the same wavelength. Ratings in itself are always subjective and a bit of guesswork (but yes, it is helpfull, and yes I do it myself as well ), I wouldn't dare attacking their format PS: thanks, I'll remember it, just like spelling manoeverablity,
Finally done my exams... back to more researching... Care to name some rackets for what you said yes to? (ie SAME power but MORE manoeuverability) Referencing your Racket Review Chart, I don't seem to see anything w/ a Power/Defense Rating of Good+/>Good+. There were a few Good/Excellent though like the Kason TSF 300D, SOTX Woven 5/5A, Yonex AT800DE and AT900T. Were you referring to these? Another racket that caught my eye thought is the RSL Diamond X-1 which you gave a rating of Excellent-/Good+... Could this be thought of as a racket that has MORE power but SAME manoeuverability? As the X-1s are not discontinued, which X-2 do you find to be the most similar? After going through your chart, I compiled the following list of Stiff rackets... REFERENCE: SOTX WOVEN 8/8A POWER: GOOD+ DEFENSE: GOOD+ Similarly rated (Power: Good+, Defense: Good+) Astec Pro-850 Gosen Aermet 5700 SOTX D900 SOTX Woven 9/9A Victor Power Waves 12 Better Defense (Power: Good, Defense: Excellent) Kason TSF 300D SOTX Woven 5/5A Yonex AT800 DE Yonex AT900 T Better Power (Power: Excellent-, Defense: Good+) RSL Diamond X-1
Hey, sorry about this-trying not to hi-jack the thread but can you check your inbox please I pmed you a while ago.
BZZZZZzzt, definate no...p) cp6k is way heavier, headlheavier and longer, more power and less defence. A totally different racket (a damn good totally different racket ) I think the diamondfighter D300/D500 are your best bet sotx-wise...
I think Woven 9/9A, has better power and similar defence.. (its lighter overall but more head-heavy, so defence doens't suffer that much and power is a little better, at least for me..) Don't forget Woven 12 as well, also excellent /Twobeer
