Ars fantome vs 100x ultra

Rig
rumel36 said:
I felt 88dp 3rd gen really tiresome after few games. Few of friends reported the same elbow pain. May be you have good techniques. Now, I am using fantome and 100x (not ultra). Thats why thinking If it is not suitable then I have to resell it which is a hassle to me
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Right okay. I'd stick with the Fantome assuming that you're really liking it? I've heard good things but not tried yet. What would you be hoping to get from the HS that the Fantome is lacking in? Just a bit more power? 🤔
 
CuckleShot said:
Rig

Right okay. I'd stick with the Fantome assuming that you're really liking it? I've heard good things but not tried yet. What would you be hoping to get from the HS that the Fantome is lacking in? Just a bit more power? 🤔
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Honestly, I like to explore new technologies in rackets. HS+ has WES 3.0. Also, it has more power and all-around racket. Now problem is only stiffness.
 
Finally bought HS+, super fast and nice to play. Excellent all-around racket(depends on individuals). Thanks everyone who suggested to buy this exceptional racket. Its a very good addition in my racket line.
 
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Ideati0n said:
Hi everyone,

Can anyone compare the fantome to NF800P or the HS Plus to NF800P?
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NF800p 3U version is ok. It has good power but I felt HS plus 4u is more powerful. Fantome is good but it is flexible compare to NF800p
 
Been testing the Victor Auraspeed Fantomé lately – and figured I’d share some thoughts from the slow end of the court.

It’s absurdly light. Like, “did I forget to string this?”-light. But holy shuttle, it’s fast. Drives and netplay feel like cheating – it reacts before I even realise I’ve hit the thing. Power? Well… if you’ve got time and decent technique, it’s there. If you’re in trouble and hoping for a heroic clear from the back corner, you might want to say a little prayer first. But the control – wow. Drops, blocks, soft touches – it’s like the thing reads your mind. Even when your mind is half a banana and a bad habit.

Anyway, I scribbled down a full review here – not professional, just a fellow player sharing his findings: Victor Auraspeed Fantomé

I've also reviewed the 100X Ultra for those interested :-)
 
Kasper1138 said:
Been testing the Victor Auraspeed Fantomé lately – and figured I’d share some thoughts from the slow end of the court.

It’s absurdly light. Like, “did I forget to string this?”-light. But holy shuttle, it’s fast. Drives and netplay feel like cheating – it reacts before I even realise I’ve hit the thing. Power? Well… if you’ve got time and decent technique, it’s there. If you’re in trouble and hoping for a heroic clear from the back corner, you might want to say a little prayer first. But the control – wow. Drops, blocks, soft touches – it’s like the thing reads your mind. Even when your mind is half a banana and a bad habit.

Anyway, I scribbled down a full review here – not professional, just a fellow player sharing his findings: Victor Auraspeed Fantomé

I've also reviewed the 100X Ultra for those interested :-)
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Thanks for the reviews. I read a few more on your website too. Would personally be interested in a hs plus review or if you get hold of the new lining axforce 90 :)
 
Rainstorm 34 said:
Hello, I have played with all 4 of these rackets, with HS-Plus currently my most favorite racket, I would like to share my personal comparison between them.

Stiffness: HS-Plus > 100X Ultra = TKF Ultra > Fantome. However I would consider the Fantome a pretty stiff racket too.

Balance point: Fantome > 100X Ultra = HS-Plus = TKF Ultra. Fantome has a very high balance point, the other 3 are more or less the same, as Victor rackets always seem to have large variations in specs between those of the same model.

Clear: they all do very well, there is no significant difference between them, but if I have to rank them then 100X Ultra > HS-Plus > TKF Ultra = Fantome

Drive: HS-Plus is the most stable and has the most weight behind its drives. Fantome has the fastest swing. 100X Ultra and TKF Ultra have very nice drives too. Overall I would rank HS-Plus > 100X Ultra = TKF Ultra > Fantome

Smash: HS-Plus > 100X Ultra > Fantome = TKF Ultra. This is the area that I’m most certain about.

Control: HS-Plus > TKF Ultra > 100X Ultra = Fantome. The combination of super light weight + super high balance point gives me accuracy troubles with Fantome.

Defense: HS-Plus and Fantome excel at this area in their own way. HS-Plus’ super stiff shaft + compact frame makes returning shot an intimidating attack on its own, if your strength and skill are up for it. Fantome is so fast, it would give a boost in reflex I feel. 100X Ultra and TKF Ultra are decent enough.

Overall for me HS-Plus is a near perfect racket: formidable smashes, super stable drives and superb control. 100X Ultra is perhaps the most “fun” racket of the 4, being able to dish out super steep smashes and drives while also is decent enough at other areas. TKF U too is decent in all area but is a bit boring, similar to Astrox 77 Pro, another racket that is decent to great everywhere but excels at nothing (No, TKF Ultra doesn’t play similarly to 77 Pro, I’m just using 77 Pro as an example of a great all around but boring racket from Yonex). Fantome is also a super fun racket to play with, blazing speed with superb mid to front court smashes.

I own 4 HS-Plus including a 3U, 4 Fantome including a 3U, 3 100X Ultra including a 3U, and 2 TKF U both 4U. Been playing with them since the release. Hope my input helps.
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Thanks for the detailed explanation! I'm currently looking for an alternative to my 2nd Gen Astrox 88s Pro and am interested in the HS-Plus and Fantome and would like to know your thoughts for comparison. Pros and cons if any?

For context, I'm an intermediate front court player. I mostly utilize drives more than any other shots.
The AX88SP has been the best for me so far. I like how fast the racket feels, its stiffness also adds to the sharpness and accuracy while is also able to generate decent power for smashes (which is enough for me).

Other rackets I've tried:
- Li-Ning AxForce 90: Feels a bit too thin and somewhat fragile, whereas the Astrox feels quite solid when I swing
- Halbertec 8000, Arcsaber 7 and 12 Pro: Too balanced, not really fast but not strong enough either
- Astrox 100ZZ: Too stiff, didn't find it fun to swing the rackets
- Astrox 88D Pro: Nice feeling but too head heavy

Let me know your thoughts or any other alternatives please, thank you so much!
 
ludos said:
Let me know your thoughts or any other alternatives please, thank you so much!
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To clarify, you are looking for an alternative of the 2024 88S Pro, right?

It's impossible to find an exact alternative.
You mentioned you like its stiffness level, accuracy, and the ease of access to power. So let's go over the rackets you have tried ~

. Axforce 90, Halbertec 8000, Arcsaber 7 Pro: like you said, these rackets don't have similar hitting feel to 88SP. Not even close.
. Arcsaber 11 Pro: great accuracy, on a similar level to 88SP, similar stiffness too, but it's not as easy to generate power.
. Astrox 100ZZ, Astrox 88DP: stiffer and more head heavy. Both eliminated too.

Like I have mentioned above, there is nothing similar enough to replicate the exact feel of 88SP. 70% at most.

. Nanoflare 800 Pro: similar stiffness, similar speed and accuracy, less power.
. Auraspeed HS-Plus: fast, stiffer than 88SP, compact head, harder to generate power, but has even better accuracy and better control than 88SP.
. Auraspeed Fantome: no, this racket is nothing like 88SP.
. DriveX 12: similar stiffness and accuracy, less speed, harder to access power.
. Halbertec 9000: similar stiffness, similar speed and accuracy, similar balance point, a bit harder to generate power.
. Fortius 10 2025: a bit less stiff, similar speed and accuracy, also easy to generate power.
. Acrospeed 1 Drive: similar stiffness, similar speed and accuracy, similar balance point, similar ease of access to power. The closest alternative to 88SP that I can find. But to stress it again, at most it can only replicate 70% the hitting feel of 88SP.
 
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Rainstorm 34 said:
To clarify, you are looking for an alternative of the 2024 88S Pro, right?

It's impossible to find an exact alternative.
You mentioned you like its stiffness level, accuracy, and the ease of access to power. So let's go over the rackets you have tried ~

. Axforce 90, Halbertec 8000, Arcsaber 7 Pro: like you said, these rackets don't have similar hitting feel to 88SP. Not even close.
. Arcsaber 11 Pro: great accuracy, on a similar level to 88SP, similar stiffness too, but it's not as easy to generate power.
. Astrox 100ZZ, Astrox 88DP: stiffer and more head heavy. Both eliminated too.

Like I have mentioned above, there is nothing similar enough to replicate the exact feel of 88SP. 70% at most.

. Nanoflare 800 Pro: similar stiffness, similar speed and accuracy, less power.
. Auraspeed HS-Plus: fast, stiffer than 88SP, compact head, harder to generate power, but has even better accuracy and better control than 88SP.
. Auraspeed Fantome: no, this racket is nothing like 88SP.
. DriveX 12: similar stiffness and accuracy, less speed, harder to access power.
. Halbertec 9000: similar stiffness, similar speed and accuracy, similar balance point, a bit harder to generate power.
. Fortius 10 2025: a bit less stiff, similar speed and accuracy, also easy to generate power.
. Acrospeed 1 Drive: similar stiffness, similar speed and accuracy, similar balance point, similar ease of access to power. The closest alternative to 88SP that I can find. But to stress it again, at most it can only replicate 70% the hitting feel of 88SP.
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No, I was talking about the 2021 version (turqoise one, not the grey) Astrox 88s Pro. From what I've tried, the 2024 version is very different to mine. To me it doesn't feel as solid and fast as the 2021.

From your explanation, it may be quite hard to find like a 90% similarity huh? I would lean toward HS-plus or Acrospeed 1 but I understand there are trade offs. Have your plays with these rackets been very enjoyable?

Am still curious about the Fantome though. Because most people on reviews said that its a fast and stiff racket that is only slightly head heavy, which I initially though was similar to AX88SP.. Would you be able to compare what exactly was different?

Thanks a lot!
 
One feature of the 88S is its shorter shaft. This could help you narrow down your choice. Perhaps you could consider the Victor 100X or the Jnice Black Panther. I’ve been playing with the HS Plus for four months now, and I find it quite different from the 88S.
 
ludos said:
No, I was talking about the 2021 version (turqoise one, not the grey) Astrox 88s Pro. From what I've tried, the 2024 version is very different to mine. To me it doesn't feel as solid and fast as the 2021.

From your explanation, it may be quite hard to find like a 90% similarity huh? I would lean toward HS-plus or Acrospeed 1 but I understand there are trade offs. Have your plays with these rackets been very enjoyable?

Am still curious about the Fantome though. Because most people on reviews said that its a fast and stiff racket that is only slightly head heavy, which I initially though was similar to AX88SP.. Would you be able to compare what exactly was different?

Thanks a lot!
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Okay. Then I would still narrow down to the rackets I have mentioned. The 2024 version is more well-rounded than the 2021 version, and to me it feels like an upgrade. We don’t share the same opinion on this, so I think my recommendations might not suit you.

HS-Plus has been my main racket for a while now. 4U for doubles and 3U for singles. As stiff as 88DP and the accuracy is second to none. Acrospeed 1 Drive is as good as you can get for an alternative for 88SP, I feel it’s a softer and easier to play racket though.

I think the Fantome is fast but not as stiff as any of the 88SP. Not even close. It is too light and also not as stable, if you are used to 88SP you would feel the Fantome is too unstable and floaty. Accuracy is not as good. Power is comparable though.
 
Rittersport said:
One feature of the 88S is its shorter shaft. This could help you narrow down your choice. Perhaps you could consider the Victor 100X or the Jnice Black Panther. I’ve been playing with the HS Plus for four months now, and I find it quite different from the 88S.
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Auraspeed 100X right? I am considering that too, as people say its a faster but still solid-feeling version of the 88S Pro. It may lack in the power department but i'm willing to trade it off.

I've also read that another alternative is 90k2 as it is slightly head heavier. Would you be able to lend me more insight on this? And i'm worried about the durability of both rackets, if its an issue at all?

Rainstorm 34 said:
Okay. Then I would still narrow down to the rackets I have mentioned. The 2024 version is more well-rounded than the 2021 version, and to me it feels like an upgrade. We don’t share the same opinion on this, so I think my recommendations might not suit you.

HS-Plus has been my main racket for a while now. 4U for doubles and 3U for singles. As stiff as 88DP and the accuracy is second to none. Acrospeed 1 Drive is as good as you can get for an alternative for 88SP, I feel it’s a softer and easier to play racket though.

I think the Fantome is fast but not as stiff as any of the 88SP. Not even close. It is too light and also not as stable, if you are used to 88SP you would feel the Fantome is too unstable and floaty. Accuracy is not as good. Power is comparable though.
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I understand, so I think the fantome feels more like a head-lighter racket then?

Yeah I think our preferences are a bit different but the middle ground we can arrive on is that Ars can be a good alternative right? Its just a matter of picking which one that confuses me lol.
So now considering my play style, I think the closest alternatives would be 100X/90k2/HS-plus?
 
ludos said:
Auraspeed 100X right? I am considering that too, as people say its a faster but still solid-feeling version of the 88S Pro. It may lack in the power department but i'm willing to trade it off.

I've also read that another alternative is 90k2 as it is slightly head heavier. Would you be able to lend me more insight on this? And i'm worried about the durability of both rackets, if its an issue at all?



I understand, so I think the fantome feels more like a head-lighter racket then?

Yeah I think our preferences are a bit different but the middle ground we can arrive on is that Ars can be a good alternative right? Its just a matter of picking which one that confuses me lol.
So now considering my play style, I think the closest alternatives would be 100X/90k2/HS-plus?
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Fantome has a high balance point. It doesn’t feel head light at all, but the whole racket is so light and doesn’t feel as solid as 88SP, that’s why I said it’s like the furthest thing away from 88SP. Still an interesting racket if you are willing to adapt your playstyle to it.

This is only my opinion: 100X is like 3 levels of power below 88SP. I suggest you get a 3U 100X, it would compensate the lack of power a bit. 90K2 has bad accuracy, the power is not even that great for a trade off. HS-Plus is stiffer and has smaller frame than 88SP, everything else is equal or better.

Out of the above 4 rackets, I would not recommend 90K2, the other 3 each has its own charms. Still, the closest one to 88SP I would say is Acroforce 1 Drive.
 
Hello,
I'm deciding if I should buy the 100x Ultra or Fantome and is it similar to HS Plus. I have tried the 3U HS Plus and 4U Axforce 90new. The HS Plus is a bit tiring after a few games due to the weight(4U lacked power for me). Axforce 90new had good power and decent speed.

Would 100x Ultra or Fantome be even better in power/speed or is Axforce 90new already good all around? I'm afraid 4U 100x Ultra or Fantome might be unstable for me.
 
frostcone said:
Hello,
I'm deciding if I should buy the 100x Ultra or Fantome and is it similar to HS Plus. I have tried the 3U HS Plus and 4U Axforce 90new. The HS Plus is a bit tiring after a few games due to the weight(4U lacked power for me). Axforce 90new had good power and decent speed.

Would 100x Ultra or Fantome be even better in power/speed or is Axforce 90new already good all around? I'm afraid 4U 100x Ultra or Fantome might be unstable for me.
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Hi,

Can’t speak to the HS Plus or Axforce as I haven’t tried them yet.

But the 100X Ultra and the Fantome are two quite different rackets.

100X ultra is your all-rounder, it is basically good at everything without excelling in one particular area, just a good, solid and quite fast racket you can use in both singles and doubles.

The Fantome, despite having quite a heavy head is a doubles racket in my opinion. I have tried it in singles with various levels of success, but it is in a double setting it truly shines.

In terms of stability, I don’t think it’s the 4U weight that is going to be a factor. The 5,8 mm. Shaft in the 100X Ultra is what makes it unstable when you mis-time or mis-hit.

Fantome is only available in 4U as far as I am aware.

I have done reviews of both rackets here:
www.badmintossen.dk/en

Hope it helps :)
 
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