Hello guys i’m looking to upgrade to a high end raquet. i’ve been looking at the market and Lining BladeX 880 seems to be interesting (mostly bcs im a shida fan lol). What do you think about the raquets and do you guys have any reccomendation? i play once or twice a week and would consider myself on intermediate level. thanks in advance guys!
High end Racquets for Intermediate Player
- Thread starter vann
- Start date
Being a Shida fan is definitely good reason to get the racquet.
Many people choose the same racquet model as their favourite player.
Many people choose the same racquet model as their favourite player.
iizim
Regular Member
What racket did you use before?
If you are used to speed frame rackets I would say go for it. As you would know the feeling of the speed rackets and the cost that comes with them.
However, if your old racket is a completely different style you may not enjoy the 880
Bieffe
Regular Member
I'm a Shida fan too. Thats why I bought the NF800 Pro 4U. However it didn't suit me. Very fast swing with alittle head heavy and a very very stiff shaft. I feel you cannot miss hit, otherwise your shot will be very bad.
Then our wife now change camp to LN. Wanted to get the racket but put it on hold due to the price and I doubt I can handle it.
From Victor 100X to 100X ultra, my wrist and shoulder got injured so I made switch to flexi rackets.
Currently trying LN Windstorm 79S, Halbertec motor pro and blast, all flexi.
Shida x880 will be very similar to NF800 Pro.
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Then our wife now change camp to LN. Wanted to get the racket but put it on hold due to the price and I doubt I can handle it.
From Victor 100X to 100X ultra, my wrist and shoulder got injured so I made switch to flexi rackets.
Currently trying LN Windstorm 79S, Halbertec motor pro and blast, all flexi.
Shida x880 will be very similar to NF800 Pro.
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I’ve been using astrox 100 game. I moved to another club recently and I’m becoming more of a front court player. with the 100 game, I feel it is hard to do half smashes and anticipate faster shots, that’s why I want to try speed or all rounder type rackets.
I’ve never actually used a speed type racket, but i’m really enjoying playing as a front court player and when I looked into the market, our wife actually had a special collaboration with LN. This is going to be my first high end racket
and one thing that i’m concerned with high end racket is the shaft stiffness, like is it a very big difference compared to the medium stiffness? bcs i’ve read that unlike flex shaft, stiffer shaft wont help you generate power
Bieffe
Regular Member
Yes our wife racket be it the NF800 Pro or the LN X880, the shaft is ultra stiff. For me it takes a tow on my play. Thats why due to the stiff shaft and high price, I won't be buying it anytime soon.
Astrox 100 game is fexi shaft. So the X880 is almost to the max of the stiffness range. I suggest you try the NF700 Pro or Tour. The shaft is mid stiff and racket is light and fast. I was using 5U. Ok but lack some power, maybe u get the 4U? But if I'm not wrong the 2 female doubles from China and Korea are using this Pro racket and in 5U. They don't seem to have any issues with power. So is likely my lack of skills.
Fast racket from other camps like LN will be the Blade X Speed or Power, never use these before though. Victor will be the Auraspeed series. I like the 100X Ultra 4U, abit head heavy, stiff but due to the thin 5.8mm it bends abit more? I like it, until my injury so I using lower end stuff now.
After awhile I find more difficult to justify myself from buying high end rackets. Price getting higher every month, then the improvement is marginal or sometimes just gimmick. Not to mention not all players at clubs are careful. So are just too gunho or silly. U know at social club, every now and then u will have a newbie with a Decathlon racket, player will wanna swing at everything. Imagine a clash with u new shida x880! Anyway I digress.
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If you are an intermediate player, I don’t think you need the most expensive high-end racket necessarily. Choose one that suits your style of play. A balanced or slightly head heavy racket can be a good option if you want a good mix of control and power. A lighter, more head-light racket may be easier to handle for faster doubles play. There are some good options from brands like Yonex, Li-Ning, Victor and even Apacs. I would concentrate on racket weight, shaft stiffness and string tension rather than price alone. If you can, try a friend's racket before you buy, it can make the choice a lot easier.
If you’re at the front court a lot, I don’t think racquet stiffness makes a difference in generating power.
If you’re at the back or midcourt, the power generated depends on your technique. Preference for medium stiff and stiff shaft is entirely up to the player - every person is a bit different in their preferences. You might not get more power, but you might get more control. Unfortunately you can only try the racquet and see if it works for you.
Yeah I noticed the increasing price too. I was reluctnant to buy high end ones but I’ve been using the 100 game for quite some time now, and with my role changing I think that it might be the right moment to find a new racquet. Totally agree with players not being careful. Currently, the players in my club is on similar level and clash of racquets barely ever happened. But you never know and it will be a complete heartbreak if I eventually buy the x880 and it clashes with other racquets. Thank you for your input by the way, much appreciated!
yep agree with you, it’s not like I play in a competitive scene. I’ve been going back and forth about my next racquet bcs I don’t want to buy it just to later realise that it doesn’t suit my playstyle. That’s why I’ve been adding racquets like Victor Fantome or Yonex NF700P to my shortlist, which I think will suit me better as it offers better power generation (according to reviews anw). I know also that it is best to try using the racquet before buying it, I tried many head heavy and power racquets but unfortunately, not many of my friends use speed raquets. I agree with you also that it is not about high end or lower end raqcuets, it’s about getting the one that suits me well
oh really? a high end racquet will be my first one and that is why i am concerned about racquet stiffness. Many reviewers say that stiffer racquets offer less help in terms of power generation. I do want more control of the shuttle though, therefore I am a little conflicted and just trying to find the balance of aspects
It’s best if you can borrow racquets and try out. There’s no perfect decision. Even pros can change racquet models.