Panda Power: A Racket That Can Take 40lbs. String Tension!
- Thread starter DinkAlot
- Start date
Ferrerkiko
Regular Member
Bro , do you consider Astrox 88S as replacement BS 12 or the new Auraspeed 90S
ToxBad
Regular Member
I did try the 88S a little bit last week but didn't like it very much, found it a bit slow compared to the BS12. Didn't have the opportunity to try the 90S (not sure if it's available yet in my region) but it looks promising indeed. That being said, these are much pricier options which I tend to avoid if I can find something comparable or even better at a more reasonable price.
Garyh3
Regular Member
Im lucky to have been able to purchase 2 PT PPro Protos along with some Titans, been using them twice every week for a over a month now in League Badminton, Strung at 28lb.
They are Faster swing than the Titans and the BS12 (Ive owned one of those) and I currently have a JS 10S in my bag and I find it faster than that also. I have the 80g version which is light, The total Weight with stings and overgrip is 87 grams, Which is the same weight as my Titan's.
It has a slightly longer shaft than the Titan also but feels solid and well built as does the Titan.
On my personal experience I find it hits harder than the Titan, I also found the angle of smash is steeper which is a plus
Biggest plus is defense and pickup of smashes is really easy and there are very few miss-hits.
As with all light rackets you have to work with clears but once you are use to the racket its becomes easy. Im a wristy player so backhands are good and Im able to clear to the back of the court
In the Past I have used (I have bought all my rackets from Panda and Mark A)
Precision (loved that racket)
Precision Pro (Didnt like could not get use to it)
Trinity (Loved the racket)
Trinity Pro (Loved the racket)
Revelation (Could not play with the racket didn't suite my style)
Titan (my main racket for over a year+ now)
PT PP Proto (Current racket)
I hope Dan will put this racket into production.
G.
They are Faster swing than the Titans and the BS12 (Ive owned one of those) and I currently have a JS 10S in my bag and I find it faster than that also. I have the 80g version which is light, The total Weight with stings and overgrip is 87 grams, Which is the same weight as my Titan's.
It has a slightly longer shaft than the Titan also but feels solid and well built as does the Titan.
On my personal experience I find it hits harder than the Titan, I also found the angle of smash is steeper which is a plus
Biggest plus is defense and pickup of smashes is really easy and there are very few miss-hits.
As with all light rackets you have to work with clears but once you are use to the racket its becomes easy. Im a wristy player so backhands are good and Im able to clear to the back of the court
In the Past I have used (I have bought all my rackets from Panda and Mark A)
Precision (loved that racket)
Precision Pro (Didnt like could not get use to it)
Trinity (Loved the racket)
Trinity Pro (Loved the racket)
Revelation (Could not play with the racket didn't suite my style)
Titan (my main racket for over a year+ now)
PT PP Proto (Current racket)
I hope Dan will put this racket into production.
G.
Nice review.
How do you find the stiffness of the new racket compared the Titan? Or to the Trinity?
Garyh3
Regular Member
Stiffness is up on I think Dan said they were 8.0 - 8.2 these rackets against the Titan and Trinity which I always like. The accuracy is really good you can pinpoint where you want the smash to go. The Titan has a box frame but is still a fast swing the PT PPro has an Aero frame and its def faster swing to generate more power. Ive also found I can stand just a little closer to the net on defense as I can get the racket into position quicker.
shreyas666
Regular Member
@carvalhosa please do the needful.
ToxBad
Regular Member
After having the opportunity to try the new PPro prototype, here are some general first impressions :
In general, the rackets feel great. I'm impressed by the speed and defense, it's at least as fast and manoeuvrable as my BS-12 (which were definitely the best rackets I've ever had in this department). I strangely felt like my reaction time was better and that I could adjust more sharply on tough defensive low shots. Clears, drops, backhands, overheads and net shots went very well with great control and satisfying power, comparable to my BS-12. Not really sure why at this time, maybe because of the stiffness of the shaft or the overall lower weight of the racket, but I found it harder to generate great power on smashes. I'll need more hours with them to determine if it's a honeymoon phase or if the good sensations remain and I can find a way to generate more power on smashes. I'll also need to try them with my usual string setup to see how they perform. That being said, the Adidas strings are pretty good but I think I prefer the harder feeling of my trusty BG-80.
I'll surely have to get used to the racket a bit more and am looking forward to getting to know their full potential. Another impressive PP model (should I still be impressed after several great ones?).
In general, the rackets feel great. I'm impressed by the speed and defense, it's at least as fast and manoeuvrable as my BS-12 (which were definitely the best rackets I've ever had in this department). I strangely felt like my reaction time was better and that I could adjust more sharply on tough defensive low shots. Clears, drops, backhands, overheads and net shots went very well with great control and satisfying power, comparable to my BS-12. Not really sure why at this time, maybe because of the stiffness of the shaft or the overall lower weight of the racket, but I found it harder to generate great power on smashes. I'll need more hours with them to determine if it's a honeymoon phase or if the good sensations remain and I can find a way to generate more power on smashes. I'll also need to try them with my usual string setup to see how they perform. That being said, the Adidas strings are pretty good but I think I prefer the harder feeling of my trusty BG-80.
I'll surely have to get used to the racket a bit more and am looking forward to getting to know their full potential. Another impressive PP model (should I still be impressed after several great ones?).
I have tested the prototypes and they are very very very good. My go to racket was a PPro with extra lead at 2 and 10. The new ones are ultra light and fast as well and for me about 2 grams by head works wonders. I’m still messing around with the placement and quantity of lead but dry the racket was super light and did lack punch. I play with overgrip over the base grip so that alone brngs the BP down a bit.
These prototypes were purposely made as light as possible. I wanted to see if rackets that were 78-82g, BP295-300 could consistently take tension at 34-35lbs. and they could. The frames are extremely strong. I've been playing with one prototype at 31-35lbs. (Aerosonic at 31 and 0.70 strings at 35) for over 6 months now and restrung it (after the string broke) at least 8 times now and no problems, the frame is still great.
To get more power I added 2-4g of lead tape to the racket...
...the production rackets will be heavier, ranging from 83-87g, BP295-305 so that will solve the power problem.
To get more power I added 2-4g of lead tape to the racket...
...the production rackets will be heavier, ranging from 83-87g, BP295-305 so that will solve the power problem.
Dink's rackets have a very good blend of all the characteristics I look for. It's not just grab a very head heavy racket and call it a day since I'm not an offensive type player. I like getting sticks on the lighter end and then add a little mass since taking away mass is somewhat difficult
Garyh3
Regular Member
ToxBad
Funny I though that at first as the Titan has a bigger Boom, Ive been using PPro for a while now and as playing in a tournament last week, and thought I was not smashing the shuttle hard, (I have a hard smash) asking the spectators who I know they said I was def hitting harder with the PPro than the Titan but it didnt feel like I was.... all down to perception i suppose
Gary
ToxBad
Regular Member
Indeed, after several hours I became more able to generate satisfying power. Maybe a different string would help with that but I also observed that the smashes were fast in terms of speed but not very intimidating by their sound. Smashes are as efficient but not as loud as with a Titan. The Titan is significatively slower of defense though. Definitely having a great experience with the PPro at the moment, haven't touched my good old BS-12s since I've received them.
Garyh3
Regular Member
[QUOTE="ToxBad, Maybe a different string would help with that but I also observed that the smashes were fast in terms of speed but not very intimidating by their sound. .[/QUOTE]
I have one strung at 28 and one at 26 with Fire 66 Strings, The 28 is the one I play most with and I can get great power out of it. I use the 26 when the shuttle is flying out of the back line ... or they use Carlton shuttles
I have one strung at 28 and one at 26 with Fire 66 Strings, The 28 is the one I play most with and I can get great power out of it. I use the 26 when the shuttle is flying out of the back line ... or they use Carlton shuttles
Garyh3
Regular Member
What are the chances of one of us lesser players testing any of these prototypes when we just so happen to stop by SG2 tonight XD