Review of JNice Elastics Air 73 Racket

Who? Whoever heard of JNice? I hadn't either, but as you will read in this review, I'm so glad I gutted it up and tried them out!

For reference, I've owned a Victor V4000 WaveTech, Yonex Armortec 700, Victor Thruster K9000, Li Ning 75i, HL Gold Dragon, and played extensively with Yonex Astrox 22, Victor Thruster K Falcon, and Li Ning 70i rackets. I strongly believe in lighter (sub 80 gram) rackets now, because they are much faster to maneuver making it easier to get to any shot, defend with (especially smashes), and are much easier on the arm making it able to play all day. They are less powerful making smashes, but I never had the strength for a good smash anyway, and the lighter weight allows me to swing faster for more speed to make up for that, and the increased defensive benefits outweighs the smash potential.


I was previously playing with the HL Gold Dragon, (78 g), but wanted a racket with less head torque and flex for more accuracy. This JNice Elastics Air 73 (77 grams strung, with grip tape) is perfect for what I want. I've played with it now for about 12 hours, and I can't find one flaw with it. That includes the string, grip size, and tape that came on it. I previously used Yonex Super Grap grip tape and either LN #1, Yonex BG80 Power, or BG 66 Ultimax string, but this JNice string at 25 pounds performs very well. I just wish it wasn't pink, but I'm getting used to it, and it looks okay since the entire racket is white. The only disappointment I had was the cloth cover sent with it. Although very nicely designed, I would have preferred a padded stiff zippered case, and a racket this nice deserves one.


This racket is excellent in every area, drives, clears, serves, net play, maneuverability, control, and yes, even smashes. For comparison besides the Gold Dragon, the Li Ning Turbocharged 70i is a little stiffer and heavier with more head weight making it cumbersome to move around quickly. This racket is balanced perfectly for me (310mm).


All of the other rackets I've owned were bought from reviews on Youtube, Badminton Central, or by borrowing from a friend to try out. Even then it's funny how you may have liked a racket during your hour or so of trying it out, only to find that there was something you didn't like about it after you bought one and put more time into it. This time I decided to use Badminton Racket Review, and spent many hours researching all of their test data and comparing with other sources. I narrowed my list down slowly but surely, then with the final 4 or so choices, had to really zone in on what mattered the most to me, my play style, and what I expected the racket to do.


I am not disappointed in the least, and now that BRR is free to join, I can't imagine why anyone would not investigate all of the time and effort they have put into their site. Rob and Jag were a real pleasure to deal with, and although the tracking info for the shipment said it would take a couple of months to get here, it took only 2 weeks. I did buy it from Badminton Racket Review.


The packaging was fabulous, just like I would do it. There was an outer box labeled GLASS, a thick, strong inner box, and inside that was the racket inside a plastic sleeve, inside its black bag, with a protective sheet of white styrofoam around the head, cradled securely in a form-fitting cardboard frame that held the shaft and head in place so it wouldn't move around during shipping. I have never seen another racket packed so well from any other company.


As you can tell, I am completely delighted and satisfied with this purchase, even though I was initially wondering if I was nuts for buying a racket from a brand I had never heard of, or from BRR. But I took the chance, and man, was it worth it! With all of my other rackets there was always that niggling little voice in the back of my head asking "Well, if my racket only did so and so (whatever) better, then I could play better." I don't hear that voice anymore. This racket is easily as good as any other racket I have owned. If this one ever broke, I would instantly buy another one. Although the video review for the JNice Elastics Air 73 has not come out yet, see the review for the JNice Black Panther to get an idea of the quality of the brand.

 

Just an update.

I've spent a lot more time with the racket now, and have had a serious clash from a beginner, and smacked it on the floor several times diving for shuttles others thought were irretrievable. It doesn't have a single scratch or paint chip anywhere, so the racket is very durable, as well as being a performance machine. The string is starting to fade, but all strings do. I am still 100% satisfied with the racket, and never spend even a moment doubting it. If I had the money, I would buy 2-3 more. And this just in, the video test for the 73'.

Interesting that he mentions it might be made in China, because it does feel very Li Ning-ish, but better.




If the good fortune I am having with this racket is interesting to you, but you want something heavier for more power that is more mainstream, I suggest you look at the JNice Black Panther. It comes in 3U and 4U. Also check out it's stats at BRR's site. It scored an Overall 92, which very few rackets out of the over 750 they have tested have done.

 

And it may well be that all of their other products are junk, but I doubt it. The glowing review the Black Panther also got makes me think it is the equal in quality to my 73'. Maybe their shuttles are cheaply outsourced and rebranded just so they can say they sell shuttles. I still like their string, but for all I know it might be rebranded Yonex or similar.

Speaking of which, I really don't know why, but with this racket I can now just about tell you which shuttle I am playing with in a game without looking. At my club each person brings their own, so a lot of different shuttles are in use at any time. I've never noticed it before, but now I can pretty much tell you which specific shuttle I'm playing with based on it's feel against the racket. Very interesting, and now I'm a lot pickier about what shuttles I am willing to play with, which opens up the whole can of worms of testing shuttles to find which ones I think are the best, etc, etc.... So here we go again with testing and review research. At least I think I'm at the end of the chain since I already spent hours and hours on each, researching rackets, shoes, strings, and grip tape

Since JNice is a Taiwanese company, does anyone who lives in Taiwan know anything about the company? Who are they, their history, do they make other things, how long they have been around, quality standards? I'd just like to know more about them.

Without the comments of the very helpful people here on Badminton Central, I still wouldn't know WHAT to look for, much less be steered in the right direction to find it. I haven't mentioned it lately, but another huge THANK YOU to all my badminton brothers and sisters from around the world who so graciously share their time and experience to help people like me out. I'm involved in a lot of different things, which all have forum communities like this, but this is by far the most active, informative, and giving of them all. I wish you all and your families happiness and peace for the rest of your lives.

 

Black Dragons and Badminton Becky, is that you? If you are, I've seen a lot of your videos. Thanks for all of your contributions to the sport. At least bi-lingual, knowledgeable and personable, it's no wonder they picked you as the Captain of the club. Congratulations!

Great video of the store, and yes, I saw some clothes on the wall and being worn by people in there that I'd like to have, like those long-sleeved white hoodies. But that orange tournament shirt, what were they thinking? They clearly need a advertising/marketing director! Maybe you need to offer your services, or at least point out that they could become a leader in clothes/equipment design if they hired someone with a sense of what looks good. You can innocently tell them that a guy from the USA saw their store and they need to make a step up! I'm glad to hear your point of view on their stuff. Even though they are tiny, would that store be willing to ship to the USA?

You pronounced it J-nice, just like it is spelled, but I've also heard it is Joe-NICHE-she. Can you confirm which one is right so I can describe it more accurately to my friends?

I love the design of those courts, and the lighting along the walls instead of right above the court that blinds you on overhead shots. Olympic rings on the walls to inspire. What a nice facility.

Thank you for posting that video.