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New Racket Launch: Yonex ArcSaber 11 and Yonex ArcSaber FB

February 9, 2013, 7:21 am
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No, it's not a Facebook page.

Yonex continues its long-standing tradition of over-the-top marketing with two rackets in its ArcSaber series. Rather than going the way of the Armortec and Nanospeed, they seem to have decided to keep the ArcSaber name instead of throwing in a whole new one.

Known for their agility on the court without compromising too much speed, the ArcSaber could very well be the most-loved rackets in the Yonex armory. The even-balanced ArcSaber 11 and ArcSaber FB continues to be the control-freak rackets of choice, set to inherit the fame of the Z-Slash and ArcSaber 10.

Yonex positions the two rackets as ultimate control rackets, with the term "Smash-back". Turn your opponents' attacks against them with precision drives and control.

The ArcSaber 11 drums on frame flexibility, offering more touch time for the shuttle on the string bed. The use of Sonic Metal on the sides of the head frame gives a stronger response (and also a sharper sound to unsettle opponents), and a new T-Joint composite (T-ANCHOR) gives more stability and reduces torque when returning off-centre shots).



The ArcSaber FB is Yonex's lightest racket. They've even given it a whole new weight category "F". This one comes with the promise of superior swing speed (up to 30kmph faster).



The racket comes in at 73g, and with a new shaft design that gives it the same strength by using a "breakthrough in nanoscience technology", NANOMETRIC. This new technology allows stronger bonding of the carbon fibers without using too much material.

In comparison with the other Yonex rackets, here's where the two add up.


Personally, I'm not too hot on the ArcSaber FB. It appears to be a head-light, flexible racket, which hasn't played well in my experience. I'm happy with Karakal rackets when it comes to lightweight.

And the ArcSaber 11 seems to be too much like the ArcSaber 10 to justify the high price tag.

Will look out for them. Might try them. Not really that interested, unless they're smoking hot.

Stay tuned.

All images from www.yonex.com/arcsaber
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Preview: Adidas Badminton Rackets, Shuttlecocks and Strings

February 9, 2013, 8:43 am
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First Look: Adidas Badminton Rackets

March 5, 2013, 6:00 am
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Looks like the badminton world is crazy over the Adidas brand of rackets. They've not come to my country, but I've managed to dig something out from their Facebook page.

Split into categories, they've divided us players into four separate colors - Red for power, Yellow for speed Bronze for precision, and Green for versatile play.

Full range of Adidas badminton rackets
All images from the Adidas Badminton Facebook Page

With these four categories, you'll pretty much find every variation of weight / flex distribution. Expect the stiffer head heavy rackets in the red zone, while the light-weights will be yellow and the evens in the bronze.

Also on their Facebook are specifications for some of their rackets. I've included some of the top end ones, probably the ones I'll be looking for when they hit my shores.




Nothing new in the technology, but I'm more interested in the Precision and Zeros - these are the rackets more suited to my style of play. The head-heavy but light weight Precision Pro might actually be worth considering, while the Precision series offer one of the best designs in the range that they're let us preview so far.

The power rackets and the versatility aren't really a game-changer for me. There's loads of head heavy rackets around and I frankly think it actually takes less skill to make a head heavy racket than a useful light-weight one.

RSL tried their hands on the EVO series, offering up switchable weights around the rackets to give you the option of changing. But who cares, really.

Check out more rackets on their Facebook page, and also an interview with their first capture from the Yonex lineup - Viktor Alexsen.
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A Tribute to a legend - Voltric 80 Limited Peter Gade

March 7, 2013, 6:29 am
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Badminton Racket Review: Li-Ning Flame N36

March 9, 2013, 5:22 am
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Those looking for an ArcSaber 11 review or an ArcSaber FB review may have to wait for awhile. The two rackets, though very popular on my search ranking, have yet to appeal to me. (Although I have to state officially that the ArcSaber 11 with the yellow strings are awesome).

I will take this chance to revisit an old racket of mine that I've not been able to use. I took it out to court this morning and felt that it was about time to write a review for this gem.

The Li-Ning Flame N36 was my first Li-Ning racket. Prior to this, I have had a lousy impression of the brand. To me it was lacking in research and all it did was throw together some graphite into a mound.

This racket changed everything.

Note. This review is my opinion of the racket from using it in my games. Take this with a pinch of salt since we all play the game differently. I'm here to tell you, in as much accuracy as I can, how my games went with the racket. Comments welcome!

Ok here goes.

Li-Ning Flame N36
Est Dry Weight: 96g (3U)
Grip Size: S2 (Yonex G5)
Balance: Even
Stiffness: Stiff
Strings: Yonex Nanogy 98 @ 25lbs

I recommend this racket for shot accuracy and control.

Defense
Being even-balanced basically means that the N36 is fast to swing, and offers a little more power than head-light rackets. I had little difficulty blocking smashes with this racket, and with a little proper footwork I do see myself directing the shots into empty areas of the court.

Lifts to the back court might take a little beating though, since the weight of the Flame N36 is a on the lower end of the 3U scale. I found myself missing the back lines a couple of times, but at least the speed of the racket in defense gives me a better bet when the shuttle comes flying down.

Drive defense is great. I could turn the shuttle downward and with good speed, thanks to the lack of gravitational forces pulling down the head of the racket.

Attack
Here's where the Li-Ning Flame N36 lacks. I was able to get a good angle on my smashes, but the speed and power were sorely lacking. There just isn't enough weight to get a good punch in.

I would recommend using drives as your main point clincher, since the racket excels at the flat exchanges. I was able to get a very good pace on the drives, much better than how I performed on the smashes.

If you're a fan of drop shots, then this racket might just make your to-buy list. Thanks to the very good control rating, the Li-Ning N36 allows you to perform almost any sort of drop shots you want.

Control
If there was any racket that could practically hit any corner of the court, this would be it. I felt very at ease with the N36, and the shots that I performed showed it.

The best plays were when I was casually throwing the shuttle around, picking and dropping the pace when I wanted to. There was no fear of losing control of the shuttle because it became so easy to place. From forehand clears to backhand drops, there was no shot that felt out of control.

This quality supplements the lack of punch in its power play, allowing you to win points through superb placement and by simply out pacing your opponent.

Looks
Gold and red go very well in the Li-Ning Flame N36. The oriental motifs around the head frame give it a very asian feel, and is seldom seen in rackets these days. The usual sleek lines and illustrations are replaced with tasteful curves and shimmer.


Li-Ning Flame N36
Defense: 9
Offense: 7
Control: 10
Looks: 10
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Look what the cat dragged in - a Victor Bravesword 10!

March 10, 2013, 10:26 am
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Badminton Racket Review: Toalson Ti Max Power Axe

March 24, 2013, 12:08 am
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It's been awhile since I had a review out, and I've been trying quite a few of the rackets that got left behind. There was this one particular one that I've been wanting to buy, but didn't get enough conviction of acquire... until the store gave me a good discount :)

It's got a bad design, but I managed to convince myself that it bears the colors of Captain America (and so it got its nickname) and that gave me some peace in terms of its looks.

It's got a few technologies that I like - the sharp head frame that's characteristic of the Victor Bravesword series, and the tapered inner core from the Yonex Armortec series. These two, coupled with a nice thick and stiff shaft adds to quite a power boost.

Note. This review is my opinion of the racket from using it in my games. Take this with a pinch of salt since we all play the game differently. I'm here to tell you, in as much accuracy as I can, how my games went with the racket. Comments welcome!

Ok here goes.

Toalson Ti Max Power Axe
Est. Dry Weight: 85g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Head Heavy
Stiffness: Stiff
Strings: Pro Kennex Pro Flex 85 @ 27lbs

I recommend this racket for when you need extra power in your attacks.

Defense
For something with the word "axe" inits name, I wouldn't start off by expecting its defense to be any good. Top heavy, stiff shaft and high tension basically adds to my worries of a glass cannon racket which can only attack and will start giving away points on the defensive.

But looks can be deceiving! The Ti Max Power Axe is able to generate quite a good speed on its swing, and  that allows you to bring the weight of the racket along swift enough to take on most defensive shots you like to make.

People who play with me know that one of my favorite shots is the backhand return drive, where I place a smash from my left side down to the opposite side of the court. The Toalson Ti Max Power Axe does that with ease.

However, the racket does fail on its drive defense. I found it slower the the upwards lift and downward swipes, the weight of the racket coming through evidently when kept in the horizontal position for extended periods of time.

Attack
Axe. The word comes into play again when we talk about power. This racket is raw power. Raw. Power. That means it hits hard. Well.

A fast swing speed generated from the head frame shape brings along the power and reinforcement from the tapered inner core and the stiff shaft to create one of the hardest-hitting racket I own. This puts quite a bit of force onto the receiving racket, which weakens the quality of the reply and opens them up for the second stronger attack.

From jump smashes to a full arm destroyer (like what they do in women's singles / doubles matches), the Ti Max Power Axe performs superbly.

Though the same problem applies for the drives. Somehow the racket doesn't yield properly in the drive shot position.

Control
When you're running on so much power there really isn't a need to aim much, is there? I just place my sights somewhere in the middle of the court and let loose. They know it's coming, but getting it back well is a whole different ball game.

When it comes to the more delicate shots, expect a little inconsistency from your hands because they're likely more used to blasting the shuttle away by now. I managed to control the shuttle pretty well around the court, but it's just not one of those rackets that you'd want to use for a control-type game.

Looks
Captain America colors. But fugly otherwise.


Toalson Ti Max Power Axe
Defense: 8
Attack: 10
Control: 7
Looks: 3



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Those with me, hands up.

March 31, 2013, 6:14 am
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Badminton Racket First Impressions: Dunlop Graviton 7600

April 7, 2013, 7:31 am
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Where I am, Dunlops are rare rackets to find. They're also made by the same peeps who develop Carlton rackets so they're pretty much ok to begin with.

When the 2012 Graviton range of rackets from Dunlop became available at my stringer, I jumped at the chance to try out some of their more recent Developments.

Basically the Graviton range of rackets are the light weight models for the racket maker. There Are 4 rackets that were available - 7600, 8000, 8200, and 8400.

I got myself the 7600 because it seemed to carry the heaviest swing weight from my casual testing. It reminded of me a slightly heavier BN60, and when I got home it did indeed feel heavier on the swing.

Weighing in at 76g before stringing, the Graviton 7600 is the lightest of the range of rackets from Dunlop, and boasts a head heavy balance with a very flexible shaft.

That's another characteristic of Dunlop - they've probably got the most flexible shafts of any racket out there.

Initial testing of the racket was in doubles games, and the racket performed very well. It's very suited to players who like to use a snap of their wrists to generate a sudden burst of power.

Smashes were nice and steep, and the drives were amazing. But what stood out mosts was perhaps the countering ability of the racket.

Being so light, the racket is able to turn smashes into nice steep drives in the opposite direction. I found myself lifting on purpose so that I could turn the game around with a nicely timed counter to their attack.

Definitely for those who enjoy turning the shuttle left and right.

Oh, and did I mention that the Dunlop Graviton 7600 is a wonderful shade of silver, lime green and raw black graphite?

More to come!


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Badminton Racket First Impressions: Victor Bravesword Lee Yong Dae

April 8, 2013, 11:06 am
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Those who have come here before will know of my experience with Victor rackets. They appear to be good at first, and then they crap out on you.



And yet I keep getting myself more of these to try out! Call me a sucker, sheep, follower and just plain stubborn.

So the flavor of last year was the Bravesword Lee Yong Dae, championed by the uber popular Korean doubles player. He used the racket for his stint in the Olympic games and came off with a bronze

User reviews for this racket on the forums came off pretty good too, so I finally got one to try out.

When you first hold the racket, it feels cheap - like it's made by some cheap machine in a cheap factory in the cheapest country in the world.

And after hitting it around for a few games it still feels cheap. Guess that's what it is; ain't even made in Taiwan!

The Bravesword Lee Yong Dae comes off as an attacking racket, with smashes feeling strong and solid. The frame feels funny hitting any shuttle (because it's cheap and made in a cheap country, remember), but the force coming off the racket is commendable.

Other than the increased attacking power, the racket comes off as unmemorable and commonplace. Good for a senseless game of shuttle-flattening, but I wouldn't want it in a game where I need to accurately hit corners.

Did I mention that it felt cheap?
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Badminton Racket First Impressions: Toalson Camblade Axe 13

April 20, 2013, 9:58 pm
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At least that's what it says on the shaft.

Combining the Camblade grooves and aerodynamic axe head frame, this demo racket came my way on Thursday, and was given a fair shot on the courts against some very delectable players.

The stringer snapped one of demos from the force of his swing, so that didn't leave me with much to be desired. It was a demo racket after all and there was bound to be some defects here and there.

The Camblade Axe 13 comes with a longer head frame than most (it's about 3mm longer), reducing the length of its shaft, which then adds to its offense. The problem with this longer head frame is the instability that comes with it.

Every hit gives you the feeling that the head frame will snap... and that being the case (I was there when it happened) I was really careful on my first few test swings not to mishit.

But it all went away when I felt the force of the smashes this racket could produce. Easily one of the highest I've come across. My racket was strung with NBG98 at 25lbs, a little lower than my Pro Kennex Pro Flex 85 at 27lbs, but it still managed to cause quite a bit of threat.

Drives with this racket were amazing, and the defence wasn't that shabby either.

Overall a good experience, but I still wonder if the head frame problem exists in this design...



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Coming Soon: Yonex ArcSaber 11 Taufik Hidayat Limited Edition

May 11, 2013, 12:06 am
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Badminton Shoes First Look: Mizuno Wave Tornado 8

May 12, 2013, 5:19 am
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I like Mizuno shoes. Somehow they've not given me as much problems as the other brands I've tried.

The Li-Ning is sturdy but hard as hell at the tip. The Babolat is thin at the tip and gives me toe problems in prolonged games. And Yonex shoes just don't look good enough to buy anymore.

The Mizuno Wave Tornado 8 joins the Wave Fang VS and Wave Lightning 7 on my rack. It's half a size smaller so I'm guessing I either got the size wrong or this shoe comes in a bigger cut.

Will try it soon, but for now I'll just stare at it in admiration. So pretty.


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Badminton Racket First Impressions: Victor Bravesword 10 (2nd Gen)

May 14, 2013, 8:20 am
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Finally got a chance to take this baby out for a swing. The Bravesword 10 has been on my wishlist for the longest time, and it felt really good when I got my hands on one.

Right off the Bravesword 10 felt really stiff, but despite that the racket still swings fast and true, cutting through the air with a very satisfying whish.

The Victor racket was tested out in about four game of singles, and it performed quite well. The stiffness of the racket gave the advantages without laying on too much of the weaknesses. Clears were nice and long without too much effort (it is an even balanced racket after all) and the attacking shots were accurate enough to make me happy.

The Bravesword 10 also put up in defense mode. The fast swing speed gives some pretty good blocks and the occasional lift to the back when I called for it. What stood out has to be the power from the racket without the need for a lot of swing, making my shots that much more deceptive.

But the lack of weight in the head eventually showed, and I had to switch for a head heavy racket to make the games less tedious. This is a problem with most even balanced or head light rackets with me, so I won't put it down to the Bravesword 10.

The racket performed admirably, and I think I'll be interested in testing it out some more.

Review soon, I hope.






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Badminton Racket Launch: Victor TK IM3 Limited Edition

May 16, 2013, 8:51 am
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This would be a first - a movie tie-in with a sporting brand.

Say hello to the Victor TK IM3. A re-paint of their Thruster K8000. Comes with big bag and a small pouch.

http://www.victorsport.com

I'm a sucker for limited editions, so this will be worth a look.
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Badminton Racket First Impressions: Gosen Roots Aermet Explosion

May 17, 2013, 9:46 pm
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I got my hand on one these a few months back with a help for a reader from the blog (thanks mate!). The colors of this racket is amazing, and that is more than enough reason to get a hold of one.

The racket seems very soft at first. I had it strung at 25lbs and the frame sort of misshapen a bit so I had to down the tension to 23lbs with a Yonex BG80 Power.

This significantly lowered the performance of the racket, since I've already started to try my hand at higher tensions. The low tension from the strings doesn't make for much feel in the shots that I'm used to.

But that being said, the Gosen Roots Aermet Explosion is a very fast racket, able to twist and turn at your whim to deliver the shots that you want. The smashes with this racket was surprisingly steep, and the movement through the air is something you'll have to feel for yourself.

The Aermet Explosion is very well made; you can feel it when your shuttle comes into contact with the racket. Every shot will come off well (disclaimer: this will also largely depend on the skill level of the player), and you'll learn to enjoy your game with this racket.

The racket is recommended for stringing at 20-25lbs according to the Gosen Japan website, so I'll give it a try at 25lbs with my Yonex Nanogy 98 and see what happens.

For now, here's a glimpse of the racket.


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Badminton Racket Launch: Yonex ArcSaber 11 Taufik Hidayat Limited Edition

May 24, 2013, 3:35 am
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Got my hands on one of these, and I must say it's a nice fulfilling end to the career of a legend. Thank you Taufik!
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Badminton Racket First Impressions: Yonex ArcSaber 11 Taufik Hidayat Limited Edition

May 25, 2013, 6:54 am
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Got a chance to give this racket a try during an hour's session that I have with this promising young lad. He's been improving nicely and I'm seeing his tactical awareness grow in addition to his stamina and speed.

All-in-all, I think once he gets a hang of throwing the occasional power play, I'll be in big trouble.

So on the courts today I took the opportunity to put the AS11TH to the test. My wrist was hurting a little from a few vigorous doubles sessions and this won't be a good judge, but I felt like the experience was worth mentioning.

First off, I will go and mention that racket performs admirably when you're looking for control. As characteristic of Yonex's ArcSaber series of rackets, the AS11TH felt good to swing around and to make shots with.

Most of the shots that I attempted sailed smoothly across the net and landed neatly where I had wanted the shuttle to go. This saved me a lot of effort in movement since I could calculate where to run as a result of my shots not wavering off course.

Net play with the ArcSaber 11 TH was remarkable. There was so much control that it became a staple of my games today. I found myself throwing in the fast drop so I could tempt the opponent into starting a tight net shot challenge.

Clears and smashes weren't the name of the game because of the injured wrist, so I won't comment on them here.

But from what I've felt, the Yonex ArcSaber 11 Taufik Hidayat Limited Edition gives me a great sense of confidence in my game.

I will write a full review after the wrist recovers and I'm able to do a more complete analysis.


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Sprained Wrist

May 26, 2013, 7:49 am
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Sustained an injury that got worse over the last few games. I'm thinking it's a combination of my wanting to get steeper angles from smashes and a higher string tension that I'm trying out.

Either ways it got an extent where I can't even pull off a proper clear without hurting my wrist.

So off I went to a recommended Chinese Physician. He fixed my arm, so here's a shoutout to Practitioner Ong.

Consider checking him out if you're hurting. He did me some good.


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Yonex ArcSaber 100 Limited Edition - the long wait is over

May 30, 2013, 2:54 am
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Finally got my hands on one of these...

The Yonex ArcSaber 100 Limited Edition was released to commemorate (and make money from) the 100th  All England Tournament.

It has to be one of the best-designed Yonex rackets to date.





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