Of badminton things

Hey guys, found out some other site's been taking my article wholesale, so be a sport and bookmark the original site - http://everythinggoeshere.blogspot.sg

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First impressions here.

I've been writing badminton racket reviews for quite some time. I've seen the rise of the Yonex Voltric, the Li Ning wave and then the Victor conquest with their sponsorship of winning doubles pairs.

And then Yonex came in with their lowest price strategy and knocked the ball out of the park. Like the quartz watch brought affordable mechanical watches out the picture in the 1970s, Yonex all but destroyed the smaller badminton racket makers like Toalson, Hart and Prince.

Which left a gaping hole in racket innovation. Badminton enthusiasts like me were left to the whim of whatever the bigger players could pry out of their research vaults. For a long while, the best they could do was sonic metal. I was to scare my opponents into defeat with a sharp sounding smash.

That leaves me to the significance of the Yonex Duora 10. The two-sided racket can be said to the one true innovation to hit the market for a long time. Apart from fiddling around with the stiffness-balance ratio, Yonex finally decided to throw out something experimental for the fans.

I love experimental. It's not always a big bang (everyone remember the eTune and its customizable weight system?), but it's something to keep the passion fresh, and passion pays for itself.

How did the Yonex Duora 10 fare in my review. Here goes.

Oh yes, before I continue, a few disclaimers I must make. First off, my Duora 10 has been customized to be a little more head heavier than one that's off the shelf. I also play with the green side up instead of the orange one. This comes after experimenting several games both singles and doubles with the two sides.

Note: This is a review of my experience after using the racket for a few sessions. I am by no means a professional player, and so you should take my judgment with a pinch of salt. I welcome comments of any sorts.

Yonex Duora 10 Est, Dry Weight: 85g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Even-Balanced
Stiffness: Flexible
Strings: Yonex Nanogy 98 @ 27lbs

Defense:
If you've read my first impressions of the racket you'd know that I was quite critical with the Duora 10. It hints of promise, but under delivers in a few aspects. One of the better qualities of the racket happens to be my favorite - defense.

The Yonex Duora 10 opens up an amazing array of defensive shots for me, which to me is a great plus. So much so that I find myself being in utter calm whenever I have to take an incoming smash. Somehow I was always able to steer the shuttle into an empty space with a slight flick of the wrist.

I credit this quality defense to the flexible shaft and light weight. Unlike the head heavy rackets that I am used to, the Duora 10 allows a very quick response to attacks, being smashes or the fast drive rally.

Such dexterity in defense also means that there are plenty of chances for you to turn defense into offense - throwing the game in your favor and giving a little pressure to your opponents.

Attack:
Unfortunately the opponents will have nothing fear about your attacks. The Duora 10 fails miserably in this aspect in my opinion. Anything further behind the mid court might as well be a practice shot for them.

I am unable to gather any amount of power from this racket, whether it is orange or green side up. It's sad really, given it's amazing performance in the front court and defense. I compare the racket then to the Nanoray 900, which is a far better racket when you want to attack. There's a reason the NR900 is and remains my current doubles go-to, and given the lackluster caliber of attack from the Yonex Duora 10.

Somehow, flexible shafts and even-balance do not give a good punch. I suppose Yonex could have learnt a thing from the Flash Boost, but hey, experimentalism trumps practicality!

Control:
Carrying on the responsibility of getting lower ratings from me is the racket's lack of control from the back and front court. Not being able to throw a big punch leaves me pretty much with alternating play with fast drops and quick smashes to force a mistake from the opponent.

While I was able to pull off a continuous volley a drop shots, I never felt confident doing it. Some might know when I say there's this lack of "feel" in the racket. This low response rate from handling the shuttle leaves more to be desired when I find myself trapped in the back court.

The experience in the front court is a little better, as long as I'm on the offensive end ready to intercept a drive defense and tap home the winner. When the time came for a tight net shot or a little trick shot, the racket head's lack of response once again rears its ugly head.

Another thing I noticed was that backhands with this racket come off better than forehands. This is of course welcome for lazy players like me who like to turn their backs to the opponent.

Looks:
Yonex did a good job with the Duora 10. The two sides of heat and cool (while it was quite the opposite for me) are clearly labelled "heat" and "cool" according to their marketed quality of box or sword frame. The racket was designed to look primarily orange or green, in what must be the first time I've seen any sense of practicality in a badminton racket. Kudos to the design team at Yonex.

Yonex Duora 10

"Don't bet on it."

Defense: 10

Attack: 6

Control: 7

Looks: 7

So, I have to admit that I've been slacking lately - not as many games and not as diligent during the games to play a good one. Which led me to the conclusion.

Blame age.

Convenient, but not totally baseless. As many of us has / soon will discover(ed), the grip of death and decay ruins our game on the court. Heck, we've all seen that disgraceful fall from the Hall of Fame Ivory Tower from Taufik Hidayat (check out his game against a fresh Viktor Axelsen, one of his last and most discouraging IMO).

He was such a great player. He was a legend. He got old, like all of us will no doubt do.

With that experience under my ever-expanding belt, I am obligated to share my experience. Because this blog is about my experience in badminton. And also because it's been awhile since I posted and I sort of owe the readers a short and hopefully relevant read.

So what happens to me when I grow old?

More importantly, what happens to my game?

I found myself the Viktor to my Hidayat - an excellent specimen of a badminton player, quick on the footwork and punishing to let your guard down.

First thing that goes is always the stamina. I remember the days when I could run circles around the court for two hour sessions at a go... now I can't even last four games! One long rally is all it takes to wind me down, and the recovery is a lot longer than I had anticipated.

Next to go after your're panting and wheezing around the court is of course, accuracy. I prided myself on being quite good at this, but it seems being short of oxygen rids you of a sense of touch. Who'd have guessed? The soft touches were a tad too hard; the clears were a tad too wide; the smashes were wildly ineffective both in power and angle.

And when both stamina and accuracy go, all that's left is to bring in the clowns. Pride is the final pillar of a badminton player, and when that goes we're just left to watch the crowd go home. Nothing beats the sheer disappointment of having to finish a game you have no chance of winning, or trying every tactic you have up your sleeves and realizing that it's too sheer a wall to climb.

So what do I do to win?

Because kidnapping his parents and demanding he lose to me is a little drastic, for now.

The first thing I did was to realize my limits. I knew that all he had to do was to wear this old man and his knobbly knees down. A few long rallies at the get-go will mean an easy game for him past 15 points.

My job was to not let him have that, though it comes at a considerable risk. The plan was to take the attack at each given opportunity in order to bring the rally to an abrupt close. This involved taking very measured and accurate shots that will most likely succeed in hitting the ground.

And so that's what I did.

The result?

Very good findings were reported from the first two games, but once the kid got in a few long rallies it was all downhill. The shots became harder to hit and the intimidation of a constantly attacking tall guy gradually faded into something less scary than a fluffy kitten on catnip.

It boiled down to a game of determination and sheer gut. The boy was no longer my opponent - the side lines, net and increasing expanding badminton were. Once I got that out of my head, it meant a higher chance of victory.

So all in all I guess it still boils down to training and consistency. When I first started being very involved in the game of badminton I trained hard on technique and footwork. I wanted to be better at making shots and better at knowing what shots to make. I devised tactics and strategies for keeping the game fresh and for handling different types of opponents.

Now that all this is sort of in the bag, I have to now revisit the earlier periods of intense training to include upping my physical endurance and cardiovascular vitality. Because in the end no matter how skilled you may be, you're bound to suck once you run out of energy.

So that, my dear readers, is my reflection on growing old as a badminton player.

Oh, and not to forget - the muscles screaming for release the morning after. God bless the massage industry.

Hey guys, I don't usually post coverage of tournaments on the blog, but I've received a contribution from budding sports writer Joshua Mason. Have a read before tomorrow's grand matches begin!

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Click on the image above to access Destination Dubai, the official tournament website.

Badminton’s premier competition, The Super Series, is reaching its final event on the 9th of December and will decide the 2015 Super Series winner.

The 9th season to have taken place, the Masters Finals sees the top 8 players (Men and Women) over the course of the season descend on Dubai, to fight it out for the $1m prize money.

After a UK businessman hit the headlines last month after outrageously calling Badminton Players “Gays”, the Olympic sport will looking to be showing just why the derogatory claims are not warranted. Though dominated by Chinese Athletes, the limit only two from every nation makes the Masters Final have a more International flavour. Here I take a look at both Men and Women’s singles players and their chances of winning the Masters Finals.

Men’s

Chen Long heads into the tournament the favourite and the Chinese former champion will be looking for his 3rd title in 4 years.

Unfortunately, Lee Chong Wei was unable to reach the Finals despite the Malaysian’s late return to form, which has seen him rise to number 6 in the world. This year’s China Open winner will be bitterly disappointed as he missed out on last year’s completion too, due to a 9 month doping ban.

Tian Houwei also misses out through a technicality due to being the 3rd Chinese player eligible and the BWF only allowing 2 from each nation in the final.

Lin Dan will be the big name draw in the men’s competition. The so called ‘David Beckham of Badminton’, along with other nicknames, is a fan favourite ever since his passionate topless celebration after winning the Olympic Gold in London 2012.

The model and owner of an underwear clothing line goes to Dubai as the 3rd best player in the world but I am sure the fans in the Hamdan Sports Complex, Dubai will be hoping for another passionate display, preferably ending in him revealing his famous tattoos again.

The men’s event is missing a few key players as stated and this should make for an easier route to winning for Chen Long - he is the favourite, but many fans will be hoping for an upset albeit so another superstar Chinese player in Lin Dan can win.

Women’s

The women’s game is a much more exciting prospect. The player to beat will be a Spaniard in the form of Carolina Marin. The Spanish Star has already collected the Australian, Hong Kong and French Opens this year and sets herself up for a very strong position to win the Finals.

She is quickly followed by two Chinese athletes, in second and third who will be hoping to make a clean sweep with the men. Wang Shixian lost 2 of those finals to Marin and she will be wanting her revenge on the biggest stage of the year.

It is very much a global offering this year in the women’s game, with the Indian Saina Nehwal, Nozomi Okuhara from Japan and Taiwanese defending champion Tai Tzu Ying all competing.

Of course Marin will go into the final favourite but the odds show a much tighter bunching than in the men’s competition.

Report by JF Mason

Hello badminton fans! It's been awhile hasn't it? Not much has happened in the world of badminton gear since the launch of the Duora 10, but here we are with a new string launch!

The Yonex Aerosonic BG AS string is like the BG66 Ultimax on steroids. It is thinner, has a higher repulsion rating, and according to my stringer (I have not used the string yet), it has one sharp sound.

He also said one thing about the string that spiked my interest He said the strings are more than thin gauge strings from other brands.

Now this is a big thing. I used to be a big fan of 0.60mm strings from Toalson, but they hardly last and it was getting a little frustrating to have to see them snap so soon.

Sitting at home now is my Bravesword 10, freshly strung with the BG AS. Hitting the strings against my calf does indeed produce a very high pitched "ting", and you can feel quite the repulsion from the string bed.

While I'm not a big fan of thin gauge strings (BG66UM didn't quite sit well with me) from Yonex, my positive experience with the 0.60mm strings lets me go into the BG AS with a positive attitude.

So here's to new strings, and I'll hopefully post a review of the BG AS when I get enough play time.

Now, we all know how I feel about Victor rackets. They have a certain way of impressing you at first try before leading you down a slippery slope of mishits and less-than-satisfactory gameplay.

I've been there with the Meteor 60. Meteor 70, Meteor 80. Meteor Jung Jae Sung. TK8000. TK8000 Iron Man 3. Bravesword Lee Yong Dae. Bravesword Lee Hyun Il. Spira 22. Spira 21. They have all failed to make a good impression.

The one exception is the Bravesword 10, who has ranked really high on my charts till now. It's trusty in defense, it's reliable in attack, it's absolute in control. It pleases me so much that I allowed it to be the testing bed for Yonex's new string - the Aerosonic (still working out a conclusion on that one I'm afraid).

And tonight, I had the chance to test run the fabled Victor Bravesword 12N in a singles match.

I had the racket for a little practice swing, and I must say it didn't impress me enough. The shaft was too soft and I could hardly get a feel of the strings (it was supplied with the Yonex BG80 Power).

The magic came with I had a go at it in an actual match. There was no need to hold back, the spirit of competition set in, and I let loose on the swings.

Man did the shuttle fly!

Perhaps now I can understand the fascination the forums had with the particular racket. The swings were wild, but you could sense a slight control to them - while the shuttle was quick to springboard off to the other side, you could also direct their fury to the sides of the court you like them to.

As I was doing most of the attacking during the match, I could not test the defensive capabilities of the Bravesword 12N very much.

Maybe if I had few gos at it in doubles matches I'd have enough for a review.

But for now, attacking in a singles match just got more feasible (and fun)!

So I got my hands on the blue Victor Bravesword 12, more commonly known as "the racket Lee Yong Dae uses."

Having enjoyed the experience of using the Bravesword 12N in singles play, I was eager to compare the performances of both rackets in doubles games. So I did.

I guess the main different is in the shaft stiffness. The 12N plays a lot harder than the 12, and this gives you a very solid thump when you're in a singles game. In doubles, when you get the change for the long hard swing, the Bravesword 12 actually comes across a little harder.

The BRS12 also comes across slightly better in defense, since it's of a lighter weight. The softer shaft doesn't allow it to lift as well as the stiffer 12N, but the speed more than makes up for it.

If you're someone who likes to drive the shuttle straight across the net, you'll like the 12N more than the 12. The stiff shaft is really good for short whips of the wrist to generate immense amounts of power.

Net play seems to favor the 12 more than the 12N for me. I was able to get a lot more confidence with the blue racket with its lighter weight.

All in all, I would choose the Victor Bravesword 12 for doubles play. The increased attack power and defense speed brought about by the softer shaft and lighter weight is ideal for the nature of badminton doubles.

The Bravesword 12N is more suited for me as a singles racket. The head heaviness of it gives more shot variety when it comes to singles, and allows you to conserve more energy with each swing.

For the review, I will choose the BRS12. One main reason is because I don't own the 12N (haha).

Stay tuned!

Well sports fans, I've got a small announcement to make.

Some of you might know that I've been pretty probe to back injuries as a result of a slipped disc.. The latest in my string of ill-fated back problems comes in the form of a sciatica diagnosis, which I find strange because I didn't even fall or perform anything drastic to agitate it.

That's when the disc bulge causes a pinch in the nerves that can, in my case, result in a sharp pain radiating down the thigh.

Recovery for this case will take some time. I'm not being optimistic about this though, and even if I were to recover I don't think I'll be able to play at any level I'm used to...

So I guess this will be my early retirement notice. I probably won't be able to review any new rackets, but I will still do my best to answer the questions that stream in based on previous experience.

It's been a good run, and while I will take my time to heal up, I am definitely looking forward to playing this wonderful game again one day. I've met a few friends here, and also received a lot of compliments from shuttlers all over the world.

Please keep enjoying the game, and I do hope to be able to join you guys once more.

Hey guys, found out some other site's been taking my article wholesale, so be a sport and bookmark the original site - http://everythinggoeshere.blogspot.sg

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First impressions of the 12N here.
First impressions of the 12N versus the 12 here.

In countries like Singapore where space is a constraint, you will find more people playing the game of doubles instead of battling it out one-on-one on the courts. This to me has caused the increasing prominence of pro-doubles rackets in the victor series to rise in popularity.

Among the slew of offerings that doubles players can turn to for a smashing good time, the Victor Bravesword 12 has a firm footing among the most sought after. Given its popularity, the racket maker deemed more fit to release an N version of the racket rather than a new racket altogether.

Banking on the popularity of a staple is one thing, but can the revised racket give doubles players what they're looking for? Is the original a better choice?

I've tested the Bravesword 12N on doubles and singles games, and the Bravesword 12 on doubles games to get some insight. This review will be written quite differently from the others I've done, in that I'm reviewing two rackets at a go in aspects of doubles and singles badminton play.

Here goes.

Note: This is a review of my experience after using the racket for a few sessions. I am by no means a professional player, and so you should take my judgment with a pinch of salt. I welcome comments of any sorts.

Victor Bravesword 12
Est. Dry Weight: 85g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Even-Balanced
Stiffness: Flexible
Strings: Yonex Nanogy 98 @ 27lbs

Victor Bravesword 12N
Est. Dry Weight: 87g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Even-Balanced
Stiffness: Stiff
Strings: Yonex BG80 @ 28lbs

Defense:

I've always been a pro-defensive player (don't ask me why my defense is so crappy though), and to me the basis of a good doubles racket starts from its defensive capability. Given the generally fast pace of a doubles rally, the speed and flexibility of a racket to excel in various defensive situations stands above all else.

In this respect the Bravesword 12 performs better than the 12N, mostly due to the lighter weight. With slightly head heavier orientation of the 12, along with the flexible shaft, adds to the power that one can deliver with a good lift off a smash.

With flat fast exchanges, the 12 also performs visibly better, it's lighter weight really adding to the amount of reaction time you can get. The racket is also a monster in the front court, intercepting and finishing off from the poorly placed defensive shot of the opponent.

Away from the game of doubles however, the 12N provides enough defensive advantage to be a good racket for singles play, allowing a higher enough level of control and power over the 12.

In conclusion, I prefer the Bravesword 12 in defense for doubles. Both are equal in the game of singles.

Attack:
Offensive capabilities are probably the most affected by the racket; defense and control are somewhat more player-dependent than equipment-granted.

The lighter weight of the Bravesword 12 loses out here, not allowing enough power for one's game of singles. The more flexible shaft of the 12 allows for a greater potential in the game of doubles, where swings tend to be bigger and more time is given for the big smash.

The stiffer Bravesword 12N gives the single player a greater advantage, allowing for quicker and heavier smashes without the need for a big swing.

In terms of flat and fast drives, the 12N also wins out because you really don't need a lot of back draw to generate an equal amount of strength the Bravesword can deliver.

In conclusion, I prefer the Bravesword 12 in offense for doubles, and the Bravesword 12N for singles.

Control:
The most critical aspect of a player's game is control. There's no point attacking if you can't aim, there's no point defending if you're not able to turn it around to generate a reversal.

This unfortunately, is largely in the hands of the player. The racket can only add that little in terms in control, but there are aspects in the racket that allows the player to place the shuttle where they want to with a certain amount of ease.

In the respect, I felt the Bravesword 12N triumphs over the original. The stiffer shaft and heavier weight allowing for better placement of the shuttle with less effort in the game of singles.

At the front court however, the lighter weight of the Bravesword allowed me to perform a larger variety of tight net shots.

In conclusion: I preferred the Bravesword 12N in the areas of control.

Looks:
The original's blue is striking and offers more character when compared to the 12N's dark grey color scheme. Between the two, I'm placing any preference. I am much more a red / yellow guy.

Bravesword 12

"Doubles' choice."

Defense: 9

Attack: 8

Control: 8

Looks: 6

Bravesword 12N

"Singles powerhouse."

Defense: 8

Attack: 9

Control: 10

Looks: 6

Have you noticed that professional badminton players are throwing around a lot of trick shots lately? What used to the realm of Lin Dan and flamboyant doubles players is now becoming more and more commonplace.

When one reaches, or even surpasses their limits against their opponents, they reach a state of comfort in their game play, so much so that they're able to move and hit at their most efficient. This opens up the opportunity for the brain to channel more thoughts beyond where to hit the shuttle next.

This state of mind is, in my opinion, the best time to perform trick shots - highly technical shots made with the purpose of misleading and delaying the opponent's reaction to the shuttle.

When you're facing a tough opponent, it's almost impossible to throw off a good trick shot. The stress of the moment, coupled with the brain dominating in fast decision making processes, make it very hard for the calculated and smooth execution of a trick shot.

Turning the situation around, if you're up against an opponent you're more comfortable with, even if they are of a higher level, your mind starts to wonder what else you can do. The state of mind is then more conducive for a higher level technique.

The above briefly states the nature of playing trick shots. Given the level of play some readers are used to, and for those aspiring to grow in technique, I will now attempt to explain some of the simpler trick shots I have managed to use with better success.

Direction Change

This is pretty basic, and involves turning of the racket head away to sent the shuttle in the other direction. The approach should be early and obvious - "I am going to hit the shuttle in this direction." When at the next moment, having given the opponent enough time to process the information, change the destination of the shuttle.

This move is pretty easy to pull off. All you need is to be able to out your racket head forward in one direction and then change the hit to the other desired one. The other two shots are variations of the direction change, and will require a little more practice.

Pull-Back

The shot is made with less power than intended, although a large swing gives the impression of a harder hit. The best time to use this move is when you're being pushed to execute an underarm clear. The opponent will most likely expect a high and defensive clear for you to buy time.

This move is a test of control of the shuttle. The swing forward should be made at force and speed, and then taken away the moment before the racket head makes contact to perform a dipping net shot. Care has to be taken to place the shuttle as near to the net as possible, to have the cork on a downward trajectory so as to increase the distance between the shuttle and the opponent.

A variation of this technique is the backspin. Instead of releasing power from the shot, the momentum of the swing is transferred to the shuttle in the form of a slice to the bottom of the cork, like a backspin in a game of tennis. This produces a low-arching shot that can cut very close to teh net and dips quickly. Because of the low arch, the shuttle will most likely travel further than an outright pull-back.

Double Draw

So you've learnt how to change directions, and you've learnt to control the amount of force you put to the racket. It's now time to take things up a notch and perform what I call a double draw, or double motion. This involves moving the racket to take the shot, and pulling back the racket head before the hit, and then changing the direction of the shuttle.

This is a little more convincing than a regular direction change in that the player actually commits to a hit, increasing the level of deception and showmanship. The racket head will actually be traveling in the same direction as the shuttle after the draw, and that is one awesome thing to see executed well on the court.

This is a quick announcement.

After more than a year of pain, surgery and rehab, I have finally returned to the court!

The rehab process is still in progress at the moment, so I can't do much more than light steps. This makes it perfect for my role now as a trainer for a friend of mine who wants to learn to play the game.

My time as a trainer has helped me re-learn what I have lost. As the student picks up the basic skills of this perfect games, so does the teacher. My precious time back on the court leaves me appreciative of the journey I took to get here, and the people who made it possible.

And for those of you readers who asked about my condition and wished me well, you made the list :)

I look forward to improving my physical condition with each passing day, and perhaps one fine day can go back to a little advanced play.

Happy smashing guys, and thanks for the support.

P.S. I bought the Duora Strike in 3U, and am looking forward to writing about it.

This is a series inspired by the time I spent with a pal of mine, teaching him how to become a better player. I put together all my knowledge from the years in the sport, hoping that it'll work.

Instead of forgetting that it ever happened, I figured I make a series out of it and impart some more knowledge to visitors to the blog who want to know a little about how to become a better player.

Before we start, the obligatory copyright statement. Those who copy, shame on you.

Hey guys, found out some other site's been taking my article wholesale, so be a sport and bookmark the original site - https://everythinggoeshere.blogspot.sg

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Ok here we go.

Back to Basics: Scrubbing the Floor

What we'll cover today is really rudimentary - bare essentials for any badminton player that I find most often neglected by players who are eager to get into the court and start hitting shuttles about.

It's not hard to smack the bird to and fro the court, but unless you get into a good position beforehand it's really hard to have the shuttle more to wherever you want it to.

So we will start with footwork.

Case in point - Chen Long or Lee Hyun Il. If you've seen those two move about the court you'll know what rock-solid footwork is like. Take moment after this article to watch those two in action and learn what you can.

My first time on court with my friend we didn't even have badminton rackets. A good player starts by knowing how to move about the court. When done right it's a dance; when untrained it's like a bull charging from one place to another, swinging wildly with all their might.

Be the matador, not the creature.

Running the 6's

The game of badminton singles is an elegant one - two opponents dancing around the court, placing the shuttle with accuracy in order to out maneuver each other. And like in any dance, footwork is key.

Shuttles are mainly placed in six points of the court - front left / right, left / right, and back left / right. In this footwork drill you'll want to reach each of the points in as stable a step as possible. Speed is not key. stability is. Remember - be the matador.

Get comfortable prancing from point to point, making sure as much as possible to run in opposite directions. That means you don't run in a straight line from front left to back right, or left to right. The best way to tire your opponents in a game is to send them in different directions, so the lateral movement has to be worked on during training.

And don't discount yourself either. Shuttles will be placed near the net during a drop shot, so move to a position where you can realistically reach the shuttle. For the back court, you have to make sure that both your feet cross the back service line. For the sides, your lunging foot should almost touch the side line.

For players with higher competencies, you can try and time your runs to make sure you get increasingly faster.

Side notes

If you notice yourself not reaching the ends of the court consistently, you can try touching a part of the court with your racket instead. That way you can be sure that you're moving as far as realistically possible.
Beginner level players shouldn't worry about the stroke (I'll cover that in the next article), but instead focus on getting from point to point in as efficient a motion as possible.
It helps to visualize an opponent in the opposite court, hitting the shuttle at you and moving you about the court. They won't make the game easy for you, so get running.
Wear good indoor court shoes when performing the exercise on a badminton court. Using running shoes with black rubber soles will seriously scar the floor and make it dangerous for other players. Also make sure your laces are on tight. Lateral movement involves a lot of twisting and directional changes, so loose shoes may lend to a sprain.
For a reasonably healthy person, you have to reach at least 10 points on the court to consider it a workout. 20 if you're fit.
After running, don't rest. Pick up the shuttle and bounce it around, or do some service practice.

Hey guys, found out some other site's been taking my article wholesale, so be a sport and bookmark the original site - https://everythinggoeshere.blogspot.sg

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This will be the first of the two rackets that I have lined up for review. I had not wanted to get too many new ones since I can't play at the previous level for awhile, but caved because this racket was too awesome to begin with.

Full on black with silver, red and gold accents, the Yonex Voltric LD Force is the lighter, more manageable variation of the Limited Edition heavy weight. Like all the rackets in the Voltric series, the LD Force has the iconic tri-voltage weights in the top corners as well as the bottom half of the head frame, contributing to an increased swing weight and speed.

The LD Force also has the linked grommet system of its Z-Force 2 brethern, albeit only in the top half of the racket. These I assume will add more weight and support a higher string tension since the linked grommets will prevent the strings from cutting in the racket.

Unlike the Z-Force rackets, the LD Force seems to come in a more flexible shaft, which makes games for beginners like me optimal. Coming off a spine surgery and months of inaction, I am not able to generate enough power in my swings to carry off a match well. The added whip from the shaft of this racket is noticeable and welcome.

Having purchased the 4U version (I got the 3U version of the other racket for review - the Duora Z-Strike) I can also attribute a high defense rating from it's lighter frame. Of course this also meant the attacks from the back suffered a little. Anticipating this, I had it strung with the Yonex BG66 Ultimax at 27lbs.

After an hour on the court today, I could feel the same overwhelming sense of control that comes with the Z-Force family of rackets. The shuttle is extremely obedient, coming off and sticking to the string bed at will. The head heavy orientation and flexible shaft provided much of the attack, while the light weight 4U frame made sure I am not too much of a punching bag.

But like the 4U Z-Force 2, I feel this racket is more suited for doubles play. While packing enough punch for a fast-paced exchange, the lack of full court coverage may prove too much for the singles player.

More time on the court will reveal its true potential. I might actually try to get a proper singles game going for this one.

Till soon!

Hey guys, found out some other site's been taking my article wholesale, so be a sport and bookmark the original site - https://everythinggoeshere.blogspot.sg

###

Because I'm not in tip top condition I find it harder to write reviews and first impressions as often. I usually get down to writing once I feel I have a good grasp of the racket and what it can do.

But enough excuses! You came here to know a little more about the Z-Strike, and know about it you shall! I've had a few sessions on the court with this and am ready to give a quick first impressions on it.

I used the 3U version of the racket, with most of my experience in singles play.

In short, the racket is as unexceptional as its design. The Duora Z-Strike adds the much needed hitting power into its predecessor - the Duora 10 - but that comes at the cost of overall agility and quickness.

Physically, you're looking at a slightly thicker and stiffer shaft than the Duora 10. Being a Z-series racket, the head frame is also pressed in that egg-shaped look. While previous Z=series rackets compensated for the smaller sweet spot with a flexible shaft, the Duora Z-Strike seems to want to turn the formula around to see how it went.

Having the racket in my hand and swinging it around felt clumsy and slow. I wasn't able to get around the shots as quick as I did with my lighter rackets. While the shots were able to come off nicely most of the time, I did find myself throwing a few points with the occasional mishit. Those usually came in when I had to rely more on reaction. Small head frame be damned.

I also found that holding the racket with the right side made a tremendous difference. While this wasn't very prevalent in the Duora 10, the Z-Strike actually performs quite different for me when I hold it the right way.

To recap, the USP for the Yonex Duora rackets is the duo-purpose frame. One side (the forehand) being more boxy (think Yonex Armortec), and the other (the backhand) being more sharp (think Victor Bravesword). This allows the player to throw hard on the forehand for heavier attacks, and also to snap faster on the backhand for more weight.

The heavy weight, stiff shaft, and smaller head frame will make it a nightmare for anyone who's not confident in hitting the sweet spot consistently - but what really makes the difference is the amount of power you can get into one swing. That being said. I would suppose someone with significantly more arm strength than I do will have a grand time with this racket.

While I might be consistent with the hitting, I am in no way ready physically to use this racket to its full potential. Those who share my level of competence in skill, while also being fairly strong in arm strength, can of course give this a try.

I have a feeling it might actually turn out well. Nonetheless, I have better feelings towards this one than the Duora 10. Read my blistering review on the Duora 10 to find out why.

That ends the first impressions. Stay tuned for the full review!

Hey there badminton fans! I know it's been awhile since I wrote anything - I've been recovering from a strained knee and haven't been able to play. Seriously think that my time is near and it won't be long till I'm reduced to watching videos and wishing I was prancing on the court instead.

Sad thoughts aside, I've managed to get my hands on the new Mizuno racket. Striking blue and black artwork aside, the racket offers a peculiar head frame shape that produces an odd performance on court.

The shaft is slim and flexes towards to the cone, making it a very nice racket to do those check smashes that I love. As the strings go on the racket and the tension is pulled across the head, the frame sharpens and you're left with a nice sharp head shape akin to the Z-Smash.

It felt lighter than expected on the swing, and there seems to be a little weight loss during the swing. Perhaps it's the sword/box hybrid of the head frame that made it really ergonomic. It doesn't make the sharp swish of the Victor Bravesword, nor the loud woosh of the Yonex Voltric Z-Force.

On the court the strangeness continues. The racket is amazingly efficient for backhands. I repeat - the Mizuno JPX 8.5 gives amazing backhands. I was able to reach any corner of the court without much effort. However, the forehand shots barely reach the end.

What?!

It took me a two games of singles and a lot of hitting to finally get the whole point of it all.

I'll lave you guys to figure out and guess why as I prepare for the review. :)

Coming soon is also my review on the Yonex Duora Z-Strike. Stay tuned!

Hey guys, found out some other site's been taking my article wholesale, so be a sport and bookmark the original site - http://everythinggoeshere.blogspot.sg

###

First impressions here.

This took awhile didn't it?! Because of the lack of court time I could only get enough experience with the racket now to give a fairly justifiable review.

Given the lack of racket makers now, the speed at which new rackets and innovations are pushed out are sorely lacking compared to back in the days when guys like Hart, Toalson and Prince were in the game.

That leaves Yonex with a lot of leeway to produce and push out innovations like the Duora at their own pace. When the new frame was released I wondered how much it could help with my game.

The Yonex Duora 10 proved to be a little of a disappointment, with my preferring the backhand side of the racket for regular play. I wondered what would happen if I were to use a similarly weighted Victor Bravesword instead.

My sentiments towards the gimmicky innovation carried on to the Z-Strike. The shaft of this one was a little thicker, and the head a lot heavier and bulkier. This was probably to make up for the lack of attacking prowess in the Duora 10.

Having had enough time on the court with this guy, I am going to say that I've not really changed my opinion on the whole Duora thing, but this has a few needed improvements over the Duora 10 that will make it a good addition to a player's arsenal.

Here goes.

Note: This is a review of my experience after using the racket for a few sessions. I am by no means a professional player, and so you should take my judgment with a pinch of salt. I welcome comments of any sorts.

Yonex Duora Z-Strike
Est. Dry Weight: 88g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Head Heavy
Stiffness: Stiff
Strings: Yonex Nanogy 98 @ 27lbs

Defense
Not really good, like with any head heavy variants that I've used. If any of you were old enough to have used the Yonex Armortec 900 Power you will find a striking similarity in this racket. The bulk frame does not give much to your movement on the court and the racket speed becomes compromised when you try to lift or move it around for defense.

As someone who prefers the defensive game - turning the tide around with a well-placed block or drive - the Yonex Duora Z-Strike is a little tricky to handle. At times I lift the racket for a block to find that I'm just that little off the ideal hitting spot, resulting in a less effective response.

This is especially relevant when your opponent is coming in at you hard with his attacks, leaving you with less time and more opportunity to get that dreaded frame hit off a defensive attempt. At the end of the day I suppose the racket was built with offense in mind.

Attack
For me the racket was an improvement over the Duora 10, offering several boosts to the head frame construction. It feels surprisingly like a Voltric, and many a times during the course of the review I had wanted to go check it it's a Voltric Duora Z-Strike instead.

First of all the head frame got a boost in thickness. This really gives it a good extra amount of punch when it comes to hitting the shuttle. A slightly thicker shaft also adds to the energy transfer, resulting in a more powerful stroke towards the opponent.

Following the recommendations of the Duora technology, the flat broad side is held as the forehand stroke. This results in a larger downward force (which translates to a larger upward force during defense) on the hit. This really works on the court when you put in a smash, as you can feel a substantial amount of pressure coming from a smash.

People who like to smash will really like this racket. The extended attacking capability of the Yonex Duora Z-Strike is a very good improvement over the more dainty Duora 10.

Control
This is where it gets funny. While heavy racket rackets offer a more stable frame that contributes to better control, I experience a very peculiar phenomenon when swinging with the Z-Strike, particularly on the long clears.

With this racket I am not able to aim my long clears well at all. The shuttle seems to sway very awkwardly to the sides, resulting in a straight out or a less the optimal angle (that means I get attacked). While I can chalk this down to my lack of game time, the same feeling does not come when I switch the racket.

This situation presents itself again when I try to smash down the line. There are times when the shuttle wouldn't be as accurate as I wanted it to.

On netshots and drives the racket performs as a head heavy one should - giving the shuttle a good stable base to bounce off on the soft shots and allowing a great transfer of energy on the fast flats.

Looks
We've not had a white racket for awhile, and the fresh combination of white, black and streaks of orange and red make the Yonex Duora Z-Strike a nice racket to look at. What I can perhaps pick at is the lack of the backhand/forehand decal that was so very helpful in the case of the Duora 10.

Yonex Duora Z-Strike

"The new glass cannon"

Defense: 7

Attack: 9

Control: 8

Looks: 8

Well, here's where I get a little excited. The new Yonex Astrox 77 boasts a greater ease in swing transition, steeper smash angle and sharper drives. It's designed and built to fit today's fast-paced badminton games, and from what I've experience so far, it's pretty much whatever it promises.

But before I go into the First Impressions, I would like to put up a post to try and explain why this racket might be the next big thing.

All images from www.yonex.com

The rackets packs the heat with a few technologies

New type of graphite
Rotational Generator System
Enhanced sweet spot

With one in hand, and some time on the court with this already, I will attempt to dissect the different marketing claims of the racket.

1. New graphite material - Namd

What it is:

The short of it all is that the new material allows the shaft to flex more during hard swings for more power, and flex less during sharp swings for more accuracy.

By bonding the resin material directly onto the graphite instead of having them fill up the space in between, the shaft of the Yonex Astrox 77 takes on its dynamic properties that allows for fiercer attack.

How this translates:

I definitely feel it on the drives - they hit very quickly and sharply. Even the smashes appear to be a little more steep than usual. For now I do feel that the racket makes a difference when it comes to attacking, to the extent that I look for chances to utilize the drive.

2. Rotational Generator System

What it is:

Ok Yonex this is a little too much marketing. Even the graphics above are trying a little too hard to explain that this racket is easy to swing around. So basically the "system" works like a swing, where the counter weights at either end contribute to reduce the inertia in reversing the motion - sort of like that perpetual motion device that you buy for your desk.

How it translates:

As campy as it sounds, the system actually works. Although this isn't new to the world of badminton (RSL and Prince both have similar weight distribution systems), the application of this in a complementary style to the flex properties of the shaft makes a rather lethal weapon on the court.

While I've not had the chance to test this racket extensively in doubles play, the ease of turning might actually give your defense game a boost too.

3. Isometric Head Shape

What it is:

This is a timeless classic. When the isometric head shape was introduced to the badminton world it allowed players all over the world to hit harder, faster and more accurately.

By using a flat top on teh racket head instead of the conventional oval shape, the string bed stretches to increase the sweet spot, allowing a higher repulsion rate for that extra bit of punch in your swings.

How it translates:

The best way to witness the isometric head shape at work is to get your hands on a conventional shaped racket and have a go. You'll notice two things - that your hits aren't as accurate as they used to be, and that they tend to have a little less power than compared to a modern shaped one.

With that said, all that's left is for me to introduce the newest addition to to the Yonex line of rackets - the Astrox 77.

To sum it all up, the new Yonex Astrox 77 may be very well fitted for the new BWF rulings that make games a matter of attack. With its offensive traits and its quick movement potential, the racket is set to make waves.

First Impressions soon.

Hey guys, found out some other site's been taking my article wholesale, so be a sport and bookmark the original site - http://everythinggoeshere.blogspot.sg

###

This is one strange case where I write the review before the first impressions. I've had enough time on the court to give this a good shot, so enjoy.

Out of the darkness of racket technology drought comes the Yonex Astrox77 - a seemingly practical combination toying with different kick point and weight transfer, going back to the classics of racket design away from marketing gimmicks like adjustable weights or *gasp* sound enhancing metal.

First impressions with the racket were less than promising, the racket lacking in both areas of attack and control. I found my clears and attacks down the side missing terribly, to the brink of racket throwing.

First thing I tried was changing the Aerosonic strings to something a little more familiar - the Nanogy 98, which did improve things somewhat. But before long the shots were back to being wayward and off target.

So after a few more sessions on the court with the racket, I am going to give the Yonex Astrox77 the time it deserves.

Here it goes.

Note: This is a review of my experience after using the racket for a few sessions. I am by no means a professional player, and so you should take my judgment with a pinch of salt. I welcome comments of any sorts.

Yonex Astrox77
Est. Dry Weight: 87g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Even, though after the NGB98 string change it feels head-heavy
Stiffness: Mid-Flex
Strings: Yonex Nanogy 98 @ 27lbs

Defense
The relatively small head frame of the Astrox77 will pose as a problem for some when it comes to the faster attacks, though the even balance of the racket somewhat makes up for it. I found lifting the racket from a ready position an ease, and from then on it's just grappling with using the small head to contact the shuttle at a good angle.

Those who are observant will notice that the racket is a little longer than most - and perhaps it's that feature that lends itself to a particularly tough time defending body shots. The slightly longer frame also contributes to a slight loss in shot making, the counter shots redirecting the shuttle from one side of the court to the other a little harder for me to pull off.

Attack
The marketing promises a more solid smash with sharper angles, which at least is partly true for me. The Yonex Astrox77 manages to pull off a few really steep smashes, catching the opponent off a little for the sneak win.

Power was the drawback for me though, the racket seemingly lackluster when it comes to the big smashes, coming off really short when I put my entire shoulder into the hit just to watch it soar back over my head.

However I did find the drives to be really useful. Perhaps the whip-like nature of the shaft and the even balance distribution allows it to swing and transfer power sideways more than downwards.

Control
Oh my gosh this is where the racket really loses points for me. As an old man now, a lot of my game plan revolves around moving the opponent around the court in order to open the opportunity up for a decisive one-shot.

Cross-court clears, out. Straight smashes, out. Straight clears, short. Net drops, not too bad. Backhands, let's not talk about it.

The Yonex Astrox77 seems really good only for straight drives, the shuttle really whizzing to the intended spot most of the time.

Looks
The electric yellow and galaxy blue of the racket is attractive without being too garish. What I appreciated about this racket is that it decided to use gloss paint; we've been witnessing matte paint on rackets for far too long.

Yonex Astrox77

"What's wrong with the ZF2?"

Defense: 7

Attack: 7

Control: 6

Looks: 8

This is the racket that current world number 1 Men's Doubles player Kevin Sanjaya Sukamuljo uses. Coming off the lackluster experience that I had with the Astrox 77, I wasn't really keen to give this racket a try.

But after a few visits to the store I decided to cast aside the feeling of betrayal lingering from the AX77 and pick up a 4U AX88S with Yonex BG66 Ultimax strung at 29lbs.

What struck me first was the short handle of the racket. The Yonex Astrox 88 Speed is boasted to be 10mm longer the the conventional racket, though I think most of it comes from the shortened wooden grip handle and thus longer shaft and head frame.

As a fan and former collector of Carlton rackets, I am quite fond of the short grip. This allows me greater variety in my swing and the shots come off sharper. Whipping the racket also gives it more power than with a conventional handle.

And so the moment came to take it to the court, and I must say it impresses. Right off the bat I notice the extreme quickness of the racket, wielding it in defense has got to be one of the best feelings. I am able to confidently twist and turn the shuttle away from the attacker and into an advantageous area of the court.

Being a 4U racket the back court smashes kind of takes a hit. I'm getting moderately heavy smashes from the further half, although not as hard as those I'd throw off with a 3U Yonex Nanoray Z-Speed. However, I do notice two things - I'm able to quite the angle on the shots by adding a little wrist pronation, and also the shots are dead on target.

Backhands for this guy are not the most ideal, being a 4U and also strung at such high tension. I suppose I will get better with this racket as time goes.

One last thing before I sign off. There is one particular shot that this racket pulls off amazingly, and that's the cross-court forehand drive (so happens it's my favorite shot). The shuttle comes off it so fast I was left stunned with I first executed the shot with the racket.

So far the Yonex Astrox 88 Speed has been a positive experience. Accuracy and speed seems to be its main stay, but the power I can generate is no small matter either.

Let's get a few more games with this guy before we throw in the review.

Following the great experience using the Yonex Astrox 88 Skill, a buddy of mine decided to have a go at its twin, the Astrox 88 Dominate.

The racket comes with a premise of harder smashes in a lethal combination of power and angle, endorsed by the second half of the world number pair - Marcus Fernaldi Gideon.

I also decided to suggest a string pairing with the racket, and we got it strung with the Yonex BG66 Ultimax at 31lbs tension. Part of the experiment was also to test if attacking rackets should be strung at much higher tension than normal (I usually get mine strung at 27lbs).

What we got was a very nice sound when smashing. The higher tension was very forceful on the attack, especially on my jump smashes. What suffered was the backhands however, as the tighter strings couldn't supplement my weaker swing. It also took me awhile to get used to the tight net shots since the shuttle didn't bounce off the string bed as well.

But on to the racket!

While the AS88S excelled at defense and intercepting, the AS88D presented a good downward push and forceful drives. While the two rackets performed comparatively in speed, I immediately noticed that the Yonex Astrox 88 Dominate felt a little heavier on the defense. It took a little more effort to lift the racket head following a smash defense.

Compensating for that is an extremely heavy downward swing. Long swingers will be very happy with this racket, its weight transferring very well from overhead to the hips.

Overall I was as satisfied with the Dominate as I was with the Skill - the two rackets offer very high rates of defense and offence, differing very slightly for those players with higher technical expertise.

The racket used for the testing as a 4UG5 Yonex Astrox 88 Dominate with overgrip wrapped over the cone. This reduced the head heaviness and made it considerably quicker to handle. When we removed the grip over the cone, the racket gained significant head weight, and we're looking to have that tested next week.

Stay tuned for the review!

Hey guys, found out some other site's been taking my article wholesale, so be a sport and bookmark the original site - http://everythinggoeshere.blogspot.sg

###

There's a bit of Kevin in all of us, and with the Yonex Astrox 88 Skill, we get a chance to take one step closer to playing a fast and furious game of badminton.

Because the Astrox 77 didn't make that much of an impact on me, the thought of starting on the 88 didn't really appeal to me. The racket didn't really contain any new technology except the slightly increased length, and the frame shape reminded me of the first generation isometric rackets that Yonex introduced back in the 80s.

So when the time came to try it (honestly I can't really stand not buying a new racket for too long) I was pleasantly surprised by the level of game that this racket allowed me to play at. The racket is really quick, a large portion due to the shorter racket handle that it's equipped with.

I came on the court blazing, and after a prolonged period of testing and playing (and also due to tardiness), I present to you the review of the Yonex Astrox 88 Skill in 4U.

Note: This is a review of my experience after using the racket for a few sessions. I am by no means a professional player, and so you should take my judgment with a pinch of salt. I welcome comments of any sorts.

Yonex Astrox 88 Skill (AX88S)
Est. Dry Weight: 84g (4U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Head Heavy
Stiffness: Stiff
Strings: Yonex BG66 Ultimax @ 29lbs

Defense
There are only a few rackets that feel as good on the defense as this guy. The Astrox 88S grants you complete control of the defensive shots, and with plenty of time to boot. The speed at which you can approach the defensive shot allows you to practically turn the racket head in any direction that fits your skill level.

Counter drives are a pleasure to throw off, and blocks to the net come off with finesse. Even my weak lifts are given a little more distance.

Attack
You'd expect a 4U racket performing fairly in this category, and you'd be somewhat correct. While the racket won't fare as well as the usual culprits like the Voltrix, you will get a satisfactory amount of power coming off the racket. Especially so when you're pulling off a quick smash from the wrist.

One particular shot that has a lot of power and speed with this racket is the forehand drive. Whipping the shuttle from my right diagonally across the entire court happens to be one of my favorite shots, and this racket makes it so addictive to pull off.

And when you combine the power with the level of control this racket gives, the Yonex Astrox 88 Skill is one force to be reckoned with.

Control
This has to be the main highlight of theracket - extreme control. The Yonex Astrox 88 Skill allowed me to hit every corner of the court with ease, be it forehand or backhand, lift or clear, smash or drive.

Placement and control at the net were also out of this world. I struggle to think of any racket that feels as much as an extension of my hand as the AX88S does. With this racket in my control, I'm quite confident to try any funny shots my wacky brain can come up with.

Looks
The racket is paired with the Yonex Astrox 88 Dominate, with the two coming off in complementary colors or red and green. The Skill variation has a green head and red shaft. Overall not the best I've seen, but the pairing looks cool if your doubles partner has the other one.

Yonex Astrox 88 Skill

"Try anything."

Defense: 10

Attack: 8

Control: 10

Looks: 7

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