I've made space, so here's the good luck and a bit of patience.
The Collection - September 2011
I know, I have too many.
From left to right:
APACS WREX Punch, Yonex ArcSaber Z-Slash TH, Yonex Voltric 80, Yonex Voltric 60, Yonex Armortec 900 Power LCW, Carlton Vapour Trail Vanquish, Carlton Vapour Trail S-Lite, Carlton Fireblade FX8, Carlton Air Blade 30, Carlton Air Rage Tour, Prince Black Pearl XP, Dunlop Aerogel 4D Tour, RSL M10 Heat 700
Badminton Racket Review: Yonex Voltric 60
White blue and hot all over. This racket just calls out to be reviewed, and I obliged like a drunk walking into a 7-11.
The design of the Yonex Voltric 60 appealed to me first of all, and then the G6 made to take a second look. The racket feels really light, and cuts through the air with a nice and crisp swoosh.
On first use, the level of the control that the VT60 gave was amazing, and it continued throughout the testing period for the review. I must admit that the play time that the racket got wasn't as much as the rest, but good things can't wait, and here I am writing about it.
Let me first state that I am no pro, and this is just my evaluation of the racket to my playing style and experience with it, If anything, I'm a low-intermediate level player looking to improve myself by playing more often and taking the lessons that I learn from the court away with me as pointers for the next session.
I play a mix of aggression and control, alternating between drop shots and sharp smashes to get the job done. I believe that the main goal of the wonderful game is to get your opponent moving so much they can't reach the shuttle eventually, and the loud thunderous smash is just a bonus that you get in between. As such, footwork is key, and technique supplements that so that you get the most out of your strokes. Power is nothing without control, and control is nothing without the proper strategy.
With that said, now on to the review.
Yonex Voltric 60 (New Hotness)
Dry Weight: 84g (4U)
Grip Size: G6
Balance: Slightly Head-Heavy
Max String Tension: 24lbs
Flex: Medium
Strings: BG66 @ 24lbs
Technology
- Tri-Voltage System
- Super Slim Shaft
- Sound Filter (BOOM)
Defense
I like to play a nice defensive game instead of a strong attacking, mostly because I don't think I'll have the strength to carry on with the smashes and drives and clears and smashes and drives and clears... The Voltric 60 gives me the perfect excuse to lift and wait because the racket just delivers when it comes to taking the hits.
Lightweight frame and quick swing speed gave me such quick response time. Couple that with the small grip size that allowed me to use more wrist to give variation to the returns, and it's a great defensive line-up that brings lifts, drives and net blocks to wonderfully enjoyable level.
Attack
This guy is no Voltric 80, and it shows in the speed of the shuttle off the smash. The light weight just doesn't cut it when you want to deliver a fierce check smash to unnerve the opponent. I found myself relying on the excellent control factors of the Voltric 60 to move the opponent instead of kicking the game up an offensive notch.
But the sound filter seemed to have gotten an upgrade with the VT60, as I noticed a "bark is louder than its bite" effect coming off my smashes.
Control
The Yonex Voltric 60 is a sniper when it comes to placing shuttles. The ease at which I could move the opponent around the court is amazing, and the accuracy rating of my shots skyrocketed once I started using the VT60. 6 corners, varying speeds - amazing.
Net play was superb, with tumbles and fast drops and net returns comparatively easier than with the other rackets that I brought to the game.
The increased confidence from the control also gives me more chances to try the trick shots and double motions that I've been meaning to practice on, so that's a plus I guess.
Looks
Holy crap this racket looks good! A more elegant version of the Voltric 80, the VT60 takes away the brutality of the heavier racket and replaces it with the cleanliness of thinner lines and more white space on the shaft. Turquoise and gold lines stream up the shaft to the head from the silver cone, ending near the YY logo at the T-Joint.
The frame continues the sleek design from the shaft, away from the louder tribal swerves of the VT80. Clean lines and short curves dominate the design, turquoise and a slight tinge of gold dominating the color palette.
The racket's strung with turquoise strings, and it completes the look. What a gentleman's racket.
Comparison
The Voltric 60 offers probably the highest level of control that I've experience from my rackets, with the Carlton Fireblade FX8 coming in at second. The ease of control translates into better footwork and a clearer mind when playing, and this affects the game a lot more that we usually give credit for.
I think that from watching international competitions, we're all sort of attuned to the overly offensive nature of the game. It's time to revisit the strategic aspects of the beautiful game of badminton and start thinking about making your game play an art form instead of chasing after loud smashes and snapped strings.
And what better way to start than getting yourself a Yonex Voltric 60.
The design of the Yonex Voltric 60 appealed to me first of all, and then the G6 made to take a second look. The racket feels really light, and cuts through the air with a nice and crisp swoosh.
On first use, the level of the control that the VT60 gave was amazing, and it continued throughout the testing period for the review. I must admit that the play time that the racket got wasn't as much as the rest, but good things can't wait, and here I am writing about it.
Let me first state that I am no pro, and this is just my evaluation of the racket to my playing style and experience with it, If anything, I'm a low-intermediate level player looking to improve myself by playing more often and taking the lessons that I learn from the court away with me as pointers for the next session.
I play a mix of aggression and control, alternating between drop shots and sharp smashes to get the job done. I believe that the main goal of the wonderful game is to get your opponent moving so much they can't reach the shuttle eventually, and the loud thunderous smash is just a bonus that you get in between. As such, footwork is key, and technique supplements that so that you get the most out of your strokes. Power is nothing without control, and control is nothing without the proper strategy.
With that said, now on to the review.
Yonex Voltric 60 (New Hotness)
Dry Weight: 84g (4U)
Grip Size: G6
Balance: Slightly Head-Heavy
Max String Tension: 24lbs
Flex: Medium
Strings: BG66 @ 24lbs
Technology
- Tri-Voltage System
- Super Slim Shaft
- Sound Filter (BOOM)
Defense
I like to play a nice defensive game instead of a strong attacking, mostly because I don't think I'll have the strength to carry on with the smashes and drives and clears and smashes and drives and clears... The Voltric 60 gives me the perfect excuse to lift and wait because the racket just delivers when it comes to taking the hits.
Lightweight frame and quick swing speed gave me such quick response time. Couple that with the small grip size that allowed me to use more wrist to give variation to the returns, and it's a great defensive line-up that brings lifts, drives and net blocks to wonderfully enjoyable level.
Attack
This guy is no Voltric 80, and it shows in the speed of the shuttle off the smash. The light weight just doesn't cut it when you want to deliver a fierce check smash to unnerve the opponent. I found myself relying on the excellent control factors of the Voltric 60 to move the opponent instead of kicking the game up an offensive notch.
But the sound filter seemed to have gotten an upgrade with the VT60, as I noticed a "bark is louder than its bite" effect coming off my smashes.
Control
The Yonex Voltric 60 is a sniper when it comes to placing shuttles. The ease at which I could move the opponent around the court is amazing, and the accuracy rating of my shots skyrocketed once I started using the VT60. 6 corners, varying speeds - amazing.
Net play was superb, with tumbles and fast drops and net returns comparatively easier than with the other rackets that I brought to the game.
The increased confidence from the control also gives me more chances to try the trick shots and double motions that I've been meaning to practice on, so that's a plus I guess.
Looks
Holy crap this racket looks good! A more elegant version of the Voltric 80, the VT60 takes away the brutality of the heavier racket and replaces it with the cleanliness of thinner lines and more white space on the shaft. Turquoise and gold lines stream up the shaft to the head from the silver cone, ending near the YY logo at the T-Joint.
The frame continues the sleek design from the shaft, away from the louder tribal swerves of the VT80. Clean lines and short curves dominate the design, turquoise and a slight tinge of gold dominating the color palette.
The racket's strung with turquoise strings, and it completes the look. What a gentleman's racket.
Comparison
The Voltric 60 offers probably the highest level of control that I've experience from my rackets, with the Carlton Fireblade FX8 coming in at second. The ease of control translates into better footwork and a clearer mind when playing, and this affects the game a lot more that we usually give credit for.
I think that from watching international competitions, we're all sort of attuned to the overly offensive nature of the game. It's time to revisit the strategic aspects of the beautiful game of badminton and start thinking about making your game play an art form instead of chasing after loud smashes and snapped strings.
And what better way to start than getting yourself a Yonex Voltric 60.
Yonex Voltric 60
Defense: 10
Attack: 6
Control: 10
Looks: 10,000,000,000
Badminton Racket First Impressions: RSL M10 Heat 700
Redemption. This was the racket that proved me wrong; I had it on eBay and the forums, but it won't move. Everyone gave up on it and I was about to send it to the scrapyard of secondhand $50 deals.
So I took it out today to have one more swing, and it took the opportunity to win back my favor.
Zero Air Resistance (ZAR) is the technology employed in this racket that made me put out money for it. The design didn't appeal to me at first, but the weight and the feel made it acceptable. I wanted something shiny anyway.
RSL rackets are held in high regards around the world (except the popular forums where Yonex and Victor reign), and this one is no different. Well made construction from the tapered shaft to the ZAR hole in the T-Joint made this a breeze to swing about.
Shots came heavy and fast despite the 28lbs tension that I've strung on the M10 Heat 700. The tight strings also helped the net play, which surprised even my opponents. Drop shots were a problem as I struggled to put enough energy on the slice to clear the net, but this is a player problem and it'd be unfair to blame it on the racket.
Having a hole in the T-Joint decreases drag and air resistance, which sorta translated to the faster swings that came from my defensive shots. I swung fast and furious with the M10 Heat 700, and I can't be happier.
Perhaps the only thing I can now complain about is how the chrome finishing peels off at the cone after a few good smashes...
So I took it out today to have one more swing, and it took the opportunity to win back my favor.
Zero Air Resistance (ZAR) is the technology employed in this racket that made me put out money for it. The design didn't appeal to me at first, but the weight and the feel made it acceptable. I wanted something shiny anyway.
RSL rackets are held in high regards around the world (except the popular forums where Yonex and Victor reign), and this one is no different. Well made construction from the tapered shaft to the ZAR hole in the T-Joint made this a breeze to swing about.
Shots came heavy and fast despite the 28lbs tension that I've strung on the M10 Heat 700. The tight strings also helped the net play, which surprised even my opponents. Drop shots were a problem as I struggled to put enough energy on the slice to clear the net, but this is a player problem and it'd be unfair to blame it on the racket.
Having a hole in the T-Joint decreases drag and air resistance, which sorta translated to the faster swings that came from my defensive shots. I swung fast and furious with the M10 Heat 700, and I can't be happier.
Perhaps the only thing I can now complain about is how the chrome finishing peels off at the cone after a few good smashes...
Badminton String Tension
So after I've done myself a big favor and chose a nice standard string for all my rackets, I went and experimented with string tension to see which one I'm most comfortable with.
This came about when I started using the Voltric 80 at 24lbs and found it a darling to smash with. Then came the weekend game with the test run of the Voltric 60 with BG66 at 24lbs. I also brought along my Carlton Vapour Trail S-Lite which was strung at 26lbs with BG66 Ultimax, as well as a Prince Oversize Black strung at 26lbs with BG66 Ultimax.
So two head heavy rackets at two different tensions and one head-light one at a higher tension.
The result was conclusive - I had better control and ease of play when I use the Voltric 60. There was less effort overall, and I ended up with better results against my opponent.
So today I went and cut the strings on the S-Lite, replacing it with BG66 strung at 24lbs.
Second phase of the test comes Wednesday.
This came about when I started using the Voltric 80 at 24lbs and found it a darling to smash with. Then came the weekend game with the test run of the Voltric 60 with BG66 at 24lbs. I also brought along my Carlton Vapour Trail S-Lite which was strung at 26lbs with BG66 Ultimax, as well as a Prince Oversize Black strung at 26lbs with BG66 Ultimax.
So two head heavy rackets at two different tensions and one head-light one at a higher tension.
The result was conclusive - I had better control and ease of play when I use the Voltric 60. There was less effort overall, and I ended up with better results against my opponent.
So today I went and cut the strings on the S-Lite, replacing it with BG66 strung at 24lbs.
Second phase of the test comes Wednesday.
Vanishing Act
The shutters were closed, dust starting to settle on the crevices. The flooring was contact and the sign board was still there so we concluded that it was a recent thing.
I remember the wooden steps up - two flights separated by a middle landing where you could look back down to see the baristas making coffee. The next flight would bring you to the cozy corner where friends would sit over board games and noisy chat.
Our seat was at the window, overlooking the soccer field and the busy traffic of the main road. The triangle building was also in sight, but that's another story for another time.
All the way in, to right. I sat closer to the wall and good things happened. Thrice we came, but there won't be a fourth.
There's the wooden flooring, huge cutlery, over-used menus, typical teen kitchen foodfare and the nice, nice coffee; none I would miss more than the warm head resting on my shoulder.
I remember the wooden steps up - two flights separated by a middle landing where you could look back down to see the baristas making coffee. The next flight would bring you to the cozy corner where friends would sit over board games and noisy chat.
Our seat was at the window, overlooking the soccer field and the busy traffic of the main road. The triangle building was also in sight, but that's another story for another time.
All the way in, to right. I sat closer to the wall and good things happened. Thrice we came, but there won't be a fourth.
There's the wooden flooring, huge cutlery, over-used menus, typical teen kitchen foodfare and the nice, nice coffee; none I would miss more than the warm head resting on my shoulder.
Badminton Racket First Impressions: Yonex Voltric 60
If the Voltric 80 is power, then the gentler and more elegant-looking Voltric 60 has got to be control.
One of the first things that I noticed is that lack of power from the racket, it's smashes not speeding as fast and it's clears not as high. But a few more games in I started to notice the beauty of the racket. It's found a niche in the area of control previously occupied by my Carlton Fireblade FX8.
With a light tap of the wrist, I could make the shuttle respond to my every command, controlling the game with much more ease than with the other two rackets that I bought to the game. Smashes had to be even more precise given the lack of power, but the advanced level of control that the racket offered made it as east as clapping my hands.
It looks like I will enjoy using the Voltric 60.
One last thing that I noticed is that the Voltric 60 allowed me to play at my usual style - a more controlled and slow pace, where the Voltric 80's immense strength gave me the urge to attack more. I think I'll grow to like this light blue wonder a whole lot.
One of the first things that I noticed is that lack of power from the racket, it's smashes not speeding as fast and it's clears not as high. But a few more games in I started to notice the beauty of the racket. It's found a niche in the area of control previously occupied by my Carlton Fireblade FX8.
With a light tap of the wrist, I could make the shuttle respond to my every command, controlling the game with much more ease than with the other two rackets that I bought to the game. Smashes had to be even more precise given the lack of power, but the advanced level of control that the racket offered made it as east as clapping my hands.
It looks like I will enjoy using the Voltric 60.
One last thing that I noticed is that the Voltric 60 allowed me to play at my usual style - a more controlled and slow pace, where the Voltric 80's immense strength gave me the urge to attack more. I think I'll grow to like this light blue wonder a whole lot.
Badminton Racket Review: Yonex Voltric 80
I thought this day would never come. A few months ago I was deciding between the Voltric 80 and the ArcSaber Z-Slash for my racket, and I eventually chose the lather.
Which was a good decision because I've come quite a way in terms of skill and technique and I wouldn't have been able to handle the Voltric 80 back then.
So now, with 4 hours of playing time in the bag, I've decided to write a review for this ridiculously overpowered masterpiece.
Let me first state that I'm no pro, and this is just my evaluation of the racket to my playing style and experience with it. If anything, I'm a high-beginner level player looking to improve myself by playing more often and taking the lessons that I learn from the court away with me as pointers for the next session.
With that said, now on to the review.
Yonex Voltric 80
Dry weight: 89g (3U)
Balance: Extremely Head-Heavy
Max String Tension: 27lbs
Flex: Stiff
Strings: BG66 @ 24lbs
Technology
- Nanopreme
- Tri-Voltage System
- Ultra Slim Shaft
Defense
This thing is heavy, and I found myself using a little more effort when it comes to defending against quick shots. But that doesn't mean I end up giving away points though - the Voltric 80's high level of control affords its user an increased accuracy when it comes to both offense and defense.
The weight of the head-heavy monster also lends that little ummph when you want to return a lift from your opponent's smashes.
Attack
Straight drives, IMBA. Smashes, ridiculously fast. Get ready to break the sound limit with the Yonex Voltric 80. With every attack you can basically feel the strings wrap around the shuttle head and throwing it out with as much force as the racket can muster. Sweet.
Control
Pinpoint accuracy to every corner of the court, with ease too. Clears and drops come easy, but I found that the brute strength granted by the racket left me hungry for smashes, neglecting the softer approach altogether.
That aside, despite being power-hungry I was still able to get my hits right where I want them (newbie miscalculations not-withstanding).
Looks
Too tribal and wild for my liking, but the white shaft and gold streaks down the side does help a little. Had an idea to wrap around with a purple grip but stuck to the safer black and gold conbination.
Comparison
This racket is used by the World-Class players, and there's a reason why. The Legendary Yonex Voltric 80 Badminton Racket is without a doubt one of the best rackets that I've ever had the chance to use. It's going to be tough for Yonex to top this, but I sure hope as hell hope they'd try.
Yonex Voltric 80
Defense: 8
Attack: 10
Control: 10
Looks: 8
*side note: it's been a day after the shuttle abuse by the Voltric 80, and my arm's suffered some stiffness and aches... looks like it's back to the dumb bells for me!
*side note: it's been a day after the shuttle abuse by the Voltric 80, and my arm's suffered some stiffness and aches... looks like it's back to the dumb bells for me!
Badminton Racket First Impressions: Yonex Voltric 80
After one single session with the legendary Yonex racket, all I can say is WOW.
Back to Basics: The Walk
It all began like most stories began - a guy with his love for the sport just plays, not worrying about the technicalities of hows and whys. But then he gets his ass handed to him and it sparks a need for improvement.
So he takes to his best friend, the internet. So much to learn, yet so many different ways to do it; I was getting advise from websites and videos and blogs (touche) all over the world.
Trial-and-error, and he finds himself getting better at it, catching up to the "expert" and eventually beating him. Then along came a spider, and we're back to the drawing board.
This is my story, and it has to do with footwork.
Do you see yourself struggling to catch the shuttle at a good angle?
You win badminton games by placing shots where your opponents can't reach, and the best way to do that is to reach the shuttle early. Like the early bird catches the worm, the early shuttler gets to hunt more birds with higher success.
What you have to do to reach the shuttle early is to be faster, and since most of us are already fully grown and almost to the limit (or worse still, decline!) of our muscle growth, gaining that speed all comes down to proper footwork.
The Shuffle
We all started out crawling on the ground until we found out that walking's pretty neat; Once we know how to walk, we learn to run; once we start running, we want to learn to do triple somersaults.
Wrong approach! Let's learn how to run (correctly) first shall we?
Here's THE basic step in badminton - the chasse. That's a nice way to reach the shuttle fast and at a good position to do something threatening to the opponent. It's sort of like a triple step - your feet hardly lift off the ground and you catch a good burst of speed by moving your feet in succession.
Problem is you can't get good distance to it.
For a little distance boost, you'll need a little jump to your steps - push off and land on the balls of your feet for the first one or two steps and then resume the chasse when you're closer to the shuttle's path.
More?
That there's the basis of movement. I'm no enthusiast so I'm not going to keep typing and tell you all the different footwork you have to learn (besides I'm still only a third of the way learning them!), but trust me when I say they're all variations of the chasse.
It's a dance move to begin with, and how apt its use in badminton. I liken a game of badminton to a dance-off where two dancers throw moves at each other until one of them can't keep up.
So dance away, my fellow badminton fanatics!
Badminton Racket Review: Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel
I've been uncertain about this racket, and that has resulted in more games than usual with it before I commit to a review. I've played singles with it for the last three sessions and here's what I have to say about it.
Let me first state that I'm no pro, and this is just my evaluation of the racket to my playing style and experience with it. If anything, I'm a high-beginner level player looking to improve myself by playing more often and taking the lessons that I learn from the court away with me as pointers for the next session.
With that said, now on to the review.
Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel
Dry weight: 70g (6U)
Balance: Extremely Head-Heavy
Max String Tension: 30lbs
Flex: Stiff
Strings: BG66 Ultimax @ 26lbs
Technology
- Superlight Nanographite Titanium Gel
- Muscle-Tec Wide Body Head
- Lightest Isometric Frame in the world
Defense
I expected great things from something this light, and it didn't disappoint. Despite the heavyheadedness of the frame, I could feel the weight dissipate as the racket cut through the air. At 70g, the superlight construction definitely increased my defense capability.
But the light weight does have its set-back. I had a little trouble generating enough power to convert defense into an opportunity to attack. When I try to lift behind the attacker, I ended up giving him a second chance. And when I tried to rectify that with a little more wrist, the shuttle flew out of court.
Control
Which brings me to the next point about control. I've said before that I believe that the weight of the racket affects the amount of control that the player can exert over the shuttle, and for this case it's very evident.
Drop shots, smashes, net shots, lifts, clears and defence - all of them suffered from the lack of control that this rackets gives. I also took into consideration the tension on the strings and 26lbs on a superlight frame might cause a little control loss.
It actually had me thinking more on how to keep the shuttle in than where to put it, and that's a battle lost.
Usually I put out-of-control shots down to my lack of skill, but this one had one too many for me not to put the blame on.
Attack
I wrote on top that the racket is extremely head heavy, and that translates into the smashes, clears and drives that this racket can deliver. Although I feel that if the M-Tec 70 was strung at a lower tension I'd get even better offence, the current state is more than required for a nice game of attack.
Looks
Black and white were always the favorite colors when it comes to badminton rackets, and Karakal delivers with the M-Tec 70. The racket comes primarily white with black tribal markings down the sides of the head, ending off with the logo at the t-joint, with technology decals cascading down the shaft onto the handle.
Comparison
This is the lightest racket that I now have, with the APACS WREX Punch coming in a close second.
I remember I had the same problem with the WREX Punch - lack of control, but the Karakal makes up for it with the high energy hits that it can generate with such little effort.
But when you compare it to the 3U, head-heavy big boys, the Karakal comes out short with its lack of direction and overall ease of mind that the others give me. I guess 6U is too much for me to take.
Let me first state that I'm no pro, and this is just my evaluation of the racket to my playing style and experience with it. If anything, I'm a high-beginner level player looking to improve myself by playing more often and taking the lessons that I learn from the court away with me as pointers for the next session.
With that said, now on to the review.
Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel
Dry weight: 70g (6U)
Balance: Extremely Head-Heavy
Max String Tension: 30lbs
Flex: Stiff
Strings: BG66 Ultimax @ 26lbs
Technology
- Superlight Nanographite Titanium Gel
- Muscle-Tec Wide Body Head
- Lightest Isometric Frame in the world
Defense
I expected great things from something this light, and it didn't disappoint. Despite the heavyheadedness of the frame, I could feel the weight dissipate as the racket cut through the air. At 70g, the superlight construction definitely increased my defense capability.
But the light weight does have its set-back. I had a little trouble generating enough power to convert defense into an opportunity to attack. When I try to lift behind the attacker, I ended up giving him a second chance. And when I tried to rectify that with a little more wrist, the shuttle flew out of court.
Control
Which brings me to the next point about control. I've said before that I believe that the weight of the racket affects the amount of control that the player can exert over the shuttle, and for this case it's very evident.
Drop shots, smashes, net shots, lifts, clears and defence - all of them suffered from the lack of control that this rackets gives. I also took into consideration the tension on the strings and 26lbs on a superlight frame might cause a little control loss.
It actually had me thinking more on how to keep the shuttle in than where to put it, and that's a battle lost.
Usually I put out-of-control shots down to my lack of skill, but this one had one too many for me not to put the blame on.
Attack
I wrote on top that the racket is extremely head heavy, and that translates into the smashes, clears and drives that this racket can deliver. Although I feel that if the M-Tec 70 was strung at a lower tension I'd get even better offence, the current state is more than required for a nice game of attack.
Looks
Black and white were always the favorite colors when it comes to badminton rackets, and Karakal delivers with the M-Tec 70. The racket comes primarily white with black tribal markings down the sides of the head, ending off with the logo at the t-joint, with technology decals cascading down the shaft onto the handle.
Comparison
This is the lightest racket that I now have, with the APACS WREX Punch coming in a close second.
I remember I had the same problem with the WREX Punch - lack of control, but the Karakal makes up for it with the high energy hits that it can generate with such little effort.
But when you compare it to the 3U, head-heavy big boys, the Karakal comes out short with its lack of direction and overall ease of mind that the others give me. I guess 6U is too much for me to take.
Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel
Defense: 9
Attack: 8
Control: 5
Looks: 9
Badminton Racket Comparison: Carlton Airblade 30 versus Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel
Two light-weight, head-heavy rackets, but boy do they play differently.
The Carlton felt too light to be of use when I first played with it a few weeks back., and the Karakal felt really strong for a light-weight racket.
After a two-hour session at the courts today, I've decided on the Carlton being the better of the two, mainly because of the additional control the racket's weight advantage gave it.
My theory on shuttle control gives heavier rackets a little more bias (again, this is my opinion and is largely due to the experience of using the 12 rackets that I have). The Karakal, being 10g lighter, just couldn't measure up to the tight control of the Carlton.
After switching to the Carlton, the Karakal felt like a loose cannon that would deliver powerful shots but not very much on target; I found my clears to the left and right taking a little too much angle and landing out.
I think the extra 10g also helped for the Carlton in producing faster smashes and more accurate swings. I guess I will need to get used to the swing speed of the light-weight Karakal.
What I also noticed is that the strings on the Karakal felt a little tigher than the Carlton's even though they're both strung at 26lbs. I'm hoping to switch to a lower tension for the Karakal after awhile to see how that would help.
I've always wanted to drop tension to about 23lbs, so I guess now's a better time than any.
Congratulations to the Carlton Airblade 30 for besting the Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel.
Expect a review on the Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel soon.
The Carlton felt too light to be of use when I first played with it a few weeks back., and the Karakal felt really strong for a light-weight racket.
After a two-hour session at the courts today, I've decided on the Carlton being the better of the two, mainly because of the additional control the racket's weight advantage gave it.
My theory on shuttle control gives heavier rackets a little more bias (again, this is my opinion and is largely due to the experience of using the 12 rackets that I have). The Karakal, being 10g lighter, just couldn't measure up to the tight control of the Carlton.
After switching to the Carlton, the Karakal felt like a loose cannon that would deliver powerful shots but not very much on target; I found my clears to the left and right taking a little too much angle and landing out.
I think the extra 10g also helped for the Carlton in producing faster smashes and more accurate swings. I guess I will need to get used to the swing speed of the light-weight Karakal.
What I also noticed is that the strings on the Karakal felt a little tigher than the Carlton's even though they're both strung at 26lbs. I'm hoping to switch to a lower tension for the Karakal after awhile to see how that would help.
I've always wanted to drop tension to about 23lbs, so I guess now's a better time than any.
Congratulations to the Carlton Airblade 30 for besting the Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel.
Expect a review on the Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel soon.
Badminton Rackets: Light and Heavy
I remember when I first started out playing after a long break of 10 years. I told myself that I had to get a new racket coz the one I used to have has been thrown away.
So I headed to the sports store and got me the cheapest racket in there. The main consideration was color and design.
I ended up with a UG4 Yonex Carbonex DF6000, and it hurt my arm after a two hour session. At that time I was really but a social player, and the skills and thoughts about technique hasn't been instilled into the style.
Now, I've amassed a collection of 12 rackets from different makers and ranging between balance, string and weight class.
I've done a string review before, but tomorrow I will try and compare two head-heavy light weight rackets from two different makers, just for the hell of it.
1. Carlton Airblade 30
82g unstrung (4UG5)
Strung with BG6 (orange) at 26lbs
2. Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel
70g unstrung (6UG5)
Strung with BG66 Ultimax at 26lbs
At first touch the M-Tec 70 seems to be the more head-heavy badminton racket, despite being sold as the lightest racket in the world.
I've also had two straight sessions with the Karakal before and I should be able to write a proper for it after tomorrow's game.
Both rackets will be given an hour in singles games tomorrow, which will then give me enough information to judge them based on defense, attack, and control.
Till later.
So I headed to the sports store and got me the cheapest racket in there. The main consideration was color and design.
I ended up with a UG4 Yonex Carbonex DF6000, and it hurt my arm after a two hour session. At that time I was really but a social player, and the skills and thoughts about technique hasn't been instilled into the style.
Now, I've amassed a collection of 12 rackets from different makers and ranging between balance, string and weight class.
I've done a string review before, but tomorrow I will try and compare two head-heavy light weight rackets from two different makers, just for the hell of it.
1. Carlton Airblade 30
82g unstrung (4UG5)
Strung with BG6 (orange) at 26lbs
2. Karakal M-Tec 70 Iso Gel
70g unstrung (6UG5)
Strung with BG66 Ultimax at 26lbs
At first touch the M-Tec 70 seems to be the more head-heavy badminton racket, despite being sold as the lightest racket in the world.
I've also had two straight sessions with the Karakal before and I should be able to write a proper for it after tomorrow's game.
Both rackets will be given an hour in singles games tomorrow, which will then give me enough information to judge them based on defense, attack, and control.
Till later.
