I've been wanting to do this for the longest time, but haven't gotten around to wanting to spend money on an APACS racket.
The APACS series of rackets has got a devoted bunch of followers, swearing by the quality of the brand's rackets compared to the original ones by Yonex.
So I'm thinking of going about proving whether that's true (for me at least), using a set of methodologies that I will soon develop.
The first step would be to choose the rackets that I will compare against. My first choice is the ArcSaber Z-Slash, a cult favorite among shuttlers for its "fastest smash speed" marketing. I personally own one of these, so it's a natural pick as well.
The ASZS also has the title of "most unforgiving racket", and that will duly be tested between the two brands.
The next one will be tough. I would want to choose a head-heavy one since the ArcSaber series is the even-balanced rackets from Yonex.
A look through the APACS range of rackets has left me with the APACS Foray 300, the replica for the Yonex Voltric Z-Force.
With those two in mind, it's time to think up how to best compare the two.
More to come, comments very welcome.
Badminton London Olympics: Men's Singles Poll Results
I have to admit that I put the poll out for too long to vote, and we're not left with much time for the rest of the categories.
Apologies for those who are looking forward to the polls. Here's the results for the Men's Singles event at the 2012 London Olympics:
Who will win Men's Singles Gold?
Lin Dan - 48%
Lee Chong Wei - 48%
Chen Long - 1%
Peter Gade - 1%
What are your predictions for the other categories?
Here are mine.
Men's Singles: Lin Dan
Women's Singles: Wang Xin
Men's Doubles: Cai / Fu
Women's Doubles: Indifferent (with deepest apologies to fans)
Mixed Doubles: Fischer / Pedersen (I'd like to say Ahmad / Natsir, but the young Tontowi is a big wild card, especially at an event like the Olympics)
Apologies for those who are looking forward to the polls. Here's the results for the Men's Singles event at the 2012 London Olympics:
Who will win Men's Singles Gold?
Lin Dan - 48%
Lee Chong Wei - 48%
Chen Long - 1%
Peter Gade - 1%
What are your predictions for the other categories?
Here are mine.
Men's Singles: Lin Dan
Women's Singles: Wang Xin
Men's Doubles: Cai / Fu
Women's Doubles: Indifferent (with deepest apologies to fans)
Mixed Doubles: Fischer / Pedersen (I'd like to say Ahmad / Natsir, but the young Tontowi is a big wild card, especially at an event like the Olympics)
Badminton Racket Technology: Spiral Graphite Shaft
My very bad case of GAS (Gear Acquisition Syndrome) started when I wanted to try out all sorts of technology that can go into a badminton racket.
This has led me to purchase a hell of a lot of rackets, until the point where I've more or less experienced all of the current (and some past) gimmicks to get yourself ahead of the game.
Some of them are game changers (Bravesword), and some leave you wondering if they fired the marketing goof who thought of the idea (I've yet to scare my opponent with a Voltric 80's smashing sound).
So when the chance comes for me to use a new technology it's always worth a shot. And having a stringer who shares the same passion is a good thing.
On Friday I received a picture from him of a Pro-Kennex racket - electric blue and silver chrome finish all over with a hint of gold streaking down the sides of the head frame.
On closer inspection, he informed me that the racket's made out of a spiral graphite shaft, which makes the shaft overall more stiff than a racket made the conventional way. It's just like a piece of paper will tend to bend less if you rolled it up in a spiral.
Holding the racket, I could feel the stiffness at work. Since the racket is 4U, it might prove to be a very helpful asset to doubles players who aren't equipped to dish out hard smash after hard smash.
Unfortunately, this is as far as this commentary goes. The design of the racket didn't appeal enough for me to jump the gun and bring it home. However, if I had to put money on it, I would bet the spiral graphite shaft would give a harder bite than its bark.
Those who know my stringer in Sembawang, Singapore, are welcome to give this gem a go. Let me know how it turns out!
This has led me to purchase a hell of a lot of rackets, until the point where I've more or less experienced all of the current (and some past) gimmicks to get yourself ahead of the game.
Some of them are game changers (Bravesword), and some leave you wondering if they fired the marketing goof who thought of the idea (I've yet to scare my opponent with a Voltric 80's smashing sound).
So when the chance comes for me to use a new technology it's always worth a shot. And having a stringer who shares the same passion is a good thing.
On Friday I received a picture from him of a Pro-Kennex racket - electric blue and silver chrome finish all over with a hint of gold streaking down the sides of the head frame.
On closer inspection, he informed me that the racket's made out of a spiral graphite shaft, which makes the shaft overall more stiff than a racket made the conventional way. It's just like a piece of paper will tend to bend less if you rolled it up in a spiral.
Holding the racket, I could feel the stiffness at work. Since the racket is 4U, it might prove to be a very helpful asset to doubles players who aren't equipped to dish out hard smash after hard smash.
Unfortunately, this is as far as this commentary goes. The design of the racket didn't appeal enough for me to jump the gun and bring it home. However, if I had to put money on it, I would bet the spiral graphite shaft would give a harder bite than its bark.
Those who know my stringer in Sembawang, Singapore, are welcome to give this gem a go. Let me know how it turns out!
Badminton London Olympics: Badminton's Lee nears D-Day in injury race
 |
(March 11, 2011 - Source: Tom Dulat/Getty Images Europe) |
28 July 2012
LONDON: Injury-hit top seed Lee Chong Wei believes he has given himself a chance of winning his race against time -- and claiming an improbable men's badminton Olympic gold medal.
Torn ankle ligaments caused Lee, 29, to be ushered away in a wheelchair during the Thomas Cup in May, casting serious doubt over the then world number one's Olympic campaign.
However stem cell treatment, plus 13 hours' rehab each day, and a flinty attitude have bolstered him physically and mentally, enabling him to confound those who claimed he wouldn't make it.
These trials have given him new perspectives. "It has been a long and lonely road for me since I suffered that injury," said the Malaysian who is the most brilliantly fleet-footed player of them all in full flow.
"To be honest, it dawned on me during that time who were my real friends, who actually cared for me, Chong Wei, the ordinary person.
"So many walked away, but never once did I ever think of calling it quits. All this negativity spurred me on to prove a point."
Lee wants the gold medal, both to improve on the silver medal he won in Beijing four years ago, and to finally get the better of his nemesis Lin Dan in a major event.
Coping with the sensational Lin, China's Olympic and world champion, is perhaps the hardest task in the history of badminton, and Lee also has to deal with the memory of the last time they played at Wembley arena last August.
Lee held two match points against Lin in a monumental world final. Afterwards, he said he was considering extending his career for a year to the next world titles in 2013, having spoken of retiring at the Olympics.
"That was a stunning defeat as I was almost there, but all of a sudden the title vanished right before my eyes," Lee remembers. "That defeat still lingers in my mind, and it has strengthened my resolve to win a gold medal at the Olympics.
 |
| Source: http://www.yonex.com/leechongwei-yonex/ |
"Wembley arena was unkind to me 12 months ago, so let's hope Lady Luck will smile at me this time around."
Lin, who also beat Lee in the Beijing 2008 final, was generous towards his long-term adversary.
"We are long-time competitors, but our biggest enemy is not each other, but injury," he said. "As his competitor, I wish him to come back as quickly as possible."
However, Lee avoided admitting that Lin, his barrier for more than six years, is the greatest player ever, and instead suggested retired Chinese world champions Yang Yang or Zhao Jian-hua, or Denmark's Peter Gade.
However, the 35-year-old Gade has had a moderate run-up to the Olympics and fell from the world's top four, putting him in the same quarter as Chen Long, the former world junior champion from China.
It also let former world champion Chen Jin into the top four, allowing China a maximum three qualifiers. The others are Lin, seeded two, whom Chen is seeded and drawn to meet in the semi-finals, and Chen Long, at three.
China also has the maximum in the women's singles, with a trio of Wangs -- Wang Yihan, Wang Xin and Wang Shixian -- occupying the top three world ranking positions.
If an unexpected threat to China's women is to emerge, it might come from Saina Nehwal, the Commonwealth champion from India, or Tine Baun, the former world number one from Denmark.
However, the world's most powerful badminton nation is seeded top in all three doubles events as well, and in four of the five events altogether.
No nation has yet won all five badminton gold medals. However, this time it looks very possible, China having captured all five titles at the last two world championships.
- AFP/al
Original Article:
Olympics Badminton's Lee nears D-Day in injury race - Channel NewsAsia
Badminton Racket First Impressions: Victor Superwaves 30
I got this racket quite some time ago, but wasn't able to put down enough court time with it to write something. But a session with this racket gave me a some information to work with, and here I present the First Impressions for a very handsome racket.
The Victor Superwaves 30 is the latest in line for the Superwaves series of the Victor brand. I'm not quite sure why they would want to release this line when the Meteor is doing so well and basically performs the same.
The Superwaves series of rackets emphasize of attack and smash power, and the result being very stiff shafts and boxy head frames much alike the Yonex Armortec series.
Moving around the court with this racket seems a little cumbersome, what with the heavy weight and stiffness of the shaft. To make up for it, the racket is able to deliver when it comes to the offensive shots.
It's a little slow to swing, but the resultant shots almost always come off sharp and quick. The backhands from this racket is also worth mentioning. For some reason, giving distance with the Victor Superwaves 30 is relatively easy.
All the elements kinda makes the racket balance out, and I'm not too sure about how it will perform for me in future sessions.
Stay tuned for the review!
The Victor Superwaves 30 is the latest in line for the Superwaves series of the Victor brand. I'm not quite sure why they would want to release this line when the Meteor is doing so well and basically performs the same.
The Superwaves series of rackets emphasize of attack and smash power, and the result being very stiff shafts and boxy head frames much alike the Yonex Armortec series.
Moving around the court with this racket seems a little cumbersome, what with the heavy weight and stiffness of the shaft. To make up for it, the racket is able to deliver when it comes to the offensive shots.
It's a little slow to swing, but the resultant shots almost always come off sharp and quick. The backhands from this racket is also worth mentioning. For some reason, giving distance with the Victor Superwaves 30 is relatively easy.
All the elements kinda makes the racket balance out, and I'm not too sure about how it will perform for me in future sessions.
Stay tuned for the review!
Badminton Racket Review: Karakal SL-70
My stringer first interested me in the Karakal brand of rackets when I was starting to get into the hang of the game. My strokes were just beginning to pick up and I was open to trying new rackets to improve the game.
At that moment, I found that generally performed better with even-balanced and lighter rackets. That's when the SL-70, with its branding of "the lightest racket in the world" came to be attractive.
Weighing in at 70g, the SL-70 offers a head-heavy orientation, which grants you a slightly offensive vantage when approaching the shuttle. A light-weight but even-balanced racket will not have worked.
I got myself a M-Tec 70, the isometric head shape version of the SL-70, and it didn't perform well. When the chance for me to get one of these, the temptation kicked in and I sprung for it.
Not a bad choice, I must say. With more experience and technique from training and playing more often, I'm now able to give the racket more bang for its buck.
This review is my opinion of the racket from using it in my games, my style. There are a lot of ways to play badminton, so take this with a pinch of salt. I'm here to tell you, in as much accuracy as I can, how my games went with the racket. Comments welcome!
Ok here goes.
Karakal SL-70
Est Dry Weight: 70g (5U)
Grip Size: 3 1/4 (Yonex G5)
Balance: Head Heavy
Max String Tension: 30lbs
Flex: Stiff
Strings: Yonex BG66 Ultimax @ 25lbs
Defense
This thing is fast. Faster than any of my other rackets I must say. The smaller head frame from its conventional oval head frame gives it a faster swing and quicker reaction times. Quicker speed means I can play around with my returns and generate a lot more threat from the blocks.
However, the lack of weight shows when you're trying to perform a high block to the back of the court. Drives and drops come off plenty fine, but once I tried to give it a bit more elbow grease, the shuttle doesn't get enough distance and there's always the threat of a return smash.
My buddy commented today that I get a lot more court coverage with the racket, which I think adds to the overall defense of the racket. Being so light, there was very little to drag around.
How does the weight affect one's footwork? There's a little exercise you all can play around with to give yourself better control and reaction - take a shuttle and juggle it as fast as you can with different rackets. You'll notice a lot of difference in speed and control when you're dealing with head- light or generally lighter rackets.
Attack
The BG66 Ultimax is a smashing string offering a high repulsion to get the shuttle leaving the string bed fast.
The Karakal SL-70's very quick swing speed adds to this repulsion and is capable of producing a very fast attack. Being quick on the draw also allows me to set up a smash with a quick series of fast rallies near the net.
Adding to the comment about court coverage, the buddy also told me that with the SL-70, there was a little more guess work when he's needing to see where my shuttles was going. It seems that the fast swing speed also comes with a related faster stop speed.
Change of pace with the racket is superb, offering a new pace at your whim.
Contol
Here's where the racket falls a little short. Granted the shape of the head frame plays a part, but it's also up to the player to get used to the significantly smaller size of the sweet spot.
There's also the issue of not having enough weight at the front of the racket to reduce the effort needed to place shuttles to the back court. I have to thank the speed of the racket because of all the smashes I'm expecting to come back at me.
Control at the net was also a little lacking, with the tight net shots traveling a bit far from the tape for my liking. Again, I attribute this to the lack of weight to the racket that allows kinetic energy to do the work for me.
Looks
Karakal is known to produce rackets with different design, so I was pretty glad that my SL-70 comes with an elegant red-white combination.
At that moment, I found that generally performed better with even-balanced and lighter rackets. That's when the SL-70, with its branding of "the lightest racket in the world" came to be attractive.
Weighing in at 70g, the SL-70 offers a head-heavy orientation, which grants you a slightly offensive vantage when approaching the shuttle. A light-weight but even-balanced racket will not have worked.
I got myself a M-Tec 70, the isometric head shape version of the SL-70, and it didn't perform well. When the chance for me to get one of these, the temptation kicked in and I sprung for it.
Not a bad choice, I must say. With more experience and technique from training and playing more often, I'm now able to give the racket more bang for its buck.
This review is my opinion of the racket from using it in my games, my style. There are a lot of ways to play badminton, so take this with a pinch of salt. I'm here to tell you, in as much accuracy as I can, how my games went with the racket. Comments welcome!
Ok here goes.
Karakal SL-70
Est Dry Weight: 70g (5U)
Grip Size: 3 1/4 (Yonex G5)
Balance: Head Heavy
Max String Tension: 30lbs
Flex: Stiff
Strings: Yonex BG66 Ultimax @ 25lbs
Defense
This thing is fast. Faster than any of my other rackets I must say. The smaller head frame from its conventional oval head frame gives it a faster swing and quicker reaction times. Quicker speed means I can play around with my returns and generate a lot more threat from the blocks.
However, the lack of weight shows when you're trying to perform a high block to the back of the court. Drives and drops come off plenty fine, but once I tried to give it a bit more elbow grease, the shuttle doesn't get enough distance and there's always the threat of a return smash.
My buddy commented today that I get a lot more court coverage with the racket, which I think adds to the overall defense of the racket. Being so light, there was very little to drag around.
How does the weight affect one's footwork? There's a little exercise you all can play around with to give yourself better control and reaction - take a shuttle and juggle it as fast as you can with different rackets. You'll notice a lot of difference in speed and control when you're dealing with head- light or generally lighter rackets.
Attack
The BG66 Ultimax is a smashing string offering a high repulsion to get the shuttle leaving the string bed fast.
The Karakal SL-70's very quick swing speed adds to this repulsion and is capable of producing a very fast attack. Being quick on the draw also allows me to set up a smash with a quick series of fast rallies near the net.
Adding to the comment about court coverage, the buddy also told me that with the SL-70, there was a little more guess work when he's needing to see where my shuttles was going. It seems that the fast swing speed also comes with a related faster stop speed.
Change of pace with the racket is superb, offering a new pace at your whim.
Contol
Here's where the racket falls a little short. Granted the shape of the head frame plays a part, but it's also up to the player to get used to the significantly smaller size of the sweet spot.
There's also the issue of not having enough weight at the front of the racket to reduce the effort needed to place shuttles to the back court. I have to thank the speed of the racket because of all the smashes I'm expecting to come back at me.
Control at the net was also a little lacking, with the tight net shots traveling a bit far from the tape for my liking. Again, I attribute this to the lack of weight to the racket that allows kinetic energy to do the work for me.
Looks
Karakal is known to produce rackets with different design, so I was pretty glad that my SL-70 comes with an elegant red-white combination.
Karakal SL-70
Defense: 7
Attack: 8
Control: 7
Looks: 8
Badminton Racket Wishlist: Yonex Armortec 700 Premium 2012
I've a thing for red rackets, and it shows. Now if I can only figure out what to dispose of to make room for this stallion.
Badminton London Olympics: Group Draw results
Here they are, with some comments from me. I think it's too much trouble to create tables of my own, so I did a PrtScn from the BWF website.
Credit to the Badminton World Federation for the excellent table.
Credit to the Badminton World Federation for the excellent table.
My Take:
This looks pretty easy to predict. I've got hopes for Pablo Albian to beat Taufik, given the Indonesian's terrible form and the Spanish fighting spirit we all love to watch. Watch out also for Boonsak Ponsana in Group E.
My Take:
Looks rather straight forward to me, but I'm favouring the young Thai Ratchnok to stir up a storm in her first Olympic debut. I've seen her in the few games she's played against Wang Yihan and she was amazing. Definitely World No. 1 material.
My Take:
I think the Men's Doubles circuit needs a reboot and insertion of fresh faces to make it exciting again. Looking at the lineup, I find it hard to feel any excitement.
My Take:
I have to admit that I'm not a fan of Women's Doubles games. Let's see if the Olympics can change my opinion of the category. Apart from the China and Dutch powerhouses, I have not really seen any of the other athletes play.
My Take:
This discipline is very exciting, and I've grown to look forward to the Mixed Doubles matches in tournaments. I've a soft spot for Adcock and Bankier. I hope they continue the tenacity that they've shown in recent tournaments.
The Indonesian pairing of Ahmad and Natsir are also great to watch, and I think their Group's probably got the toughest fight, what with Lee Yong Dae looking to defend his title and Laybourn and Kamilla a strong pairing as well.
Badminton Racket First Impressions: Li-Ning Flame N36
I now have to take back whatever impressions that I had for the Li-Ning brand. I used to think that they're just some overpriced OEM brand with no knowledge of racket-making.
With the Li-Ning Flame N36, I now know that they make pretty decent rackets. The overpriced bit stayed though.
Armed with the new Yonex Nanogy 99 strings, I took the N36 for a spin this morning and had a very good session. I know that because at the end of it I wish I could stay and play for a few hours more.
The smashes came off nice and sharp, with a great sound to boot! The Air Stream System that they've put at the 5 and 7 o'clock of the racket might have something to do with it I think.
Speaking of the Air Stream System, the holes cut into the head frame gave the Li-Ning Flame N36 a nice fast swing, be it on defense of when you want to put something fast in for your opponent.
I think the best thing about the racket is the level of control that I was able to muster from it. I was really enjoying myself on the court today, footwork ringing close to perfect as the game boiled down to how long I wanted the rallies to last.
Did I mention that the racket looks like a dream?
With the Li-Ning Flame N36, I now know that they make pretty decent rackets. The overpriced bit stayed though.
Armed with the new Yonex Nanogy 99 strings, I took the N36 for a spin this morning and had a very good session. I know that because at the end of it I wish I could stay and play for a few hours more.
The smashes came off nice and sharp, with a great sound to boot! The Air Stream System that they've put at the 5 and 7 o'clock of the racket might have something to do with it I think.
Speaking of the Air Stream System, the holes cut into the head frame gave the Li-Ning Flame N36 a nice fast swing, be it on defense of when you want to put something fast in for your opponent.
I think the best thing about the racket is the level of control that I was able to muster from it. I was really enjoying myself on the court today, footwork ringing close to perfect as the game boiled down to how long I wanted the rallies to last.
Did I mention that the racket looks like a dream?
Shout-Outs
I went to my stringer today and he told me a couple of guys came over to his place looking for the Bekia Bravesword 10 Replica after reading about it on the internet.
I won't presume it's my blog that they read, but if it's truly the case I hope that the one lucky person who managed to buy the last piece enjoys it. For the rest who settled for the Meteor X80 Replica, I hope it turns out well for your game.
Let me know how it went!
I won't presume it's my blog that they read, but if it's truly the case I hope that the one lucky person who managed to buy the last piece enjoys it. For the rest who settled for the Meteor X80 Replica, I hope it turns out well for your game.
Let me know how it went!
Badminton Racket Review: Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition
I seldom have second thoughts when buying a new brand racket just so I can try out the quality and technology that the maker promises.
The Gosen brand has been elusive to me for the longest time, what with my not wanting to spend top dollars for their high-end rackets like the Tenbu or Shinden. So when the Aermet came along, it was a kind of blessing to be able to give the brand a try without busting the bank.
It came nice and red (I have the most red-orientated rackets), and with the standard Gosen technology like the two kick-point system and the broad t-joint stabilizer.
So how does the Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition rate?
This review's my opinion of the racket from using it in my games, my style. There are a lot of ways to play badminton, so take this with a pinch of salt. I'm here to tell you, in as much accuracy as I can, how my games went with the racket. Comments welcome!
Ok here goes.
Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition
Est Dry Weight: 87g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Head Heavy
Max String Tension: 28lbs
Flex: Mid-Stiff
Strings: Yonex Nanogy 98 @ 25lbs
Defense
This racket performs poorly at defense compared to the other head-heavy rackets that I have. Somehow, the speed of the swings take a back seat and despite having a wider head frame to hit with.
I've had a positive experience with the Bekia Twister X8, another head heavy racket with an oversize head frame, but it seems that it's a unique case.
With the Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition, my defense took a back seat and I'm left blocking the hard hits into the net most of the time. There's little control to my blocks and drops, and it makes my usually defensive style of play suffer.
Attack
For a head-heavy racket it was pretty tough to get some power from it. Despite having very good qualities for a hard smashing racket - wide sweet spot, head-heavy bias, high kick-point and stiff t-joint - I was disappointed by the quality of my offense.
One saving grace - the racket manages to deliver a rather sharp angle, perhaps owning to the high kick-point and flexibility. Wrist players may have better luck with this one.
Control
I like to think of myself as a control-type player. And so I've always left this attribute for the last when I write reviews. There are many things that go into the control elements of a racket, and I test them out mainly by hitting the shuttle around to see if I can get ease of movement while maximizing the opponent's distance moved; the more he moves in relation to mine, the better the control of the racket.
The Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition fails rather miserably in this aspect. I find myself chasing shuttles if any, and my replies have to be rather instinctive, hurling the racket head with all the power my wrist can generate from a late return into the most expected area of the court.
Not a good thing if you want to control the game.
Looks
Red and black and white organized in a stately fashion creates the authoritative profile sorely lacking in the playability of the Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition.
The Gosen brand has been elusive to me for the longest time, what with my not wanting to spend top dollars for their high-end rackets like the Tenbu or Shinden. So when the Aermet came along, it was a kind of blessing to be able to give the brand a try without busting the bank.
It came nice and red (I have the most red-orientated rackets), and with the standard Gosen technology like the two kick-point system and the broad t-joint stabilizer.
So how does the Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition rate?
This review's my opinion of the racket from using it in my games, my style. There are a lot of ways to play badminton, so take this with a pinch of salt. I'm here to tell you, in as much accuracy as I can, how my games went with the racket. Comments welcome!
Ok here goes.
Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition
Est Dry Weight: 87g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Head Heavy
Max String Tension: 28lbs
Flex: Mid-Stiff
Strings: Yonex Nanogy 98 @ 25lbs
Defense
This racket performs poorly at defense compared to the other head-heavy rackets that I have. Somehow, the speed of the swings take a back seat and despite having a wider head frame to hit with.
I've had a positive experience with the Bekia Twister X8, another head heavy racket with an oversize head frame, but it seems that it's a unique case.
With the Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition, my defense took a back seat and I'm left blocking the hard hits into the net most of the time. There's little control to my blocks and drops, and it makes my usually defensive style of play suffer.
Attack
For a head-heavy racket it was pretty tough to get some power from it. Despite having very good qualities for a hard smashing racket - wide sweet spot, head-heavy bias, high kick-point and stiff t-joint - I was disappointed by the quality of my offense.
One saving grace - the racket manages to deliver a rather sharp angle, perhaps owning to the high kick-point and flexibility. Wrist players may have better luck with this one.
Control
I like to think of myself as a control-type player. And so I've always left this attribute for the last when I write reviews. There are many things that go into the control elements of a racket, and I test them out mainly by hitting the shuttle around to see if I can get ease of movement while maximizing the opponent's distance moved; the more he moves in relation to mine, the better the control of the racket.
The Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition fails rather miserably in this aspect. I find myself chasing shuttles if any, and my replies have to be rather instinctive, hurling the racket head with all the power my wrist can generate from a late return into the most expected area of the court.
Not a good thing if you want to control the game.
Looks
Red and black and white organized in a stately fashion creates the authoritative profile sorely lacking in the playability of the Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition.
Gosen Aermet 2100 Limited Edition
Defense: 3
Attack: 5
Control: 4
Looks: 7
Badminton Racket Review: Li-Ning Woods N90-II
Before I got one, I've not had a good impression for Li-Ning rackets. They're really over-priced, and their design sense could really use a little improving. All of the rackets that I've seen hanging off the racks at the sports store are usually dusty and not really in a rush to go anywhere.
But that was until I got one of these babies. The Li-Ning Woods N90-II proved to be a really good racket both offensively and on the defense. While weighing a tonne, the racket somehow allows a very delicate and overwhelming sense of control and speed.
I might even say that it's right up there in terms of usability with the Yonex Voltric 80 (which in my opinion is the best racket that Yonex has ever made).
First off, the N90-II looks like a very fiery dream. It screams CHINA, and might even impart some of the skill of their best players to you (patent pending). Ha.
It's taken me awhile since getting my hand on a Li-Ning Woods N90-II to write this review, mainly because I don't really want to use it too much in case I damage the very awesome paintwork.
But enough of my vanity and onto the review proper.
This review's my opinion of the racket from using it in my games, my style. There are a lot of ways to play badminton, so take this with a pinch of salt. I'm here to tell you, in as much accuracy as I can, how my games went with the racket. Comments welcome!
Ok here goes.
Li-Ning Woods N90-II
Est Dry Weight: 90g (3U)
Grip Size: S2 (eq. Yonex G5)
Balance: Head Heavy
Max String Tension: 28lbs
Flex: Stiff
Strings: Yonex Nanogy 98 @ 24lbs
I use this racket for singles play.
Defense
At first handle, I shudder to think what my defense with this racket would be like. I remember when I first used the Yonex Armortec 900 Power and how the weight of that racket totally destroyed my reaction speed.
The N90-II comes heavier and bulkier than the AT900P, but when it came to swing the racket in the face of a drive or smash, the Li-Ning racket comes off very well. It's able to deflect most of the attacks that come at me with as much finesse as it has power.
The good thing about the weight is the way it helps you deliver a good block or defensive drive to the back of the court without the use of much energy.
On the softer blocks, the weight of the racket head also helps when you want to pull off all those tricky dropping net shots that hug close to the net. A light touch is what it usually needs to tip the shuttle over.
I don't know how Li-Ning does it, or if it's because I got lucky with the weight distribution of this one, but the N90-II is insanely easy to use on the defense, far outclassing any of the other head heavy rackets that I've come across.
Attack
The first smash I threw with the N90-II got a compliment from my playing buddy. I remember how nice it felt coming off the string bed, and how good it sounded. I'm not a power player, so my shuttles don't carry a lot of speed, but the Li-Ning Woods N90-II delivers a rather satisfying speed with the shuttle.
The well-made racket also boasts a nice driving speed, with the shuttle moving a fast speed away with the lightest of touches. Wrist players will especially enjoy this as you get a high yield with very little effort.
Swings on the racket come off really fast as well, and the added weight in the head gave me a very good angle with the natural follow-through that came with the downward swings.
However, I did feel a gradual loss in speed when it came down to the flat exchanges. The wrist won't be able to support the weight of the racket or as long as your other rackets that for sure. The slightly whip-like nature of the shaft helps in this situation, allowing better energy transfer when you need it.
Control
Have you seen Lin Dan throw off shot after shot of impossible angles and velocity? Well, using the Li-Ning Woods N90-II made me feel like I could pull off some of those shots if I wanted to.
The slightly larger head frame of the racket delivers the promise of a wide assortment of shots into your arsenal. Larger string bed, larger surface area to play shots around with.
Need a tighter spin on your net drops? Take aim a little off the center for a harder feel. Want the repulsion to push the shuttle off the the back line? Take the shuttle with the enlarged sweet spot to get maximum distance without using too much arm strength.
Once again, I'll have to credit the heavy head of the racket for the wonder drop shots that it's managed to pull off for me. The shuttles spin off the string bed and seldom fails to find it's way sharply towards the other side.
I judge how good the control is for a racket by how much I'm able to direct the play of a game. The more I can walk around the court, the more control I feel I am getting, the more comfort I'm feeling, the better my shot quality.
The Li-Ning Woods N90-II really made my games a breeze.
Looks
I call this the dragon. It's primarily red, with white yellow and gold streaks running down the head frame and onto the shaft, where gold writing completes the majesty of the Li-Ning Woods N90-II.
Like an emperor sitting on his throne, my N90-II sits domineeringly on my shelf, a power resting within waiting to be unleashed.
Li-Ning Woods N90-II
Defense: 9
Attack: 8
Control: 10
Looks: 10
Window, closed
It is a strange situation we have here - the cold concrete blocks that rise up, stretching toward the skies like flags; humanity staking claim to the world around us, building higher and higher, tearing the boundaries set by birds and the clouds.
Yet I am reminded of the wonders of nature every morning as I walk to work. There are leaves on the ground, fallen from the tree tops like discarded scabs from their wounded pride. They who grow upwards to the sun, fighting for survival by reaching the light - beaten by the shadows cast by our towering buildings.
There are the ants and the snails and the worms that fall from the tree, hanging themselves and casting themselves off to fate; mysterious nature at work, seemingly senseless but yet miraculously efficient. They swarm, they crawl, they squirm to survive.
Yet we pass them by.
And with their territories invaded by our lifeless constructs full of windows and smoke and noisy offspring, the birds have taken to drastic measures to integrate with our inconsiderateness.
One pair of tiny avians have roosted outside my window, in a small corner, with a small nest, for three small eggs.
And they have hatched.
For days I watched and observed the chicks. Sometimes the mother bird would be there, sitting on them and flying off when someone approaches. Other times the little birds would stretch their necks to the skies, awaiting their providers' return. But at night it would always be the same - mother bird would be in the nest, snuggled tightly against her babies, sheltering them from the cold.
But one day, she wasn't there. And another day. And another day.
Today the chicks lie motionless, victims of the harsh reality we have so taken for granted. In our own struggle for supremacy, we forget that in each breath we take as the alpha life form, there ends the many other beings we share this world with.
This is for all the mother birds who failed to make it home; for all the worms who failed to grow wings; for all the snails who didn't cross the concrete pathway fast enough.
I see you, outside my window.
Badminton Racket First Impressions: Mizuno Tetracross 700
I'm a big Mizuno fan. I've got a tonne of their shirts, and I've converted to using their shoes because they're so light weight and fast.
After two games, the Mizuno Tetracross 700 had to be switched out to the more comfortable Carlton Fireblade FX8.
Now I've got my hand on a Tetracross 700, in all its green, green glory, and went out to the courts to test it out.
Before that I've done some juggling in the room with the racket. It felt fast and very even-balanced. I got the sensation with the Yonex ArcSaber 10PG, and that's always a good sign since I'm very comfortable with the AS10.
But experience in the court proved to be very different. The TC700 lacked the power that came with the AS10, and it puzzled me why I wasn't able to send the shuttles to the back of the court.
After two games, the Mizuno Tetracross 700 had to be switched out to the more comfortable Carlton Fireblade FX8.
It's fast and all - a good defensive racket - but the lack of ability to send the shuttle as far as I wanted to really kills it.
More to come.
Badminton Racket Wishlist: Li-Ning Flame N36
It's been awhile since I posted a wishlist item, so here it is!
I'm intrigued by the holes in the head frame. Wonder if it works the same way as the ZAR of RSL.
Hard to find at a good price though.
I'm intrigued by the holes in the head frame. Wonder if it works the same way as the ZAR of RSL.
Hard to find at a good price though.
Poll Results: How do you like the Yonex Voltric Z-Force?
Thanks to all who gave their time to vote on their reactions to the Yonex Voltric Z-Force. It's always nice to hear the voice of the badminton community.
From the results we can tell that most of the players out there have found Yonex's new powerhouse a wondrous weapon for the courts.
76% of the voters have given it a 5/5 rating, and that has persuaded me to give the racket another try to see if it's worth the ravings I've been getting. I personally voted it 3/5, reason being it's strengths do not play to my preferred style.
Well, second time's a charm!
Thanks again to the voters! Keep reading!
From the results we can tell that most of the players out there have found Yonex's new powerhouse a wondrous weapon for the courts.
76% of the voters have given it a 5/5 rating, and that has persuaded me to give the racket another try to see if it's worth the ravings I've been getting. I personally voted it 3/5, reason being it's strengths do not play to my preferred style.
Well, second time's a charm!
Thanks again to the voters! Keep reading!
Badminton Racket First Impressions: Yonex Nanoray 700RP
So after having a look at the NR700FX and seeing how freakin' ugly it is, I decided to still give Yonex's headlight series a go and purchase the Nanoray 700 RP instead.
The Repulsion version of the Nanoray series comes with a stiffer shaft and special material called Fullerene applied to the 5-7 o'clock part of the head frame. That supposedly gives you a faster hit.
The thickness of the head frame has also seemed to be increased, and it's easily 150% of the Voltrics.
All that promise doesn't come off blank though, as the Yonex Nanoray 700RP delivers very quick swing speeds in the games I've had. The clears were pretty decent, and the control was good. This gave me enough confidence to give it a try for my doubles games.
The quick swing speeds translated to very decent drives and pushes, but I felt a lack of power on the smashes, the head frame giving a hollow resonance when the shuttle leaves the string bed. It almost feels like there doesn't seem to be enough material up there.
Despite that, the racket performed well in my singles session today, and I'm looking forward to the next few games.
Full review soon.
The Repulsion version of the Nanoray series comes with a stiffer shaft and special material called Fullerene applied to the 5-7 o'clock part of the head frame. That supposedly gives you a faster hit.
The thickness of the head frame has also seemed to be increased, and it's easily 150% of the Voltrics.
All that promise doesn't come off blank though, as the Yonex Nanoray 700RP delivers very quick swing speeds in the games I've had. The clears were pretty decent, and the control was good. This gave me enough confidence to give it a try for my doubles games.
The quick swing speeds translated to very decent drives and pushes, but I felt a lack of power on the smashes, the head frame giving a hollow resonance when the shuttle leaves the string bed. It almost feels like there doesn't seem to be enough material up there.
Despite that, the racket performed well in my singles session today, and I'm looking forward to the next few games.
Full review soon.
