Yonex Warehouse Sales

When my colleagues told me about the sale, the first thing that came to my mind was, "Those guys will never put up the high-end rackets out for sale! 80% from $499 is more like it..."

But lo and behold...

ArcSaber 8DX going for $100, ArcSaber 9FLs going for $80, Armortec 900P LC going for $120...

Madness. Yonex is trying to put distributors out of business. I expect a whole lot of rackets being put up for sale on the forums soon.

Some dealers were also seen there. You'd want to be wary of "discount" prices for the above rackets since you know where they got their stock. All rackets from the sale didn't come with the Sunrise sticker, and do not enjoy the warranty period of 3 months.

But that aside, you might want to head down there for a squeeze to try and get a good deal.

The First

Looking through my rackets (because that's the only thing I can do now), I find myself stopping to appreciate the first racket that started the collection craze.

The Carlton Fireblade FX8 is an engineering marvel, and it's still one of the rackets that make me feel so at ease.

So here's my paying homage to it.

For all you badminton nuts out there, please do the same and give a moment to your first rackets. Come share.

Watching the world move

I can feel my skills slowly fade away as I nurse the injury to my thigh...

On the bright side, I've been able to catch up on some of the matches that I've not had the time to watch. I'm really looking forward to the rising stars of badminton, especially in the Women's Singles discipline.

Photo: Yonex.com

There's the super talented Ratchanok Intanon, who's already three-time (and I'm guess a fourth) World Junior Champion. She's got a nice relaxed playing style, throwing a lot of deception into her strokes especially the feign lift to net drop that she tends to do a lot of.

Check out her grip on the racket, it's amazing. But when it comes to crunch time, her shots tend to go a little wayward and the grip will tighten. With more experience she'll be used to her opponents requiring a lot more shots to take down.

Young Intanon seems to have found a nemesis with World Number One Wang Yihan. The couple have met with Intanon's defeat several times already. But I have high hopes for this young champion. She will best the Chinese yet.

I recently had the chance to watch the 2012 Li-Ning China Masters, and there was this very raw Indian lady by the name of Pusarla Venkata Sindhu. She beat current Olympic Champion Li Xuerui in the quarterfinals.

Photo: India Times

Sindhu and Intanon have very different playing styles. Sindhu's the hard worker who can be a very good retriever with time. The long lanky lass gave Li a good run for her money, returning winners and forcing the Olympic Champion to make several unforced errors.

Being tall, she's also able to get very good angles on the cross courts, and she's got a habit of performing the drop shots from her left using the overhead. I guess it's an acceptable shot since she's able to scamper with no worries to the far side if her opponent should ever return it.

This young lady's also got an incredible smash, if she's ever given a chance to use it. She's still distant from Intanon's level, but it's promising to see these two give the Chinese a run for their money.

Man I miss being on the court...

Badminton Racket Wishlist: Victor Meteor X JJS

How can you look at this and not want it!?

Badminton Racket First Impressions: Pro-Kennex Nano X2 9000

From the first racket I bought when I picked up the sport, to the first I've ever had.

This brand brings back memories. I can't remember the model that I owned back in primary school, but it's great to see the brand up and rising.

The Nano X2 9000 isn't the first of the new series of Pro-Kennex rackets, but it's easily the nicest looking. Giving me a reason to finally use green strings, the racket is half matte and half gloss-finished, giving it a very unique texture as you run your hands along it.

It's got a great swing too, very fast and very sharp thanks to the light weight and the even balance. the resultant drive is very, very fast. I dare say one of the fastest that I've ever thrown (and this is comparing it to the Yonex Voltric Z-Force).

Smashes with the wrist also come off very well, and that makes securing the net a very fun affair. Some things add to this - the power wedge at the 2 and 10 o'clock position of the head frame, and the new spiral graphite shaft that adds to the stiffness.

Light weight plus extra stiff shaft plus slight weight orientation at the front equals a very fast smash for those who use very little swing.

But one thing that's missing is the weight. Standing at 4U, the racket seems to be very difficult to clear with. I usually play at 23lbs for doubles, but the aerodynamics of the Pro-Kennex Nano X2 9000 (and the overall green color scheme) made me switch to BG66 Ultimax @ 25lbs.

Perhaps it's the tightening of the strings, perhaps it's the construction of the racket, but the clears on this were very disappointing. It's even shorter than my head light rackets.

Maybe more practice will help. Review soon.

Training Racket: Yonex Carbonex 6000DF

Being injured means I can finally blog about my training racket, which I'm currently using to increase the strength of my swings.

This here is my very first racket - something that I bought when I wanted to pick up the sport about three years back. Since then I've improved somewhat in my technique and endurance, and it's partly in thanks to this training racket.

So here's my special post to my training buddy - the Yonex Carbonex 6000DF. Weighing in at about 120g, and accompanied with a racket head cover with holes (to make sure my swings are true and not deflected by the wind resistance, I owe quite a bit of my power to this here racket.

Join hands.

For Sale: Victor Bravesword 15

Up for grabs is a like-new condition Victor Bravesword 15.

No scratches, peels, or *gasp* chips

Now strung with Yonex BG80 Power @ 23lbs

Original grip removed

HK-Coded

Singapore only

S$150

Email with interest

Incentives to get better

Injury

I've come down with an injury to my right thigh that will probably keep me away from the game for about a month...

Expect less reviews and previews. I'll try to catch up on the strategy portion though - I've not completed the set which I've started a long time ago.

Here's hoping.

The Collection - Oct 2012

Some people collect stamps... pffft

Too much for captions.

Racket Wishlist

It's been awhile since any rackets interested me... Got a new one over the weekend, but here's something that a lot of people on the forums are talking about.

The Yonex ArcSaber 8DX.

Stiff, even balanced, quite an attractive design.

To go or not to go? Anyone care to share their experiences with this?

Sungazer

"... and through the years she stood alone, touched by the rising sun, each year gleaming more brilliantly than the last."

I rested my foot on the platform next to the monument. We took months to travel here, to where time froze and nothing has a name.

I've spent the last few days looking at the statue of the lonesome goddess as we made our way up to the pinnacle. The ancient people must have adored her; she stands  atop the highest point for miles, casting her sad smile into the ridges and canopy below.

On her right where my feet now rest lay a platform, half a foot in height alike the one she stood on. Several lifetimes of erosion left a mystery to whether anything once stood beside her.

Archeologists have a theory based one key evidence.

"A ring is a terrible thing to see on the fingers of such a beautiful creature."

There was a coating of copper on the ring carved onto her left hand. When the sun shone it gleamed gold and bright - a signal more than a symbol.

I put my other foot onto the platform, raising myself to take in the view. I look left, and noticed the goddess and her gaze.

"It's like she's searching, waiting."

Some things are meant to be hidden from the world, and as much as I wanted to excavate this wonder for my museum, I was stopped cold.

Not by the splendor of the sun against the stone, not by a sense of respect for the ancient people.

As we made our way back to camp and home, I caught myself looking back at her constantly.

Many features on the statue marked it magnificent, but none more than her eyes. They capture me, not allowing me to leave, ripping at my chest and making it hollow.

Till today I think of the lone statue in the lost city and her patient gaze over the land. I imagine myself among the people of the ages, asking around, seeking an answer.

So beautiful, yet alone. So yearning, yet patient. So sad, yet smiling - cast in stone, eternal she stands, in place by her own, where sun rules the land.

Badminton Racket First Impressions: Bekia Meteor X80 Replica

Here's another one of the quality rackets from budget makers Bekia, this time modeled after the infamous Victor Meteor X80.

There lies a power in this racket that I can't describe. When you pull off a good smash with the Bekia Meteor X80 Replica, you can feel so much power.

Too bad that power comes at a cost. There's also something funny about how this racket feels that lets me perform the most number of mis-hits that I've ever remembered myself doing.

The saving grace being, that in a few more strokes, you'll more or less get used to the length and speed.

Rather confusing and hard to comment on for now, so let me get a few games with this and I'll see if it's enough for me to handle this potential masterpiece.

Badminton Racket Review: Yonex Nanoray 700RP

Hands up those who prefer head heavy rackets. Hands up those who like to smash. Hands up those who think light rackets can't be used well for smashing.

I used to belong to the head heavy camp, where a good smash can come off so easily from one of the Voltrics or Armortecs. I've also admired the speed of the even balances, able to trade some of the power off for a little more agility and defense rating.

For the longest time I've not got any head light rackets. I've tried light weight, head heavy rackets, and they mostly don't work (with the exception of the Karakal SL-70). The has given me a sort of bad rep on the head lights.

Until my game evolved and I embraced the defense portion of badminton. I grew to like taking a stance, waiting for the big smash and then diverting it away where the opponent can't reach. It's a good trade-off. I use very little energy to counter and win over a big spend by the opponent.

That's when I sprung for the Yonex Nanoray 700RP. And that was a pretty good decision.

The Nanoray 700 series comes in two variations - RP (repulsion) and FX (flex). The two gives you a very nice choice between a stiff shaft for wrist movements and quick swings, and a slightly more flexible one for you long swingers out there.

Worth notice is the thick width of the head frame, a very different approach from the newer ranges that the badminton giant has to offer. This thick frame seems to be lending more power to the shots, allowing for better shot placement and power in both the rackets. At least for me anyway.

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

Ok here goes.

Yonex Nanoray 700RP
Est. Dry Weight: 86g (3U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Head Light
Flex: Stiff
Strings: Yonex BG80 Power @ 23lbs

I recommend this racket for doubles play.

Defense
Head light rackets are amazing when it comes to defending. You get mad speed on demand, twisting and turning the racket to suit the shot that you want to pull off. The Yonex Nanoray 700RP will tempt you to take the net, and with due reason too.

Reflex is king when you're playing up front, and the NR700RP will definitely cause some worry for the opponent. Bringing the racket up from your hip is super fast, and you'll get one hell of a time blocking off the shots at the net.

Going along the lines of the fast lifting speed, the Nanoray 700RP's quickness also translates to when you're receiving smashes. The racket gives you enough speed to tackle even the hardest smashes.

The biggest problems I've faced with head light rackets is the lack of weight in the front, and that means that your defense will not usually go as far as you want to without a little more effort. However, the Yonex Nanoray 700RP doesn't seem to suffer from that problem. The stiff shaft of the racket gives you the added power to push the shuttle higher off a defensive stroke.

Add this to the already fast movement speed and supreme agility, and you've got a tough defense to match any would-be berserker.

Attack
If you've ever used a head heavy racket like the Voltrics or N90s, you'll find the attack in this racket slightly lacking. It's got a similar feel to the N90 when you come for a smash - there's a solid thump that accompanies each smash as the shaft tightens around the shuttle and transmits the power from your stroke onto the attacking shuttle.

I've heard of people giving up their Nanospeeds because they're not able to get distance with the rackets. it takes a little practice, but once you get the hang of the weight transfer, the Nanoray 700RP will become quite the attacking force.

I'm at 23lbs and I can feel the shuttle explode off the string bed already. Users of higher tension will most certainly get a more satisfying experience with this.

However fast the overhead shots, I find myself liking to drive with the NR700RP. The stiff shaft allows for very quick energy transfer from the wrist without losing too much to the flex, and this comes off really handy when you want to whip the head around a shuttle coming to you at net height.

The drives (defense and offense) are very fast, and the good thing is you recover quickly because of the weight of the racket head, ready to intercept any potential counter drive or push that your opponent might have.

Being light around the head also gives you a very good mobility rating. I would say that you'll be able to contact the shuttle ahead of your usual, especially if you're going up for the net kill.

Control
Last but not least, the most important spec of a racket. To me, being powerful isn't really a good thing until you can aim it. The Yonex Nanoray 700RP gives you superb control, it's almost perfect.

I demand a really high percentage of the shots I hit. No mishits, no weaker shots, no shuttles going where I didn't intent them to; each shuttle has to leave the string bed and go exactly where I want them to. At least that's what I try for anyway.

The NR700RP cuts it pretty close, taking my shot making to new level with tight net shots, clinical drives and smashes along with very threatening counter defenses.

Fans of trick shots can also know that it's really easy to pull them off with this racket. It's speed and accuracy allows for a very tactical play.

Looks
Orange and brown and shiny alien white. This must be one of the more unorthodox color combinations that Yonex has come up with, successfully.

The Nanoray 700RP looks very streamline, very futuristic. It's like beams of light are flying off the racket. Matched it with orange strings and grip.

Yonex Nanoray 700RP

Defense: 10

Attack: 7

Control: 10

Looks: 9

Badminton Racket Launch: Yonex Nanoray 800

Here's badminton giant Yonex at its game once again with the Yonex Nanoray 800. It's more head heavy and stiff than the 700 series, according to the matrix chart.

This here's got 2 more technological advances from Yonex.

FX Plus: a hybrid material incorporated into the end of the shaft near the cone for greater flexibility to address the tougher clear shots we all get from head-light rackets. Looks like a dovetail build that allows for greater movement at the base.

Sonic Metal: new material at the top of the frame that increases repulsion and gives a better clear sound. Since I've yet to hear a Voltric 80 giving me the shivers, I'm going to call bluff on this one.

Check out more on the Yonex Website.

Badminton Racket Review: Carlton Airblade 35

This is another one of those that escaped my GAS when I was Carlton crazy. It was elusive until I had the chance to get a second-hand one at a good condition from a guy from BC.

This is also the racket that changed my mind about the string tension that I normally use. It came strung with NBG98 @ 25lbs, which I initially thought was too high for me. Upon more frequent use I found that the 1lbs increase from my usual is actually a good thing, and it stuck ever since.

As for how the racket performed, I had thought it felt like the wonderful Fireblade FX8, but the more I use it the more it's got its own feel.

This review's my opinion of the racket form using it in my games, my style, 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.

Carlton Airblade 35
Est. Dry Weight: 84g (4U)
Grip Size: G5
Balance: Even
Max String Tension: 28lbs
Flex: Medium
Strings: Yonex Nanogy 98 @ 25 lbs

I use this racket for singles play, but seriously recommend it for doubles.

Defense
This racket is fast. And with an even balance, it's got enough push to send the shots to where you want to get an advantage. Swinging the racket around gives you a nice and sharp swoosh, not a very common trait in rackets unless you're wielding a Bravesword.

However, the flex in the shaft doesn't help much when you want to give a good lift to the back of the court from a smash. Those who like to test their defenses and tired the opponent out with high lifts should take note of this.

To make up for the lack of lifting prowess, the Carlton Airblade 35's drive defense is impressive. I'm able to whip the racket around to push the shuttle nice and flat across the sides. It's one of my favorite form of defenses, and this racket allows me to pull it off with ease.

Attack
Here's where this falls a little short. The flex in the shaft adds well enough to the attack, but given the light weight of the frame, it's better off being stiff if you're after something with a little more threat. Smashes with the Carlton Airblade 35 come off the string bed with a loud punch, but somehow the shuttles don't travel fast enough for my liking.

Your best bet with this racket is probably the drive shots, since the lighter frame allows the execution of one fast wrist snap.

Control
This didn't feel as good as I thought it would. There's a missing feel that most other good rackets will have. The shots coming off the Airblade 35 are a little softer to feel, a little loose, and a little too unpredictable for my liking.

I wasn't able to place the shuttle as well as I wanted to, and this affected the quality of defensive and attacking shots in the game. I'd blame this on the softer flex of the shaft, which makes me wonder if 4U rackets should just all be stiff so that the control doesn't suffer much.

Looks
The elegant Carlton Airblade 35 comes in black with white accents throughout the head frame and shaft. The signature rubber grommets, the predecessor of the V12, are placed at the 3 and 9 o'clock positions, yellow and outstanding from the black and white of the overall design.

Very sleek.

Carlton Airblade 35

Defense: 8

Attack: 7

Control: 7

Looks: 8