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
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(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.
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| 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
