Yonex Arcsaber Z-Slash Taufik Review

Written February 16^th, 2011

Stiff

3U G4 (87g requested)

BP: 291mm with supergrap

Strung w/ BG65 at 25lbs

SP code

First Impressions:

Stunning. I must admit, I’m not the biggest fan of super red rackets, kind of think it’s overdone now but this thing is beautiful. I can do without the white bits but everything is perfect in my opinion. When I held it in my hand, it felt quite evenly balanced, and light. A few swings through the air created little resistance, nice sharp sound as it cuts through. The stiffness of this thing is very similar to that of my old NS9000-S or maybe even a bit stiffer, but not as stiff as the AT900P or the NS9900.

Warm Ups:

Clears were easy although it’s been a while since I last used BG65s so it felt a bit different. There was minimal vibration with every hit and contrary to what many people have said, I didn’t have any mishit but this was only a warm-up. Drops were excellent and drives were simple although I felt I needed to push a little bit more to get it really going. Net shots were kind of everywhere? I found it really difficult to keep it down and in (with cross court net shots) but this could be due to the strings.

Game Time:

Game speed is much faster than warm up! And this racket performs well when the game is fast XD Net shots still remained a bit high and occasionally killable but everything else was easy. Crosscourt drops from the back were simple, and slices were executed with great ease, the lighter weight really helped here. Defensive lifts/ smash returns were surprisingly simple. I expected something really dull but it kind of exploded to the back line. Backhand serves were easy to control as were flick serves, although I did hit it long a few times. Now onto smashes. “Recovery smashes” or half smashes I like to do when scrambling to the back were quite fast and simple to perform. Backhand smashes took some time to get the timing of but the few times I did get it were amazing. Full smashes were simply amazing. So much power for so little effort on my part, this is where the ArcZ excels. Net shots did improve towards the end of the day but I still think it has something to do with me not being used to the strings, might change them very soon.

Conclusion:

The ArcZ was a great racket, nice and fast for doubles, but still powerful enough for singles. I’m really interested to see how this racket will perform with more time so it is now my No.1 XD Overall, I didn’t seem to have the same timing issues as most people seem to have but I might’ve just been lucky, being able to get one with such favourable characteristics for me =P This thing might not suit everyone so it’s best to try it out for yourself before forking out the dough as it is very expensive.

Ratings:

Power – 9.5/10

Control – 8.5 to 9/10

Feel – 9/10

Defence – 9/10

Value – 6/10 (it’s very expensive, just go for the yellow version)

Wallace

Victor Super Waves 35 Review

 

 

Hey everybody, so my order finally came and I could not be more excited to try these two rackets out.   Last Thursday I ordered two Super Waves 35s after heading nothing but good things so I could see for myself if this was truly the racket that will stop me from looking any further. After playing for a few hours, here’s what I thought.....

Victor Super Waves 35

3U G2 (G4.5 equivalent?)

Balance Point -  300mm original grip (blue overgrip à 297mm)

                                295mm original grip (yellow overgrip à 292mm)

Stiffness – Slightly less than NS9900

String – both with BG80 at 25lbs.

Both TW code.

First Impressions – 

This is a really good looking racket by Victor, amongst the best if not the best looking one I have ever used (I kind of REALLY like the NS9900). Paint appears to be of excellent quality, a mixture of red, white, black and chrome. The racket felt very good when I swung them around, you could definitely feel the weight in the head (more so for the blue grip), and the stiffness can be felt too.

Warm Ups – 

Yellow- Clears were easy and smashes were great. The stiffness of the shaft really does help but this one was only slightly head heavy so I was a bit disappointed, although drives were quick. One thing that really stood out for me was how stable and solid the racket felt. Although I would never do this, but it felt as though this racket could really take a beating without me having to worry about it breaking.

Blue- My comment about stability and solidity apply here as well for the blue grip. They felt pretty similar except this one definitely had that POWER I was craving for. Clears were once again effortless and drives were still pretty good but smashes were out of this world.

Game Time – 

Yellow- When I was researching this racket I was really worried that my defence would suffer a fair bit but luckily the balance point definitely helped out here. Smash returns were quite effortless although much slower than when I use my RKEP racket. Smashes once again were quite good but it kind of irked me that they weren’t as hard as I was used to but this could be due to not playing for a week or so, definitely felt a bit rusty. Net shots were superb as I was able to “feel” the shots very well. The only thing that I had trouble with regards to the Yellow one was dropping the bird from the back, a shot that I’m usually quite proud of. Backhand drops though were no problem at all and were a lot more effortless than with my other rackets.

Blue- POWER. POWER. POWER. Although the balance point on this racket was not as high as in some other rackets I have used before, this thing was truly a cannon. Clears were effortless of course and smashes were simply out of this world, for me at least. Backhand clears were easy as well, same as with backhand drops and net shots. Once again, the problem I had was with forehand drop shots, they were quite inconsistent leading to a lot of easy kills. Defence was a bit slower but those armchair exercises by Paul Stewart were of great help. Thanks Paul! In anticipation of the arrival of this racket, I was doing a lot of those with a squash racket to work up some more strength. 

Conclusion – 

Both rackets played really well but the one thing I can say is that like what people have said, the balance points can really vary quite a bit. If you want a power racket, ask for a more head heavy one. This racket is definitely quite difficult to use. For the first game, I was constantly missing or not getting enough on my shots but after a little while, all shots were awesome. Control was generally great and once again, power was out of this world. Although it will take a few more sessions to fully be accustomed to this racket, I can truly without a doubt say this. I have found my racket. 

For ratings, I’ll be giving two scores for each category. The first one will be for the Yellow grip and the second one will be for the Blue grip. 

Power -                9/10       10/10

Control -              9/10       9/10

Defence -            9/10       8.5/10

Value -                  10/10     10/10

Feel -                     10/10     10/10

This is definitely not a beginner-friendly racket. It will take some time to get used to it and there is a chance that you might hurt your arm if you use one of a higher balance point... especially if you elect for high tensions as well. 

This review was done as a hobby and reflects my own feelings towards the rackets. You may not feel the same so it is important to try them out as much as possible before you open up your wallet (although this racket didn’t require me to open my wallet too wide XD).

Wallace

Victor Super Waves 36 Review

3U G2

Stiff

BP – 285mm Dry

NBG98 at 25lbs.

TW code

First Impressions:

This thing looks great, there’s no way around it. The SW35 looked great also, but it was more of a “rebellious teen” good looking whereas this thing is classy. Predominantly red with the head being half white, mixed in with some black and chrome accents throughout the racket. In a small way, sort of reminds me of the Arcsaber 10 by Yonex, although I find that one too red.

Even before I measured the balance point, I could already feel that the racket was very evenly balanced and stiff. Of course it was nowhere near as stiff as the SW35 but it felt... right. Didn’t feel like something that would take too long to get used to but we’ll see.

Warm Ups:

The SW36 does not fail to perform on any occasion. All shots were easy and most of all, stress-free. Clears were simple and drops were dainty, the only area I found difficult during the warm up were net shots. Smashes went where I wanted it to go and anything backhand was amazing, especially backhand smashes.

Game Time:

Played a few sets with the SW36, 4 doubles matches and 2 singles. For doubles, this racket was not the quickest thing out there (especially when compared to my NS9000-S), but it did decently and I’m confident will suit many people. For the first time ever (at least for me), shots made during the warm up carried over extremely well during game time. Shots went where I wanted it to and net shots improved immensely after a few minutes. As for power, it isn’t really fair to compare it to the SW35, but it’s no slouch either. Rather comparable to the Arcsaber 8DX but better (and cheaper). The one area where this racket really shines is on defence. Smash returns and drives were effortless. It won’t beat something head light in its quickness but for the power and stability you get, it doesn’t disappoint. Another area I found quite amazing was the ease and speed of backhand smashes. I’m not the greatest when it comes to these but using this racket really brought out the best in me. Net kills were straightforward so can’t really comment too much on that.

For singles, the SW36 was amazing. I didn’t feel any fatigue despite having played doubles before diving into singles. Drop shots both forehand and backhand proved quite amazing, complimenting the simplicity of clears. Given the specs of this racket, I would say it’s pretty well rounded and would suit either game.

Ratings:

Power – 9/10

Control – 9/10

Defence – 9/10

Value – 10/10

This is definitely a great racket for most people, especially if you are on a budget. I can see this replacing some other rackets I currently use someday, perhaps when I break a string or two. This is by no means saying that the SW36 isn’t better than the other things I’m using, I just don’t want to switch everything up for now XD

This review was based on my own opinions and level of play. Other players may experience something better or worse so it is always best to try things out before committing.

Happy holidays!

Wallace

Victor Hornet Series Review – Bumblebee 01 and Bumblebee 02

Bumblebee 01 – Power

Extra Stiff

4U G5

Head Heavy – approx. 298mm

Zymax 70 at 25lbs

First Impressions:

The racket looks great. That is what I have to say upon picking it up. I know many people will not be too thrilled by the colour scheme but I really like it. The paint quality is quite top-notch although there was an area where it wasn’t as smooth. Certain positions around the frame have nice hologram-like honey comb accents. The racket felt sturdy and of a nice weight. 

Warm Ups:

POWER. The BB01 has lots of power. Most of my clears were sailing out pretty effortlessly so I had to really sky some of them. It definitely didn’t feel like a defensive racket as it did feel kind of slow despite being a 4U but this was all during warm-ups so we’ll see. 

Game Time: 

Again, POWER. Smashes were amazing with this racket although I must say, the sweet spot is extremely small. When you time yourself right, your shots will be amazing. When you don’t, your shots will be begging to be killed. Drives were decent but like I said before, rather slow. Defence kind of suffers a bit with this racket even though it’s the 4U version. Maybe it was just me but I felt a lag when I used this racket.

Clears again were effortless but drop shots from the back took more effort to execute. The sweet spot on the BB01 is really quite small so it will take some time to adjust for most people. In terms of comparisons to other rackets, the BB01 felt most like the 4U AT900 Power by Yonex, although I must say the AT900P was much easier to use. 

Net shots and net kills were pretty good. The racket feels very solid when hitting the bird so I found net play to be quite nice. Although brushes and kills were rather powerful, it did tire my wrist a bit after a while. This racket was definitely interesting to play with although my arm got kind of sore after playing with it for a few hours. 

Conclusion:

The BB01 is an interesting racket to try if you’re an all-out attacking player. Defence should not be on your mind when you use this racket, especially if you plan to use the 3U version. 

Ratings:

Power – 9.5/10

Defence – 7.5/10

Feel – 9/10        

Control – 8/10

These ratings are rather subjective and could be a bit biased. I myself am more of a control and defensive-minded individual so if you’re an attacking player, this racket might suit you quite well and be easy to adapt to.

Bumblebee 02 – Control

Medium-stiff to Stiff

3U G5

Slightly Head Heavy – approx. 290mm

Zymax 67 at 25lbs

First Impressions:

The racket looks better than the “Tonka Toy Truck” or the BB01. Now don’t get me wrong, I actually like very eccentric colours so the BB01 is in my opinion, one of the better looking rackets for me XD. But when I picked the BB02 up, it just looked amazing. Props to Victor for doing a very fine job on the paint and design of the racket. Whereas the BB01 was the grunt or strong guy of the family, the BB02 is the princess being protected by the grunt.

Warm Ups:

This racket definitely felt more at home to me compared to the BB01. Maybe it was because of the balance or the stiffness, but it just felt right. Clears were once again effortless, and most of all, the sweet spot is much larger than the BB01. Drives were quick and easy although this racket did feel much heavier than the BB01 so I decided to play a game with my normal 3U racket first and then switched back to this one for the test.

Game Time:

The racket is as its name implies, very easy to control. All my shots were going exactly where I wanted them to although I still found this racket quite heavy and sluggish compared to my go-to rackets (NS9900 and RKEP AT800p). The racket felt really solid and unlike the princess it seemed to have been, this thing can really hold its own in terms of power, relatively speaking.

Clears were simple to execute and easily controllable, drives were flat and crisp, net shots were great but what I found most interesting was the fact that forehand and backhand drops with this racket were extremely simple to do. Maybe it was just because I’m more used to this type of racket or whatever but it was definitely quite pleasant. Serves were right to the “T” and flick serves were right to the corner.

In terms of defence, this racket is not bad, but it is in no way the best. Like I said before, it felt quite sluggish and that carried through even after using some heavier rackets. It will get the job done in most cases but I wouldn’t exactly count on it to close out the game in the bottom of the ninth during Game 7 of the World Series if you know what I mean.

Smashes were pretty decent for what it was advertised as. They were by no means the best things in the world but they’ll get the job done. In terms of comparing it to a racket I have tried before, I must say it felt like the Armortec 500 or the Li-Ning N50 II. But of course, that is all subjective.

Conclusions:

This racket felt nice but at the end of the day, it did not suit me and my playing style enough for me to keep it in my collection. Both these rackets are technically limited edition rackets so maybe they’re more to collect than to play? But either way, the BB02 will definitely suit some people. It is more of an all-around racket as opposed to the grunt who only knows how to kill.

Ratings:

Power – 8.5/10

Defence – 9/10

Feel – 9/10

Control – 9.5/10

Once again, these are rather subjective ratings and may differ completely from person to person depending on skill and playing style. I am by no means a pro at badminton but this is a fun hobby of mine.

Wallace

RKEP AT800P Review

Weight: 86g unstrung

Balance: 290mm

Stiffness: Medium-Stiff to Stiff

Strings: Ashaway Zymax 67 at 25lbs

First Impressions: 

When I first opened up the package and took out the racket, it felt a little bit strange. For 86g, it definitely felt heavier but it also felt extremely solid. The paint job looks decent although there were some parts that weren’t done too well. A mixture of black, gold, white and red, asymmetrical like that of the Yonex Arcsaber Z. The head is the now standard isometric shape which should be no surprise here. The head of the frame seems slightly wide and the grommets don’t seem to be the best quality. But this is all merely superficial or easily fixed. Now how does this thing play?

On the Court: 

The AT800P might not look like much, but it can really play quite well. Right from the get go, I was able to use it with no problem. Like how it felt when I first held it, it is definitely a solid racket. All hits were crisp and with very little vibration (although this might be a little skewed by the overgrip I put on). I did however feel a bit of drag on my shots but that could be due to the fact that my current go-to rackets were a Yonex Arcsaber 8DX and a Victor Bravesword 09.

Control-wise, the AT800P was great. I was able to place the shuttle pretty much anywhere I wanted to which surprised even me, given that I’ve never used it before. Backhands, both clears and drops were easy to execute. Power-wise, the AT800P does lack that extra oomph to push it over the top but it was by no means a slouch. Smashes were flying compared to my Arc 8DX but not close to my Bravesword 09 or even Kimoni SP-99.

Defense was not bad, but at the same time not overly great. But for me, defending does tend to take longer to pick up with a racket when compared to offense so I won’t be too worried. Being a semi-light, semi-stiff racket, it was excellent when it came to returning smashes and drives were great as well. There were definitely some improvements from the time I warmed up with the racket to the 5^th doubles game.

What was the biggest surprise to me was the ease of use. Usually after 3 or 4 consecutive games with my Arc 8DX, my arm would be a bit tired so this is where the semi-stiff shaft helps.

How it Compares (which rackets are most similar in each category):

Stiffness - Yonex Nanospeed 9000 Type S

Balance - Victor Bravesword 09

Speed - Yonex Arcsaber 8DX

Effort Needed to Use - SOTX Woven 8

Conclusion:

The RKEP AT800P is definitely a great racket for anybody who is just beginning badminton, all the way up to advanced players. Power players may want to look into something more stiff but otherwise, this racket performs great in all categories. In short, it is the Jack of all trades, but the master of none. It is a great racket to use if you’re slowly coming back to the game or a little tired. For the price this racket is retailing for, the quality and solidity simply can’t be beaten. Although it will take a lot more for RKEP to compete with the bigger racket manufacturers, I can see it safely occupying a lower niche in the future. The quality is definitely there, but how well will people accept a new brand? 

Ratings:

Power – 8/10

Control – 9/10

Defense - 8.5/10

Feel – 9.5/10

Value – 10/10