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 5th 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
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