I’ve been asked by a number of people recently when I was going to review this racquet, so here it is…
The Yonex Arcsaber 9 has been hailed as a “ladies” racquet although apart from the colour scheme I have to question why at this point.
Straight out of the bag this racquet has been strung tight. I’m not sure what tension Yonex string their top of the range racquets, but the tension in this racquet was almost comparable with my Armortec 900 Power recently strung at 24lbs. I wouldn’t expect many good players to need a restring when first purchasing the racquet, although I appreciate how personal tensions can be. Look out for my article on stringing tensions very soon.
The overall feel of this racquet and playability for that matter is very similar to Arcsaber 7. The shaft is a medium flex so there is plenty of power for those of us not blessed with the hardest of smashes.
It’s also really quick around the net. It’s in this area that the racquet really shines. It’s nicely weighted and moves really well although it’s not the lightest of racquets. I wouldn’t say it’s as quick as the Nano series but there again, they are exceptionally fast!
So what’s so different about this racquet. The main feature for me was the shape of the racquet handle. Towards the ferrule (the plastic piece connecting the grip and shaft) the grip tapers so it’s really comfortable to shift your grip up the handle. This allows you to move the racquet really quick for those all important interceptions and net knock offs. It’s so comfortable, the danger here is liking it so much you forget to adjust your grip for power shots from the back of the court.
Another cosmetic twist here is the inset Yonex symbol on the ferrule. It’s a nice touch and is very different from every other racquet in the extensive range. It’s a nice “dainty” touch, some would say “very girlie.”
Cosmetics on this racquet are very striking with a combination of white grip, pink, black and silver graphics – very nice.
Is this really a racquet just for ladies? Certainly not! It’s a really good racquet as you would expect from a top of the range Yonex. It’s got bags of power for all players and delivers the same degree of accuracy and agility you would find in Arcsaber 10 or 7. It’s just a really nice racquet.
RRP on this racquet is £160.00 which is only £10 short of the top price racquets in the range. My rating would give it a 4.5 star as it’s marked down due to the expensive price tag. Only you’ll know whether it’s right for you so you’ll have to find a retailer who has a demo for you to try.
Overall, it’s a really great racquet, fantastic grip (I hope Yonex consider this shape for other racquets) and bottom line…I think Barbie will love it!
Oh shui lee, the reason Lee Jae Bok uses yehlex is also because he’s sponsored by yehlex.
Hi Paul
I’ve been looking into getting a new racket and have been recommended the archsaber 9. However my concern was the weight. The new 9fl is going to be 80g but RRP is £160. You can buy it for around £130 but you can also get the standard arcsaber 9 for under £80.
Do you think it is worth paying the extra for this racket? I’ve also been looking at Li Ning and even the Yehlex have a very light option. Lee Jae Bok who comes to coach at my club uses this brand but I know it’s not as popular at the bigger brands. Do you have any thoughts on this or do you stick to Yonex?
I’m only intermediate standard so I’m not sure I will notice the difference but I’ve been told for my style I will suit a headight flexible racket with high tension strings. I’ve tried the Nano before and I don’t think it suited me.
thanks
The arcsaber FL has only just arrived in UK. As yet I haven’t had the chance to test it and therefore compare the old and new designs.
I’m sure you’d notice the difference in racquets when trying them but I suppose the big question at the moment is this – is there £40-50 worth of difference. The answer to that is probably “no” right now and the older version is looking very good value for money.
If you decide to try another brand, I would suggest you check out Victor Bravesword 169 – I have reviewed it and gave it a 5 star award. It’s a superb racquet.
Let me know what you choose.
Paul
You said Lee Jae Bok coached at your center! He came to Canada and coaches the club I am in right now.
Paul
i want to re string my racket. It Was 21, nw wanna make 23. I’m looking for string that will be more durable,best control,less vibrate,and metalic sound,if i spell ”TASH”…can u tell which yonex string will suit those?
Thank you paul..i’l try my frnds one…i also heard it is named arc 9FL…dunno
Hi paul
nw,i’ve ns850..i want to buy mid flex and more light racket.ns850 isn’t much light,so hoping to get bit lighter..many site said it is very light(85gm),bt u said it is not light as othr rackets. Wht did u mean by othr racket?i askd my frnd(who is in japan nd has arc9),she said it is lighter than any yonex rackets..she tries before buying nd her style same as me..i need ur word,u tried MANY racket so only u can tell me..okay,ths wil help me much.nw,in my area,all high end model are ordered(lyk,u say whc model u want,they’l bring,no tryout).bt,i jst tried out arc7 of my cousin,it is heavy than ns850.so,is arc9 lighter than arc7??
Plz,i’l wait for ur answer!!
Lamia
Arc 9 is not as light as some racquets I’ve tried such as Karakal. However, it is a very good racquet and favoured by many ladies.
I hear there is a new version on the way so you may find one or two deals out there for the older model.
Lamia, if you like the racquet and you have a similar style to your friend, then it may be the best racquet for you. Why not try your friends racquet and then decide how much you like it.
Paul