Got the ARC 7 & Voltric 70 for testing and my supplier recommended me another one: Nanospeed 7000; which I will test as well. Any views on the NS 7000? (as Paul didn't do a review on that racket)

I did some extensive testing this evening on the three rackets. Although I concentrated on the Arc Saber 7 & Voltric 70, because I only did some warming up with the Nanospeed & it was not really fitting.

From the first moment I was stroking with the Arc Saber it was a wonderful feeling. Clears were easy to hit, just where I wanted them, dropshots from the back were razorsharp, excellent feeling. The same goes for the Voltric 70 really, nice feeling with clears & drops.

The main difference are the defence and the smashes. I found it pretty difficult to get some extra power into my smashes with the Arc Saber 7. It seemed they lacked power like they normally do with my former racket. My smashes with the Voltric seemed more succesfull. My training partner found it difficult to return them as they were faster. (something he rarely struggles at with my smashes) Probably a result from the head heavy balance in the Voltric.

Defence-wise the Arc Saber gets the nod though. The main point that was standing out for me is that I could switch quickly from backhand to forehand defence when returning smashes, something I struggle with regularly as my forehand returning is pretty weak. Defence with the VOltric 70 was not as good. Returns on smashes go back flatter to the opponent (could be an advantage though), but that was pretty ok. The main weakness was when I tried to retrieve shuttles on the front court to lift them to the back of the opponents court or trying a dropshot (you know: trying to 'pick up' the shuttle over the net when they nearly touch the ground) I was remarkably slower in my reaction. Normally I'm pretty good at retrieveing shuttles at the net, but with the Voltric it seemed I was a fraction too late everytime, I was in the right position though. Or was it self fulfilling prophecy as I was thinking that my reaction was slower with the Voltric after the first few points? Maybe….

It seems I'm getting confronted with a real dilemma. After playing a couple of matches, it is clear that the Arc Saber 7 is ideal for singles for me. My defence was as good as it has been and I could put more pressure on my opponent with precise clears & drops. It was harder with the Voltric 70, hence my defence was not as good.

But the Voltric 70 seems more suited for doubles. I can put more pressure on the opponent from the back as my smahes are more powerful. Most of the time I rely too much on my drops from the back. The problem with the slower reaction is not as big a problem at doubles as I have to do less forward lunges to retrieve the shuttle at the net hence you're covering a smaller part of the court in doubles so you're quicker on the shuttle compared to a singles match.

Furthermore extra disturbing: after (and during the game near the end as well) playing I felt some pain in my wrist.  Is that normal when you're testing some rackets (for a couple of hours) you're not used to? Dunno from which racket it is as well, as I switched rackets regularly.

A headache ahead!

Paul,

I just had a look at the grip sizes. The Arc Saber has a smaller grip than the Voltric, that's pretty clear. But I usually play with small grips as I think I've got more control than. (instead of increasing the grip with a double grip f.e.)

If I look on the U's & the G's on the rackets, the shaft of the Arc Saber told me “3U G5”, the shaft of the Voltric told me “4U G4”. So I think I'm correct in stating the Arc Saber has a smaller grip size?

So you think a double grip on that Arc Saber might be a solution for any possible wrist pain? (apart from your armchair exercises which I find very useful!)