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9:08 pm
April 15, 2010
Offline
Just wondering what everyone's views were on the pros and cons of the differing balance of rackets.
I play with a Nanospeed 4500 which is head light, but last night managed to get a decent go on my mates Armortec 50, which is head heavy. I anticipated more power, especially in the smash, but my experiences weren't quite as I expected.
I found clears to require less effort, and my backhand clears definitely showed improvement as the weight in the head pushed through much more smoothly.
However I didn't get the same feeling with my smash. I found that due to the extra weight I couldn't generate the same kind of racket head speed that I can from my NS4500, so ultimately the smash speed was very similar, but required more effort from the Armortec. A simple snap of the wrist generating high racket speed was just as effective as the big booming Armortec smash.
Round the net my experience was even between the two, yes the Armortec was slower, but this was offset by a more positive feeling off the racket giving good direction and control. Only time would tell which I would prefer here.
The big disadvantage I found in the Armortec was reaction speed in the mid court and coming forward. The Nanospeed was so much faster in reacting and fending off the shuttle. I also found quick kills and drives much easier with the lighter head, as ultimate power is not necessary.
I only play doubles, so for me the speed of a head light racket is the biggest plus point. If I were to play singles I would persevere with a head heavy racket as the 'get out of jail' clearing power of the Armortec would be really useful.
The big surprise for me was that I didn't generate more power and speed as I thought I would. A lot of people talk of the power of head heavy rackets but this experience has made me question the opinions I previously held.
These are just my observations while playing doubles, would be interesting to hear people's opinions on what works for them.
11:00 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline
Rob
Interesting observations. I suppose my thoughts on this subject are pretty well out in the open bearing in mind I tend to cover them in my racquet reviews. However, they’ve changed over the years.
As you know I feel racquet choice is so personal. What works for one, doesn’t for another. It’s one of the fascinations in the game and that’s why I refuse to recommend racquets to players despite the 4-5 emails I get per day asking me which racquet is best.
For me I found head light racquets were fine at first but I soon lost the extra racquet head speed which then made my smash feeble in comparison.
I am in a great position as I can test different racquets (I tested 4 Victors last night) and seem to adapt to each racquet pretty well. This also gives me a far greater understanding of the feel of racquets and ability to compare to others.
The big issue for me is that I’m being asked to test more racquets and review them and I don’t want my blog to become a racquet review site. So, once I complete reviews on Voltric 5, 6 different Victor racquets, I think I’ll take a well earned break and get back to writing about improving in the game.
Paul
1:43 am
April 6, 2011
Offline Bear in mind that balance is just one of many factors which influence racket power – there are also weight, stiffness, aerodynamics, string type/tension, etc… The heavier weight and much stiffer shaft of the AT50 would mean it requires more strength to use, and your “simple snap of the wrist” technique is not really going to be compatible (it might be more suitable for someone who is very strong, but perhaps doesn't swing as fast).
I borrowed a friend's NS4500 just the other week actually, and to be honest, it didn't feel very head-light. It was definitely a lot more flexible than I'm used to as well. I found it gives decent power with very little effort, but then if you really start smashing, it just doesn't have much more to give – whereas as it's almost like you have an extra gear at your disposal with a heavier/stiffer racket.
9:59 am
February 15, 2011
Offline I've always gone for even balanced rackets but since buying the VT70 my game has really improved, it may because of the speed of the racket or it may be that I've just found the right racket for me.
Disappointingly, I'm really struggling to get on with the VT80, I love the feel and speed but there's something that's just not quite right for me.
I'm gonna give it a bit more time but something seems wrong when Yonex's flagship racket is gonna be used as a spare.
11:24 am
April 14, 2011
Offline I've never had much luck with head light rackets; most of mine are either balanced or slightly head heavy. I tend to gravitate back and forth between medium flex and stiff; some days fatigue just sets in and I switch to something that is more flexible. I just purchased a stiff racket, the APACS Tantrum 300, and after two sessions the results seem to be promising. It is my most head heavy racket at the moment, and it seems to strike that fine balance between power and control. I haven't found the “holy grail” yet but the closest is my Babolat X-Feel Power and a “lower end” Prince Pro 86. Paul's recent Voltric 80 review sounds interesting, though the price here in Indonesia is somewhat prohibitive (ca. 200 USD equivalent).
11:57 am
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 12, 2010
Offline I started playing badminton with a very light, even balanced racket. My favourite racket, was my second racket. It was an old and heavy, but head light carlton. But it broke. Recently I tried the arcsaber 8DX and it handled EXACTLY like my old carlton racket. The funny thing was, it was lighter (in terms of total weight), and is even balanced (maybe a touch towards head heavy). But it handled the same – gave me the same feeling when I played with it.
I tried some head heavy rackets, and I loved the overhead shots I could generate, but the lack of speed and reaction time (for my limited skills) was off putting. So, back to my 8DX 🙂
Then I tried the VT80 – it was head heavy, AND quick. It just feels like the more aggressive version of my 8DX. It hits harder, and more effortlessly, but perhaps a touch slower (where the 8DX is better for some shots – like those very deep backhand clears that put me under lots of pressure). Interestingly here – a lighter headed racket was better for “getting out of jail” – the opposite to what you found!
My conclusion? I like different rackets! But they must have a stiff shaft (in general) otherwise I tend to fall out with them very quickly!
I do not like head light or head heavy rackets in the classical sense, because there is too much missing from both. Head light gives me great racket head speed and reaction times, but head heavy gives me consistently more power. Both are important. I think a nice evenly balanced racket can't ever be far off what people want 🙂 they are quick, and strong, and offer plenty of everything. But a head heavy racket that is quick in defence? Thats perfect! Thankyou VT80 🙂
What can I conclude from this? Play with the racket that you like the feel of. I feel a head light racket is fine, if, as paul said, you can keep up the swing speed. I think its telling though, that no professional player that I can think of uses a head light yonex racket.
9:35 pm
January 24, 2011
Offline Personally, I think head light rackets are quite limited in use for the more advanced player. The only area where they're really superior to head heavy rackets is in defense and probably around the net. But because it's so difficult to compete in todays game with a strictly defensive game, you must have great technique in order to enjoy success, in which case you might as well use a head heavy racket because then you won't have any problems with the added drag anyway.
<3 Badminton!
9:49 pm
VIP Coaching Program Members
August 12, 2010
Offline I think thats very sensible reasoning Yves. If the game relies on having a powerful attack to win… then the racket that gives you the most consistently powerful attack is probably the right way to go. You can teach yourself to defend with any racket (some are easier than others) but teaching yourself to hit harder with any racket, is not necessarily so easy.
3:48 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline It’s a lot easier to improve your technique if you are already using a head heavy racquet. Simply use the head cover exercises and you’ll find a noticeable difference in your defence and attack. However, you need to do these exercises regularly to get the most benefit from them.
Paul
1:56 am
April 14, 2011
Offline I tell myself constantly that if I can improve my footwork going to the back court then that is half the battle won, regardless which racket I use. I start OK enough, but tend to mess it up in the heat of the battle after a couple of points, and this is also attributable in part to poor fitness and poor recovery. It is something I have to work on, if only to get more consistent backhand and forehand clears.
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