Thanks guys – really enjoyed reading this thread.  I guess I am in a lucky position – I live near Southampton and we have a range of good Yonex stockists.  My favourite shop has a wide range of demo rackets to try.  The scheme works like this – you pay a £75 deposit and then you can try as many different rackets as you like (one at a time of course..).  Your deposit is safe for 3 months and is fully refundable against a new racket (yes you have to buy from the shop but it is worth it just to try before you buy).  You can have each racket for up to a week (longer if you ask nicely).

I have recently tested the VT70 (decided against the VT80 and I don't think I can do it justice yet).  VT70 was a very nice racket – slightly head heavy and and also stiffer than what I am used to.  Great around the net but I personally felt I had to work too hard to get any power into my smashes.

I then tried an Arcsaber 7.  Very different racket – even balance and a more flexible shaft.  I really liked this racket as it was very similar to the one I play with now.  I am trying a Nanoray 700FX tonight so I will let you know how I get on.

I cannot stress just how beneficial it is to find a stockist with a wide range of demo rackets (by the way my stockist also has Li-Ning, Wilson, Head and others to try – over 90 in all!!).  And I have to say that Paul is spot on with his advice as always.  The racket is the last part of the equation – if you are not in the right place at the right time and using the right technique then even a £300 Acme Swingmaster 9000XX with nano techno babble will not help much!!

For the record, my usual racket is a Carlton Air Stream – £32 from Direct Sports!  Head light, flexible shaft and made from HM Carbon.  Had it re-strung in ZyMax70 at 23lbs.  Cost almost as much as the racket!!  But it transformed it into a really effective racket for me.  So try everything you can get your hands on.

Good luck.

John

Hi Paul,

Thanks.  I wasn't going to mention the shop without your approval – even though I am not connected to it in any way!  Just to be clear – you pay £75 deposit against buying a racket from him.  You have 3 months to make a choice after your last demo racket – otherwise your deposit is lost (so it could be a year but I would think that unlikely). 

Any how, (roll of drums) he is:

The Racquet centre
96 High Road
Swaythling
Southampton
Hampshire
SO16 2HZ

Shane is the owner.  And here is a link to his website: http://www.theracquetcentre.co.uk (you will have to cut and paste – couldn't get the link thingey to work!

John