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10:57 am
January 29, 2012
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Hi Paul,
I have recently stumbled across your site and love to read your article and review.
About me:
Male, 163cm, many years playtime exp, had some serious training for sometime. Play 65% double – 35% single. No problem with clear, deceptions, overhead shot and mutiple jump smashes. A bit weak on dropshot and quite weak on backhand (thus overhead shot). I also have quite fast footwork (or so told by coach).
Though I have many years experience I have minuscale hardware knowledge since I always advised to prioritise technique over expensive racket or shoes with exception of strings. In short word, I was long believer that all those expensive racket are marketing gimmick and replaceable by superior technique over opponent. I tend to use middle end economical racket with careful selection of strings and tension e.g.: cab20 and MP-21 with BG80/BG66 at 28lbs. Weirdly, I love MP-21 over Cab20.
Now, since both my rackets have serious crack. I am looking to replace it and hoping for your advice. I would like something like MP-21 characteristic but better. Hope you can offer some advice.
Cheers,
9:25 pm
March 2, 2010
Offline Your user name says it all 
. You'll probably have more on what Paul will reply, but here's what I did (that can just maybe count as a simple tip): I had the same opinion, but then came to a point that a proper racket + string + tension that fits your style of play might make a difference, at least for some 20-30% of your game. I fell in love with an AT900T. But then one fine day my son played with it, and came home with 2 rackets 
. I google'd the Yonex graph where the AT900T was on, and took the last published Yonex graph. Compared both graphs, and went for the VT7. Asked for the same the BG65Ti @10 Kg strings as on my beloved AT, perfect match ! Nice side effect, the VT7 is half the price of an AT900T. Let us know your final choice.
All the best, ED
10:09 pm
March 2, 2011
Offline This might not be the answer you're looking for but you should simply try some rackets and choose the one you feel most comfortable with. When I started playing badminton again, I wasn't happy with my racket so I went for a new one. At a tournament was a yonex vendor and I could try out any racket I wanted. And I simply loved the Voltric 70 so I bought it.
I would advice you to do the same. Try some rackets, you could borrow a racket from a friend for example, and play with it for a little while. If you feel very comfortable with a particular racket, go for it!
6:49 am
January 29, 2012
Offline Thanks for the advice, Ed and Kerghan.
Yes, i was thinking about finding out MP21 characteristics from chart then upgrade based on it but being low end and old model it seems hard to find it. Can somebody revert me to the most complete Yonex racket chart containing old and new model? At absolute worst case and playing safe, i can buy good condition 2nd hand MP21.
I dont mind buying expensive racket but it has to be worth it. So far i tried NS9900 and its decent. I can try more racket but its very hard to justify given different string gauge and tension. I have tried ArmoTec 500 and MP100 many years time ago and dislike it.
I am considering AT900PLC, NS9900, ArcSaber 7, MP99 currently or anything else that sounds feasible. Racket is to be strung with BG80@26-28LBS. Voltric, Nanoray is completely uncharted to me.
Gosh, i miss carbonnex, isometric age where options are less confusing as now. Please help.
11:17 am
May 25, 2010
Offline You won't find your old racket along with the new rackets on the same chart, you will need to search for two charts. Getting hold of a new chart shouldn't be a problem, however, getting one for your old racket may prove challenging. Trying Google and use the images option.
I can understand what you mean about not getting the right feel as the strings won't be what you want and the tension you want, but theses things are always a risk what ever you do so some times it might be worth taking a plunge on something. Some times you can spend ages on choosing and still not be happy with the outcome!
Just my two pence! 
Badminton Gives Me A Purpose In Life – To Serve Others
I'd Rather Be Playing Badminton…………..
11:56 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline
Interesting answers here.
Personally I don't like the racquet charts. I don't feel they provide sufficient data to make any kind of decision.
MP21 was an even balance racquet with a long shaft according to my searches. I'll take it that MP21 had either medium flex or flexible shaft as it was more towards the budget end of the range compared to MP99 at the top. Peter, you know MP99 don't you?
Cab 20 was an even balance racquet, stiffer than MP21 and one of the first, if not THE first truly one piece racquet that Yonex launched around 1983/84. I know it was this time because it's contender was the Carlton one piece racquet which Morten Frost played with when he defeated Liem Swie king at All Englands in 1984. So, I know I'm pretty close on timing.
Personally, I didn't like Cab 20 and preferred Cab21 which had a slimmer shaft and was certainly favoured by Park Joo Bong as a fast, powerful doubles racquet.
Racquetasking, if you are looking for todays equivalent, then I believe a similar, but not identical racquet would be found in Arcsaber series. Therefore the only options in this range would be Arcsaber 7, 3FL, 003 or 002.
That said, your tastes may have changed and therefore, as I always say, test as many racquets as you can to see if there is something that suits you better. It may be the new Nanoray racquets or Voltric will bring something to your game but I don't know and nobody else does either.
When you've found the right racquet, then you have the task of finding the optimum tension and string to suit.
Funny, I'm just about to write an article on choosing a new racquet so I should have it posted very soon.
Paul
5:41 am
January 29, 2012
Offline Thank you for the reply folks,
Yes, back in old young days I used carbonnex 9 and wilson hammer series that i loved so much I bought 3 for spares lol. We were always emphasized to blame player technique/speed over equipment if lose and taught player lose because insufficient train this implanted player thought of being sceptic toward high end equipment. As long as its low mid end upwards, its usually enough. Mind you, I was trained hard as a kid in Indonesia for 20 hours a week thus explain purchasing power. The thought grows bolder when I was admitted to Univ badminton main team in UK and able to beat my teammate despite competing with a 25-35 quid racket agains their top end 100+quid racket. I dont even have proper bag initially.
Back to the topic, I guess my options bracket by priority will be AS7, VT7, AS03/02, CAB21, AT900P/LC, NS9900, MP21?
I absolutely agree I should be trying as much as possible before buying a racket but however due to certain situation I cant indulge myself to such condition. Moveover, with so many series in the market my goal is at least to be able to narrow down models similar to MP21 I can focus my test on and not to try Yonex entire line.
Cheers,
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