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2:23 pm
February 14, 2013
Offline
Hello everybody 🙂
This is my first post, please excuse the randomness of my forum name, I am Ben – I just use this alias on forums as it's unique and I can always get the same one – makes it easier to remember logins etc!
I am 28, soon to be 29. I used to play a lot – 4-5 times a week in fact, when I was 12-16. I then took up sailing, and mostly stopped Badminton. I have been back a couple of times, and then I have outgrown the club I would play at, or most recently 3.5 years ago I moved to Devon from Hampshire, and had no idea where to play.
I am just now after making some friends in the area who play starting to play again. We have been booking 2 courts once a week, and now I am looking to start at a local club once a week in addition to playing with friends.
This brings me to my current dilemma. My racquets are old, and in need of strings. I have sold one of them to one of my friends, with a view to putting some more money towards it and buying something a bit special, because I have always wanted to, and because I can now, more than when I was younger and had to make do more.
The problem is how does somebody go about testing a racket when you're not a junior getting regular coaching? I would like a high-end Yonex racket, as I have played with a Winex and got along well with it lately, the Prince Warrior TT XL I did used to get on with I no longer do – I cannot generate any power with it – this one I have agreed to sell to a friend.
So, can anybody help me by pointing me in the direction of how to try out a high-end racquet? It's quite an out-lay to buy in the hope I'll like it. I am not keen on buying online, or second hand, simply due to the crazy amount of fakes around – so what are my options?
Finally thank you for putting this site together Paul, it's very informative with lots of good reading!
Thank you for any advice anybody can give!
Ben
3:38 pm
April 6, 2011
Offline Realistically, online retailers are your only option here (esp. living in Devon).
You're definitely right to avoid Ebay, as 99% of Yonex rackets on there are fakes.
However, there are one or two very reputable online retailers who do offer a demo service. For example, Direct Sports ( http://www.directsportseshop.co.uk ) are certainly legit, and they're usually the cheapest place to buy rackets anyway. There's also Topspin Tennis (I haven't dealt with them), and probably others as well.
You'll have to pay postage, and there may be a waiting list for popular rackets (ie. high-end Yonex).
Bear in mind that Yonex are no longer the automatic choice they used to be – there are now plenty of other brands making rackets which are as good, if not better (Victor, Li-Ning, etc), so you might want to give them a try too. Also, more expensive rackets are not necessarily better.
3:40 pm
February 14, 2013
Offline Thank you for your reply, you make very valid points 🙂
I will contact those online retails and get the ball rolling! Seems a lot of trouble to go to – but it's worth doing right I suppose!
Back in the day, before everything was online, I never knew about every possible racket option ever made, only the ones put in front of me to try! It was much easier to pick one I got on with then!
9:50 pm
March 2, 2010
Offline Just my 2P: if you don't have testing rackets, or no rackets you can try from a friend, I would certainly avoid top range rackets to start with. Try to figure out the very basics: head heavy or headlight. If you do buy new ones, go for maximum midrange rackets. If you don't like them or find it hard to play with them, it doesn't hurt that much. And you can still sell them to some other beginner too. Once that choice is made, narrow the gap by figuring out how heavy or light. Or even balance. Then go for the string type and tension. Paul might give real advice on the order of decisions to make. Or even other things to figure out first. Otherwise you could end up with a pile of rackets you don't like before finding your ideal combination of racket-string-tension that fits you and your style of play. Post the outcome.
All the best, ED
5:45 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline
This question really doesn't have one answer but basically opens up so much about tackets, technology, marketing and the general frustrations for players not being able to test a racket properly before they hand over hard earned cash to the retailer.
Sadly all manufacturers charge for their demo rackets and therefore only a handful of retailers throughout the country will consider buying rackets as an investment. I am fortunate that a retailer I am linked to has demo rackets and currently has around 30 in Yonex, Victor, Karakal etc. – very rare.
The other place most players test rackets is their badminton club. Sadly Evilchap doesn't have this option which therefore leaves what a lot of players…the high risk option. In situations like these you do what everyone does and that is go on the forums, read racket reviews and gauge opinion as best you can. But, this still does not provide any guarantees that your choice will be a good one. But it's the best you can do.
Nowadays there are so many good manufacturers and it's true that Yonex is not automatically the players choice anymore. With Adidas launching soon and that choice is going to be even more difficult.
Stay away from ebay otherwise your high risk choice becomes even higher as there is a high percentage of fakes for sale.
Direct Sports is certainly one good provider online and their racket selector tool is very good too. A huge amount of work went into the development of the software and it is constantly updated as new rackets are released.
Ed makes a good point and one I subscribe to. If you want a really good racket then look towards the mid range because this is where you get the best return on your money especially when you have relatively little playing experience. In some respects there isn't much point in spending on the top of the range rackets because they will not help you play that much better.
I could go on for ages talking about rackets and the pros and cons of buying a new racket. But, at the end of the day, as I've said so many times, choosing a racket is personal and there's never any guarantees that what you buy will suit you unless you have first tried the racket on court and hit shuttles with it.
Paul
3:16 pm
February 14, 2013
Offline Wow, thank you for taking to time to tap that reply out Paul 🙂
I was hoping there was perhaps a busy forum somewhere that there would be an active used market, so I could buy one and try it, and always move it on if it didn't work out – but I have had no luck finding one!
I have contacted the local shops I can find, I will let you know for the forum records if any offer demo racquets, i nthe meantime I will look at the mail order ones, the deals where the test fees are taken off a purchase aren't unreasonable.
Thanks again
Ben
7:39 pm
April 15, 2010
Offline Sorry to hijack your thread Ben, but Paul… Adidas are making badminton rackets??
I can recommend the Voltric 7 Ben, I get on very well with it. Plenty of power, but still quick, and the medium flex shaft makes the power accessible (in my opinion). I always feel head light rackets flatter to deceive, they feel good in the shop and knocking up, but ultimately lack that bite to put the shuttle away and win points.
10:33 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline Rob
Yes, Adidas are entering badminton. They have already signed Danish star Viktor Axelson and will launch in UK within the next two months.
I will be testing some of their products in 2-3 weeks.
Paul
4:25 pm
February 14, 2013
Offline I have made a decision to try a used racket which looking at the badminton central forum should be possible to move back on easily enough should I not get on with it.
If I like it, I'll look at a new one the same in time, if I need to 🙂
I'll also report back as to how I get on, and whether my brain and eyes are pushing me to try a racket meant for somebody as skilled as I was, rather than how I am!
4:25 pm
February 27, 2013
Offline 
Hi everyone,
Is there anywhere in Manchester where you can at least hold a few rackets on display? I've just popped into the local Sports Direct and they only had very low end rackets and Carltons. Someone has recommended Decathlon in Stockport but they don't have any I'm familiar with:
I'm looking for a Yonex Arcsabre / VT5 / VT7.
Cheers,
MM
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