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4:30 pm
January 23, 2011
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Hi Paul and other readers of the forum. I've been out of the sport for some time (put it this way I used to play at a fairly advanced level using Carbonex 8 and 10's). So 20 years ago I hung up my racket bag as knee problems got increasingly worse. However, in March 2010 I joined a small club (broke my last Yonex Carbonex 10 
) and have been playing regularly since.
So far so good, I was always a power player and that has mostly returned (all be it that I sometimes have timing issues – trying to hit tooo hard, and my movement is a bit sucky). Defence is better than ever but still trying to get the touch game sorted.
Since breaking my C10 I've been using a couple of APACS Edgesabers ZSparks- cheap and cheerful but I miss the Yonex (post coming shortly in the Racket forum!)
ANyway, just wanted to say thanks for taking the time an effort to put all of this info online. The racket reviews, technique posts etc have all been very useful for me – helping me get back to somewhere close to the standard I was 20 years ago in a very short time.
9:05 pm
February 15, 2011
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Welcome Stretch
I remember playing with Cab8DX and CAb 10's many years ago – ahem, before some forum members were born. They were great racquets although I have to say my favourite racquet from that period was Cab 21. That was in early 1980's when one piece racquets had just begun to take a foothold into the market – oh how times have changed.
I'm glad you've given me some info on the APACS racquets. I've had a number of questions about them, bearing in mind they are virtual clones of Yonex racquets. To me this is disappointing because APACS haven't established themselves as a credible brand by doing this. I'm glad to read that the racquets aren't a patch on the Yonex equivalent, but there again, there's a huge difference in price to consider. The big question is, is there really that much difference to warrant the extra cash?
With regard to replacing your Cab 10 racquet, that's a tall order. The difficulty I have is that it's been such a long time since I played with the old Carbonex series that it's hard to remember what they felt like. There are some Yonex racquets I loved but can't remember their names. But, from memory I'd say that the closest from the current range would be Arcsabers. I have felt for some time that Arc 8DX plays like the old Cab 8DX but I don't feel Arc 10 plays like Cab 10.
Bearing in mind, in other posts you've suggested your Cab 10 was head light, then it's more likely you'll be looking at Nanospeed range rather than the head heavy Armortecs. Tough choice. I'll follow another post and see where this takes us. Whichever you choose, sadly the latest one pice racquets will not be as robust as the Cab 10 or 8DX.
Paul
8:22 pm
January 23, 2011
Offline Yup – I'm no spring chicken!
Thanks for the speedy reply. I remember buying my first Carlton 3.7X aged 12 in a Lillywhites sale – and that was Lillywhites in Edinburgh which has been gone for decades! I used an X for doubles and an S for singles for a long time before moving on to the Yonex just before I went to University.
I think the 10 was neutral or a little head heavy – when compared to the 8 everything seemed head light – that's why I thought that the Nanospeeds probably weren't my cuppa.
I think people are drawn to the Yonex clone APACs because they feel they are getting a Yonex without the cost – but it is a clone in looks only (and name I suppose!) the Edgesabre Z-Spark is a medium shaft – not like the Arc ZS. But they are good value rackets and made well too. (Some of the UK prices are a bit steep though). I'd love to try their Tantrum/Hollow/Lethal/Stern etc rackets just to see – they're not clones but they're not so bargain basement so much higher risk. In fairness if you read the racket descriptions you can see what they are positioning the racket as – which is not always the same spec as the Yonex twin. I suspect I could buy any of the Arcs/AT/NP rackets and get used to them – some would take longer than others – I'm not playing at such a high level that I need perfection 
But comparing my Z-Spark to a £30 Yonex – I'd definitely keep the APACS – and that probably runs up into maybe £50 – 60 Yonex. I don't have any regrets there and they have delivered above my expectations – but I'm 10 months back, enjoying it and my knees are holding up so…
My Cab 10s were terrible for reliability – I think I broke 2 or 3 of them at the T (not in collisions)- and those were the days when my income was not so great (ie not much past £0) The 8 was built like a tank and I suspect is still kicking around someplace! But I gather that there have been a lot of “other” Cab 10s since the original – and it looks like the T is no longer a point of concern! If you google Carbonex 10 none of the pics you get back look like my reddish-brown beasts.
Enough badminton archeology! Next thread! (But I'm a dinosuar so it might take me a while to move that far…)
10:22 pm
February 15, 2011
Offline I used to have the old Carlton 3.7X and S too. I also played with Cab 8 and Cab 9. It was Cab 8 that converted me to Yonex.
Bearind in mind we're going back a few years here and I suspect some readers wren't even born when we were playing with these vintage racquets strung in gut at low tensions, choosing a racquet from the current range is pretty tough.
All I can suggest is that you test as many racquets as you can and hopefully you'll find what you're after.
Keep us informed.
Paul
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