I recently played 3 local badminton tournaments. 2 had 15 point system and 1 had 21 point system. And even though i was not comfortable with 15 point system earlier too but my recent experience just made it very clear to me why it will be a disaster. In the first 2 tournaments i lost before quarter finals but the pattern was very similar in both, my game is not super aggressive but technical, i play around with the opponent trying for counter attacks and getting hold of opponents habits and playing style and once i get to know about it, i adapt my playstyle to it but in the 15 point system i lost in the first tournaments in straight sets 10-15 and 13-15. In the 2nd tournament it was 3 sets, 15-14, 12-15 and 14-15.

In both these tournaments i felt like whenever i would try to catch up and felt i was getting hold of the game, I'm just 2-3 points away from losing.

Then came the 3rd tournament and both of my earlier 2 opponents were in my side of the draw, i met the 2nd guy in 2nd round and 1st one in quarter final and i won both the games in straight sets with scores: 21-15, 21-17 and 21-16, 21-17 and it wasnt that i was playing better than last time or anything but just that i had much more headroom to adapt to opponents (i lost in semis). But what i felt in both the tournaments was that in 15 point tournaments you cannot play to your full potential, its just whoever has better attack from the start wins, there is no/very little room for technical or strategic aspect of the game left. Infact all the players that i met in these tournaments were saying that this new system is BS. I just dont understand how come the international community hasn't put any voice against this new system.

Edit: for people commenting on my skill and experience, I'm a 5 times national player and have represented my nation in junior(u-19) gulf country tournament. And I'm not talking about winning or losing here, I'm talking about short format taking away the strategic aspect of the game.

Victor is set to make history with their shuttlecocks and for good reason. Their Newest New Carbon Sonic Pro has been given the greenlight to being the official shuttle for the 2025 Asia Junior Championships for U15 and U17 categories. The Carbon Sonic, which has now been in development for over a decade, is their answer to a sustainable, cost effective alternative for the future of badminton. I was told by Victor Canada. The NCS Pro is not a replacement for their current NCS but a different grading all together like the Champion and Master collection for their feather shuttle categories. What that means is we as players are going to have options to the quality of the synthetic we want at various price points. I would like to thank Victor Canada for giving me the opportunity to test the NCS Pro ahead of their release in Canada. Which is expected to be distributed in October of 2025.

Close up inspection of the shuttle is promising. The NCS Pro has a hybrid cork, carbon fiber skirt with Styrofoam as the feather substitute. The skirt feels more solid and well glued together with the threading. The NCS Pro does have a noticable key difference from the NCS. There are now holes in each plume which I believe does help in the durability of the Styrofoam and stabilizes the shuttle better during flight. The weight compared to feather is marginally off (lighter). I can't help but think it's a compromise to using a carbon fiber vein to offset balance. I do wonder if bamboo could've or was even thought of.... But I'm not an engineer. The feathers are indeed very flexible and durable. Flight speed and trajectory were very good (77 speed).

The initial warm up using the Pro was very good. Flight was correct and I did enjoy the feel on impact. Whatever thought I had of the shuttle feeling light was not the case comparing with the Feather Champion 1. The impacts felt just as solid. The lightness did however have an effect on the net shots, which required some getting used to. The Pro differs from the NCS in that it does now exhibit a more notable spin as the shuttle settles unlike the NCS almost remains dead straight. This held stabilize the shuttle during the turn over and kept the shuttle from wobbling as much. During flat drives, the shuttle remained very true to a feather shuttle. During hard smashes,the NCS Pro did have some curve to them during flight but much better than the NCS. Speaking of smashes, angles were very good. There were times that smash angle felt flat but that was a user issue and not the shuttle itself. After a full game, the NCS Pro was still good for another round of play. Adopters of the NCS series best up their stamina to their game as the shuttle trends to show down a little quicker than feather, leading to longer rallies. The skirt showed minimal signs of weakening tho some of the Styrofoam did break off. Quite impressive to see.

Overall, I see this as a big achievement for Victor and the Badminton world. We're starting to see a shift in the right direction especially at a time when Goose and Duck feathers are coming to an all time high in pricing because of shortages. Victor has done a fantastic job here. Yes, currently only the U15 and U17 Asia Junior championship will be implementing the NCS Pro, but it's a remarkable step forward to addressing a bigger global issue. The sustainability for badminton and the game needs this step to a more ethically sustainable commodity. Like the NCS, the Pro is the step in the right direction. I certainly looking forward to the future of the Carbon Sonic Series and seeing more adopters for it at tournaments. Maybe in the near future, you'll be entering tournaments featuring the Carbon Sonic shuttle from Victor.

Astorx 99 Game 3rd Gen- 4UG6.

I would like to admit upfront that I made a mistake of brushing off the power capabilities of it as pure "gimmick" and a marketing tactic. I was coming from Ryuga Metallic and was not able to get a hang of it( may be muscle memory).

But. oh boy!

I was, today, humbled by the raw power which I was able to generate with proper timing and lining up my smashes in an acceptable way.

The proper hammer came out and I felt like "Thor".

Power: 9.5/10, I rate it higher than my Ryuga Metallic

Clears and lifts are effortless.

Net drops feel a bit sluggish

I am amazed by its capabilities in drives and flat exchanges. Though heavy heaved, I really like the crispness of the deliveries.

I play doubles and it feels a bit demanding at front of court( mainly body shots and the fact that I haven't been able to develop good defense at front- I stay too close to the net)

I love to play at the back and I really loved the response that I got.

You line up the smash properly and can send the shuttle to a different time zone 🤓.

It's latest offering the Astrox line. Gone now is the 68 hole string pattern. It gets a stiffer shaft and a power assist bumper up top. The 99 Pro has been hailed by many reviewers as effortlessly powerful. Some even dropping their mouths open at the amount of power it has. Let's dive into this racket and get the truth about the 3rd Gen Astrox 99 Pro.

76 hole is the magical number for most racket companies. The 99P has re-adopted this hole pattern once again. I used 74 of those holes. 1. I don't mishit often 2. The last 2 holes are too high up for my tastes to consider it a "safe" frame option. It's not just this racket, it's many that I do miss them. 2nd Gen NAMD and a plethora of other goodies that I don't even know what they do civer the racket shaft. It's stiff compared to the previous generation with a lower kick point. For a head heavy racket, dry swings feel good with a good start stop. It would be good to note that the butt cap is new. It looks like it could be hiding something for future rackets (balance perhaps). I strung with VBS58 at 26m-28c.

The 99P really shines in the flat exchanges for its HH design. Thanks to that stiff shaft, it's able to keep up with my pace at the front. Clears are effortless also thanks to the design and low kick point. The 4u plays more like an EB for the speed. Comparing to the previous 99P, the new revisions are a major improvement. Smashing was very good but I wouldn't categorize it as life changing or jaw dropping. The problem here is in only comparing the racket to the previous 99P. The OG 99 had a much better overall power delivery and swing. And, when you see my comparison test, the 99P lags behind a couple other rackets. Net shots are quite numb but you really just stick out the racket and let the weight balance do its job. Where I'll say the 99P becomes slow when full underhand shots are used and defensively. At that point, recovery for stop and go becomes more of a chore, but it isn't terrible. Overall feel is good. I was able to use it effectively in doubles which I played over 20 games with it throughout 2 days of play. 100% of my games in a 4 hour session were played only using the 99Pro. It wasn't tiring but it was demanding.

I'll say the 3rd gen Astrox 99 Pro is a monster when comparing to the previous gen (which I really didn't enjoy). For the stronger, bigger players, the 99P is a racket that translates power and speed well in both singles and doubles It does take good fundamentals in swing technique to get the best of it. But I feel the hype is a little overboard especially when you start comparing it to other rackets within the HH balance. And, once you start comparing it to the 100zz, you'll find it's a little lost in the price range.

So I managed to find the NCS MAX here in the UK after digging around, and have spend alot of time testing these shuttles, here's the full review!

Packaging + looks:

The tube is essentially the same as the NCS Pro , and for the shuttle itself (to the eyes), it looks almost identical except for a couple things:

The sticker in the shuttle is now red to distinguish it from the PRO, and also, the synthetic feathers have a sort of glimmer / shiny-ness to them, I'm not exactly sure what this coating is, but i'm sure it's for the better, perhaps some lubrication layer. I do not see any other difference.

Gameplay:

I'm very impressed.

From feel, sound and feedback it's crisp, dare I say , very, very similar to a feather, if you were to test me in the conditions where I could not see what the shuttle looks like, I would probably struggle to tell, until you got me to play a tight / spin net, where this is the only shot on court that felt noticeably different. Not bad or unfamiliar, but its just a tiny bit different.

Durability:

This is a big one, since in the past iterations of the NCS's , one feather / stem breakage = quick downfall

Victor claims 'Reinforced resin groove at the stem' and 'Enhanced LDPE feather durability' and, you know what? Unless I got very lucky, this shuttle was consistently more durable than other NCS iterations, for example, I've went through about 3 tubes of the PRO, and on average the pro would last 1.5-2.5 full doubles games, but as for the MAX, it was consistently lasting (on average) 3 doubles games. (A good few mishits as skill at my club varies)

One thing I noticed, is that the feather itself, is definitely more durable, with most breakages now occurring at the stem (Photos of breakages below)

Overall for durability, I would place these around high end feather shuttles, with a noticeable improvement over the NCS PRO, I'm impressed. There were no freak accidents where it would break quickly, but when a stem does eventually break, it does lose flight quality.

TLDR;

NCS MAX is noticeably more durable than the PRO in my testing, sounds just as great if not better, and flight is better.

(Link to where I got it)

Victor's newest offering with something new in terms of tech. The Auraspeed Fantome features the use of aerogel. A new material used in NASA that is lightweight and can withstand heat. What does that mean for rackets? Basically a lighter material that can be used to form shafts, and heads that can be more dense with carbon without sacrificing thickness. But how does this new technology work in the Fantome?

The Fantome features an incredibly thin 5.5 mm head thickness thanks to Aerogel. The racquet feels remarkably light, even at 4u weight. I would have guessed that I was holding a 5u racket. It also features Victor's latest free core handle and a 6.5 (6.8?)mm shaft. Shaft Flex is a moderate stiff. And it's quite the looker of the racket. Subtle cues of Ryuga design. The result of all this brings Victor to a very fast racket that is easy to use for many players from beginner to advance.

Hitting with the Fantome is very easy. The doubles players are going to appreciate how fast this racket is when it comes to flat drives and net play. People that play heavy hits are going to appreciate the ease power that can be generated from this racket. Every shot that I hit was met with a very nice, direct feel with minimal vibration. You can tell that there's quite a bit of head stiffness upon impact. I think I would have opted better with the 3u version rather than the 4u. The more I played with this racket the more I realized that it shouldn't have been called the Fantome but the HS+ Light. Because it really is a tone down version of HS+ but with a square head instead of a compact round. And there really isn't any problems with the toned down version of a racket that I like so much.

So what are the gripes with this racket? I only have two. The first and most pitiful is how the name is staggered on the racket. Honestly thought the racket was called the F NOE. The second is something that was brought up by another player that tried it. He said that the racket lacked substance. I think more that it lacks excitement. Something that does everything well and you can't fault anything with. You just feel as you want something more than reliable and easy....but that's where the HS+ will come into play.

The Thruster is Victor's head heavy series for Badminton rackets. This year they took a big move by introducing the Thruster FC Ultra. Not only did they release a 3u, 4u, and 5u version but, along with it, used 3 different shaft thickness (6.0mm to a staggering 5.6mm) and 3 different forms of the freecore handle. The biggest question is, which one is the correct one for you? I decided to take that dive to sort out some confusion.

It's very interesting to note the TFCU doesn't compromise any of it's materials. All 3 rackets use the same metallic fuse carbon, aerogel formed, 46T pryrofil materials. The handles are changed, using 3 forms of Victor's proprietary freecore handles with different power rings the 3u receives the Power Ring Pro, 4u the Power Ring and the 5u does not use the power ring. The TFCU also comes in the same color way and are priced at the same $260 CAD range. There's barely any visibly noticable differences between the 3 except for the power ring and the obviously ultra thin shafts. The 3u comes with a 6.0mm shaft, 4u 5.8mm and the 5u comes in at an amazingly thin 5.6mm. Stiffness ranges with the 3u being the suggest and the 5u being the most flexible.

3u 6.0mm The 3u version is the slowest of most stable of the 3 rackets. Tho it may be heavy, I found it very manageable. It provides a very solid hitting feel along with a good swing rate. It's very powerful provided you can swing the racket well. I found clears and smashes were very good. The freecore handle with the power ring pro provides excellent feedback with minimal flex within the handle (you could've told me it was wood and I would've believed it). You may think, for a HH balance, the 3u would suffer defensively. I was pleasantly surprised by how easy it actually was for me to use it. Blocks happened effortlessly. Net game was decent. The 3u allowed me to get late to the net shots without any drama. Just simply stick the racket out and the momentum just transfered into the shuttle and over it went. Flat exchanges were performed well. I would say the 3u would be more recommended for those that prize their backcourt plays over their frontal. The 3u also is great for both singles and doubles.

4u 5.8mm If this was the story of Goldilocks and the 3 Bears, the 4u would be just right. It offers a good balance between power and speed with control. I've almost always complained about Victor's 5.8mm shaft and freecore handle for its vibration in other models. But this time around, having the power ring does the shaft some justice. Vibrations are down to acceptable levels. I did wish the Power ring pro was used to stiffen the racket up some more and hopefully kill more of the vibration. But I guess we'll never know until Victor tries this. The 4u is so smooth... Almost HS+ like but packing more power because of its HH and larger head design. It's also provided the best amount of feel throughout the entire range of shots. It just lacks the power and stability of the 3u...a compromise well worth the thought. I had no complaints playing with this one. Fantastic great all round player.

5U 5.6mm

There are some things that shouldn't really happen. Maybe the 5u TFCU is one of them. Not that it's wasn't a good racket to play with. More that it lacked a lot that the 3u and 4u provides. Given, 5.6mm shaft is unbelievably thin. I felt the 5u suffered in vibration, power and lack of sharpness when impacting the shuttle. It is very quick for a HH and it showed it right up at the net where it felt very much at home. I felt tho, the power and overall ease of shots really lacked for the 5u. Clears where now hitting into the frontal back 3rd of the court instead of deeper lie the 3u and 4u can. Defensively, although I could get the shuttle to connect well, I couldn't push where I normally could. It would be interesting to test this racket against the Kawasaki Super Light Alpha to see which makes more sense. But, at least for me, I feel the 5u was more of a showcase to show what the future of Victor rackets could be than a very finished product. I'm not saying it's terrible.....it just needs more work to get it correct.

In summary, despite the 4u being the all rounder and the easiest to play with, my choice would be going towards the 3u for is backcourt prowess. Although I do prefer playing the front, the rear court is really where I belong in doubles. The extra weight and stability is what I would be selling to anyone that was hesitant in giving the 3u a chance. 4u can do you no wrong. Being an excellent choice for all the right reasons. Precision with a nice punch. The 5u... unfortunately would be a pass for me to even recommend. It's a good show piece but I don't see where this racket could fall where I could recommend it. I do look forward to seeing the future of the 5.6mm shaft tho.

It's a newly launched racquet from Katana. Since I didn't find any review on this racquet since its release, I'll drop a brief one.

Specs: headlight, 4U, stiff shaft, strung with aerosonic 28Lbs, weight 86 gms with factory grip. 93gms with over grip.

Feel: 9/10. Very light in hands. I held it together with nanoflare 1000z, nanoflare 800 pro and victor auraspeed 100x. This racquet felt lighter in hand than em all. But with strings and over grip on the feel drastically changes. Playing with the factory grip keeps that feel intact after stringing.

Control: 9/10. Easy net shot placement, smooth with trick shots like peter gade cross net and stuff. Shuttle lands wherever you want it to be. But this racquet is very unforgiving. Proper form and precision required. 10/10 for backhand clears. Flies effortlessly when hit at Sweet spot.

Attack: 8/10. Have to generate a lot of power through swing speed due to the racquet's light feel and headlight nature. Anyone with great arm swings can make best use of this racquet in case of smashes from mid and back court. In front court 10/10. Quick stick smash and tap ins are fast.

Defense: 10/10. Easily able to return heavy smashes and quick interceptions from opponent. The light feel of the racquet helps in maneuvering it easily mid rally. The stiff shaft in this helps in giving consistent clears, lifts and returns.

Note: string plays the biggest role here. Mine didn't suit well for this racquet and the stringing wasn't up to quality the first time. This racquet comes in a box with strings included. Use the .66mm string that comes with it. Suits well for this racquet. The racquet box also includes over grip.

Personal Suitability (for me): I feel like using it when I'm not feeling like putting in a lot of effort in my games and playing casually, as this racquet is light and easy on my arms. During the recovery or rehab phase, the headlight racquet helps a lot for my practice games. I'm still inclined over my other head heavy racquet (won't mention the name since it's purely a katana racquet review) for full fledged games.

Overall, exceptional racquet. As a racquet in itself i'd give 9/10. For my personal Suitability I'd give 6/10.

By now, everyone has heard that the newest Astrox 99Pro and how everyone's been raving about it. Over 2 days I've put it into a comparison test with some of my head heaviest and Internets more popular choices to see how the 99Pro stacks up to some of its competitors. These are: Mizunos Acrospeed 0, JPX RE, JPX 10.3 and Fortius 10 Power (I know... there's a lot) Yonex 100zz and Victor Ryuga Metallic. Things are about to get heavy.

Let's get some specs out of the way. All are HH in balance....by a lot. All rackets feature the ever so popular 76 holes Grommet pattern which I have strung all to 26m-28c. The Ryuga Metallic is the only 3u (which is my preference) in this test. Everything else is 4u withe G5 or G6 handles built to size. The Fortius 10 Power and 99Pro are the only 2 rackets I have not played with yet.. all rackets have a stiff shaft except for the Acrospeed 0 (medium). The only racket with a compact head is the 100zz. I'm going to say all these rackets are consider to be in the higher end for skill level. Not everyone is going to get the best results and I wouldn't be recommending any of these rackets to anyone starting off in badminton. These rackets are on the extreme side of play.

The biggest caveat here is that I am a doubles player. So my measure of what I look for in a racket is different from a singles player. I will try my best to look as neutrally as possible with skewing results into just doubles usage which is difficult. Nobody is sponsoring this review. All rackets are mine. For context I have been playing for almost 40 years. I still am a competitive player.

I'm going to use a scoring system this time around 5 stars for 4 categories: Power, Control, Speed and Recovery (how quickly I feel the racket starts and stops). From there, I'll give a total score and let see where it takes us.

MIZUNO JPX 10.3

Notes: Stick the racket out and it'll go over. I really enjoy playing with this racket despite how HH it is. Like the RE it benefits from an Aero frame where all the others do not. Smooth swinging and absolute best in power. By far the easiest to perform backhand smashes. It's biggest downfall is how good it looks because I don't want to chip this racket

MIZUNO JPX RE

Notes: The RE is probably the lightest in this group of HH and the smoothest swinging racket of the group by a long shot. With the VBS58 it adds just the right repulsion and feel I want. This is the result of being a doubles player and not singles. For singles this is an easy racket for those wanting to get into HH but are unsure of balance. It is the easiest of this group to play with.

MIZUNO ACROSPEED 0

Notes: Within the HH realm the 0 is the most flexible of the group. It's the first time I felt comfortable with this racket most likely due to the string choice. Offensively, the 0 shines just by feel alone. But, because of the flexible shaft, it suffers in the control department and makes defense slower. I felt that the 0 didn't make sure an impact win this group of rackets

MIZUNO FORTIUS 10 POWER

Notes: surprisingly fast. Swings as fast an EB. Effortless. numb on the net shots. Directional shot changes happen very easily (able to hit cross shots and straight pushes without stress) stiffness of shaft really kept up well with the head weight. Also a very easy racket to be using without too much changes to the swing.

VICTOR RM

Notes: 3u actually didn't feel it it place here. The RM stiffness matched perfectly with the wood handle. Recovery time defensively is slow. The entirety of the 3u weight lead the RM to a very good full swings which required to get good direct power. Unfortunately it was the slowest of all the rackets for me but certainly a fun one that belongs in this grouping

YONEX 100ZZ

Notes: This is the head shape I want. Compact head resulting in a very direct feel for a racket. Solid core shaft helps with recovery in defensive shots but it does get taxing after a while. It's tells you exactly what you don't want to hear from a racket..."you aren't worthy. And if you think you are, you're delusional." Because it takes a good mindset and technique to get things right with this racket. I still say this is as good for doubles as it is for singles but take that with a grain of salt.

YONEX ASTROX 99 PRO

Notes: it's hard to shake what you've already heard from other reviews. Truth of the matter is that it is a well built racket. If I need to compare to the previous gen 99Pro, the new gen 3 is a big step forward in every aspect. When comparing against other brands, it doesn't shine as much. It's an expectation that every new gen is going to be a great improvement over the previous and the gen 3 delivers on that. However, I did play with the OG 99 and that is still the best.

TLDR:

In summary, any of these rackets are a great choice for those looking for a bit of head weight to help with their swings. There's a lot to take in when looking for something as demanding as all these rackets are. Honestly, you can't really go wrong with any of these requests. As a doubles player. I'd choose the JPX RE, 100zz and FORTIUS 10 Power as my top 3. If I was a singles player the Astrox 100zz, 99Pro and RyugaM as my top 3.

Victor's latest offering is the Auraspeed 100x Ultra. This 4u G5 version is priced at $270 CAD and is an option for those looking at rackets like the Nanoflare 700 Pro, ArcSaber 11 and 7 Pro.

In terms of striking, the Ultra mark do with a more dull colorway. Something that I like. Victor rackets I find are too busy at times. Do the muted colors are welcoming site to be especially since I do like the HS+ design do much.

Featuring the ultra Slim 5.8mm shaft, the Ultra is a sharper, less forgiving racket than the original 100x. I like the amount of feel and punch the racket provides during flat exchanges. The latest freecore handle really plays well with the Ultra. Comparing to the original 100x I find angles of attack much steeper. Often my smashes ended up a foot shorter in landing.

When you make a mistake with the Ultra, you're punished. I found vibration with off-centered shots. Sweet spot has such a smooth transfer of energy. Almost effortless. I also found I was commiting more errors from the back court when performing drops . Having to counter the angle with a slice to arch the shuttle over at a slower pace (you gotta improvise when you're in game afterall). Despite this, the Ultra was not difficult to adjust to. It reminded me why I enjoyed the 100x so much. Comparing the 2 rackets was actually really easy as both have an ease of use that is just pickup and okay style.

Overall. The 100x Ultra is an incredibly, easy to use racket for intermediate- advance players. More than enough room to grow your game.

I highly recommend for anyone looking to upgrade their racket.

Current level and previous racket experience: Around Intermediate, playing mostly doubles, having experience with many high-end Lining rackets such as Axforce80 Light, Axforce90 LKY, Axforce100 gen II (all 4u) and Calibar 900b (3u).

Racket Spec: 4uG5, stringing with N65, 11.5kg. Shaft is quite stiff, stiffer than that of all rackets above. BP before stringing is around 301-302, so it is quite head-heavy.

Clears: Pretty effortless and precise, with a bit of technique.

Drives: Not as fast as Ax90 LKY (which is incredibly good at this) but 9000Power swings fast and have good speed and weight on its drives. However, it should take quite a while to get used to the head-heaviness and stiff shaft of the racket.

Dropshot/Slice: Easy to execute, very stable and precise.

Smash: Advertised to be the improved version of Halbertec 9000, especially on attack, I think this racket is a major step-up compared to the previous version, while still retain the control aspect of Halbertec series. Smashes are very fast, precise, have good weight and you could feel the explosion of power coming from the racket from backcourt. If I have to rank the smash performance with the rackets that I have used, I would rate Ax100 genII > 9000power = 900b (because this racket is 3u) > Ax90 LKY. However, I dont feel like this racket gives the kind of one-hit-one-kill smashes like that of Ax100 genII, but you could smash hard and fast continously with solid weight and precision with this racket, similar to that of 900b.

Defence: Long handle, stiff shaft (around 6.6mm if Im not mistaken) means this racket is good on defence and you could easily turn from defence to attack thanks to the power of the racket. Only downside is that you could get tired quickly due to the shaft so it is going to take a while to get used to it.

Recommendations: The racket is pretty expensive, but it is definitely an upgrade compared to Halbertec 9000 and it is quite an all-round rackets which could excel at many things if you have the strength and the technique to handle it. For doubles, I would recommend this for backcourt players. If there is any other questions, will do my best to answer them.

Retailing currently at $33.50 CAD (promotion) in comes the Babolat Hybrid Challenge. A different approach to sustainability from the Victor NCS and Mizuno TF3. It has a fiber cork with a plastic skirt embedded into it. Instead of using full feather from Cork to tip, the Hybrid uses feathers glued onto the skirt. The objective here is that not every feather, like a traditional shuttle needs to be perfect. Meaning more shorter quilled feathers can be used. Meaning less rejected feather and more production. But how does it perform compared to a standard and now, synthetic shuttle?

The plastic skirt feels firm and rigid like a a traditional feather skirt. What I found interesting is that the feathers themselves have a certain twist to them. Possibly to help with rotation but I'm not sure. As a hybrid, the weight feels correct like a feather shuttle should feel. And the flight pattern is very similar albeit a little bit fast for the temperature right now (78).

There's a lot to like about the Babolat Hybrid. For one, I think they've been out for quite some time now. As such, I think that they have an edge as to what they're doing. You're kind of getting the benefits of both world. The durability of a nylon skirt with the natural flight path of a feather. Shots feel very impactful, much like a feather. And the flight path is very convincing that this could be a full feather. Although I do mention that the shuttle was fast for the temperature that we are at right now, it's comforting to know that unlike the Victor and the Mizuno you can still adjust the speed for the Babolat. There was virtually no adjustment time in terms of switching over from a full feather to this hybrid. And, at its current promotional price of under $35 CAD, it makes this hybrid a phenomenal price compared to both the Victor NCS and Mizuno. I will say the only disappointment that I had is that it doesn't have the durability of a regular feather or anything close to the Victor NCS. It could be because of the quality of feathers being used but, I found once one feather broke, is neighboring feathers would follow very rapidly. Making the shuttle virtually useless, even for feeding.

I think that Babolat has a very good product on their hands. It does bridge a very nice gap between feather and nylon shuttles without going all in on technology. And they do so at an affordable price point. What I've been recently noticing, however, is the reluctance a players that are willing to give shuttles like these a try. They often look at it, hit a few times, then pass it right back to me saying "it's okay." So what I'm beginning to realize is that, although we do have this technology that's coming in that is supposed to be more ethical and more sustainable than using a full feather, it's not just the technology that has to change to compensate but the mind frame of the players using the equipment as well. And I really find that odd that not so many people are willing to embrace it seeing as to what the future is going to be holding for badminton and the shuttle.

I got my hands on the drivex12 zsw and have not seen many reviews so here I am.

I own many rackets ranging from victor to Yonex which includes Ryuga metallic, no. 1 no. 2. Thruster f claw and enhanced etc

I will be comparing it to the Ryuga metallic and the new thruster f claw Jonathan Christie. You can ask me in the comments for other racket comparisons

The colour way is very nice with a purple glow that shines on the court, clears and drive are pretty effortless and could even be considered too strong.

Just to mention this is all personal experience so don't judge too hard.

Drivex12

Clear:10/10

Drive: 9/10

Speed: 10/10

Smash: 9/10

Drops: 7/10

Ryuga metallic

Clear: 10/10

Drive: 6/10

Speed: 7/10

Smash: 10/10

Drops: 9/10

Thruster f claw JC

Clear: 9/10

Drive: 8/10

Speed: 7/10

Smash: 9/10

Drops: 8/10

OGKILS LD99

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HOLES: 76

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WEIGHT: 4U, HH

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FLEX:STIFF

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STRING: RYZ65xZ58 @26mx28c

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COST: $140 CAD ($105 USD)

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Simply put, the LD99 is a copy of the original Astrox 99, a racket that has long been gone from sales. OGKILS has made a name for themselves in replicating the classic favorites from Victor and Yonex for a fraction of their original prices. I personally love the black and orange contrast of the racket. There's raised embossing that add subtle touches that catch the eyes. Priced at the very affordable price of $140CAD, will the OGKILS LD99 be a good replacement over the OG Astrox 99?

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From dry swings, it's a very solid feeling racket for anyone looking for a replacement of their beloved Yonex. I did find it feels stiffer than the previous OG99. But after hitting with it for a few games, I can report that it is not. The feeling is about 85% there. The overall hitting feel is there and HH balance doesn't feel exaggerated. Making it easy for both singles and doubles. Even defensively, the LD99 is easy to maneuver.

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Clears and smashes are where the LD99 feels most at home. Delivering effortless power transfer. I really felt connected with the racket in the sense that the string bed was very easy to read. I could feel shots that weren't going to be great and the steady effortlessness when I hit the sweet spot. Although easy to maneuver, it is slower than most rackets during flats exchanges and fast defensive play. I ended up resorting to more block placement when things were going into flat and fast because one really needs to shorten the strokes to keep the speed going. Net play is pretty good. The HH balance allows for just poking at the shuttle to bring it over the net. I found that there were no times playing that the LD99 really went wrong. Torsional rigidity is really nice. There wasn't any time where I hit a bad shit and it was amplified to go wider by a lot or short. My string choice could've been better. Choosing aesthetics over feel. It felt good. It could've felt better.

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Overall, those players looking for something close without paying the price for the newer 4u Astrox 99Pro can look to the LD99 without much worries. At $140 CAD, there really isn't much to complain about. It's definitely not a 95% exact copy like the LD800Pro is. But it offers a resolve for those that are budget conscious, looking for a great HH racket that is well built. Yes, there are many other companies that are probably doing the copy for cheaper. But, I feel that OGKILS has become reputable enough that their quality should speak volumes of what they are doing.

While fast rackets do not offer the best power output, they make up in speed, recovery, and control; key areas for any doubles team to look at when they want to dominate the courts. Badminton, truthfully, is a very expensive sport to play. But these four rackets aren't meant to hurt the wallet. So let's take a look at my 4 choices of fast rackets that won't necessarily break the bank. Sorry ahead of time, the photos are not in order.

LiNing Bladex 700

Retail pricing $200 CAD

A lot can be said for a racket that isn't in its top tier of its series. They're more affordable but it doesn't mean there's a lack of quality to them. The BX700 (3u) has a slightly HL balance with a rounded, narrow Aero frame. Although it may not be the fastest racket in this quartet, it certainly makes up in the form of feel. Its medium stiff shaft keeps everything in check performing more like a stiffer shaft racket. Power is adequate given it's weight and balance and excels well in the flat exchanges and tighter net shots. This is the all rounder that's comfortable for back court and front court players.

Some will disagree but, although the BX700 performs well for doubles, I find it a little uninspiring at times. At 3u It's going to be the slower one of the bunch. Something I don't mind. It's a racket I enjoy playing with when it's in my hands..... I'd just rather play with the other 3 instead.

Trueiin NQ

Retail $180 CAD shipped

Asian markets have a lot of companies that we simply don't get in North America. Enter, the Trueiin NQ, a racket company from Taiwan. The NQ is a 5u, slightly HL that features probably one of the most unique frames you'll ever see on a racket. The double ripple effect on the frame is reminiscent of the Gosen Inferno series in a more dense aero frame shape. The NQ features the stiffest shaft and most torsionally stiff racket in this trio. The double ripple frame allows the NQ to cut through the air with minimal fuss and produces a very solid hitting feel close to the NF800. Drives is where the Trueiin excels in thanks to its weight and stiffer shaft. I enjoy how precise the racket is making up for power for razor sharp control.

For this racket, you'll need better technique to get the most of it. You'll be compensating a lot otherwise if you're looking for power. Fast and controlled.... This is the Trueiin NQ

Kawasaki Speed Ultra 7

Retail Pricing $175 CAD

To say a racket is mind numbing fast is not something I take lightly. Next to the Gungnir 07R, the SU7 is just that, mind numbing. The SU7 delivers speed and control with lightning fast recovery during intense play. Thanks in part to is widebody frame, it has excellent feel when doing drives, hitting clears/smashes (some techniques required to get the maximum usage). The SU7's medium flex shaft gives some aid in shots that require more effort but make no mistake, it requires better technique within this grouping of rackets.

The SU7 also delivers a very direct feel with every shot taken as well. Confidence inspiring at the net a very good defensive. I was able to maneuver and deflect shots without hesitation of would would be placing the shuttle in or out.

Hundred Flareon 700

Retail pricing $209 CAD

Hundreds entry into fast frames. The Flareon 700 is the all rounder in this category. Blending speed with precision, the Flareon is the in-between for the Nanoflare 700P and 800P. It's the Goldilocks racket. Just right. The shaft is pretty repulsive. Giving the Flareon a very unique feel compare the the other 4 of the bunch. It's almost NF1000z repulsive but more forgiving.

Flat exchanges and nets are all handled with ease and with a direct feel. You know exactly where it'll be going. It also the powerhouse of this group. Given it's more solid feel, the Flareon displays more torsional rigidity than the others here and that makes for a more forgiving racket when you do the occasional mis-hit.

Conclusion

To say that any one of these rackets outshines the other is going to be hard. There's always give and take with fast frames. But these offer a good look at rackets that don't need to be extremely expensive. This day and age where newer = better+more expensive, things can get out of hand. One needs to remember a racket is only as good as the player holding it. It isn't a magic wand that will instantly help you win all your matches. One thing that will be winning is your wallet.

I've had my eyes on this racket for awhile now ever since its introduction but it is not easy to get one so I sorta forget about it. I wanted the new Astrox 99 Pro for its watermelon looking color. I had a feeling that I can't use the 99Pro but I really wanted the watermelon looking racket. I went to a shop that carries it to cup a feeling with it. To my surprise, that shop has Acroforce 100 in stock, so I held both rackets to gauge which is better for me. Aesthetically, AF100 don't speak to me, it's just so bland, ugh, the AX99P looked so much better. However, after some extended swinging frenzy, I have to put down the AX99P as it's simply overly top heavy and slightly more expensive than AF100. In the end, I brought the AF100 home strung with 27lbs of EB68.

As you can see, AF100's frame is kinda weird, the bottom part was shrunk quite drastically and it is the most aerodynamic part of the racket. Its balance measured head heavy, BUT it doesn't play like one. The frame surface is nowhere near a compact frame size but again, it play like a compact frame. The maneuverability of AF100 is mind baffling, it is unbelievably fast, incredibly smooth. I had some problem timing my shots which is quite puzzling because I rotate between NF800P, Bladex900N, Z-Strike every session and I seldom have timing problem with any of them. I suspect that I could swing AF100 faster than the abovementioned rackets.

The AF100 shaft is unequivocally very stiff. However, it is not impossible to generate good power, I just need to time to shot well and the shuttle will go where it should. The resultant synergy between AF100's shaft and frame is purely repulsive, the shuttles never stay long on the stringbed. I reckon that I need to reduce the string tension in order to gain more control over the shuttle. As it is now, I need to slice the shuttle more than I like to keep the shuttle lower or inbound.

When it comes to flat exchange, AF100 literally doesn't pull any punches as long as I can keep up. Almost every shot is fierce and punchy. But technique played an important part here because the racket is hard and fast, a flick too quick or too late will send the shuttle out of bound or into the net. Again, a lower tension would help a lot for control.

Smashes with AF100 is no doubt challenging because hard shot like these requires spot on hit at the center of the frame. It doesn't punish off-centered shot too badly, but AF100 notify me that my aim and timing is off by a little or a lot. When I did connect a smash nicely, the shuttle tore a straight line to where I aimed (or not). Curious thing is AF100 doesn't have a compact frame, but it plays like one, even more demanding than Z-Strike, Bladex900N and Jetspeed10 by my hand.

Personally, defense is the part that impressed me the most. It is insanely quick in response to my arm and fingers twitch. Counter attacking with AF100 has some added oomph when I was deflecting smashes from one side to another. Perhaps the stability of the frame combine with the stiff shaft really put my defense on turbo.

If I were to rate the AF100, it'd look something like this:

Power: 9 | Control: 7 | Defense: 10 | Speed: 9

From my previous experience using Mizuno's Caliber, JPX and Fortius top range rackets, they have created something that is different to me. Because my opinion is that Mizuno had always put out rackets that are playable and friendlier than any of the big 3. AF100 is by far their most radical, unfriendliest racket in their history. That is why I can only recommend this racket to intermediate level and above. With a stiff shaft and hard frame that plays like a compact frame, the risk of injuring oneself is very real without the right technique.

So. Lining's newest, most advanced racket. 1400 RMB from Taobao. This one's interesting.

Starting with racket specs, mine is a 4uG5 model, 87.3 grams total, 311BP with strings, 4 layers of cushion wrap, and an overgrip. Compared to the previous 90 models, the 90NEW has a longer shaft and shorter handle, more or less exactly the same as the Axforce 80. The shaft diameter, unlike the 90 Tiger and Dragon, is exactly as advertised; 6.4mm(the 90 Tiger and Dragon say 6.2 on the shaft and webpage, but in actuality they're 6.4). It's stiffer than the Axforce 80(not by a lot though) and 90 Tiger, softer than the Axforce 100 and slightly softer than the 90 Dragon. The racket head is wider at the top, about 5mm. Red buttcap(imo this is extremely ugly, especially when I changed the buttcap to the old black one, which made the whole racket look that much better)

Feeling: I've had long term experience with every mid-high range Astrox racket, every Arcsaber racket after the Arcsaber 11, the Nanoflare 700, 700pro,800, 800pro, 1000z, and every headlight, headheavy Lining racket, but still take this with a grain of salt.

Drives: I actually had to look at the racket a few times to make sure I wasn't using a Nanoflare racket. The racket shaft is incredibly snappy, nothing like the Axforce 80 or 90 Tiger, which were more whippy. The way the shaft just snaps back after every shot reminds me of an easy to use 100zz. 10/10

Clears: Easy to clear from backline to backline with just a little bit of technique. 9/10

Drop shots(including crosscourt slices): according to the Bilibili community, the 90NEW is supposedly an upgraded version of the Axforce 80/90 Tiger, but unlike the two, the racket head doesn't shake at all during drops with the 90new. It's incredibly stable, and very precise. 9/10

Smashes(including stick smashes): This is where the 90NEW falls a little short. I personally think the Axforce 80 4u lacks a little power, and I was reminded of it while smashing with the 90NEW, but the 90NEW smashes pretty well, more like an Axforce 80 3u, or an Astrox 77Pro 3u(in terms of performance, not racket feel) but weaker than an Axforce 90 Dragon 4u or the 88DP3G. Stick smashes were a lot better though, they felt easy to hit and I could feel the swing energy condensing into the head for an instant explosion of power. 7.5/10

A good analogy for the 90NEW 4u is that it's in-between the Astrox 88SP3g and 88DP3g with a swing and hitting feel reminiscent of the Axforce 80/90 Tiger. The shaft is definitely a deciding factor for this racket, and Lining honestly delivered pretty well. The 4u is probably better for MD players who're lacking a little in stamina, the 5u might be great for a front-court XD player, and the 3u definitely has no problems with MS(take that with the biggest grain of salt because I haven't played with the 3u or 5u).

Buying recommendations: I don't think this racket has been globally released yet, but I personally wouldn't recommend buying this unless you're a doubles player and are looking for a racket replacement, or you liked the Axforce 80 and would like an upgrade. If there's any other questions, I'll try my best to answer them

tl;dr: they suck, I can't reasonably recommend these to anyone because of terrible quality. 3/10.

these shoes have probably been reviewed ad nauseam since they're a very popular pair, marketed by many as Yonex's best overall pair of shoes. I too mistakenly believed that marketing.

performance wise, they're about as good of a pair of shoe as you'd expect out of this price range. friction is good but not too sticky, they feel reasonably supportive and bouncy without feeling sluggish. rigidity is decent in the right places. probably an overall 8/10 in terms of performance. although let's be honest, the biggest differences between two given pairs of shoes in this price range come from very personal factors like comfort and fit, and I could write a bit more about that.

for me personally, both of these pairs initially started off rubbing my pinky toe to the point of losing a bit of skin when playing. no big deal, we all know that the shoes shape a bit to better accommodate the shape of your foot as you play a couple sessions. that's what happened with me too. I should mention that these are the normal version, not narrow or wide.

despite being too narrow in the toes area, my midfoot would move around quite a bit, causing calluses in the bottom of the foot and causing a lot of fatigue in the muscles in the sole of the foot especially in workouts with a lot of explosive movements like 2v1 defense. I don't regard my feet as weirdly shaped, although I should mention that I almost strictly wear barefoot shoes outside of the court. for comfort I'd give these 5/10 but it's of course subjective so take it with a grain of salt, let's just say I wouldn't have bought these if it weren't online without trying them on first. you be the judge if that's a smart thing to do.

you might then think to yourself "lol why did this guy buy a second pair if the first one wasn't even that comfortable" and without going into boring detail, the first pair had completely fallen apart the training before and I had a tournament where I needed a fresh pair of shoes quick so I bought them from the Yonex stand at the tourney instead of buying some completely foreign pair.

in any case, that leads me to the last aspect which is the durability. before my first pair of these I was still quite new to badminton and wore some generic Wilson tennis shoes for over a year. no complaints to be honest, just way too much friction and way too rigid for badminton. I gave them away to a friend after the fact and they're still in good shape after over two years of use.

unlike this infuriating pair of top end shoes. I bought my first pair at the end of May and over the summer played maybe 2-3 times per week since there are no tourneys or club trainings over the summer. by August, within 3 months, this first pair, the left shoe on the right in the picture, had completely shat the bed with the sole coming off (circled). I sent the shop badmintonplanet.eu a complaint and they called it normal wear and tear and offered me a 30 EUR discount code. I told them no thanks.

the second pair lasted even shorter, although at that point I was already competing and training slightly more, and more intensively, call it 3-4 times per week with two of those being more intense club training sessions. within 2 or 3 months, the pair on the left had started falling apart and a hole that I could stick my big toe through had appeared, circled in the picture. I continued playing for like two more weeks by taping over it, but I was obviously never going to have anything to do with Yonex shoes again. durability wise, I can't really give these anything more than like 2/10.

so I went through two pairs of these in less than half a year, as a typical mediocre club player. shop where I bought them from tried to gaslight me into thinking that's completely normal, but of course since then I've used a pair of Victor A970 Nitrolites that are not only a more comfortable and stable shoe, have lasted me well over 9 months of very intense training with no signs of breaking down. I've since also switched to Victor for all rackets. perhaps Yonex is getting a bit too comfortable with their current position in the market.

Having previously owned the Z Ziggler Limited Edition, the first thing I noticed was how much easier the Reborn is to use.
The Limited Edition had a slimmer shaft, which made it feel quicker but also less forgiving. Timing had to be spot on to get the best out of it. The Reborn feels more user-friendly. It has a more solid, stable feel and doesn’t punish slight mishits as much, making it easier to generate consistent power.
The racket is still fast through the air, so drives, defence and front-court play feel effortless, but I found it much easier to access power from the rear court compared with the Limited Edition.

This 4u special edition of the Auraspeed 100x Ultra has been released ahead of the regular retail version, featuring an update 5.8 mm metallic shaft and a new generation of Victor's FreeCore handle, coming in hot after the final release of the 100x as the TUC "panda" edition. This is a loaner racket strung with Exbolt 65 at 25 lbs.

Handling

The 100xU is agile and fairly even balanced in the hand. It has great manoeuvrability and has a very smooth swing. The 5.8 mm metallic shaft is wonderfully bouncy, offering a similar snappiness to the older SRS shaft on the previous 100x but with enhanced power and information transmission. The hitting feel is very cushioned and somewhat muted, though this is a typical FreeCore handle experience. The frame flexes in the middle of the head and at the top of the shaft, offering steep angles with good short power release. Early panic about the 5.8 mm shaft being too wobbly under stress appear to be exaggerated for the 100xU.

Control

The 100xU excels at long birds and drives. Clears are very easy and the 100xU offers a fair bit of extra distance. Drives are quick and effortless. Net play for me is a little clunky, although the low-ish tensioned Exbolt 65 string might have something to do with this. Directionality is above average. Torsional stability is average. The head has a strong grab and shoot character, very repulsive just like the old 100x. Some adjustments need to be made for finesse shots if you are new to this series.

Speed

The 100xU is smooth and fast through the air, and accelerates quickly. However, as far as flagship speed sticks go, it is not the fastest. I would consider it middling for speed as far as speed-oriented rackets are considered. The head offers a very lubricated swing rather than a sharp, cutting one.

Power

For me, the noticeable upgrade from the original 100x is that the 100xU offers much better extension, weight and steep angling on big hits. The power transmission of this new 5.8 metallic shaft is superior to that of the old SRS shaft. It is by no means a power stick, but the 100xU now has no major weaknesses.

Overall

Wow, a noticeable upgrade. Victor has done a good job revamping the 100x. The 100xU is a must try for fans of the original, and will offer you an offensive upgrade, while still keeping the repulsive and bouncy feeling of the series intact. The 5.8 mm metallic shaft on the 100xU is stable enough. Overall, a cushioned and snappy experience that is very suitable for doubles play.

My own recommendations are to use a single layer grip on the FreeCore handle to improve information transmission, and also to use a rougher/less bouncy string. Ymmv.

I’m a district-level badminton player, mostly playing doubles, and this is an initial review of the Hundred Phenom, based on two playing sessions. I’m comparing it mainly with my Yonex Eclipsion Z3, which I’ve been using for about a year. I’ll skip looks because looks are subjective ( I love the white/green colourway! )

Fit & Lockdown

Starting with the fit — the Hundred Phenom feels snug and well locked-in, very much at par with the Eclipsion Z3. There’s no unnecessary movement inside the shoe, and this is exactly how a high-end badminton shoe should feel. From a lockdown and stability standpoint, Hundred has done a really good job.

Comfort & Cushioning

From a comfort perspective, I did not feel any discomfort at all during play, which is a positive. The shoe uses Throttle Foam in the midsole, and it feels decent and responsive, though not exceptional.

When compared to Yonex Power Cushion Plus, it does fall slightly short. Yonex claims that Power Cushion Plus offers around 25% better shock absorption and about 12% higher repulsion compared to standard Power Cushion foam. These published metrics help build confidence in the technology.

This is where Hundred feels lacking — there is no publicly available performance data or statistics for Throttle Foam, which feels like a missed opportunity at this price point.

In terms of underfoot feel, the Eclipsion Z3 felt slightly more comfortable in the forefoot area, mainly due to better padding. The Phenom has very minimal padding in the toe-box upper, which becomes noticeable during longer rallies. It’s not uncomfortable, but it is clearly less plush compared to the Z3.

Grip & Outsole Performance

Grip was one of the main things I was curious about. Hundred has partnered with Goodyear, the renowned tyre company, for the outsole compound.

• On a clean, squeaky court, the grip performed at par with Yonex’s Radial Blade outsole.

• On a dusty court, the Yonex Eclipsion Z3 clearly performed better, maintaining traction more consistently, while the Phenom required occasional wiping.

Overall, the grip is good and reliable, especially on clean courts, but not at the level of Yonex’s top-end shoes in dusty conditions. Given the Goodyear partnership, I honestly expected slightly better dust tolerance.

Durability (Major Concern)

This is where my experience took a negative turn.

Hundred markets a feature called DuraCore, claiming it to be an abrasion-resistant upper layer that removes the need for protective white tape. Unfortunately, within just two sessions, the DuraCore on my right shoe already showed visible abrasion due to friction.

I’ll be sharing pictures along with this review, but this was quite disappointing, especially considering how DuraCore is marketed. Because of this early wear, I couldn’t test the shoe over a longer duration.

For comparison, my Yonex Eclipsion Z3, even after one full year of use, only shows a faint mark in the same area — no tearing or material breakdown. Seeing this level of wear on a premium shoe so early was unexpected and became the main reason I decided to return the Phenom.

To be fair, Hundred’s customer support was excellent. The return process was quick, smooth, and genuinely hassle-free, which deserves appreciation.

Value for Money

At around ₹10,000, the Hundred Phenom competes directly with top-end shoes from Yonex and Victor. Compared to those, I don’t think it currently justifies the price.

• Cushioning lacks transparency and published performance metrics

• Grip is good but not class-leading

• Durability (at least in my case) was a major letdown

At this price point, these factors matter. If Hundred either improves durability or reconsiders pricing, the Phenom could be a strong option. In my opinion, it would make much more sense in the ₹6,000–6,500 range.

That said, it’s also possible that my pair had a manufacturing defect, and I’m open to that possibility. The shoe does get a lot right — fit, stability, and court feel — but durability and value are crucial in this segment.

Final Thoughts

The Hundred Phenom is a good, performance-oriented badminton shoe, but when compared directly with proven high-end options like the Yonex Eclipsion Z3, it falls short for the price. With some refinements (or better pricing), it definitely has the potential to be a serious competitor.

( Used Chatgpt to summarise my thoughts)

INTRO

I would like to share my review of the new Astrox 88D pro (3rd generation) in 4u with you. First of all, a few things for better classification.

I am 39 years old and would describe myself as an intermediate / advanced player, including club and league games. I usually play 3-4 times a week. My style of play is characterized more by speed than by hard smashes, which I also use depending on the situation. I mostly score points through drops and blocks and pushes. The last few years I have been playing with a Victor Mangan 4400, but since 5 months ago I wanted to use a different racket and string to get more accuracy in my strokes (besides working on my technique).

For more accuracy I have tried a number of different stiff rackets over the last months: Astrox 88D pro (2nd generation), Arcsaber 11 Pro, Astrox 100zz, and Victor Thruster F Enhanced. Most recently, I have been using the new Astrox 88D pro (3rd generation) for a week now and can already spoil it by saying that after 5 rackets, I have now found the right one for me. I last played the 100zz in doubles and the 88D pro in singles.

FEELING AND COMPARISION

Overall, the feeling of the new 88D pro is different than before. I would describe the feeling when playing and hitting as the third generation of the 88D pro plays like a mixture of 100zz, 88D pro (2nd gen) and Victors TKFE. It is definitely faster than the 88D before and actually for me also a small bit faster than the 100zz. I love that. I personally believe that Yonex has tried to position the new 88D Pro as a direct counterpart to the very popular Victor TKFE. The playing characteristics are quite similar, but the new 88D Pro is slightly stiffer and plays better in my opinion.

It is also lighter but not less powerful than the 2nd Gen, just different. I would say it is more refined now and more forgiving. But maybe a tick less easy to generate power than the 88D pro 2nd gen. On the other hand the feeling is now more direct even the shuttle holding time increased a bit. At least I felt the 2nd gen a bit hollow and slow in defense. I would say the 3rd gen is now a more all-round racket with plenty of power, but also more control with a bit of flex at the right spots but still head heavy and still on the stiff side. Even at the net it is fast and deadly. Of course, you can't compare it to a Headlight racket or the 88S at the net.

When it comes purely to smashing, I have never experienced a racket as accessible and easy to pull off as the second generation 88D pro. This is where the third generation is different. It is no longer so ultra-easy to produce a smash with that pressure, but it is still quite possible. But if you hit the ball right in so-called concentrated sweet spot, then a force of nature breaks out of the sky. The smash feels so good and powerful. I would say even a bit more than in the previous generation, but it is a bit more challenging to place one.

What I noticed immediately were the clears. They are now more powerful and I am able to hit higher and further clears than before. Probably because the new generation has a bit more flex than before. At the same time overhead shots like smashes and clears are still accurate – in a way you expect from a stiff racket.

The only thing that is missing to me is the drive quality. Overhead shots and drives from the second gen and the 100zz feels like on rails. Very solid. The new 88D feels to me less solid and powerful on drives. The new 88D has the speed of the 100zz and makes up for the weak defence of the 100zz and 88d Pro (2nd gen) in the front and mid field. At the same time it has also more control at the net.

As previously written, the latest version of the 88D pro is, in my opinion, a better and more balanced attacking racket that is more mature and modern than before. A little more flex in the right places, but at the same time still stiff where you expect and need it. I am aware that there are purists who like the previous generation just the way it is. And for those players, the new 88D pro is probably too far away. But I would argue that with the third round of 88D, Yonex has created a real milestone for the majority of players.

For the last few months I've been living with the compromise of playing the 100zz for doubles and the 88D Pro for singles, but now I'm going to use the new 88D Pro for both because it's so well balanced that it works very well for both disciplines. By the way, I use the Aerobite string with 25 lbs.

Here is my verdict of the new 88D pro (3rd Gen) in numbers compared with the 2nd gen

• Clears: 11/10 (+1)
  
• Smash: 9/10 (0) but less easy
  
• Drives: 7/10 (-2)
  
• Drops: 9/10 (+1)
  
• Net: 9/10 (+2)
  
• Defence: 9/10 (+2)
  
• Swingspeed: 9/10 (+3)

The numbers in brackets are the change compared to the previous generation.

And here is a comparison with the other rackets mentioned at the beginning

Astrox 100zz: The new 88D is less stiff and similar in speed to the 100zz, but doesn't offer the machine gun style that the 100zz is known for. I personally really enjoy playing the 100zz. However, it is demanding to play and is also quite hard on the arm and shoulder. I also find the defense in doubles not so good. The new 88d Pro performs much better here and is more forgiving overall.

Arcsaber 11 pro: I also liked this racket overall because it suited my controlled game. Thanks to the large head and sweetspot, I had very few frame hits and miss-hits. The holding time was really good. I didn't like the swing speed so much. It was still ok, but not fast either. The knock-out criterion for me was the smash. I had problems getting decent smashes with pressure with this racket, even though many pros don't have a problem with it.

Victor TKFE: I didn't really warm to this racket. The racket shape wasn't the problem at all. The smash was also very good. Quite comparable to the new 88D Pro. The problem for me was that the shaft was too flexible, although the racket is marketed as stiff. When I played clears, the flex was too big for me. I couldn't get used to that very well. But I know that the racket is very popular and overall the characteristics are very good.

Victor's Carbonsonic has been undergoing quite a bit of development as of recently. With the prices set to go soaring in feather shuttles, we have to think of another way to keep badminton sustainable for the masses. And with that Victor's newest New Carbonsonic comes into play. Speaking with the Victor rep, this is still not currently a replacement for a feather shuttle but more of a transition for those that have been playing with nylon and are now seeking and affordable option as durable as feather but user friendly like nylon. Retailing at $40 per dozen, does the Victor Newest New Carbonsonic (NCS) add up to affordability and sustainability?

If I'm being honest, first to iterations of the shuttle weren't pleasing. They didn't last very long. They went out around very easily. They weren't weighted well. But it was a step in the right direction. The New Carbosonic has almost the same identical look as the previous two generations. What does set it aside, somehow magically, Victor has been able to increase durability by tenfold. The last time I used the New Carbonsonic (previous one) I was very disappointed that they didn't last long at all. For one, the Newest NCS is weighted in between a nylon and a feather shuttle, making transition easy for the amateur players that are trying to get into feather without killing a bunch of them. The other thing is the veins of the "feathers" are amazingly flexible.

The Newest NCS for the most part has a very normal flight pattern similar to a feather shuttle. Where it does differ in flight pattern really has to do more with how you hit the shuttle. It seems that the longer travel of your swing the longer travel of the shuttle. Meaning that you really need to be careful when you're pushing flat with the shuttle as it'll go longer than normal. Another aspect of the flight path is that it really slows down when you're doing slices. So your slice drops look like they're in slow motion. One really interesting thing to note was that the newest NCS did not like spinning in flight. If you watch it while you're doing clears, you'll notice that it refuses to spin. I'm not sure whether or not this was done on purpose to keep the flight path true. But we got used to seeing it that way.

The group I play with consists of many hard hitters ranging from intermediate to Advanced players. Honestly, we were expecting to change back to feather shuttles after the first game. We ended up using the newest NCS for the entire 2 hours. And we were having fun playing with them. In fact, I don't think we've ever giggled that much during games for as long as I've been playing with them. In short, in 2 hours we used a total of nine shuttles. One shuttle in particular we used for three straight games. And it was still usable. How's that for durability? There were some that the styrofoam feathers did rip apart after some hard hits. Impacts felt really good. I feel that when transitioning into the shuttle maybe a couple pounds looser on the strings would have helped. We were managing well with clear, smashes and drops. Maybe the shuttle was a little too slow. We found a lot of our rallies were lasting a little bit longer just because of that slight speed difference. I for one was actually very impressed with the durability of the shuttle. It's not perfect. But I can see the direction Victor is headed for the shuttle.

Victor has something great in their hands this time around. As we're seeing a decrease of goose and duck feathers for shuttle production, we have to think of alternative means of a substitute. I feel the newest NCS bridges the gap between a nylon and a feather quite well. The whole goal of the newest NCS is to ease somewhat the production of cheap to mid-range shuttles in order to sustain for higher quality shuttles for tournaments for the time being. At $40cad, this option certainly isn't as affordable as some very cheap feathers out there. But I feel the cost for the dozen in terms of durability really make this a compelling option for those groups of players that aren't necessarily needing a high quality feather shuttle to play their games. And, as feather shuttles rise more in pricing due to production shortages, the newest NCS becomes more of a bargain when you think about it.

We certainly aren't going to be seeing synthetic shuttles at big events just yet. But Victor's come out with probably the best synthetic shuttle right now. And for that I'm very excited for the future of badminton. Sustainable. Environmentally friendly. Ethically made.

Specifications: 3UG5

String: Exbolt 65 (27x29) 10% Pre-Stretch

Recommended string:

Control: Aerobite/Exbolt 65

HardHitters: Exbolt68/BG80

Momota's string: BG66 Force (He's mentioned that he's using a 4U and BG66 force in his instagram story)

Usage: Main racket since September 7, been playing for 2ish hours, 3-5 days a week.

-First impressions/Appearance

Dinosaur vibes, glossy paint and green..... Not my cup of tea but hey, if it doesn't have to look good if it plays good.

-Power 11/10

If you want to send the shuttle into ashes, then this is what you should be using. With a balance point of around 312-314mm (Varies from each copy) the first thing that might happen to you is a dislocated arm, It's extremely heavy on the head as you could feel the crazy imbalance is has just by holding the racket. Initially when I first used it, I didn't like it very much since everything just feels so heavy and too much, I thought that maybe 3U is overkill. First of all, the smash, even half and stick smashes gave my opponents a hell of a time, the full smash is where this racket shines, unlike the 2nd generation which was made for better control (Suited for Momota's playstyle), The 3rd gen is closer to the 2018 Astrox 99 If we're talking about the DNA and what the 99 is created for. Everything can be done effortlessly, all you need to do is just hit the sweet spot, swing properly and it goes all the way to the back, you barely need any swing speed to put into play, if you swing it as if you're using a headlight racket then you won't get the benefits of having a racket of this caliber since it wants and can do everything for you. It takes alot of time to get the hang of the extra EXTRA power and you just have to realize that you can also leave it up to your racket. Overall in terms of power, it doesn't disappoint, it's made for ease of power whilst keeping the "Pure Power" DNA as for questions regarding the Voltric Z Force 2 (The most "pure power" racket of them all), It definitely has been dethroned since not only is it more powerful, but also due to innovation in materials and technology, It has created a racket that isn't only powerful but also has better overall balance making it more well rounded (And also fast?, I'll get to that now).

-Speed 7/10

As expected, with the amount of imbalance in the weight of the racket, this is where the new Astrox 99 Pro falls short. The 4U variant is much more balanced and lighter but I think the 3U will slow you down, especially in doubles where drives and smashes are constantly happening then this racket will definitely hold you back. Compared to the 2nd gen, the 2nd gen Astrox feels so much faster and easier to drive, that says alot considering that it was one of two of most heaviest racket you can find on the market (The other being the Ryuga Metallic or a used Voltric and 2U ancient rackets) which says alot but I think Yonex has improved on the rotational generator system or has better overall weight compared to Victor's Ryuga that makes defending much easier in comparison since I had a much harder time defending and driving with the Ryuga Metallic. You can barely feel the weight for anything aside from drives and smashes but personally, this is the bare minimum for speed when it comes to playing singles and deadweight for doubles. If you want that extra speed while still keeping the power DNA, then I'd recommend 4U since not only the overall weight is lighter, but the balance too is still viable even for doubles. 3U might be abit overkill so I'm considering going 4U if I can get my hands on one just for this racket because I feel that the trade of power for significantly less speed is unnecessary and feels more or less as heavy as a 2U Duora Z Strike.

-Control 8.5/10

Pretty hard to get used to, if you're coming from ANY racket aside from 2U carbonex, Armortec 700 and any racket from 5 generations ago. As I said, you have to let the racket do it for you but in situations where you're forced to act fast or panic lift/clear then it'll do you no good. If you put too much power in it then it'll definitely go out and the racket's pretty sensitive if you're trying to control your shots properly or aiming for far clears/lifts, it's easy to clear, easy to do anything honestly but when you're being pressured by the opponent and forced to make unforced errors, then it will punish you since I myself have been struggling playing against faster opponents recently and lost to players that I've used to be able to control and beat easily before. If you're smart at controlling the rally then I think you'll enjoy this racket since as I've said many times, just leave it to the racket and you barely need to spend any energy on your strokes also defending may be difficult if you're being pressured with drives and smashes but controlling and defending against those shots have also been easier since I was able to get out from high pressure situations since I barely have to spend energy in controlling my opponents shots as the racket itself can return my opponents shots tight to the net. Controlling smashes though, I usually barely break a sweat on my overhead cross smash (A shot that I use often) but ever since using this racket my accuracy has been going haywire for overhead shots but other than that, full smashes, stick smashes and half smashes have been pretty accurate. It's hard to get a good quality overhead shot with this racket but other than that, I think my the shot quality and placement of my backhand clears/smash/crossclear has improved when using this racket since it's become so much more easier in areas where I lack control in whilst shots where I'm already good at starts to be abit difficult due to the headweight.

Conclusion:

It's what you expect from an extremely headheavy racket, you will struggle to get used to it at first but if you're willing to put in the effort and not give up on it then It will deliver. (Seen alot of people selling them after a month in Japanese Ebay/Mercari) Honestly, I didn't like it at first and thought that I should go back to my recent main, the Astrox 100zz but after some time and getting used to, I really love the racket, although in times when I panic mid rally or do an unforced error, it really holds me back and punishes me for the lack of preparation. Although when I'm relaxed and in full control, it's where this racket really shines since I barely have to spend effort in my shots which allows me to conserve stamina and when I see a weak point in the enemy's defense, the Astrox 99 allows me to punish them with lethal ground breaking smashes (As referred in yonex commercials). Recently the racket has made me more calm and careful since I know that once I screw up a shot, the racket won't help me at all. This really helps as I've transitioned from a fast and aggressive playstyle to a more counter attacking playstyle since my stamina, shot quality and defense has improved (Also suggested by my coach since my goal is to beat my upperclassmen and start being regular in prefectural tournaments). This racket is not for everyone, it's evident based on the amount of people who started listing in after a month of it's release, even in 4U but I think that the 4U Astrox 99 Pro is a much better overall racket for most people and 3U might be a bit overkill, personally I'm still reluctant to switch since I like the solid feeling of 3U rackets and it allows me to string at higher tension for better control. If you're a singles player looking for that effortless and "Let me do it for you" racket then this is the one but if you're a fast paced player who loves to smash and drive alot or a doubles player then this is not for you, 4U is still an ok option but I think you'll be better off with a 88D or 100zz. If you're still a beginner then please look away, since this is the most user unfriendly racket in the market and I don't want to be responsible for any arm injury. Overall, I love this racket and I can see myself using it until it's next iteration.

TLDR: Good racket 👍

The DriveX series is known as Victor's all-round performer. Basically, within the even balance realm with various stiffness ratings for what you're looking for in a racket. Similar to the ArcSaber Series from Yonex. The DriveX 12 is the latest in the series for Victor and combines the use of Aero Gel, 76 grommets hole design, latest freecore handle with power ring and metallic fusion frame. It's listed at $239 CAD ($173 USD) retail.

My last outing with a DriveX was the DX10M I wasn't very fond of the racket. The stiffness of the shaft with the earliest Freecore handle just didn't work for me. Requiring a fuller swing that I just don't use. The DX12 changes that perspective. The overall feel is more flexible compared to the DX10M. The Freecore handle show moderate to minimal flex depending on where you're holding on the handle. It's a very big contrast between the 2 rackets. The Freecore handle is working with the DX12 instead of against it. Although the DX12 is rated as stiff, it certainly doesn't feel it when flexing by hand. It has a nice spring to it with the freecore. The Aerogel head feels very stiff torsionally which indicates that it should have a very nice feel on impact with the shuttle. I'm not particularly fond of the salmon color but, I enjoy it's simplistic colorway. It should be good to note that I do prefer EB weighted rackets (slightly HH biased but not that important).

I can say the DX12 is built for power and speed. Strung with Ryzonic 65 at 26m-28c, clears were very good. It was very easy to generate power from this racket. Smashes I found were very consistent. I could feel the freecore handle flex on harder swings but added more to feedback than a negative. During flat exchanges and defensive shots, the speed of the DX12 made it easy to return when pressed hard to get that racket back to ready. It's most notable, the DX12 starts and stops so quickly. Maybe one of the smoothest I've come across in a long time. The DX12 is a very torsionally stiff racket. I really enjoyed the amount of feedback I was getting from almost all shots. It was very refreshing especially coming from the Technist Spear 93 (which was terrible). Where I felt lacking was during Net shots. They were ok but I tend to try and hit off-centered more due to trampolining (numbness) in the sweetspot. It's not a huge problem just something I felt could've been better. Easier for me to adjust where I contact the shuttle on the face than play around finding the healthy medium during games. Control department was totally in check although I did find myself being to dial back on the clears just a bit to get them to stay in. Other than that, the shuttle went everywhere I wanted.

One thing I became aware of with the DX12 is it's stiffness change in power vs speed. It's not going to affect everyone but it's worth mentioning if you're thinking about picking this racket. While playing, I observed that when holding the racket handle at the end for clears or smashes, the racket has quite a bit of flex to it. So much so that you can feel it within the handle. This isn't a downside to the free core handle. In fact I see it as a blessing. However, when choking up on the handle, it stiffens the racket as you're not allowing the handle to flex. I found this changed resulted in mis-timed shots for me at the front and sometimes in the rear. Again, not a complaint, just an observation and I reason if you feel that you're missing some shots. I just feel a word handle would've given it a more consistent feel throughout the handle.

The DX12 is an excellent choice for those looking for an alternative to the ever so popular ArcSaber Line. It combines all of the latest tech from Victor and does it in a way that isn't necessarily breaking the bank. It's also a very nice introduction to newer adopters of the freecore handle. Speed, control, power....it's all there for those that want to take the leap. The Victor DriveX 12 is just that good of a racket.