VICTOR BRAVE SWORD 12 REVIEW

Victor Brave Sword 12 review

Throughout the years I have been using head heavy racket (Voltric Series), as balance and head light racket is not my cup of tea. It has been a suffering year, as the Golfer Elbow (medial epicondylitis) been bugging me, and it is a burden for me on using the head heavy racket, and with the advice from my sport therapy, so is time for a switch.

BS12 is the first choice which came to my mind, as one of my friend been using this, and my idol LYD ; ) so.. I decided to go ahead on this racket.

BS12N (3U G5) BG 66 @26/28 lbs

First impression

This racket look good in term of the painting (grey, white, silver, red) and design. The sword liked frame really make it out of difference from all the famed brands in the market. Holding on the hand it felt “balance” compared to all my Voltric series. It also felt stiffer than i though of a balance stiffness racket, which is good for me as I need it for easy control.

Hitting time

Baseline to baseline

First hit on the shuttle was like “Arrrrr….!!!!!” timing are all out as I so used to head heavy racket, and I cannot get the power out of it, as no momentum feel from the racket. After feel adjustments, slowly i got the timing right, and all the questions had been answered. Two words to described my feeling “Fast and Sharp”. Swinging the racket is very easy and really fast and the way the shuttle flew, was as sharp as it goes……nice……(2thumbs up).

Driving

Fast drive with this racket was way faster than the ZF2 which I reviewed, no wonder why most of the Korean double players like this racket very much. Manoeuvrability is nothing as easy as twist and turn using a pencil. Interception of the shuttle during play and covering the mid court are fantastic… 

Drop shot

Sharp and well controlled as it goes….

Net Play

Accurate and easy, cross court net well been controlled.

Back Hand baseline clear

Still working on my backhand skills…. : (  ..I will said it much more easy to do it with this racket compared to the head heavy rackets. I can even do a backhand smash (min power) and drops easily.

Smashing

1st session it was like “OMG!!! where is my power????”….1st though is I regretted on getting this racket, as the smashes were so numb, and very lack of power…no momentum at all from the frame….

After few sessions I played with this racket, finally I found the solution for this. Smashing with this racket is not all about power, but also the placements, controls and sharpness. It cannot compared with the head heavy racket which is designed for power shot. Once I got the timing and adjustment right, the fast air cutting of the frame actually done a really good job on the smashing, with the faster swing, it “BANG!!!!”…

Defence

Best of the best in this department…I even can drove back the shuttle while defending like a pro ; ) , and sometimes i even can return the almost impossible shots from the opponent. 

Conclusion

This racket had been in the market for sometimes, and it still selling strong, and most of the Korean player included their top double player pair are using it. No doubt about it, this is a really really good racket for double. And now, this racket had been my 1st choice for the game, and all my HH rackets are now for my collection and displaying only…

Note:

I also got myself a blue BS12 with same spec, where I found no differences from the grey BS12 during game. I had read ppl saying there are differences between two of them….well..IMO, there are no differences except the color.

Yonex - Regional Codes

AS - Australia
BR - Brazil
BX - Belgium/Netherlands
CD - Canada
CH - China
CN/CP - Chinese National Team
DK - Denmark
FR - France
GR - Germany
HK - Hong Kong
ID - India
IN/IP - Indonesia/Inter Pacific
JP - Japan
KR - Korea
MA - Malaysia
NZ - New Zealand
SD - Sweden
SP - Singapore/South Pacific
SW - Switzerland
TH - Thailand
TW - Taiwan
UA - United Arab Emirates
UK - United Kingdom
US - USA

LITTLE MOVES WE CAN DO TO IMPROVE OUR GAME

• Get used to stand on your tiptoe always, as standby for all incoming or actions, as you will move and react faster. (This is very useful, try it today, you will discover how fast you can be…)

• Get used to have a small little rhythm skips on your own, as this enhance your speed or returns.

• When you move or react on court, always hold your racquet up.

• ALWAYS hold your racquet UP ALLLLLLL TIME.

• On court…. ALWAYS hold your racquet up above your waist, knee band, stand on tiptoe, hands up, eyes on your opponent hand held racquet.

• Body turn side way for ready hitting position.

• Do a little skip when hitting a baseline to baseline return or clear. (You will found more comfort and easy by doing this).

Trust me....this will definitely improve your speed and game tonight, cheer......

Reference : VICTOR's weibo

BE PASSION AND FEVER FOR THE GAME

Badminton Racquet Care

Badminton Racquet Care

As a badminton game lover and fever, I really love about all the equipments on this game, especially the racquet, which often I treated as my own weapon on the court, and this high cost equipment deserve a good care to prolong its life, and maintain its performance. These are the few points which I think should be done…..

• Avoid direct or indirect contact to high temperature, eq. leaving your racquet inside the car. Car under the sunlight over an hour may raise up to 70 degree C, this may activate the molecule on the carbon made racquet that may misshape or de-shape the racquet frame with high tension we strung on it.

• Always kept it on some place cool, dry and pressure free. Most of us tends to leave the racquet inside our bag when we are not using it or after playing. Moisture, sweat, bacteria, and some pressure may caught on the racquet inside the bag. Best place is, hang on the wall.

• For newly strung string, try not to maximise it usage, like full power smash, drive, or baseline log. Always warm up the new string before serious on the game.

• Always check on the string that strung on the racquet. Change the string if any “gonna break” signs. Don't wait until the string break during the game, as when any signs of breaking, meaning the tension are not “balance” on the frame, this may cause shorten life on the frame.

• Always cut the string immediately after it broke on the game, as unbalance tension on the frame may lead to de-shaping frame.

• Always try to use both side of the string during game, to prolong tension and string life.

• Best way to string your racquet on 4 knots, as on this method, vertical and horizontal tension are pulled in separate time. Also, one side of the string tension doest not affect on the other during breaking of the string on game time.

• To maximise and maintain the shaft stiffness, do not always bend the racquet like testing the flexibility of the racquet.

These are the methods generally will prolong the racquet life. Please do drop any comments if you do have any other ways….

YONEX Z-FORCE II

Review of the Yonex Voltric Z-Force II

At the first look at the racquet, having an impression of “OMG!!!” it look good, in term or the wording design and the colour matching. The matt colour body, which I will called it “Graphite” colour instead of black. The fonts and colour (neon blue) really made it stand out from the racquet. The design is very wise, simple and elegant, plus no other “flower or ribbon” look on the frame and the shaft, it gave an impression of “HighTech & Beyond”...

Physically, the shaft and the frame appeared to be slimmer compared to other racquets, and with a smaller head frame. The frame which is the most noticeable are the grommets design, the “Tungsten Infused Grommets” which Yonex claimed it will maximise the contact time between the shuttle and the string, hence increase more power to the shuttle. I really not sure how does it work, but it really look good and cool on the frame. Other than that, the grommets happened to be inside the frame, which is very difference from the traditional design. Claiming that these will produce more smooth air resistant which give smooth and speedy swing of the racquet.

Hitting time (4U G5,Yonex BG66UM 26/28 lb)

Baseline to baseline

First hit on this racquet gave me an impression of “WOW!!!” , felt so solid and easy to generate power. Even it is an extra stiff and head heavy racquet, but I don't feel any difficulty on handling it. Hitting from baseline to baseline was easy, nice control as well. As I started this racquet without any timing issue at all….love it.

Driving

Fast drive with this racquet was fast and easy, manoeuvrability if this racquet was awesome, I almost can twist and turn my wrist without feeling dragging from the air.

Drop shot

This is fun, the controllability of this racquet is so nice, most of the time I can drop the shuttle to the direction I wanted and close to the net.

Net Play

FUN…FUN..FUN again….the extra stiff of this racquet gave me the control…double loving it.

Back Hand baseline clear

As this is my weakest part of my skill….so…I can't give much comment on this, but I felt I can clear a bit more distance with this racquet….(Need to improve and practice more on my back hand skill)….

Smashing

“WOW!!!!…WOW!!!!!” love it so much on this department…love the hitting sound….very loud and POWER!!!!!!….it really gave me an impression of wanted to smash every shuttle lifted to me….OMG…YONEX really done a great job on this…

Defence

This racquet is very good and fast in defencing, specially with the 4U. Although is head heavy category, I have no problem on controlling it and defenced well. 

Conclusion

For my opinion, Yonex had done a good research on this, with the HeadHeavy for power but does not scarified the speed of racquet. Damn….love the smoothness swing of this racquet really said it all. This racquet really made to be difference compared to other racquet, it brought my games for another level of playing, very unique experience feel every times I using it, and wish more to come.

Badminton Stringing

Does your stringer strung like picture 1?...bad...bad...

picture 2 shows parallel stringing will not place pressure on other side of string...it will prolong tension and durability.

Picture 3 which is should be strung.

so..guys...check ur racquet now....

Reference : BADMINTON 2014, Feb vol 090 (pg 90, 91)by 天堂有羽

Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Badminton shoes size selection and Lacing.

Badminton shoes size selection and Lacing.

Generally we knew that basic design of the badminton shoe are “side tight, front loose” as the footwork mostly are in 米 pattern on the court, stepping in all directions and sudden stop while we playing.

“Side tight” on the shoe will help increase the movement speed, and as well  to prevent heel slippage which may cause injury. “Front loose” is to prevent injury on the toenails, also help in speedy net play.

To get “Front loose” on your shoes, it is important to get the right size for your foot. During the shoe size selection, make sure that your feet is deep push to the tip inside the shoe, and your heel should be left about a thumb size space(abt 1cm). During an intensive movements and exercises,  your feet will swell a bit due to the blood flow to it (this is normal). That is why we must take this into the count during shoe size selection.

“Side tight” which is the main topic we discussing here, as this can be done by different way on lacing the shoe.

LOCK LACING (Picture 1)

Lacing Technique - High Lock:lock lace
• Lace the shoe up to the second-from-top eyelets using any lacing method.
• The ends run straight up on the outside and in through the top eyelets.
• The ends are crossed, then each end is fed under the vertical section on the opposite side.
The ends are returned to the middle for tying, pulling the vertical sections inwards.

Features:
Tightens firmly
Reduces slippage
Harder to loosen

Picture 2 is suitable for flat foot or narrow back heel player.

Picture 3 is suitable for high arch, flat heel or player who always encounter numb feet.

Picture 4 is suitable for normal arch but narrow back heel player.

Reference: BADMINTON， 2014 MARCH VOL 091 (pg 90, 91, 92) by 天堂有羽


Picture 1

Picture 2

Picture 3

Picture 4