Badminton is evolving rapidly. Take an example, there's this one groundbreaking 14 years old boy in my country whose already making $40-50,000 per year (which is maybe more than average Joe adults here in Japan) from Yonex sponsorship, national team salary, bonuses, magazine column (coaching column with his dad), prize money, supports (of course all his rackets, gears and wears are provided by Yonex). He's only a third year Junior High student but already in the national B team. All his earning goes to his saving under his name according to his dad (whose also his coach and manager). His name is Koudai Naraoka and he's using the most underrated Yonex racket in BC the NRZS.^^
yeap, he's also making TV appearances now (which of course also pays well) ^^ https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jWfpiax6YO0
NRZS is definitely a good racket, no doubt. If anyone can't wield this racket don't blame the racket, it's more to your own techniques, abilities and playing style.
I couldn't agree more with your statement yes, in USD, of course his earning is humble if compared to the current badminton stars but I have a high hope that he could be the future of badminton for my country ^^
LD and LCW on why Yonex. LD : They paid me craploads more than LiNing. Duh. LCW: My first racket was Yonex and it has been ever since. Coz I have no imagination. Oh, did I mention they pay more? Did you know I'm Datuk? CTC: It's a no brainer. The Four Legends use Yonex. And so will I, coz then I'm guaranteed to be a legend too, because we know it's all about the racket and genetics and training mean nothing. Heck, I picked up a Z-Speed the other day, and *booyah* - women were just hanging off me.
My thoughts exactly, none of those "five stars diamond or platinum" rated rackets will ever make anyone play any better if they don't have the skill or techniques, bottomline it's always skills over rackets not vice versa. In the end it will be skill, heart and physical aspects that will "shine".
There are many players using Duora 7 and Duora 10 in German Open and mostly are the ones that uses Arc 11 before. Interesting.
Most of those players arent big enough to warrant that I think. So, most rackets you see will actually be what they appear to be. Personally I dont think the Duora10 actually plays so different on its different 'sides', and apart from that marketing gimmick it might well be a good racket. I'd bet my favorite racket though that LCW isnt using standard fare or even sth close to it.
yeah he's a huge fan of Taufik so Yonex worked out something so he can learn from the legend himself, there's one last interesting part when Taufik mentioned he never passed on his backhand skill ever to anyone before so the boy 's really lucky (Taufik own his badminton school The Taufik Hidayat Arena but he never coach anyone instead he hires professional coaches including his former head coach) Notice Taufik's also using Duora 10 now? ^^ Mohammad Ahsan is another high profile player from Indonesia that's been using Duora 10 a lot for practice games and exhibitions (he also appeared in DUora10 commercial with LCW but his endorsement with NR900 got him still using the later mentioned racket)
That's very much expected when Yonex's already making a signature rackets with his name on it. I'd be so happy to get just one point off him even he's using repainted Glanz.^^ We'll see him fully kick in the Optimus Prime Duora 10 LCW from the upcoming All England. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaGMczfHfCE
He taught him thumb positioning differs based on shots, eg. clear, slice, and netshots would be thumb on bevel, but for power shots (i.e drive and smash) thumbs goes down and grip tighter. Taufik said everyone has their own way for backhand and he'll have to find which suits himself best during practice. He noticed there were no thumb positioning and change of grip during very shots therefore he gave his advice (which is actually his secret backhand grip)
