Hey I found that site if you want to check, their prices seem pretty good (Babolat on sale) http://www.tenniszon.com/2-9-products.html It's a shop in the Montreal area and it ships anywhere in Canada (I don't know for the US though). I hop this helps.
If the new Nanoray 700 is anything to go by, it seems like thick is the new thin now. But seriously, looks can be deceiving though. During play the Blast is quite light and extremely maneuverable.
Here's a short mini-review. Played 3 games with the X-Feel Blast with VS600 @ 27lbs and RKEP G09 grip. I won 2/3 games with it. The X-Feel Blast is slightly head heavy (not as head heavy as Yonex VT80) and stiff (stiffer than Yonex VT80 but less than Victor MX80/Li-Ning N90II). It's quickness (manuverability) is about the same as VT80. It didn't seem as quick as my MX80. Smashes/Clears were good...about equivalent to my MX80/N90II but I can smash harder with my VT80. Accuracy was good too (same as MX80). Drops were so-so. I don't think the hybrid grommetless technology gave the racket more "feel". Drives were decent as well. Overall...not bad...but nothing outstanding with it as well. Good racket for the price of $100. But I'd probably spend a bit more to get a MX80 instead. I still need more time to get used to it as well. Maybe changing the strings also will help get that "feel" Babolat claims. My biggest complaint is that the grip S2 size is too big as I'm used to a smaller grip size (like Yonex G5, Victor G2, or Li-Ning S2). The Babolat S2 = Yonex G4. If Babolat can reduce the X-Feel shaft thickness to the size of their 6.5 Satellite series...I think we would have a clear winner. Note: This is just my opinion and in comparison to my rackets (N90II, VT80, MX80).
so xfeel power = ns9900 + more power? as speedy as ns9900?wow that might be a dream comes true!! got an offer for satalite energy, i own a satalite brio which i think is not bad, fast racket, but power wise so so
anyone can compare xfeel blast to xfeel lite? im thinking about those two i think blast will suit singles play more, but does it have enough control? (the website has blast on the very power site, while the xfeel lite is on the very control site) does xfeel lite provide good power?
i would love to get an update on this! all you guys playing with these 2 rackets for a longer time now - please share your experiences Thank You!
I received my X-Feel Blast today and it looks totally different than the one [MENTION=78995]CanucksDynasty[/MENTION] posted. I suppose the new one is what they call the GT version. I have grommets all around and looks like this: http://www.babolat.com/product/badminton/racket/x-feel-blast Anyway I used it for 2.5 hours tonight and am pretty impressed. It's super stiff and lively. Not as lively as Victor frames but comparable to Adidas. The ZM62 probably contributes to this feel as well.
Yep, the new version are somewhat different. The head is a little bigger (360cm^2 instead of 340cm^2), the colors are different and the grommets are different, as you said. Also, there are 2 kind of grommets, one kind seems softer than the other.
On mine (XF Power) its white (hard) and grey (soft). The grey ones are at 12, 9 and 3 o'clock. Did yours come already strung? Mine was factory strung at around 24lbs, which higher than what you usually see (and what I usually use).
The grey (hard) are in the 3,9 & 12 position and the red (soft) are the rest of the areas. I asked for mine to be strung with ZM65 red @ 24lbs.
It (the newer version) was my favorite racket until I broke the frame. It needs to be more durable against a clash. 2 o'clock and 11o'clcok(red) seems the weak spots against clash.
I also have the new version of Babolat X Feel Blast for some days and I am quite impressed: very good repulsion and really nice feelings at 12 kg. Better power than my Mx JJS but not so manoeuvrable =/ due to relatively wide frame. I prefer this feeling over the Yonex feeling, but IMO Victor Mx series is still the best for the moment.
The maneuverability may not be due to the frame size but grip size. I measured my grip width yesterday and the XFB had the thickest stock grip. Bigger than the Victor G2/5.
Yes the grip size is bigger thant Victor G2 but smaller than Yonex G4 which I use sometimes. I just think Babolat needs to work on the aerodynamics of their rackets.
