I too have a preference for head heavy rackets, and I've had a similar feeling with the MX80. And I find it odd that you still haven't reviewed this racket, which is arguably Victor's most popular racket ever. Even though it's more than 2 years since initial release, many amateur and pro players are still using it. My "go to" racket is still my 3U Z-Force (I have a 4U Z-Force as well, which isn't much different from the 3U in terms of overall "effect of play" once adapted), but I'm finding the MX80 to be rather excellent too. Paul, what I also wanted to caution you and readers is that string tension (and type) plays a huge role to the overall feel of the racket. My MX80 is strung with BG66UM at nearly 30 pounds (I asked for 27 pounds, but it's significantly higher than that) and that could be a reason why I am liking the racket so much. I've never actually tried playing beyond 27 pounds. So the fact that you strung the LHI at 4-5 pounds higher than the other rackets you reviewed makes it a completely "unfair" test. Just my opinion and some observations - I'm not taking anything away from your otherwise very good reviews.
Thanks for the heads up. I have been stringing for over 25 years so I do feel I can make a judgement on a racket taking into consideration tension. Sadly I had very little opportunity to test MX80 as this wasn't a racket my retailer had as a demo. They sold a few but I didn't get the chance to playtest and review. I can't say for sure whether BSLHI is identical to BS11. My retailer does not have BS11 and therefore I cannot do a comparison. Sadly I have to work with the tools I have and sometimes this works favourably and other times there are gaps. At the moment the only rackets I am being given are Victor as my retailer has nothing new from other manufacturers. So, in between me trying to write more articles, and think of new videos which I hope to film at Lilleshall in September and October I've haven't time for any more as I have to work too. Paul www.badminton-coach.co.uk
I have been used LHI for 2 months.. It is nice and i feel better feeling regarding the smash compare with BS 11.
Hi..could you please share where is the position that you have applied the weight? (pls help to elaborate on the braveswords sweetspot position, and weight added) Thanks.
I used to play a lot with the BRS 12 and BRS 12N in 4U, 4 months ago I bought the BRS LHI 4U, I just loved it, very flexible but with some good repulsive string (like BG66UM) the drives are still a pleasure, I sure lost some accuracy for my drops and hairpin but overall it really improved my game (which is double exclusively). This is a pic of my racket stringed by myself 26x24lbs: I am big fan of Victor but I start to think they overprice their racket and start to look for some other brand (especially Apacs atm). It will be a broken heart to give up this bravesword frame. It is just so fast and with this sound.... raah!
There are quite a few brands that has models which has similar frame like Victor BS and MX series. I know Forza uses hexagon frame and so does Ashaway. You can also consider RKEP XP series, the frame is really fast.
http://id.victorsport.com/product_detail_4968.html Looking at the RRI, did they get the flex and balance mixed up? rri looks like a 4/5 bal on a 3/5 stiffness. BS12 it is same balance but stiffer, but this rri looks more similar to MX60 to me
I do. LHI is like a more powerful version of the BS12, but stiffer. And unfortunately I got the BS12 "curse"... whereby I am used to the mid stiff of BS12, and anything stiffer than that is now alien to me
Hang on. Isn't the LHI a good 10mm head heavier than a BS12? It's a tweaked BS11, so it should play nothing like a BS12.
