Li-ning n99 and n50ii

Discussion in 'Badminton Rackets / Equipment' started by bestindigital, Feb 27, 2018.

Tags:
  1. bestindigital

    bestindigital Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    11
    Occupation:
    Data Engineer
    Location:
    Saint Louis
    DSC_8101.jpg DSC_8105.jpg DSC_8110.jpg DSC_8100.jpg Collage 2018-02-27 10_52_30.jpg Got a pair of Li-ning n99 (1 blue, 1 gold paint scheme). I haven't played with them yet, but will probably do that tomorrow. I have been playing with a pair of n50ii for several months and I love them. They've clashed a few times when playing with newbies at the club, but so far not even a crack .. just the expected paint chips.

    First impression - n99 is head-heavier than the n50ii. Beautifully understated rackets. I like the n50ii for all-round play (I like playing at the net in doubles (60%) and 40% at the back court). My smash technique definitely needs improvement, but when I do it correctly, the n50ii produces powerful smashes. But when I tried my friend's Yonex ZForce 2 .. the smash was not only powerful, but the direction was much better controlled. Almost like it went exactly where I aimed, as opposed to the n50ii which goes in the general direction of where I aim.

    I'll post detailed review after I use it a few times.
     
    #1 bestindigital, Feb 27, 2018
    Last edited: Feb 27, 2018
    Deepclean1122 likes this.
  2. Deepclean1122

    Deepclean1122 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2017
    Messages:
    121
    Likes Received:
    16
    Location:
    Canada
    Will wait for ur good review on the n99.
     
    bestindigital likes this.
  3. bestindigital

    bestindigital Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    11
    Occupation:
    Data Engineer
    Location:
    Saint Louis
    So I played with it for about 4 hours. Smashes are way more powerful and more importantly, direction is well controlled than the n50ii. It is a bit heavier so I find that my defense went down a bit. But I feel completely at ease playing with it now. It's not as stiff as the ZF2, but I am missing very few shots due to the racket's fault - mostly just the slight delay in my timing (having used the lighter n50ii), which will fix itself the more I play with it. Clears were initially feeling weird, but as I got the hang of the racket, it became right. I am 6' 2" and 200 lbs, so am not a small guy. I lift weights regularly as well, so the weight will not be an issue for me after a few more sessions. But for smaller guys, I can see how it will not be easy to defend in fast games.
     
    Deepclean1122 likes this.
  4. Kokai

    Kokai Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 14, 2018
    Messages:
    157
    Likes Received:
    19
    Location:
    Canada
    How are you finding it compared to the ZF2?

    I personally moved from 3U BS12 and found it very difficult to use. Recently picked up a 4U ZF2 and enjoyed using it. Oddly enough as I began using the ZF2, my N99 also felt like it was easier to use.
     
  5. bestindigital

    bestindigital Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    11
    Occupation:
    Data Engineer
    Location:
    Saint Louis
    ZF2 .. when I first used it, my skill level was not high and I was not able to make good use of it. Smashes were not that powerful, I wasn't able to control the shots. Now, when I tried the ZF2, I was able to control well and generate power. The n99 is easier to control than ZF2, and power is almost the same. So I agree with your experience.
     
  6. Dhandapani

    Dhandapani Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jan 10, 2017
    Messages:
    72
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    India
    Can any suggest which is better model , when compare to N99 or N9ii or N90IV
    Both offensive and defensive
     
    Stever7425 likes this.
  7. bestindigital

    bestindigital Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    11
    Occupation:
    Data Engineer
    Location:
    Saint Louis
    I have not tried the n90iv or n9ii

    I've only used the following Li-ning rackets (n77, n50ii, n99). Of these, the n50ii is the easiest to use, for all-round play. I found it excellent to use for defending and at the net, but lacking power for smashes and drives. With the n99, now my smashes are much more powerful, as well as controlled. Drives are way better. But, defending and net play is more difficult .. being slower to use compared to n50-ii. The n77, which I used 2 years ago, was also great for all-round play. Nothing really sticks out to me on that model.
     
  8. Parth Nayak

    Parth Nayak Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2017
    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    42
    Location:
    Mumbai
    How stiff is N99 actually ? Different websites have different measurement of its stiffness.
     
  9. Parth Nayak

    Parth Nayak Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 9, 2017
    Messages:
    223
    Likes Received:
    42
    Location:
    Mumbai
    And I also saw from some review that airstream leads to very small sweet spot - is it so ?
     
  10. bestindigital

    bestindigital Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    11
    Occupation:
    Data Engineer
    Location:
    Saint Louis
    Subjectively comparing the stiffness between a Yonex Voltric 7, Victor Jetspeed 10, Li-ning n50-ii and Li-ning n99, the n99 seems to be the stiffest. Here are some photos comparing the heads of the above rackets. The n99 head is noticeably bigger than Jetspeed 10, slightly bigger than n50ii and almost exactly the same size as Voltric 7. When I played with the n99, I noticed a bit of difference in the sweet spot, compared to the n50ii which is more forgiving. But, compared to ZForce 2, the n99 has a bigger sweet spot and it only took me 2 games to get used to the n99 and now I love it.

    IMG_20180321_083835783 copy.jpg IMG_20180321_083856328 copy.jpg IMG_20180321_083917209 copy.jpg IMG_20180321_083928540 copy.jpg IMG_20180321_083944624 copy.jpg IMG_20180321_083944624.jpg
     
  11. Spawny

    Spawny Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    Messages:
    47
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Malaysia
    Just want to share my experience about the N99, I recently purchased the N99 and used for about 5 sessions and here is my thoughts about it. I would consider myself to be intermediate player, played in small competitions but not at state level or anything. Stringing the racket with BG80power @28lbs and tried the racket mostly in doubles, I would consider myself as a rounder player where I will play whichever place in the court. Attack i would rate 8/10 thanks to the weight on the frame, control I would also rate it 8/10 as I'm able to place the ball wherever i wanted.

    Now things get bad on defense.... I'm not sure but I'm not able to defend well with this racket, especially during lift from smashes as it takes a lot of effort to clear to the back of the court. I also owned the Yonex Lindan Force and comparing this to the N99 I could clear effortless with LF. I think maybe the issue is that racket is one of the first 3U racket i bought as I use mostly 4G racket for doubles, only reason I got the racket cause I got a good price on it and it looks super high quality and paint job is excellent. The racket I was using before I bought the N99 was the Voltric 80 E-tune for 4U and the frame broke cause I was stringing the racket on 28lbs and it didn't last on me, this racket I had no issues with so i thought N99 would give me a similar feel but I must have misjudged.

    I would say this racket would be more suitable for singles (which i think this racket is design for lol). As for doubles I would suggest maybe the N7II which I think i should had bought it, but I bought the N99 cheaper than the N7II otherwise I would have bought the racket.
     
    bestindigital likes this.
  12. bestindigital

    bestindigital Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 17, 2014
    Messages:
    135
    Likes Received:
    11
    Occupation:
    Data Engineer
    Location:
    Saint Louis
    I suppose it also depends on the physical size of the player. I am 6 feet 2 inches tall and moderately powerful. So it works for me for defense as well, although not as easily as the n55ii or other lighter frames.
     
  13. Cesium

    Cesium Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 12, 2018
    Messages:
    262
    Likes Received:
    81
    Occupation:
    Web Developer
    Location:
    Canada
    n99 felt very wobbly and didn't do very well at 28lbs+ tensions. I think 26lbs is the ideal tension for this racket
     
  14. fug4234

    fug4234 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2018
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Kuala Lumpur
    Hi there I'm also from Malaysia, how much did you pay for the N99? RM550?
     
  15. Spawny

    Spawny Regular Member

    Joined:
    Feb 7, 2017
    Messages:
    47
    Likes Received:
    22
    Location:
    Malaysia
    550 with string and grip, but if your going to buy a racket from Li Ning for doubles i suggest the N7II or N9II which is hell much faster and suits doubles more, N99 is more suited for singles IMHO.
     
    fug4234 likes this.
  16. fug4234

    fug4234 New Member

    Joined:
    Aug 5, 2018
    Messages:
    11
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Kuala Lumpur
    Yeah I'm waiting for 11.11 discount I might get N9ii directly from LN official store in JD. I'm so intrigued by the design, since I already have 3D Caliber I might try Turbocharging as well. Recently they have launched quite a number of new rackets in their market but they didn't make much effort to promote outside the region. Like 3D Caliber 500 and more.
     

    Attached Files:

  17. francisdeek

    francisdeek New Member

    Joined:
    Sep 8, 2012
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Malaysia
    Hi there, I am also from Malaysia and I got the N99 for just RM470 at a local dealer.
     
  18. LinHalu

    LinHalu Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2017
    Messages:
    188
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    Singapore
    U think it will be suitable for a male mixed doubles player who smashes a lot?
     
  19. boyzandrew

    boyzandrew New Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2016
    Messages:
    3
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    mALAYSIA
    May I know which dealer you got from for that good price?
     
  20. LinHalu

    LinHalu Regular Member

    Joined:
    Apr 15, 2017
    Messages:
    188
    Likes Received:
    21
    Location:
    Singapore
    meanwhile it cant really be found in sg. is there any where i can get in malaysia? (preferably JB)
     

Share This Page