Been searching and can't find a thread for this. I'm wondering if which rackets per brand will become classic favorites. I know Yonex has a lot but what about other brands? What do you think will become classics or collectibles? Feel free to add other brands. Yonex: Cab series (Cab 21) Muscle power series (mp99, mp100) Titanium series (Ti-10) Li-ning N90 woods Victor Meteor series Gosen ? Kumpoo ? Mizuno ? Kason TSF series Twister series (C7, F9) Carlton ? Forza ?
I’d say the Carlton powerblade and airblade series would be classics Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
You have particular model number/names in mind for the powerblade and airblade? I currently have the nanolite series but I dunno if it can be considered as classic.
No I don’t to be honest, Peter Rasmussen used to use the powerblade, correct me if I’m wrong but I think it was the 9000 Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
I’m looking at a Carbonex 15 on EBay at the moment as it was the racquet I played with when I was younger. Thinking of bidding on it just for nostalgia’s sake but I’m worried that I’ll be disappointed when I play with it compared to my DZS and Astrox 77
Victor Bravesword I remember seeing a poll from badmintoncn and the top choices (not including those you already stated) had: Yonex AT900P/T Gosen Ryoga Yonex Arcsaber 10 Gosen Gungnir Beta
There are too many to name and is quite subjective as to what is considered a "classic". I personally consider classics as iconic racquets that were highly regarded/popular during their time and will remain memorable and remarkable in their own rights. For me there has only been a handful of racquets that I would consider "classics". Boron 2 Carbonex 20 and 21 Ti-10 MP99 and 100 AT900P Bravesword 12 But of those racquets there were only a few that were real "game changers". Carbonex 20/21 - epitomises the box shape frame and built-in t-joint in an oval shape head. Ti10 - First long 675mm racquet and use of titanium and one of the first to adopt the isometric head shape. This for me was the beginning of the "modern day" racquet and still is one of the best racquets ever made. Bravesword - This range was about speed but done without sacrificing other attributes. For me, this is the best range of racquets ever made - even to this day, a decade or so since it was launched. It had pretty much everything you wanted in a racquet; power, control, feel, speed etc. But it achieves all this with what seems like a simple design. It is the one that I feel will stand the test of time and remain the racquet that has set the bar higher than ever before. No wonder the likes Li Ning, Carlton, Ashaway and many others have copied it. Obviously there has been many other racquets in the past few decades, but none of them were really "game changers". The Arc-ZS was notable but it was really an "experience" you had to try rather than a game changer. It was almost like a statement from Yonex to showcase what they were technically capable of - just like the NRZS. It still had flaws that if Yonex had fixed could have made it an incredible racquet. Other racquets over the years such as Muscle Power, Armortec, ArcSaber, Nanospeed, Voltric, Nanoray and even the new Astrox series are decent racquets but they were largely variants of the same fundamental concepts. They were not really innovative enough to be considered a significant milestone in technology. For me, aside from Victor, almost all other manufacturers were really taking cues/ideas from Yonex or Victor and never really innovated and were again largely variations of the same theme, so I have not really considered them. Admittedly some manufacturers such as Gosen have tried to break that mould and have come up with some interesting ideas but have not really been that successful.
Looks like others are nostalgic when it comes to the Carbonex 15 in average condition as it sold for £67.
I hope so... I have a Voltric Z-Force II LCW edition... but with so many re-paints of the racket I'm not sure if it will be scarce in the future.
I may have a chance to get a Ti-10... is it really that good? I may try to find AT900 and MP99... not sure if I can wield a MP100 though... What brand is Boron 2?
Yonex: TI-10, MP99, Arc10, NS9000, NS9900, AT700 Victor: SW32, SW35, MX80, BS12 Li-Ning: N50, N55, N90
It may be a classic but it doesn't mean it will suit you. I personally loved the Ti10 in 2U but since my shoulder injury many years ago, it has become too heavy for me. Although it still is one of the best racquets ever made - so much so, KKK actually used it again only a few years ago in his retirement match. Boron 2 is a Yonex racquet that was popular with the professionals around the early 90s. Noteably used by the legend Zhao Jian Hua. It's a very rare racquet now.
AT 700 is already a classic. But not a fan of the other older Yonex rackets because they simply feel like slower versions of Yonex's current line up
refering to the "top" brands I would say: Li Ning N90 (surely because of Lin dan) Victor BS12 (blue paintjob) Yonex AT700 (I still have one)
