I met a few really hard hitters, but their smashs wasn't very effective because they are based on raw power, no angle, no placement and control. When they don't hit your body or you don't take it, the shuttle flies mostly out. If you have quick reactions you can return it easily in a downward direction, because their smash is at the same height as your head, when it reaches you.
Bumping an old but very useful thread here; I don't suppose the list could be given an update? Or has Sir Dink retired from the badminton scene?
Actually this dinky Panda is getting back into badminton more and more. Updating this string review will be quite difficult because a few more things have been learned/realized/updated/factored in now, when it was not before. Will have to gather my thoughts and do a detailed post when I get back in a few hours. In the meantime, in determining your ideal string, the most important factor, assuming comparable repulsion, is your personal string feel preference: soft, medium, hard. Once your string feel preference is established, we can go on...
Quick additional note: Panda's current favorite strings based on hard feel: Overall: BG80 Power @ 34lbs. Best feel/repulsion: NBG98 @ 32lbs. Best for smashing: BG80 Power @ 32lbs. *Panda has not tried the recent top strings by Li-Ning, Victor and Gosen. Will eventually test them and see how they compare.
Glad to see you still around and well Dink! It's not so much of me looking for a string (Settled for BG80P and going to try out NBG98 next week) but more of just having the list updated for everyone here. Especially Apacs; they've got several strings around since this list was made, kinda curious how they perform...
Ahhh, Apacs, their rackets are among the best-bang-for-the-buck, I'm interested to see how their string perform. I'll check around online to see who has Apacs string and if I have time, will review them; thanks.
Yes, please refer to the Panda Power Racket thread, thank you. Back to the string review, after looking at the original post, will update it. It will take a few days as I have already started changing it and will make some improvements.
Dink, would it be possible for you to also print a reference ping for each string, from now on? I mean, accepting the stated thickness of any string would be a bit naive, only the ping will tell us "how much string" there is. So, if you still do them all at 27 lbs (?) and in the same sized racket head (?) that would be really helpful to compare across brands.
Yes, this can be done going forward. Going forward the racket head used will be an AT700/AT900P type frame, the Panda Power TITAN. String tension is no longer a set tension. It is now based on the tension that performs the best for me. Why? We're trying to review and find the best possible performing string. There is no point for me to test string tension that I normally don't play at. The string would not perform for me, it's unfamiliar. So now and going forward I play the string at what is optimum (best performing) for me and that may take some trial and error. An example is BG80 Power, I tried it at 30lbs., felt it was too soft and spongy, prefer BG80, no question...again, at30lbs. Met up with a pro on the tour and I asked what they are using and the reply was the majority are using BG80 Power. I replied it was too soft, he said try it at higher tension. Tried at 32lbs. It was much better. Then tried at 34lbs. and it was ideal, excellent feel while still providing very good power (for me). So...you never know... ...I know, 34lbs. is too high for most rackets and I do not condone stringing at that tension but this is just an example. At 30lbs. I would never use BG80Power but at 34lbs. it's my current favorite string. If you want to experiment and like a hard/crisp feel, maybe try going a bit higher in tension. Likewise, if you like a soft feel, go lower in tension. Maybe try a hard feel string at lower tension rather than a soft or medium feeling string at your current or higher tension and see how it feels to you. So, in conclusion with respect to updating this string review and making it "better": 1) I will try to minimize every variable (same rackets, same shuttles, same string, same play testers) 2) I will use what I feel is the ideal tension for me, for that string (because not every string plays the same) 3) Then I rate the string. 4) You will have the results and now have a consistent guide (at least as consistent as I can make it).
Yes; the tension is going to be higher than normal because I prefer a hard feeling, crisp string bed. So far with the new testing: BG80Power: 34lbs. BG80: 32lbs. BG65: 35lbs. NBG98: 32lbs. BG66UM: 32lbs. Ashaway ZM62 Fire: 32lbs. Ashaway ZM65: 33lbs. Ashaway ZM66 Fire Power: 34lbs. Ashaway ZM69 Fire Power: 34lbs. I'll have my assistant's preferences for comparison/reference as well. Something I have learned recently, Yonex strings play supremely well at higher tension. If you know of other manufacturers or specific string that play well at higher tension, please list them, I will test those first, thanks.
Really interesting You do like them tight, ehh? May I ask, what level are you playing at (or were you playing, if that's the case)? This is sort of relevant to know, when reading the reviews.
Panda is an "R" player, recreational. In all seriousness, I've been around for a while, tested just about all the top badminton gear for years, know quite a few of the past top professionals, their opinions/preferences and have take lessons with them. I'm nothing special but I do know how to test badminton gear and will publish reliable information, to the best of my ability. One day, I may post video of how I test things, that would explain a lot.
Update: yesterday night, informally tested: Aerosonic (@31lbs.), BG66-Force (@33lbs.) and Li-Ning No.1 (@33lbs.) and can only say, wow, life is good - no great! All three were among the best this Panda has tried. Li-Ning No.1 is the biggest surprise. It just plays so well all-around. BG66-Force was what was expected as it's very similar to BG66-UM. Aerosonic is a freak string, has the highest pitch sound of any string Panda has ever tried; it's excellent all-around, super repulsive for drives, crisp and such good feel. All three are excellent for smashing, not sure which is best yet because - again - this was an informal test. Will do a detailed test Friday and over the week and report back. TLDR: Panda informally tested Yonex Aerosonic and BG66-UM, Li-Ning No. 1. All three are Panda approved, all three are so good.
