Injuries in Badminton is low, mostly owing to overuse

Peter Gade's forehand trickshot

Pretty sick forehand.

Titanium Mesh 10 Review (Ti-10 3rd generation)

Flex: Stiff+
Balance: Headlight
Composition (Frame): U.H.M. Graphite, Ti-Mesh
Composition (Shaft): U.H.M. Graphite
Weight / Grip Size: 3U (85.0-89.9g) / G5
Technology: Built in T-joint, Muscle Power, Ti-mesh

Review Date : 22 March 2009

Racket Type : Yonex Ti-10 Mesh SP
Specs : 3UG5
Strings: Yonex BG66 Tension: 25lbs ,
1 Piece Stringing Stringing Machine : Pacific Stringing machine
Technology : Titanium Mesh, Muscle Power, Ultra High Modulus Graphite, T-joint
Grip: Cyber Plus Beta plus Wilson Pro overgrip
Shuttle Used: RSL Tourney

First Impression: Beautiful color, a mixture of purple, silver and black. There's a hint of red on the sides at 9 o'clock and gold decorating the shaft. There are 2 x ti mesh decals at the sides. Looked somewhat similar to the 1st generation Ti-10 except for the purplish color. The racquet is headlight about 285+/-5mm. The racquet has high swing speed, owing to slim shaft. The racquet is 'long' compared to a shorter carbonex series. This racquet feels solid and well constructed. I found its flexibility to be stiff, rather than extra stiff.

Warm Ups: The swing of this racquet is very fast. It is fantastic when lifting the shuttle and driving. The clears are relatively easy/comfortable to execute. However, this racquet has it's own momentum and the follow through can be tough on the wrist and shoulders. The racquet is headlight and aids in backhand. Does not feel tiring to use.

Game Time: Serving backhands with this racquet is excellent, I can feel that this is a dedicated doubles racquet. Flick serve is easy with this racquet. Hitting drive shots with backhands and forehands is superb. One flick and the shuttles almost touch the backcourt baseline. The clear is also good, but need to control your strength. The smash is fantastic, with a big square head, the follow through is excellent and can generate quite a powerful smash for a headlight racquet. What can I say for defense, this racquet is arguably one of the best defending racquet. The combination of headlight balance and square head gives momentum, allows quick short swing action, allowing easy crosscourt lifts to baseline. Netkills are easy too with this weapon. Drops and sliced drops are average with this racquet, thus, the feel is average with this racquet, hence it's less suited for singles play.

Conclusion: It's the 3rd reincarnation of the popular Yonex Titanium Mesh 10. The racquet is perfect for the doubles game. It is designed for superb defense, great in fast flat shots/drives and powerful smashes. For its price, its performance rivals the top of the line Arcsabers, Armortecs and Nanospeed. Moreover, this racquet is a proven commodity in international competition, commonly wielded by Malaysian and China doubles national team.

Feel: 8.5/10
Control: 9/10
Power: 9/10
Defense: 9.5/10
Maneuverability: 9/10

Pros: Fast Racket Speed, Maneuverability, power and performance over price ratio

Cons: May not hold very high tension and may cause sore joints for less advance players

Suitability: High intermediate/Advance/professional Doubles Players. Not suitable for beginners.

YONEX/Sunrise sports recommendation for player type:
For Advanced players looking for ultimate control and solid feeling

Yonex rating: 1-5
Flex 5
Power 5
Control 5
(Ref: Yonex badminton chart)

Racket Type : Yonex Ti-10 Mesh SP
Specs : 2UG5 ;2U (90.0-94.9g)
Strings: Yonex BG66 Tension: 24lbs , 2 Piece Stringing Stringing
Technology : Titanium Mesh, Muscle Power, Ultra High Modulus Graphite, T-joint
Grip: Cyber Plus Beta plus Wilson Pro overgrip
Shuttle Used: APACS AeroFlight 800/700

Feel: 9/10
Control: 9/10
Power: 9.5/10
Defense: 9/10
Maneuverability: 8.5/10

Conclusion: Similar to the 3U version, except this racquet is slightly more powerful and have better feeling. Defense/maneuverability suffer a tiny bit due to the extra weight.

Yonex Nanospeed 9900 review

Flex: Extra Stiff
Balance: Headlight
Composition (Frame): H.M. Graphite, X-Fullerene
Composition (Shaft): H.M. Graphite, Fullerene
Weight / Grip Size: 3U (85.0-89.9 g) / G3, 4, 5 2U (90.0-94.9 g) / G3, 4, 5
Technologies: X-Fullerene, Isometric, Built in T-joint, Nanoscale Fullerene, C.S. Cap

Review Date : 22nd March 2009
Launch Date : Feb 24 2009
Racket Type : Yonex NanoSpeed 9900 JP
Specs : 2UG5 (JP)
Balance point: 285+/-5 mm
Strings: Yonex Nanogy98 Tension 26lbs
1 Piece Stringing Stringing Machine : Pacific Stringing machine
Grip: Original Grip + Wilson Pro Overgrip
Shuttle Used: RSL tourney 1

First Impression: The anticipation is finally over, when I opened my shipment fron shuttle house Japan, I am amazed how beautiful this racquet look. The racquet has 1 dominant color, black. Red is present at 10 and 2 o'clock, striped ala AT900P. The Metallic orange stripes adorned with white stripes looks beautiful, sort of break the silhoullete of the racquet. The orange color reminds me of a twirling stick candy common in Western counries. Moreover, the bright orange also gives the impression that you are charging up power/electricity to be unleashed. It feels comfortable when I handle the racket, I balance the unstrung racquet on my pinkie finger and measured the balance point, which is true to Yonex specs, headlight. The flex of the racquet is rated extra stiff which is accurate. I did a comparison with a 3UG5 SP version as well.

Warm Ups: The racquet has a solid feel, kinda like the NS9000 series. The speed at which the head swings is extremely fast, exactly like a Ti-10. For less advance players, this can cause some pain in your wrist and shoulders. The racquet has a very aerodynamic slim head which translate into superfast reaction/swing speed. During clears/drives I did feel some vibration. Nevertheless it does not interfere with the control of the shuttlecock as well as drop shots. Baseline to baseline hits is comfortable. Smashes are on par with AT900P, and placement is very accurate. The racquet has a combination of the power of a head heavy racquet and speed of a headlight racquet.

Game Time: Accuracy with backhand serve is excellent, forehand high serve goes high and far. Drives are excellent, both offensive and defensive drives, due to headlight balance. Defense is par excellence, especially backhand defense. This racquet is like a wall to repel steep smashes and easy to backhand lift all the way to the backcourt. The new CS cap and the long handle allows thumb grip for faster reaction time and easier for netkills as well. The clear and smashes are excellent. Although the follow through feels like a headheavy racquet, due to the very fast head speed. Lifts and net shots are easy. This racquet has very good playability both front court and back court. This racquet really shines at defense with the backhand. Backhand with this racquet is superb, the swing speed allows easier clears and smashes.

Conclusion: NS9900 is the latest Nanospeed high end series. It definitely has the fastest racket head swing compare with the rest of the NS Series. Combined with the extra stiffness of the shaft, this racquet can really sting with smashes and drives. Durability of the racket frame is enhanced by doing away with the extra grommets of the NS9000 series making it strung the same way as an Arcsaber 10. The 3U version of the racquet is lighter and has the same characteristics as the 2U and but 3U easier to use in doubles. I would recommend a 3U for doubles and a 2U for singles.

Feel: 9/10
Control: 9/10
Power: 9.5/10
Defense: 9/10
Maneuverability: 9.5/10

Total: 9.2/10

Pros: Very fast head speed, excellent defence, power and maneuverability

Cons: Price and probably best used by high intermediate or Advanced players. Owing to the headlight balance and very fast swing speed, it may cause sore joints.

Suitability: 3U for Intermediate/Advance Doubles Players and 2U for singles player

YONEX/Sunrise sports recommendation for player type:
Solid feel impact for smash based hard hitters looking for more power and durability
Yonex rating 1-5
Power 5
Control 5
Flex 5
(Ref: Yonex badminton chart)

Racket Type : Yonex NanoSpeed 9900 SP

Specs : 3UG5 (SP)
Balance point: 285+/-5 mm
Strings: Yonex BG66 @ Tension 25 lbs
2 Piece Stringing Stringing Machine : Yonex ES5 PROTECH
Grip: Karakal super PU grip + Toalson Overgrip
Shuttle Used: APACS Aeroflight 700

Feel: 8.5/10
Control: 8.5/10
Power: 9/10
Defense: 10/10
Maneuverability: 10/10

All England 2009

The story of All-England 2009 was a sweep by China of all the titles.

The other nations need to catch up.

The story of the tournament was the fightback by Tine Rasmussen in the semi-finals, where she clawed back from the grave down 13-4 to set up and take the rubber game. Unfortunately, she lost to China's rising star, Wang Yihan.

Yonex Nanospeed 9900

Yonex has just launched its new flagship Nanospeed racquet, the 9900 for the All-England Super Series Competition on the 24th of February. Preliminary review indicates that it is extra-stiff and is actually Nanospeed 9900 in different colors.

The shaft is made up of HM Graphite + Fullerene
and the Head is made up of HM Graphite + X-Fullerene

I am a huge fan of the Nanospeed 9000X, and should have no trouble with the 9900. :)

The colors is basically a throw back to the Carbonex series, with black being the dominant color.