Karry
I have tried flagship models from the three major brands last year, and the only one I haven’t tested is the former flagship from the ‘Red Factory’. I didn’t expect it to be the Wind Storm 9000i.
The reason I’ve been slow to write this is that I don’t know how to approach it. The ‘Red Factory’ has always been quite stubborn about 5U rackets, especially when trying to balance strong attacking power. This often results in a high balance point and the use of the best mid-shaft available at the time, which can lead to coordination issues with the racket.
Although the Wind Blade 900i provided me with a great experience, the 9000i did not.
Specifications: 5UG6, with a base, total weight in used condition is 89.91g, balance point 320mm, shaft length 210mm, medium stiffness, box frame, 72-hole string bed, full string groove, warranty 30 pounds, string tension 25-27lbs XB63.
The racket has been on the market for a year, and with the overwhelming negative reviews calling it a “hammer,” the 9000i increasingly feels like Lei Zhenzi’s two hammers. Its black base paint and cyan-purple stickers have become the 9000i’s hallmark. As a flagship model, it features many details, including frame edge embellishments, inner frame decorations, a matte finish, gold lettering, and a bright red Li-Ning logo on the T-joint, adding a touch of mysterious prestige. It looks good and is memorable, a strong suit of the ‘Red Factory’. But believe me, the more stickers it has, the more prone it is to defects.
While many criticize this head-heavy 5U racket setup as overly stubborn, I find it not surprising after using rackets like the 900i, Dragon Tooth, and VTFB. The slightly stiffer shaft and head-heavy feel provide a noticeable power assist, with a “solid” hitting feedback, making it somewhat powerful. Under this setup, the shaft-driven feel is noticeable, and the elasticity is apparent. For high clear shots, many players might adapt to it.
The key issue is how much this setup enhances attacking power and how well it balances swing speed and maneuverability.
Regarding the latter, the oversized swing weight requires more space for the swinging action, making it disadvantageous in fast exchanges, especially in doubles where quick blocking is needed. I don’t know how Yuta Watanabe managed to achieve results with the 9000i. Despite its light weight and the rear swing speed not being slow, it often results in frame hits when reacting quickly or intercepting shots. Additionally, during the swing, the 9000i feels like it “can’t stop” during the deceleration phase, with noticeable frame wobbling affecting continuity. Fortunately, the 210mm long handle can help alleviate this issue by raising the grip position.
Regarding the former, the racket has excellent downward pressure. When hitting from a high point, you can clearly feel the frame smashing the shuttle down, creating a low and sharp trajectory. This results in impressive performance in drop shots and cuts, even without focusing on absolute shuttle speed. However, the lightweight design doesn’t easily compensate for the high-weight frame, and in strong attacks, there’s a feeling of insufficient energy transfer to break through the opponent’s defense. But maintaining pressure with the 9000i requires less effort to achieve effective control, which is convenient and energy-efficient, as long as patience is maintained.
The racket excels in touch and control. Its weight within the 5U range provides a solid feel, surpassing many 4U rackets, and its handling allows for very stable net play. Backcourt lifts and slices continue the excellent downward pressure performance, offering high forgiveness and often producing high-quality net shots. As for passive shot handling and defense, while this racket is extreme, it performs adequately in these areas, neither exceptionally good nor bad.
The prevalence of counterfeit versions of this racket makes me hesitant to recommend it. For players interested in the 9000i, there is a high risk. Personally, I find the Wind Storm 9000 much more usable. As mentioned earlier, any feature of the 9000i is also available in the 9000. I don’t understand why this 5U racket has to handle tasks that a 3U racket can naturally manage, and whether players who struggle with a 3U racket can fully utilize the performance of this 5U racket.
