Racket Series: Bonny Honor 002

Karry September 19, 2024 0

Not long ago, a badminton friend asked if Poly had any offensive rackets with a balance point around 305 mm. After some thought, I realized that apart from some classic old models like the 2013P/L series, most of Poly’s current product development trends toward balance, ease of use, and lightweight speed. Truly aggressive, hard-hitting rackets are indeed rare, but they do exist. This Honor 002 in my hand is enough to represent Poly’s offensive rackets (I haven’t tried its older brother, the Honor 001, but it seems to be a heavier and more aggressive version, and many group members have given it feedback as extremely powerful and satisfying).

Appearance: It’s hard to imagine Poly having such a design. Most of Poly’s high-end rackets use glossy paint with gold foil techniques or simply use a matte finish with no decoration, like the Infinity and 1982 series. However, the Honor 002, with its semi-matte finish, first of all, feels very high-quality, without a cheap sensation. The laser gold foil decals on the shaft and frame look very stylish, giving a contrasting vibe. The whole racket is black and pink, with a gradient from pink to black to pink from the top of the frame to the shaft to the cone. The asymmetrical paint pattern is something I personally love. After all, the pinker the racket, the fiercer the smashes. Paired with magenta strings and grip, it strikes the perfect balance between flashiness and power. This breakthrough in aesthetics is definitely something that consumers will appreciate.

Specifications: 4UG5, full groove, 76-hole string bed, small flat head, 205 mm handle length, 46T shaft material with a 220 mm shaft length, total weight of 94.5g with grip and no butt cap, balance point of 303±2mm, strung with VBS66N at 25-27 lbs, warranty for 30 lbs.

Playing experience: With a racket marked with a balance point of 305±0mm, as mentioned before, this confident marking indirectly shows its high-end positioning in Poly’s product line. The Honor 002 belongs to the Infinity series, featuring the same small frame with a strong focus on power. Although it’s a 4U racket, it feels solid, with a heavy swing weight and significant head weight, providing excellent downward pressure. Compared to another classic 3U weapon from the Infinity series, the Lampard, the Lampard has a lower balance point, and its head is not as heavy. In terms of swing speed, the Honor 002 feels slightly faster due to its lighter weight. Regarding offensive performance, I personally think it surpasses the Lampard. The shaft is flexible yet firm, with a clear directional feel, delivering sharp smashes. Both drive shots and heavy backcourt smashes maintain high quality while not placing too much burden on the wrist or stamina. This is not an overly forgiving racket; it requires a certain level of power to unlock its full potential. High, deep drives with backcourt pressure are very precise. Perhaps because it’s a new racket, its overall shock absorption is also quite good, noticeably improved from the previous J20 series, though there’s still some vibration at the moment of impact.

In flat exchanges, the excellent control of the Honor 002 plays a major role. Its quick rebound rate doesn’t hold you back, allowing you to continuously apply pressure while also disengaging quickly. Each shot transitions smoothly and comfortably. There are two points to be mindful of: first, this is a racket that requires some adaptation or has a bit of a skill barrier. Although its smashes are ferocious, the small frame means its margin for error is low. Along with its fast swing speed, it demands good racket-handling skills from the player. Occasionally hitting the frame might create an unexpected advantage but can also lead to a passive situation (although the paintwork is durable). Second, its performance at the net is relatively average, requiring wrist and finger strength for control. While it’s fine for net kills, it doesn’t offer much assistance when engaging in net play. Therefore, I believe this is an extremely distinctive singles-oriented offensive racket. For doubles, I recommend using it more in backcourt rotations.

Conclusion: Some people often complain that Poly tends to make their rackets too soft and easy to use. Especially with their balanced and speed-oriented rackets, while they are fast, they often sacrifice backcourt offensive power, or you have to switch to a 3U model, which makes it harder to balance speed and energy-saving. As of now, if you’re looking for a racket that combines both power and agility among Poly’s many products, the Honor 002/001 might just be the best solution.