Karry
The days still begin with caffeine and end with zolpidem.
Sometimes, even when holding a racket I’ve never used before, I’ve lost the excitement and curiosity I used to have during tests. Instead, there’s just a faint sense of dread about completing the task.
I still haven’t returned to the joyful state I was in before. But since the Sky Realm series has more than just the Star Shadow, I might as well continue with the simple goal of distinguishing each of them bit by bit.
Specifications: 4UG5, with grip tape, total weight 91.7g in use, balance point 278mm, shaft length 220mm, soft flex, fluid box-shaped frame, 76-hole string bed, 9-3 o’clock groove, warranty up to 26 lbs, strung at 24–26 lbs with VBS66N.
Since it’s from the same series, there are naturally no major changes in terms of style. The Star Cloud‘s frame pattern has transformed into a design resembling swirling clouds, making it visually richer. The color scheme has shifted to blue-gray, which still looks very refreshing. The grommets have turned yellow, but aside from that, there’s no difference. However, neither in design nor specifications do the three models of the Sky Realm series show much variation—so are they essentially the same racket?
As the testing progressed, the differences between the Star Cloud and Star Shadow started to emerge. After adding the grip tape, the Star Shadow‘s weight became higher but its balance point lower. This is likely due to quality control issues, adding an element of unpredictability. The Star Cloud’s balance point is an astonishingly low 278mm, which I’ve never seen before. Perhaps it’s due to the product’s large tolerance, which makes my Star Shadow something of a lucky gem.
When held, the feel of the Star Cloud is just as solid as the Star Shadow, and at this stage, it’s hard to tell the difference between the two. But when swung, you can feel that the Star Cloud is more agile in raising the racket and less prone to deformation during swings. This helps explain its performance in match situations.
A lower balance point means improved agility for the racket. During the warm-up, when practicing high clears, compared to the Star Shadow, the Star Cloud offers more direct feedback upon hitting the shuttle. The sluggish feel of the shot is reduced, and while the Star Cloud is just as easy to use, its power-absorbing to power-releasing ratio is slightly lower. Given that the Star Cloud’s strings are two weeks newer than the Star Shadow’s, I believe it at least indicates one thing: the Star Cloud‘s shaft stiffness is slightly higher. This was also confirmed during defensive play—when receiving smashes or when using power to lift the shuttle diagonally, the feedback felt more crisp and precise, with clearer and easier-to-execute lifts.
The increase in stiffness significantly enhances the competitive experience.
Let’s start with high clears and smashes. Due to the Star Cloud’s firmer shot output, the power threshold is slightly higher, but the shaft can store more energy, resulting in more direct feedback and crisper shots. By focusing energy more precisely, the Star Cloud can deliver fast flat clears, demonstrating a certain level of explosiveness. However, with backcourt drops or sliced shots, the shuttle tends to snag in the frame and string bed, often resulting in drop shots falling short, which will need some adjustment over time.
The feel of flat drives has significantly improved, with the racket capable of handling consecutive exchanges and providing faster shot responses, giving me more confidence to engage my opponent in rallies near the net. However, due to the shaft’s longer recovery time after deformation during continuous swings, there’s a risk of mistimed shots when the pace picks up.
The Star Cloud might be the best racket in the Sky Realm series for smashes. The improved shaft texture gives the smashes more power—it no longer feels weak. When practicing smashes, especially when someone feeds high shots, the Star Cloud exhibits a strong “syrupy” feel, reminiscent of the TK15. Despite its low balance point, its light weight makes it easier to judge the optimal timing to hit the shuttle at the highest point for an attack, without the shuttle floating out of control. Whether it’s steep or powerful smashes, the shots clearly have more power, while still maintaining decent follow-through capabilities. You can think of it as a softer version of the 9001, which should make it easier to understand.
I’m still taking it easy, but the Star Cloud has improved my competitive performance, and that’s my impression of it. I’m glad that through this racket, I’ve been able to regain a bit of my old form.
