[Review Experience] YONEX VOLTRIC Z-FORCE Ⅱ (VTZF2 / Second Sister)

Jayce September 6, 2024 3 0

[Preface].

In February 2014, YONEX released the VOLTRIC Z-FORCE Ⅱ badminton racket, referred to as ZF2, which is generally known as “Second Sister Husband” in the community.ZF2 is favoured by Lin Dan, Lee Cong Wei, He Bingjiao, and many other big shots, and it is a rather legendary racket.

Officially, at the time of its release (2014), the ZF2 was the pinnacle of YONEX’s “offensive rackets”. Even now, the ZF2 is still the best “offensive racket” of all time.

The ZF2 is available in both 3U and 4U weight sizes.
As an “attack racket”, many people feel that the ZF2’s magic lies in the 3U.
Theoretically, the 3U ZF2 feels more solid and kills the ball harder. So in order to push an “attacking racket” to the limit, many people are pushing the 3U ZF2 so hard that they wish YONEX would come up with a 2U ZF2.

Some of the fans of the 3U ZF2 are 3U ZF2 users, who have actually used and liked the 3U ZF2, while others are followers of the 3U ZF2. After all, 3U ZF2 has developed into a stereotype: when newbies are looking for a badminton racket, when they are blindly recommended, they usually recommend 3U ZF2.

It is said that 3U ZF2 is powerful.
What is the existence of 4U ZF2? Is it a compromise of the 3U version?
Let’s take a look at a poll in a foreign badminton forum: 3U ZF2, 4U ZF2, 4U Sky Axe 99, which one is the best racket in your heart?

I thought 3U ZF2 would win by a landslide …… I didn’t realise that 4U ZF2 had the highest support. Do foreign players not have enough faith in 3U ZF2? Or is there something else about 4U ZF2?

Let’s not talk about foreign countries. In the TW badminton market, 4U ZF2 is also more popular than 3U, and better used than 3U. I have 3U ZF2 original colour JP version, also have 4U ZF2 original colour JP version. I will write a side-by-side comparison when I have time, so stay tuned.

[Appearance]
I bought this 4U ZF2 in original colour, JP version with G5 grip .
The grey and black racket body, with grey/blue stickers, creates an ink-blue visual impression, overall calm and atmospheric, the painting style is deep in my heart.
The appearance of ZF2 gives a “well-built” feeling. From the racket frame, T-head, centre pole, cone cover, to the handle, every part is slim and not bulky.

The frame of the ZF2 is a small frame, smaller than that of a normal racket. The frame shape is a “fluid type box frame”, which improves the wind resistance based on the traditional box frame. That is to say, it retains the solid hitting feeling of the box frame and also improves the swing speed.

The ZF2 has an incredibly thin centre stick of just 6.7mm, which at the time of the ZF2’s release (2014) was the thinnest and toughest centre stick of any YONEX racquet in its entire range.

Incidentally, GOSEN released a 6.7mm middle shaft badminton racket in 2012, the model name is Sky Dance, which is almost two years earlier than YONEX.
Picture: YONEX VTZF2 6.7mm ultra-fine centre, GOSEN 6.7mm ultra-fine centre.

[Materials]
Highly flexible carbon, tungsten powder, multifunctional bonded carbon nanotubes …… are all moderate materials, nothing to mention.

Let’s focus on the ZF2’s Sound Filter technology, i.e. the audio filter.
According to the official introduction of YONEX, a new material has been added to the 2 o’clock and 10 o’clock positions of the ZF2 frame to make the sound of hitting the ball louder and louder, so that the sound of hitting the ball can be used to interfere with and provoke the opponents.

Me: ……
Is this YONEX-style humour?

As we all know, sound is produced by vibration.
Audio filters actually help to suppress vibration. YONEX’s US website claims that audio filters can quickly eliminate 31% of vibration and optimise the feel of the ball.

Playing Feeling
First on the configuration: ZF2 original colour JP version 4UG5 + YY 66UM JP version of the badminton line 26 lbs + Victory 233 hand glue bottom 2 circles of cushioning film

Thinking back to the first time I played the 4U ZF2, my reaction was: this is it? ZF2? ……
The 4U ZF2 was not a big surprise at first. I thought that I could kill the ball with just a little bit of hand-killing. In fact, it didn’t.

4U ZF2 kills the ball, need a certain power base, let the strong middle bar deformation, kill the ball to have power. The good thing is that the power threshold of 4U ZF2 is not too high. If you give it some power, you can kill the ball with better results and live up to expectations.

4U ZF2 Continuous kills are not a problem either, with one shot down, you can transition quickly and be ready for the second shot. With a little bit of power, you don’t have to worry about not being able to stop the ball on the first shot, nor do you have to worry about slow returns and sluggish movements.

The ZF2 is a small frame, and I personally love small frames. As long as you don’t hit the frame, it has many advantages. Mainly, when hitting the ball, the power is more concentrated on the racket surface, which makes it feel solid and the quality of the ball is high. Secondly, when the ball is turned over, the angle of control of the ball is more accurate with the small frame.

The 4U ZF2 has one of the higher “scoring rates” of all my rackets. With the 4U ZF2 in my hand, I’m aggressive and always want to take advantage of every opportunity to play offensively. Either I’m attacking or I’m setting up for the next shot.

If I were to meet a master, I would still choose to play offensively with the 4U ZF2 in my hand. However, playing against an expert is physically exhausting. If I kill several balls in a row, I will not be able to score any points and exhaust my energy for nothing. Forced to play defensively, I would probably change to a defensive style of play.

ZF2 is clearly an “attacking racket”. Is it reliable to play defensively?
In fact, there is only one way to play badminton: the way to score points. There is no rule that an “attacking racket” must be played offensively. In the actual game, it is not possible to play offensive strokes, there is always a passive defence.
4U ZF2, defensive style of play, no problem at all. After all, 4U lightweight design, there are inherent advantages. In addition, 4U ZF2 manipulation is good, easy to use, not a “drag not back to the wild horse”.

If the 4U ZF2 kills the ball well, it’s a matter of course. What surprised me most about the 4U ZF2, apart from the kills, was the very fast reach.
How fast? I play right-handed, and when I need to step to the right, reach, and block, the 4U ZF2 reaches out faster than any of my other wind-breaking racquets!

Finally, the bottom cover closes.

Don’t buy 4U ZF2 for beginners, the frame and power are the two main obstacles. 4U ZF2 is an all-round racket with the desire to kill the ball.
4U ZF2 is an all-round racket with the desire to kill the ball, attacking hard and defending steadily, the overall performance is very good, worthy of being a classic. 4U ZF2 needs a certain power base, but the threshold will not be too high. It can be recommended to all except newbies.

In addition, ZF2 has been discontinued, the price speculation is relatively high. If you don’t have the obsession of collecting, you may want to pay more attention to other rackets with better cost performance.