Jayce
The weekly matches at the office have finally resumed, and I was quite excited. However, that excitement was tempered by an old injury that hadn’t healed and insufficient warm-up, which resulted in my front thigh muscles suffering.
So, even though my body seems fine, it’s necessary to gradually adapt to competitive play.
Continuing with the review of mid-to-low-end rackets from non-premium brands, this time it’s from Bonny. The previous Bonny racket, the Xuanfeng 057, left me quite disappointed, so I’m curious whether this similarly priced racket will restore my confidence in Bonny’s low-end models.
Specifications: 4UG5, without a base, total weight 92.7g in used condition, balance point 305mm, shaft length 218mm, medium stiffness, windbreak frame, 76-hole string bed, 8-4 point string groove, warranty for 26 lbs, stringing at 24-26 lbs with XB63.
This might be the Bonny racket with the best paint quality and texture I’ve seen at this price range, even surpassing some flagship models in appearance. The paint is deep blue with a hint of metallic texture. The frame is decorated with red, black, and white water decals, with patterns at 2, 10, 12, 4, and 8 o’clock, creating a visual sense of depth while remaining understated and free of unnecessary embellishments. According to retailers, one of the selling points of the Aurora racket is its superior paint quality compared to other products in its class.
The Aurora racket’s head weight seems quite significant. Although it’s a 4U racket, the feel isn’t exactly pleasant. Later, I realized it might be better without the base, as the current grip is too thin and might be uncomfortable.
Despite this discomfort, the Aurora performs reasonably well in terms of feedback, though it’s less springy. Compared to the previous 057, it’s less harsh and not as lifeless, and the sweet spot is more consistent, avoiding the feeling of being unable to hit effectively. Adapting to the Aurora isn’t overly difficult; a few high clears or a warm-up game should suffice.
Comparing it to the 057, the first impression is indeed better, but there are still notable differences compared to the Bluebird. The overall elasticity of the racket is not as good, and the high frame stiffness results in a somewhat less linear feeling when hitting, lacking some “feel.”
This lack of responsiveness is somewhat suitable for net play, where it can serve as a ruthless ball-handling machine. The frame’s torsion resistance and string bed stability are reliable, and the head-heavy balance enhances its performance at the net. However, when dealing with shots above the net tape, the head-heavy balance might cause the actual hitting point to be farther back than expected, potentially leading to out-of-bounds shots. This sensation feels as cold as steel.
Since it is head-heavy, let’s examine whether it benefits attacking performance. Indeed, the rigidity of the frame helps maintain decent directional accuracy despite its windbreak design. Additionally, the head’s ability to pull the shuttle downward keeps the Aurora’s attacks from floating. However, the speed or power of smashes isn’t impressive, as it lacks elasticity, roughly comparable to the Bluebird. There might be issues with heavy smashes going into the net before fully adapting to the Aurora, possibly due to the shaft being softer than expected or the string bed unexpectedly absorbing the shuttle, but adjustments to the hitting point might help.
In terms of flat drives and handling passive shots, there’s no noticeable advantage from the windbreak frame in terms of increased swing speed or reduced handling difficulty. The low swing speed and elasticity may make it challenging to achieve fast ball speeds and accurate passive returns.
As an entry-level racket, the Aurora isn’t the most user-friendly, and this lack of friendliness doesn’t offer much excitement. It was the best among Bonny’s low-end models in paint quality before the Sky series was released. It’s a matter of whether people prefer to spend their limited budget on external aesthetics or internal performance, with no right or wrong choice.
However, even with the Aurora, after a few games, I found it more comfortable to use. The initial cold feeling gradually faded, depending on whether fellow players have the patience to adapt.
