Jayce
This new product was provided by the retailer, but its naming is a bit of a leap. Kawasaki’s previous rackets have used object-plus-number naming conventions, where the object itself represented the current racket’s style. But 图160 (Tu 160) is a strategic bomber in the Soviet Union…
Later, I found out that they intended to name it after its nickname: White Swan…
In any case, this is my first time trying a Kawasaki racket of this level. Let’s see how it performs.
Specifications: 4UG5, with shrink film, total weight in play 92.9g, balance point 282mm, shaft length 215mm, 30T material, medium-soft stiffness, fluid box-type frame, 76-hole string bed, 9-3 o’clock string grooves, warranty for 28 lbs, string tension 24-26 lbs.
The racket comes in two colors, and the version I tested is the white one. My initial complaints might seem inexplicable, so let me explain: it neither achieves the elegance of a white swan nor the imposing power of a bomber, so why choose this name? The blue and white paint job does have a bit of a “Big Bear” feel, but the overall design elements are not rich. The paint lacks layering, and the appearance feels plain, fitting a mid-range or lower product. It shouldn’t be this way; Kawasaki has always been strong in appearance design, but this racket seems somewhat mediocre. It looks like the expectations were too high.
Personally, I think the gray-gold version looks better, but if it had spent the effort saved on paint on improving performance, I would fully support it.
Golden weight distribution: The unstrung racket is 4U, with a certain head heaviness, which is quite comfortable. Although the balance point changes significantly after adding grip, a slight head heaviness can still be felt, providing a good leverage effect without making the swing weight too high for beginners.
At the same time, the frame has no special technology; the box-type frame is a very mature choice, offering a large sweet spot and good torsional resistance. There’s nothing uncomfortable about it during the initial adaptation. 图160 is a racket that anyone can handle. In terms of high clears, the shaft’s deformation is easy to achieve, and it has good elasticity and a large sweet spot, making it easy to send the shuttlecock to the baseline. The target audience for this racket is clear: it is suitable for beginners, even those handling passive shots with relatively low pressure, and is also quite appropriate for intermediate players in relaxed practice sessions.
Recently, among low-end rackets, the only one giving me an upgrade in offensive experience was the Bonny Nebula, and this is another one. Judging a racket’s offensive effectiveness solely by its stiffness tuning is unreliable. With 图160, it’s clear that its relatively soft nature allows for easy driving, but it doesn’t prevent it from showing good explosiveness during heavy smashes, with high shuttlecock speed and quick release. Although the feeling of the shot is not very heavy due to its 4U specification, in fast-paced offensive and defensive exchanges, this entry-level racket combines continuity and initial speed advantages to achieve very high output. With some strategic shot placement, the 图160 can secure victories.
Remarkably, the shaft’s recovery speed is not inferior to other products at the same level, so in defensive drives, it’s less likely to experience issues like erratic flight or rattling. Even without showing cross-level or crossover performance, it’s capable of handling most situations encountered by amateur players.
In fact, this is the first time I’ve truly experienced Kawasaki’s technical prowess. The overall tuning is quite impressive, and it doesn’t feel like a racket that only uses 24T for the frame and 30T for the shaft. In my opinion, the racket reaches the level of mid-range “sugar water” rackets represented by the TK15. Considering that this representative is equipped with an M40J 6.8mm flash shaft, it feels like an underdog triumph. During the test, the 图160 did not reveal any low-end racket traits. Therefore, I repeatedly confirmed the current pricing and positioning of this racket with the recommending retailer, which was quite surprising.
Want to guess how much it costs?
