Jayce
He once caused a major upset in the 2013 Australian Open final by defeating Malaysia’s “King” Lee Chong Wei and then overcame his teammate Xue Song to win the title, completing a dark horse victory! During the Rio 2016 Olympic cycle, he also defeated Olympic champion Chen Long and runner-up Lee Chong Wei. Tracing back to earlier times, he first made his mark in 2009 when he won both the Asian Junior Championships and the World Junior Championships, at the tender age of just 18.
His playing style is elegant, yet his attacks are highly explosive. A left-handed player with a solid technical foundation, his approach was a classic example of the pull-drop-attack strategy, characterized by speed and power. Personality-wise, he exhibited a maturity and composure beyond his years, rarely showing any change in expression during matches, and his mental fortitude exuded the aura of a champion. The head coach of the Fujian Provincial Badminton Team, Hu Zhilan, once commented, “When he called me after a match, I couldn’t tell whether he had won or lost based on his tone.” This attests to his widely recognized world-class level!
By now, many badminton enthusiasts may have already guessed his name—yes, he is none other than Tian Houwei, a player we are all familiar with. The Hou Yi II racket that we are discussing today has close ties with him, and we will also provide a brief comparison with the Hou Yi I in this review.
Appearance
With its cloisonné blue, jade green, and Han dynasty jade white colors, the Hou Yi II racket presents a stunningly intricate piece of artwork, with cloud patterns embossed on the shaft and frame, creating a remarkable relief effect. This is indeed a badminton racket, but its craftsmanship is so exquisite that it looks more like a finely crafted artifact!
The frame is colorful, dominated by a refreshing and tranquil blue-green, with white, black, and gold streaks “waving the flag in support.” The white symbolizes light and hope, piercing through the clouds, while the green and blue, representing life, burst forth at this moment.
Specifications
The Hou Yi II I have in hand is a 4UG5 model, with a string tension recommendation of ≤35 lbs. The shaft is slightly stiff, with a balance point of 296mm when unstrung (296mm after adding strings and grip). The swing weight is 89, strung with BG-80 at 28 lbs tension. The frame features a three-segment dynamic design with 76 string holes and a relatively large frame area. The overall length of the racket is 675mm, and its unstrung weight is 82.5g (93.8g after adding strings and grip).
Feel Comparison: Hou Yi I vs. Hou Yi II
In terms of specifications, the Hou Yi II inherits the fluid blade frame (three-segment dynamic frame) from its predecessor: an aerodynamic frame at the top, a box-type structure in the middle, and an oval frame at the bottom. It also benefits from new graphene technology, which enhances the overall strength of the frame and increases the string tension limit to 35 lbs.
Mastery in Offense and Speed
From the initial use, it is clear that the Hou Yi II retains some of the head-heavy characteristics of the first generation’s attack-oriented singles racket. However, the overall grip feels more balanced and agile, making it less likely to be overpowered in mid-to-front court exchanges. Although such scenarios are less common in singles, this balance gives the Hou Yi II a calm confidence, enabling it to hold its own in close-range exchanges without needing to avoid the opponent’s strengths.
However, the Hou Yi II sacrifices some of the absolute finishing power of its predecessor’s high swing weight. With the adjusted specifications, the racket’s ease of control has improved, offering a more refined and agile experience. It is like a gentleman wielding a sword—serene, elegant, and composed.
Versatility
The head-heavy feel is present but not overbearing, and the agility has not weakened the offensive capability. It seems to have absorbed lessons from its predecessor, with improvements in head balance, overall grip, and swing weight adjustment. As a result, the Hou Yi II, now a racket that needs to balance speed with attack, has reached an almost perfect level of “balance.”
The three-segment structure combined with the elongated frame design allows the sweet spot of the Hou Yi II to extend more vertically. Initially, it may require more time to adapt compared to traditional racket layouts. The concentrated sweet spot facilitates precise control and quick strikes, providing rich feedback in delicate shots like drops and net shots, making them easier to control.
The inner foam frame, paired with even 46T high-modulus carbon fiber, allows for a comfortable shock-absorbing feel, on par with high-end rackets—truly remarkable.
As for the shaft, in today’s rapidly evolving manufacturing technology, Kumpoo’s Hou Yi II, known for its cost-effective performance, naturally features a 6.6mm diameter shaft, a standard configuration.
However, since the racket emphasizes high-spec value, just having a 6.6mm diameter shaft might not be enough. So, the Hou Yi II also includes three memory titanium wires inside the shaft to enhance its rebound performance. This allows the shaft’s deformation and rebound to be fast enough, making the shot direction as precise as that of other high-end rackets, with a crisp and powerful hitting feel.
Nevertheless, upon closer “inspection,” one might slightly feel some residual vibration transmitted to the shaft, which could lead to decreased shot accuracy during long rallies.
Enhanced Speed with a Crisp and Responsive Frame
The Hou Yi II may perform better in defense than its predecessor, but given the elongated sweet spot, its defensive weaknesses are also somewhat evident.
Conclusion
Overall, the Hou Yi II is a control-oriented singles racket with an excellent feel and moderate entry-level requirements. Its mid-range price point, combined with a feel that rivals high-end models, is captivating. The intricate and stunning exterior design makes it a standout in the mid-range market. Kumpoo’s understanding and design of singles rackets are unique and insightful. The upgraded configuration results in an overall feel that surpasses its predecessor, although the elongated frame’s sweet spot control, particularly when hitting off-center during defense, does leave a bit of residual vibration. But considering its price point, it is still an outstanding racket in its category.
