Jayce
Professional players’ equipment has always been a topic of great interest among amateur players, with discussions often focusing on which racket a player uses. Today, we’ll focus on the Shanhai, a racket from the Hebei Provincial Team, which recently impressed many when it was featured in the Zhongyu unpacking segment. Let’s take a closer look at its performance in the Zhongyu online review room.
Detailed Specifications
The Shanhai racket in my possession is a 3U G5 model; recommended string tension ≤32 lbs; medium to slightly stiff shaft; 76-hole string bed with a relatively small frame area; total length: 675mm; unstrung weight: 87.1g (98.3g with overgrip); balance point: 308mm (309mm with overgrip); string setup is Kumpoo K70 at 28 lbs. It also features a carbon fiber cone cap—not just the base cap, but Kumpoo has used carbon fiber extensively for its high-quality materials. The cost of carbon fiber and the new mold for the cone cap both add significant expense, showcasing a high level of craftsmanship.
Appearance and Design
As a domestic brand, Kumpoo stands out with its innovative and eye-catching design, incorporating strong traditional Chinese elements. Upon close inspection, the paintwork on the Shanhai shows minor bubbles in the frame stickers and lacquer, which is expected for a top-tier racket. Although much effort has gone into the design, the quality of the paint could be improved.
On-Court Performance
The Shanhai leaves a strong initial impression with its comfortable and responsive shaft. The racket offers excellent feel and handling, with its higher balance point and low shaft stiffness allowing for effective power transfer even with incomplete strokes. The concentrated sweet spot and moderate stiffness of the frame provide good resilience.
Despite its appealing external features, the Shanhai’s internal performance is notable. The shaft’s excessive flex can lead to slower recovery, especially during extended rallies. This affects accuracy and highlights the racket’s weaknesses in fast exchanges and continuous attacks, but it excels in singles and doubles rear court play.
The Shanhai’s foam molding process results in a refined hitting experience with minimal vibrations. The high rebound performance supports strong smashes, with its overall swing weight and sturdy frame providing inherent advantages for attacking play. However, achieving precise, deceptive placements is challenging. The racket’s stability is adequate, and its performance in net play is predictable.
Defensive Capabilities
In defensive situations, the Shanhai demonstrates its balanced attributes effectively, with powerful and comfortable rebound. However, the excessive flex in the shaft affects shot accuracy and control, and the small frame size reduces margin for error.
Summary and Recommendation
The Shanhai racket is designed for a comfortable and effective attacking experience with a good price-to-performance ratio. It stands out among similarly priced balance-oriented rackets with its offensive capabilities and affordability. While it excels in controlling soft shots and singles/mixed doubles attack, its precision may be lacking. It is recommended to pair with a stiffer string for better performance, although a softer string can also be used with careful control to avoid over-hitting.
