Jayce
“Mountain after mountain, water after water, it seems there is no way out, but suddenly, there is another village after the dark willows and bright flowers.”
I have been waiting for this racket for half a year, going through reluctance, missing out, and finally a chance encounter, eventually obtaining it from a female player I had never met before, even though its condition was not great. However, this racket, nearly the final piece of Victor’s HypernanoX series, signifies great meaning in successfully completing my series trial by overcoming various challenges.
Specifications: 5UG5, stripped of its base paint, total weight in used condition 83.0g, balance point 315mm, 6.6mm shaft, length 217mm, set to a stiff feel, oval aerodynamic frame transitioning to diamond aerodynamic frame, 9-3 o’clock grommet pattern, 76-hole string bed, 26-pound warranty, strung with 24 lbs BGAS string.
Firstly, there are quality control issues; I discovered an odd noise after receiving it. However, considering that during its release, many high-end Victor rackets had issues such as collapse or cracks, this minor issue of odd noise doesn’t seem so concerning.
The deep blue base paint is adorned with a lot of gold foil stickers, especially on the aerodynamic frame, making it very prone to damage. Nevertheless, the asymmetric paint job and diverse elements give the racket a neutral aesthetic appeal that is suitable for both men and women.
If not for the prominent HypernanoX markings that emphasize its lineage, this racket might be more fittingly categorized under the Speed series. Nonetheless, disregarding the series constraints, the Air model stands out in Victor’s high-end rackets with its unique characteristics. It does not feature the Flash Shaft or Pyrofil markings; instead, its shaft uses Toray’s prepreg. Although the equipment library shows the Air shaft as 7.0mm, visually it seems more slender. This unconventional approach was my first impression of it.
Previously, I held the view that a serious ultra-light racket should not have a soft shaft, and the Air model excels in this regard.
The seller paired it exceptionally well, and I quickly fell in love with the Air’s hitting feel. The AS string, known for its hardness and excellent elasticity, complements the Air’s similarly stiff and elastic tuning. Despite only being strung at 24 lbs, the hitting feedback is quite direct. The 5U weight and the 315mm balance point make the shaft’s deformation-driven difficulty minimal, making high clears very comfortable and easy, without the typical laborious “in the throat but not in the lungs” sensation that many ultra-light rackets have. Although it does not have the high-end Boron Carbon, the shaft is still top-notch.
Additionally, it remarkably lacks a noticeable shock absorption feeling, allowing you to hit forceful flat clears to suppress opponents.
Interestingly, the racket’s tolerance is extraordinarily high—this is not surprising given it is indeed a Speed series frame, and the 76-hole design provides a very consistent sweet spot and performance. There are no bad habits or issues with mis-hits due to unusual swing speeds or weights. This may be the best 5U flagship racket Victor has currently in terms of its performance range. High swing speed, good power transfer, stable string bed, and incredible user-friendliness.
The larger head size makes it easy to locate the sweet spot, offering a natural advantage at the net and allowing smooth execution of techniques such as flicks, drops, and pushes, with a solid feel.
However, to label it merely as a “sugar water” racket would be a gross understatement. At least during my trial, I found that it does not lack attacking capability. The 5U Air supports up to 26 lbs string tension, and the 4U version reaches 27 lbs, which satisfies many scenarios for advanced players. It is a stiff racket with excellent elasticity, and despite its 5U weight, it performs well in explosive smashes and has good attacking capabilities similar to the NF800LT. The racket’s energy transfer to the shuttle is highly efficient, and the threshold for effective smashes is low. Precise shots to the opponent’s weak spots can easily secure points. The racket’s attacking performance seems to be on par with a 4U.
The performance of flat drives and defense is typical of Speed series rackets. The shaft’s recovery speed is decent, and the swing speed is fast, fitting the Speed series feel. Additionally, receiving smashes is very comfortable, especially when avoiding net errors caused by odd shock absorption in some ultra-light rackets, providing more opportunities for counter-attacks.
Furthermore, having experience with electronics, I find some patterns easy to grasp: Creativity Air, good stuff; iPad Air, good stuff; MacBook Air, good stuff.
So, the HypernanoX Air is also good stuff—no flaws.
