Badminton Racket Victor METEOR X 2012 LONDON Reviews

Karry September 30, 2024 2 0

I initially thought the METEOR X series only had the JJS player version left, but a friend suddenly asked me if I had tried the Olympic commemorative edition.

What? I checked the equipment library and indeed found this racket, which reminded me of the unfortunate situation of the hx800ltd.

Specifications:
Weight: 3U G5, with grip, total weight in use: 95.4g, balance point: 293mm, shaft length: 215mm, stiffness: high.
Frame: octagonal aerodynamic frame, 80-hole string bed, grooves at 9-3 points.
String tension: 28 lbs recommended, strung at 25-27 lbs with High-Tech Steel Armor 5.

It’s very British; you can see that the Blue Factory has incorporated as many elements of the British flag as possible into the commemorative edition, including adjustments in color and lines. The full paint job is also a rarity. But is it visually appealing? I still think the standard models look more imposing. Besides, aren’t the water blue of the 30, mango yellow of the 60, and metallic silver of the 70 more striking than plain white?

When I first held it, it felt very familiar, almost like I had used it recently. Checking the stiffness and head-heavy feel, wow, it’s quite similar to the MX90. Could it be a re-skinned version? But there are differences; the London edition has a 7.2mm shaft, unlike the 7.0mm of the MX90. Also, the London edition was released two years before the MX90, so it would be more accurate to say that the MX90 is a re-skinned version of the London edition.

So, is it a product based on the MX80 with a MX90 tuning? Hey, it does feel that way. The slightly higher swing weight and better driving shaft stiffness are spot on. If we really need to get into details, the racket’s stiffness is between the 80 and 90, but the current High-Tech Steel Armor 5 is indeed stiffer than the KT66F, so focusing on small details might be unnecessary.

For players with good power and technique, it is easy to drive. Even if you can’t feel the shaft deformation, the racket’s inertia and string bed power are enough to hit high-clear shots with a good arc when making proper high-clear movements, as long as you hit the sweet spot. The feedback still carries that slightly rigid MX series feel. Is it wooden? I would have definitely said yes before, but since the perception of “wooden” varies among players, it’s a matter of personal opinion. I still enjoy the stimulation from this hitting feel.

Players who haven’t mastered their power technique should avoid forcing themselves to use it, as there is a risk of injury.

I first assessed its various shot effects. The high-clear shots are good, net play has a solid feel, and net flicks are stable. The flat drives are also effective, but the higher swing weight makes the racket feel clumsy in fast-paced rallies. It’s harder to maintain fluidity in shots and get adequate small power windows, making it difficult to handle passive shots. This really feels very much like the MX90.