Karry
I once misjudged this racket. Without proper knowledge at the time, I used a counterfeit and even thought it performed well, praising it enthusiastically. I confess that my skills were not refined.
During the National Day holiday, thanks to a fellow player’s influence, I reconnected with this racket, feeling as if I had fulfilled a long-standing wish. But overall, it was a process of disillusionment.
It was not only about demystifying this classic old racket, but also about demystifying myself for others.
Specifications: 3UG4, bottom cap removed, shaft length of 210mm, medium stiffness, box-shaped frame, 76-hole string bed, 9–3 o’clock grommets, 24 lbs tension warranty, strung at 22–24 lbs with BG80 strings.
I believe there’s no need to describe the appearance anymore. Who hasn’t seen this racket? The entire frame is painted bright red, with black and white transitions on the wings, and c.s. nano cups at the 3–9 o’clock positions, one of the sources of the ArcSaber series’ hold feeling. Of course, this racket is old, and its paint quality was not great to begin with, so it naturally has quite a few imperfections. After inspecting the grommets, it seems the owner never strung it at high tensions, as there are no signs of collapse after being strung for a long time.
I’ve done my homework on this racket. It’s indeed a very balanced setup—3U but very well-balanced. There’s a certain flexibility when swinging, and the head feels lighter compared to the ArcSaber 11 and 9, while the stiffness is less than the ArcSaber 8. The racket face is large, and the frame is soft, requiring little effort to generate power. When hitting the sweet spot, the feedback is soft, but the power and speed of the shot are good, allowing you to feel the shaft’s elasticity.
Because of this characteristic, I quite enjoy using it with my lifelong mixed doubles partner during matches. When she repeatedly delivers unwise shots to our opponents, I can reduce the feeling of struggle and even manage to extend the rallies by one or two shots.
Honestly, it reminds me of Taufik Hidayat’s backhand showcase. The backhand with the ArcSaber 10 is indeed very comfortable. Even when the opponent hits a clear over my head, I have more ability to return it. Sometimes, it’s perfect for a laid-back game when I don’t need to exert much effort. I fully understand why there was never a 4U version of this racket—the current tuning is already very well-balanced.
In addition to being easy to handle, the racket unexpectedly provided me with a smooth power release during downward strokes, and the power output remained linear within a certain range of my explosiveness. I enjoy the satisfaction it offers when performing heavy smashes.
Of course, with the racket’s light swing weight, I can occasionally execute drop shots, but I always feel that the shots don’t come out as sharp as I’d like.
I also appreciate the agility the ArcSaber 10 brings in doubles. While its shots may not be the crispiest, I can still return one or two fast-paced shots after quickly raising the racket. That’s more than enough for me.
Another advantage I found is that this racket’s soft frame isn’t too picky about the condition of the strings. I’m sure the tension on my current strings has dropped significantly, but it hasn’t affected my performance, making it a solid choice for home use.
This was Yonex’s first high-scoring answer to an all-around racket, truly excelling in all aspects. However, while it can still serve as a relic of the past or be used in casual games when your fitness declines, it’s clearly no longer suitable for serious competitive play today. Many have said that being balanced equates to having no distinct characteristics, and this racket is the originator of that concept.
It’s a great racket, and it’s lasted a long time, but it’s also something that can be demystified. After all these years since my initial misjudgment, I can finally put it to rest today.
