Jayce
If the player that Sun Orange is recognized for tying is Kento Momota, then Jewel Blue ASTROX 99 for me inevitably connects to Kevin Corden at the Tokyo Olympics.
Parameters: 4UG5, de-bottomed, total weight 91.4g in used condition, balance point 304mm, mid-rod length 215mm, tapered cap fish mouth section 3mm, extremely stiff tuning, 76-hole line bed, boxed frame, 28lb warranty, pull line 26-28xb63.
From the pattern, the old color of the sun orange and the new color of the jewel blue are similar design language, basically just a change in the configuration of the color, except that after getting rid of the large area of the black can be seen more clearly its detail processing on the water. The same asymmetrical design of the racket frame, navy blue has gradient processing on the junction of the connecting gold and dark blue, like gold dust sprinkled on a textured silk surface, with a stronger sense of high class.
Like the 99 Sun Orange, the Gemstone Blue gave me a sense of its different tuning from the very beginning of my trial – yes, there are still differences between the Sun Orange and the Gemstone Blue, and in my subjective opinion, excluding product tolerances, the 99LCW, the Gemstone Blue and the Sun Orange are three different things. This is reflected in the fact that the Blue 99 has more feedback, is more direct out of the ball, and even produces a bit of a jolt when it misses the sweet spot on big power shots. Although there is a weight increase of about 0.8g compared to the Sun Orange, the Blue in my hand has part of the wire hole guard tube changed to T-pegs, and the weight difference of its empty racket is not non-negligible. And in the use of the same cable configuration, including the pull date and pull division within the same cable, Blue 99 still reflects the feedback difference in my opinion may be the result of the hardness of the center pole re-adjustment. Previously, there is a said that the first version of the 99 can not hit because of the head weight feeling too strong, and the author’s feeling is not the same, here to be verified.
This little change makes the entire ASTROX 99 more extreme and crisp.
In terms of net control, the Blue and Orange are basically unchanged and both have a very good feel, but for the stage when net control is successful in gaining an advantage and then turning it into a winning position, the Blue 99 is a dragonslayer’s knife, designed to be used as a one-two punch. With the stiffer tuning, it will be like a shot of adrenaline to the user when the opportunity to allow a big power attack arises, accompanied by a very loud sound effect, the head of the ball comes out with a huge amount of energy in response, shooting and smashing like the ground in the direction of the blast. The ASTROX 99’s three colorways all have a very pronounced downward pressure, with the Jewel Blue being the most aggressive in terms of heavy kills. If you need an ASTROX to go for a reckless, net-controlling attack, then this is the best solution in my opinion. See Corden’s performance in the Olympics, where he killed every single unseeded player.
But that little change also makes the whole ASTROX 99 more demanding and energy intensive.
It’s basically a racket session natty that demands high levels of fitness and conditioning. In addition to a slower swing speed, a stiffer center stick means more situations where active power is required. Once you are dragged into a fast pulling rhythm by your opponent, it can become extremely difficult. Over the top back, backhand area of the return is particularly weak, under the hand position of the defense to get rid of also difficult to top in place, the racket, as the name suggests, like one is using an axe in the field to play against. Not to mention the doubles was forced to play flat pumping fast blocking situation, sometimes even if the prediction of the ball path is excited to seize the opportunity to intercept, but also not necessarily against the high swing heavy hitting center line bed sweet spot. It seems that the only way is to control the net and attack, and the successful implementation of each tactic still requires a very concentrated effort to capture points.
The Gemstone Blue 99 has a high score of 9.7 in the equipment pool, 0.2 higher than the Sun Orange, and I’m more inclined to think that it got that high score not because of how conducive it is to amateur play, but because of the way it delivers that very ultimate one-shot attacking thrill. Playing is about having a good time, but having a good time doesn’t only come from winning. After all, after three games with the two rackets, the Sun Orange had a 40% win rate, while the Jewel Blue only won one game.
At this point, all three ASTROX 99s, 99pro, and the two TOURs have been used, and the overall feeling is largely in line with the equipment library ratings. The Sun Orange 99 is more versatile, the 99LCW lowers the threshold for use and increases swing speed so that it can be used in doubles, the Jewel Blue 99 is a step more extreme in the direction of attacking the racket, and the 99tour can do 80% to 90% of the original 99’s performance, the 99lcw tour is ribald, and the high threshold of the 99pro is the main reason for its serious polarization.
