[Review Experience] Bonny 8888AX Ⅲ

Jayce September 3, 2024 5 0

First Experience with the New “Zhan Gui Dao 3”: How Does It Achieve Both Resilience and Explosive Power?

Though I rationally acknowledge that the original “Zhan Gui Dao” was a great racket, unlike many other players, I never quite liked it; it didn’t suit my style at the time. Unfortunately, the “Zhan Gui Dao 2” veered off course in its tuning and structural flaws, failing to become a worthy successor. Instead, I found the “Cut” series, with its harder and more explosive performance, much more to my liking.

However, after using the new “Zhan Gui Dao 3,” I was astonished: how does this racket manage to combine resilience with high explosiveness?

Since Mid-Autumn Sports just unboxed it, I’ll share my fresh impressions.

Specifications:

4U G5
Without grip
Weight: 88.9g (in use)
Balance point: 298mm
6.8mm shaft
Shaft length: 210mm
Moderate stiffness
Box frame
76-hole string bed
8–4 o’clock grommet holes
Warranty tension: 30 lbs
String: 26 lbs Victor VBS66N

In my view, this racket truly deserves the “Purple Flame” name. Its appearance immediately reminds me of the color scheme of the “Dragon Tooth 2.” The refined silver stickers on the frame create an embossed texture, while the rose-red water decals flow subtly beneath the dark varnish, adding a touch of allure. The overall look is fierce and sharp. Notably, the silver stickers on the frame produce a laser effect from certain angles, adding a wild element. Although the stickers might affect the swing speed due to their uneven surface, who cares? When has Bonny last made a good-looking racket with varnish as a base?

A friend mentioned that the “Zhan Gui Dao 3” felt a bit heavy, but when I got my hands on it, it didn’t feel particularly heavy. It has a slight head-heavy feel, but it’s not excessive and doesn’t feel very head-heavy among 4U rackets. This model finally features a G5 handle, which I really like for its slim grip.

On the court, I tried a few shots, and the “Zhan Gui Dao 3” indeed has the characteristic resilience of the “Zhan Gui Dao” series without being too stiff. For players with good power, its “soft” feel is more pronounced due to the large shaft deformation, which allows the shuttle to stay on the string bed a bit longer.

However, once the deformation reaches its peak, the shaft seems to awaken and rapidly recover, sending the shuttle out with surprising speed. This phenomenon felt refreshing, making the “Zhan Gui Dao 3” quite enjoyable to use.

It’s a fantastic racket for quick handling. A simple lift can send the shuttle far, and the narrow and rounded frame contributes to high swing speed and effective head-weight utilization. It’s easy to use without any tricky points.

Indeed, shortening the softer thin shaft results in an interesting feel, offering both ease of use and explosiveness.

Performance:

The improved short shaft makes the “Zhan Gui Dao 3” particularly impressive in fast-paced doubles and front-court play. The longer handle allows for easier grip adjustments, while the increased resistance of the shaft offers quicker response and more forceful shots. These are significant improvements over the previous 215mm long shaft models.

The “Zhan Gui Dao 3” also boasts flexibility, adeptly handling various flat shots and even sophisticated techniques like forehand re-shots. Its swing speed is sufficient for doubles play.

The large sweet spot and stable frame ensure that the feel at the net is agile and consistent, and its performance with small balls is similar to previous versions, so I won’t dwell on that.

Smash Performance:

Regarding powerful smashes, the “Zhan Gui Dao 3” is the best in the series. The whip-like sensation is extremely clear, and when fully exerted, it feels as if the frame is propelling the shuttle out. The shaft deformation is significant, but the resulting explosive potential is immense, making the leverage effect very pronounced. With finger power, you can easily produce explosive sounds. The quality of the shots is exceptionally fast, making it ideal for precise attacking.

However, the 4U version might feel too light after prolonged use, occasionally leading to a feeling of “not being able to control it.” I strongly recommend trying the 3U version. Additionally, the head movement during powerful smashes can affect shot placement, so some adaptation time may be needed.

Defense:

The “Zhan Gui Dao 3” shows unexpectedly stable defensive performance. The large frame and sweet spot maximize forgiveness. The racket’s handling of backhand shots fully demonstrates its elasticity, allowing even the most passive situations to clear the shuttle to the backcourt, reducing concerns during play. You can’t rely solely on one powerful shot to win, only to be countered and make mistakes. The “Purple Flame” has got you covered.

In summary, whether to describe this upcoming new release as “excellent” or “remarkable” is hard to decide. If you can adapt to its head-heavy feel, the “Zhan Gui Dao 3” undoubtedly combines high fun and competitive performance. This is Bonny’s highlight of the year, and it was worth the effort to get it from my friend’s trial batch.

I’ll say it again: in my opinion, the “Zhan Gui Dao 3” is currently the strongest in the 8888ax series.