[Review Experience] Bonny Classic Carbon AtheneⅡ

Jayce September 3, 2024 20 0

The author wants to talk about another series from the UCHU (Wūquē) family—Athena.

The first generation of the Athena racket was one of my favorites, even though it wasn’t a particularly popular model. The only aspect that didn’t quite resonate with me was that, despite being intended as a more female-oriented piece of equipment, it still used the same old clear varnish with exposed woven carbon—a look that I personally find unappealing. Sure, it might seem novel at first glance, but after seeing it a few times, it loses its charm.

This time, I got to try out the Athena 2 in advance, and using it brought back the refreshing feeling of encountering something cool and breezy during a hot summer—a perfect match for the season.

Specifications:

Weight: 4UG5, with grip and heat-shrink film, total weight in use: 92.1g
Balance point: 290mm
Shaft: 6.8mm diameter, made of Mitsubishi M40 carbon fiber, length: 217mm, medium-low stiffness
Frame: Aerodynamic frame, 80-hole string bed, 9-3 point grooves, 30lbs string tension warranty, strung at 24-26lbs with VBS66N.

Design: Finally, they’ve figured it out—using a glossy white finish significantly improves the overall quality of the racket. The previous design had a purple-red color scheme, while the Athena 2 uses a mint green, replacing the slightly seductive vibe with a much fresher look. This change might also make some male players more willing to give it a try. The overall design language between the two generations remains consistent, with the designer having captured the essence. The large color blocks on both sides of the frame and the scaly treatment at the 4 and 8 o’clock positions have been retained.

Performance and Feel:

The Athena 2 stands out as a rare racket with an 80-hole string bed that doesn’t feel stiff or shock your hand. It’s formed using the UCHU’s signature fiber membrane technology, which seems to be working wonders. Softness, high elasticity, and user-friendliness are Athena’s trademarks. I was initially concerned that the second generation might lose some of the first generation’s charm in pursuit of more competitive performance, but my worries were unfounded.

First Impressions: The first thing that struck me was how similar it felt to the recently tried Wuyingshou (No-Shadow Hand)—both have a similarly rounded aerodynamic structure and a white base coat, making them look like different colorways of the same series from a distance. Even when held and weighed, it’s hard to distinguish between the two due to their similar balance point and swing weight. While this might be an optimized swing weight setting to appeal to a broader audience, the lack of distinctiveness between products is an area where UCHU could improve. The real test, however, comes on the court.

On-Court Performance: After a few high clear rallies, I breathed a sigh of relief—it’s still the same familiar feel. When rallying with a new opponent during warm-up, I often worry about my basic skills being exposed if I miss a shot or misplace it. But the Athena 2 performed admirably. As long as I executed the proper stance and swing, I didn’t even need to exert much force to send the shuttle high and far. The shaft’s elasticity is excellent, highly responsive, and the sweet spot on the frame is large, with high swing speed, making it extremely easy to adapt to.

Interestingly, the first generation had a somewhat head-heavy feel, which has been toned down in the second generation, without compromising the racket’s power transfer. Instead, it feels more agile.

Agility and Control: The second generation also shows marked improvement in drives and blocks. The tuning of the Athena 1 helped avoid issues with the shaft not recovering properly after consecutive swings. In the Athena 2, the phenomenon of the racket wobbling during continuous swings has been reduced, and subjectively, it feels like the shaft recovers more quickly after deformation. Although the shot response still isn’t particularly crisp, the increased continuity during rallies offers more strategic flexibility. From what I’ve gathered, the parameters between the two generations are roughly the same, but the shaft stiffness has been slightly increased, leading to a better sense of control during high-frequency shots, likely explaining the improved performance in fast-paced exchanges. Unfortunately, the cone cap from the previous generation, which I favored, was not retained, making it less stable when using my thumb as a pressure point during power shots.

Offense: I wouldn’t place overly high expectations on Athena’s offensive capabilities, but the latest generation does show an improvement in attack efficiency, thanks to the same grade of carbon fiber, balance point, and stiffness, combined with enhanced craftsmanship. The application of new nanomolecule technology reduces energy loss during power shots and improves energy transfer efficiency, allowing more power to be delivered to the shuttle with each shot. Given Athena’s easy-to-drive characteristics, I can maintain power throughout the backcourt without worrying much about stamina, allowing me to raise the pace of the game as needed. The initial speed of smashes is also quite good, focusing on suddenness. Of course, against more skilled opponents, whether a heavy smash will be effective is another matter—just think of it as a racket with some offensive capability for a more relaxed game. But don’t underestimate this aspect; it already makes Athena 2 a viable option for serious competition.

Defense: I’m also reassured by how it performs in defensive situations. After a heavy smash that’s countered with a deep diagonal or an overhead clear, the Athena 2 allows for a more graceful recovery.

Summary: Unlike other UCHU rackets that emphasize directness, crispness, and stability, Athena sacrifices some competitive potential in favor of user-friendliness and unique feel. The direction of Athena’s iterative upgrade is clear, focusing on enhancing ease of use while maintaining its distinctive experience. Overall, Athena 2 excels within its positioning, and in terms of feel, it even surpasses some of the major manufacturers’ light, soft, and elastic representatives like the NF600. Given its price, I believe the Athena 2 will be an attractive option for players at various levels.