[Review Experience] Bonny The Peach Blossom and Zhuohua

Jayce September 3, 2024 1 0

How do low-end products achieve explosive sales?

Is it Green’s unparalleled brand appeal? Blue’s extensive product line accumulated over time? Red’s exquisite and high-value paint jobs? Yellow’s unprecedented return and exchange policies?

For second-tier and independent brands without such weapons, their approach is still too conservative, often relying solely on lower prices and better materials for competition. In recent years, some manufacturers have begun to focus on appearance and gift packaging, making the free items feel very sincere. This has indeed made a difference, but it is quickly imitated, leading to a cycle of mutual cannibalization at the same tier, where no one stands out.

Specifications: 4UG5, without a base, total weight in use 87.0g, balance point 292mm, shaft length 218mm, low stiffness, box frame, 72-hole string bed, 9-3 o’clock string channels, 26-pound warranty, string tension 24-26lbs Gao Shen Steel Armor 5.

The Peach Blossom and Zhuohua in the same series are essentially the same racket, with only the paint job differentiating them, and both come with gift boxes. Zhuohua is blue, with a deep blue gift box featuring a small amount of design elements. The box itself is of good quality, improving the racket’s protection during shipping and looking nicer when given as a gift. However, the contents are minimal, only including a cover. Although the racket’s price is around two and a half times, I would prefer to pay a bit more for additional surprises like grip tape, strings, socks, towels, or wristbands, which would enhance the sense of sincerity.

Factory B has previously faced many setbacks due to racket design issues, but in recent years, they have finally caught on, placing more emphasis on paint jobs across low, mid, and high-end products. Peach Blossom and Zhuohua feature a national style font and a fresh design, with colors primarily in white, gray, and blue. The gray and white on the shaft and frame use a gradient transition, with a few blue lines as accents. The racket head has a subtle pattern, giving it an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The 2 and 10 o’clock positions feature flowers displaying the racket’s theme.

I did some research, and the Peach Blossom and Zhuohua are based on a racket I previously reviewed, so the entire experience did not reveal anything new. It fits the soft, light, and easy-to-handle positioning. Nevertheless, I brought my team’s captain to force him to use it for a match.

The captain struggled with the new racket throughout the day, and this is where a “sugar water” racket can be useful. I should mention that I handed him the racket only when calculating the score—I’m that confident about its ease of use. As expected, the captain finished the match without complaints or hitting the frame, showing the racket’s low threshold and high tolerance. Playing doubles with him was relatively easy—he handled the backcourt while I focused on intercepting the middle to let him smash, and he handled the frontcourt while I took care of the smashes and net shots. Although there were occasional remarks about mistakes due to ball trajectory and quality, we both had a relaxed experience after winning the match.

The string bed area isn’t outstanding, but the large sweet spot ensures good ball output without becoming too loose, resulting in good hitting performance. The shaft’s softness caters to beginner players and is very forgiving, though it doesn’t feel weak, easily providing elasticity after deformation.

However, as a captain, he naturally expects more than just ease of use—he is very particular about the experience of small net shots and heavy smashes from the backcourt. He has a strong preference for quick returns on serves and often practices them. Initially, I thought he was showing off, but after seeing his low success rate, I realized he was just practicing. Regardless, after using Zhuohua, he seemed to struggle all night with the new racket, but after switching back, he didn’t make a single mistake with net shots. His net play, corner cuts, and low-position returns were flawless. I initially doubted that a racket weighing only 84g would have good feel, but its responsive sweet spot is indeed impressive.

When it was his turn to play aggressively, he didn’t criticize the racket, which was surprising. I originally thought it wouldn’t be a tool for creating opportunities in even-level matches from the backcourt, but the captain found it very easy to use. This might be because Zhuohua was used in the last match of the day, when everyone’s stamina had decreased, making a low-drive threshold racket more suitable for handling court situations. Additionally, Zhuohua, with its low balance point and light weight, has an unexpectedly good downward feel, even if the ball doesn’t have much explosive power, it doesn’t feel floaty and maintains directional control. If the backcourt player fails to break through, adjustments are needed, and when I moved to the frontcourt, I could stabilize the situation by covering potential shots until scoring or losing points.

Another point is that he played very consistently throughout the match. Besides benefiting from Zhuohua’s light and easy handling for flat drives and relentless smashes, its low energy consumption resulted in longer endurance, making recovery easier after long rallies. Considering the oppressive summer temperatures in the south, this is a significant advantage.

After returning the racket, the captain also gave it a positive review. As a reward, I used his 88S Tour for a while, a win-win situation.

Regarding the gift box this time, I think the racket itself doesn’t have issues with product strength. However, since it is presented as a gift box, it should offer substantial value beyond just appearance. I would have preferred more accessories inside, especially when giving it to female players who have some knowledge but are not yet beginners. This would provide a better impression.

Factory B and its retailers, after improving product aesthetics, still need to better understand consumer psychology.