Curiosity Series 214— Yonex NANORAY 900

Karry September 12, 2024 1 0

The old brother naturally has the confidence of an old brother; these three characters each convey its weight.

“Old” refers to being born earlier. As a speed racket that took over the ns series banner, the current nr series is clearly nearing its twilight, and it has long been discontinued. “Big” signifies the achievements forged through reputation, sales, and on-court performance. It is not only a landmark in many aspects but also remains the choice of high-level players who still stick to this model, with 3 nr900 rackets in their bag, 2U. “Brother” represents the authority of the series’ status. A model with a 9 prefix in the numbering is bound to be placed in the ultimate flagship category by the three major brands, even the newbie ZSP must address it as its predecessor.

Parameters: 3UG5, stripped, total weight 90.0g in use, balance point 298mm, middle shaft length 205mm, stiff, 9-3 o’clock groove, fluid box-type frame with 4-8 o’clock thin wing wind-breaking treatment, warranty 24 pounds, stringing 26-28lbs xb63.

Gray-black, calm, understated but with character, displaying a charm of restraint and relaxation. On every modified point of the frame, it generously applies reflective stickers and a fresh green robust design. With a bit of patience to adjust the angle, these seemingly plain stickers burst forth with brilliance akin to gemstone-grade zircon. Elegant, very elegant.

This is a unique frame, transitioning from the pure box-type at the T-head with 4 and 8 o’clock wind-breaking treatment to the pure box-type two wings, then the head is a thin-wing fluid wind-breaking frame. Not only the shape but also the thickness varies, as if every part of the design has been meticulously tuned. Compared to many current aggressive all-wind-breaking doubles rackets, its consideration for performance optimization makes my spine tingle with excitement. Unfortunately, the paint strength is not very good and is prone to flaws.

On initial contact, its middle shaft is fine enough to make someone unfamiliar with it think it is a current racket. Apart from the body, the weight configuration is also quite different. I didn’t even wrap a cushioning film, and generally, balancing a racket like this would require a balance point of around 305mm, but after testing, it was less than 300. Despite being 3U and as the middle shaft denotes “head light,” the feel in hand is neither heavy nor light, with a comfortable and smooth handling. Thus, I completely understand why the 2U version of this racket is favored by advanced players.

From my experience with the ns8000, even though such rackets were made stiffer back then, in the current environment of stiff rackets, the stiffest models from that era would likely hear a lot of “Big Brother, times have changed.” During the adaptation process, its stiffness, even with a 205mm middle shaft, still retains driving difficulty, but the regular sweet spot and smooth swing speed make it easier for advanced players to adapt quickly. The feel feedback is good, but the elasticity level is somewhat lacking. This setting means more situations require active power handling. I was even overpowered by a girl using a Tian Fu 77, although there was also a health issue on my part.

NR900 is renowned as a flat smash king, so it naturally needs to be tested for its reputation in fast-paced confrontations. It lives up to its name by being both stable and fast. On the basis of stability, it achieves sufficient speed. In addition to stability, it also offers high tolerance. Stability results from the high-performance carbon combined with most box-type frames; speed results from the low drag frame and low swing weight. The tolerance is what impressed me the most. Compared to the higher loss rate of the ZSP with a smaller frame during net play and the discomfort when pressed at low positions, NR900 scores back with a regular frame size. If it were only that, I wouldn’t be so amazed, but the NR900 still managed to produce quality returns even during mishits in various flat smash block phases. The most incredible thing was that I clearly felt several times when the frame was hit but still managed to keep the rhythm going—this was truly a first for me. No quirks; it covers it all.

The requirement for active power in smashes is evident, but this racket is very comfortable to handle once you gain the initiative. Because of the low swing weight, you can directly hit semi-chances without worrying about the small arm load, and usually, if the accuracy is good, the racket’s directional performance is also decent, showing rare anti-twist ability in speed rackets. At the same time, it doesn’t have the extremely short ball contact time of small frames, providing good control for power, spin, and precise shots, such as backcourt drop shots and front net push shots. Many techniques work well; however, in strong attacks, it still lacks a bit of explosive power, especially compared to extreme rackets like ZSP, which leaves a feeling of missing a battering ram. Of course, the racket’s continuity is excellent, and it won’t let scoring opportunities slip away when it’s in a winning position.

Its defensive performance is decent, with flexible and stable shooting characteristics performing above average in receiving smashes and soft blocks. However, when it comes to using power to clear the backcourt, under the overall stiff tuning, it requires the user to have good skills and physical foundation for better results, making it relatively harder to clear properly.

NR900 also features enhanced operability in the backhand area due to its stability, flexibility, and larger frame. When there is not enough time to retreat and handle high shots, it can be surprisingly effective for backhand smashes, with good power feel. Although the backhand smash effect is certainly not as threatening as a forehand, it can still make opponents wary. For players with poor backhand skills, it can at least serve as a teaching tool.

The old brother still has confidence, and I indeed underestimated its energy and dominance. Except for the slightly aged explosive power in strong attacks for a discontinued racket, other aspects are still well-rounded and composed. Its Nanoray glory remains untarnished. After playing a full session without damping film, I found my wrist burdened. Given my already poor knee condition, this was an oversight.