[Review Experience] New Speed, New Midrange, Smooth Experience of Fast Bouncing | LN BLADEX 500

Jayce September 6, 2024 2 0

Throughout the market, Li-Ning doesn’t have many hot SKUs in the mid-range racket (price tag 1000~500). The backbone is about 15 years of ultra-light W7X series, CALIBAR 600 (N904TD series), CALIBAR 500 (N802TD series). These are the backbone of the product cost, experience feel pro-popular, quicker to get started. There are even players with mid-range products to win the excellent record of the All-England Championship, on the game performance of the current mid-range no one can exceed the CALIBAR 600!

In the mid-range products with higher contribution to sales and hot discussion, Li-Ning is not getting a very good advantage in these two aspects at present. But rely on discount circle customers, increase market share is not right, and ultimately will reduce consumers, dealers on the brand’s confidence. To upgrade, experience newer iterations and grasp the hands of customers!

New Li-Ning badminton After the integration of the supply chain and factories, the launch of the inner foam as a representative of the new process of the mid-range racket: BLADEX 500, TEXTONIC 6. Personally, I like Li-Ning’s mid-range: BLADEX 500 (BX500)

BLADEX 500 is the product under the new technology system, the tag price is 880, which is at least 100 RMB lower than CALIBAR 500/600. Racket frame molding using self-developed internal foam process, the middle bar with BX800 diameter level: 6.8mm, racket frame wind resistance and racket frame area and BX800 consistent, racket frame shape and BX800 very high degree of recognition. 3UG5 balance point of 293mm, SW HEAD LIGHT (head light), the grip length of 210mm, the static parameters are similar to the BX800. The hardness of the center bar is moderate, around 8.8, which is at least one step softer than the center bar of the BX800.

The appearance of the purple color scheme is similar to that of the EVA primer, and the layout of the color blocks and the interspersed patterns are very similar to that of the BX800. The bottom color adopts more cold machine light surface purple, with bright fluorescent peach red, cold peacock blue, so that the mechanical atmosphere of the racket surface increased vitality, elegance, interspersed with high reflectivity gold water markers, so that the whole racket more body brightness has been improved, and from a distance it looks like there is a certain degree of identification. bx500 in the coating, the complexity of the water marking pattern, the number of color blocks selected and bx800 is a level, the appearance of costs BX500 belongs to the category of high-class racket, and the overall enlightenment and material grade is slightly lower than BX800, which can be regarded as its popular ordinary version.

The BX500 is similar to the BX800 in terms of its positioning: fast ball, low wind resistance, fast shot, and the pursuit of speedy play. Grip in the hand center of gravity in the head of the beat three passes downward position, pure speed beat, full sense of lightness. If not the pursuit of light and fast boys, do not recommend on 4U, on the 4UG6 really good to touch the fish, but the boys always have to be tough. Racket frame using self-developed formula of the internal foam process, the frame type returned to the traditional low wind resistance cross-section, vigorously hit the racket surface feedback: stable, shock-absorbing, clear than the hot wind blowing pressure CALIBAR 600/500 more comfortable, hitting the ball has a certain sense of wrapping the ball, the factory concept is upgrading.

BX500 standard weight 29lbs, just stepped over 28lbs mass psychological threshold. Online playing in 28lbs, willing to voice does not necessarily represent the majority, in the physical store threading 24~26lbs accounted for the vast majority of BX500 racket frame strength enough for most consumers to use. The new Li-Ning is no longer blindly pursuing ultra-high rigidity, so that the racket surface is more like the palm of the hand, elasticity, and a sense of wrapping the ball. Above the mid-range less “steel plate” and “hammer”, limited skill points in the appropriate range in order to make the experience better.

The first line N68-28lbs, Li-Ning super-hard fast elastic line, hard sense of super 80. the first time to play coincided with the rainy day + spring cold, not very easy to warm up the body, the feeling of the line bed and the racket face composed of a very hard sense of play, and even more than the combination of AXFORCE 80 and N65, the racket face out of the ball is dry, but still feel the deformation amplitude of the center stick is greater than the BX800, about twenty minutes after the play, get accustomed to the racket’s rhythm and the power points The BX500 is a very good ball, but it’s a very good ball, and it’s a very good ball, and it’s a very good ball, and it’s a very good ball, and it’s a very good ball, and it’s a very good ball, and it’s a very good ball, and it’s a very good ball, and it’s a very good ball, and it’s a very good ball.

BX500 belongs to the speed class racket, as a doubles racket is a better choice. The full-court position is smooth, and the middle half of the court is smooth and comfortable, with the N68 strings the feel is moderate to a little hard. The ball stays a little short in the racket surface, the arm feedback is clearer, a little more force can be felt in the frame compression and then shoot back quickly, the frame feedback in the mid-range belongs to the more agile category.

Because the carbon level is not as good as BX800, so you need to control the power, catch and kill when the control is not good popping out of bounds, the feedback time and rebound clarity than the JS08 better than half a level. Flight trajectory and the depth of the landing point of the control is not as good as BX800, but BX500 is not too picky about the state, even if the state is not good can also be very good to help you resist the opposing party’s suppression, the state is not good to play the hard clubs, it is easier to consume the energy and physical strength.

The BX500’s violent kill performance is average, but there are other better means of offense. The downward pressure of the kill ball feels obvious deformation of the center stick, the racket frame stops the ball for a short time, kills the ball out deeper, the speed decay after crossing the net is less than expected, but the downward arc is slightly flat. The thickness and feedback of the racket surface is much better than that of the 100ti, the BX500 is quick to strike, the active downward pressure can control the rhythm and direction, and the continuous downward pressure, hitting chasing and landing is more suitable for him. I like to take BX500 continuous downward pressure in the backcourt to give or quickly pull the opponent’s open gap, so that the opponent into my rhythm, and gradually to the net partner to create more opportunities to catch each other. After all, a speed racquet with a balance point of 293mm, it’s hard to give the kind of kills that the second brother-in-law has!

The strengths of the BX500 are in flat draws and elasticity; the BX500 mid-court experience is smooth and the elasticity is very adequate, and I quickly find joy in getting on the ball. At the net, I prefer to push the center and backcourt quickly, relying on the BX500’s fast speed and elasticity to force the opponent to hit the ball out of position. The moment you take a strong draw or pick at the backcourt, and suddenly draw the racket face down to hit the ball, the wrapping sensation is the strongest, and there is a feeling of controlling the whole situation. The sweet spot of the racket face is medium, the same area as BX800, and the hardness of the racket frame is a bit softer than that of BX800, which makes the overall forgiveness rate slightly higher. The combination of fast, bouncy, and not too hard can assist the backhand action to better hit the ball deep into the opponent’s backcourt. Violent kill is not its optimal experience, fast shot + smooth rebound is the correct opening mode of BX500.

One comment: smooth + fast pop speed racket, in the mid-range has a strong competitiveness
Balanced in the middle of the speed racket, no obvious shortcomings, and the smoothness of power hitting is very good.
No long lag and mid-range deformation of the sugar water racket, it is crisp and clear.
It is recommended to use hard string for better active pressure.

The BX500 is good enough for daily club activities, but when I meet higher level friends or familiar partners, it’s more enjoyable to switch to a higher level racket.
The other size of the racket is 4UG6, which is suitable for women or players with average strength.

The BX500 is optimized in material and construction compared to the previous generation of CALIBAR 500/600. The BX500 is not as powerful and stiff as the CALIBAR 500/600, but it is more flexible and smooth.
While the previous generation of products were sold as strong and heavy, this generation of products is closer to getting better flexibility and hitting experience.

The BX500 is a mid-range “downsampled” version of the BX800, which retains the characteristics of the BX800 and achieves most of the flavor of the higher-end version at a limited price. At present, many mid-range rackets take on the appearance of high-end, but not to take on the high-end racket flavor and essence of the design concept, resulting in “downsampling” version of the mid-range although more, but the classic is still familiar with those old friends, I hope that the industry can change this situation.