Badminton Pro Guide: News, Players, Gear, and Expert Reviews

Tag: ARCSABER 8DX

  • Badminton Racket Yonex ArcSaber 8DX Reviews

    Badminton Racket Yonex ArcSaber 8DX Reviews

    There are many consensus points about the ArcSaber series, such as its low entry barrier, shuttle hold feel, and its tendency to collapse under stress. The characteristic shuttle hold is due to the soft frame, which also causes the carbon fiber to fatigue easily, leading to poor creep resistance. Even the ArcSaber 11, reissued just a year ago, still has a 24 lbs warranty, showing that the stiffness has not improved much.

    However, in my opinion, the ArcSaber 8 stands out simply because of its “high” 27 lbs tension warranty.

    Specifications:

    • 3UG5, bottom cap removed, total weight in use 92.7g, balance point 300mm
    • 7.2mm shaft diameter, 210mm long, stiff tuning
    • 76-hole string bed, 9–3 o’clock grommets, 27 lbs tension warranty, strung at 25–27 lbs with XB63 strings

    It seems that among the high-end models of the Duora and ArcSaber series, the 8 has relatively better high tension durability. In terms of appearance, the design of the ArcSaber 8 is consistent with the models of that period. The frame has a simple silver-white base coat, transitioning to black around the 4 and 8 o’clock positions, which continues along the entire shaft. However, the font on the shaft made me think of toffee or coffee. The application of C.S. nanotubes is clearly marked on the frame’s sides, and other than that, it has a clean and simple look.

    As always, it has a large racket head and a big sweet spot, but the ArcSaber 8 feels a bit more head-heavy than the ArcSaber 7, giving it a slight offensive edge. Also, when paired with the XB63 strings, the series’ characteristic shuttle hold is slightly reduced, and both the frame and shaft feel stiffer, resulting in quicker shot response. The racket’s power transfer remains excellent, and after just one or two rallies, it’s easy to get a feel for its shot rhythm and power output, with a clear sense of directionality.

    Of course, the 3U ArcSaber 8’s swing weight is still very manageable, and this faster response speed would be greatly appreciated by advanced players with a bit more power and technique. In drives and blocks, it performs remarkably well. As a racket once used by Koo Kien Keat, it gave me a similar fast-paced experience to the NS8000 that I tried for the first time last year. I had no issues using the ArcSaber 8 for doubles.

    Today, if I were to praise this racket’s elasticity, it would be unreliable. Even its successor, the ArcSaber 11, has a more flexible shaft. Although they both feature Nano Science technology, advancements in technology never stop evolving. However, the ArcSaber 8 has excellent stability, and as long as your technique is in form, the shot quality it delivers is impressively consistent, with a very clear feel.

    One significant advantage of its high tension durability is that it allows for higher string tensions, further enhancing its strength in shot control. With its unique characteristics, the ArcSaber 8 excels at tight net play. Some people claim it’s the king of offense in the ArcSaber series, which I’m not sure about, but it certainly has no problem creating offensive opportunities.

    Sometimes, it must be acknowledged that when power is sufficient, durability under high tension becomes an offensive asset. When striking with force, you can feel the string bed flex more, and the shuttle stays on the strings longer, allowing for more efficient energy transfer. The ArcSaber 8’s offensive feel is not as “sugar water” as other models—you can’t expect a slow, light downward shot to have much quality. Instead, by focusing power into a heavy smash, you can truly feel its stiffness, stability, and potential. Even after 13 years, it still meets the offensive needs of modern players. Moreover, it keeps up with continuous play.

    The backhand power is also great, and aside from the stiff tuning, there’s no other difficulty to overcome. The racket also offers higher tolerance in drop shots, and the consistency in high clears and smashes is greatly improved.

    I’ve run out of words. Aside from the generational gap in materials affecting the racket’s elasticity, in every other aspect, it feels like I’ve been testing a very modern stiff and balanced racket.

  • Badminton Racket YONEX ARCSABER 8DX Reviews

    Badminton Racket YONEX ARCSABER 8DX Reviews

    There is a lot of consensus on the Bow Series, such as the advantage of a low threshold, the characteristic ball-holding feel, and the disadvantage of being prone to collapse. What creates the characteristic ball-holding feel is the frame softness, and because of that it leads to a carbon cloth that is prone to fatigue against wire shear and poor creep resistance. Even the batch of Bow 11s that were reproduced a year ago, the warranty is still 24 pounds, and the spirit is stubborn.
    But if you ask me, the 27-pound warranty on the Bow 8 is enough to make it stand out from the rest.

    Parameters: 3UG5, de-bottomed, total weight in use 92.7g, balance point 300mm, 7.2mm center rod, 210mm long, stiff tuning, 76-hole thread bed, 9-3 point thread slot, 27 lbs warranty, threading 25-27lbs xb63.
    It seems like the 8 is a relatively high poundage resistant product in both the Double Edge and Bow premium lines. However, in terms of appearance, the Bow 8 is consistent in its exterior design style with its contemporaries around the same time. The frame is a simple silver-white primer that turns black at 4 and 8 o’clock and runs all the way through the center bar, but the model number lettering on the center bar alone makes me feel like toffee or coffee. The two flanks of the frame are specially labeled with the application of C.S nanotubes, but other than that there are no decorations, which is also simple and generous.

    Still the same big racket face, still the same big sweet spot, but in the head weight feeling bow 8 is slightly more obvious than bow 7, also has half a foot into the feeling of offense racket. At the same time, with the xb63 the characteristic ball-holding feeling of the series is weakened, and the frame and center stick feel a little stiffer, so there is an increase in the responsiveness of the ball. As always, the 3U Bow 8 has a good feel on the ball, basically one or two round trips to figure out the rhythm and strength of the ball, and the direction is also clearer.
    Of course, the 3U Bow 8’s swingweight is still very friendly, and this quicker response makes it a natural choice for advanced players with a little more power and technique to find it useful in flat blocks. As Koo’s former racket, it gave me a similar fast-paced performance to the ns8000 that I first saw last year. I used the Bow 8 for doubles and it was flawless.

    To this day, it’s not credible for me to brag about how flexible this racket is, even if I take out its predecessor, the Bow 11, and compare it to its center stick, it’s still a bit inferior. Although the same nano science, technology this thing will never carve the sword. But the stability of the racket is very good, under the premise of action molding, the bow 8 can provide the quality of the ball can reach amazing consistency, feel quite clear.
    And there’s also an advantage based on the high poundage resistance performance, in that it deserves higher string tension to further enhance its longevity on the ball control path. The Bow 8, by virtue of its own characteristics, can be a very tight eater at the net. Some say it’s the offensive king of the Bow series, which I’m not sure about yet, but at least it doesn’t have too many problems with its ability to create offensive opportunities.

    Sometimes you have to admit that when you have the power to keep up, the high poundage resistance is also an offensive chip. When hitting the ball with power, you can still feel a greater deformation of the string bed, the head stays on the ball longer, and therefore the energy transfer is more adequate. The Bow 8’s offense doesn’t feel as syrupy as the others, and expecting to be able to hit a slow, downward pressure shot is definitely not good quality. By focusing more on hitting the ball hard, feeling its hardness, feeling its stability, and feeling its potential, it’s easy to see that after 13 years, it still meets the needs of today’s attackers. Moreover, it is still coherent ……
    The backhand feel is also very good, with no more difficulties to overcome than the stiffness of the overall tuning. At the same time, the slice is much more forgiving, high slice kills can be made with better consistency, and the effectiveness of the shot is further improved.

    I’m really out of words, except for the material gap that makes the flexibility a bit hard to keep up with, in all other aspects, I seem to be trying out a pretty modern stiff balanced racket. ……