Tag: Bonny Classic Carbon Infinity IF215

When I was improving my game, the Infiniti series felt fantastic, but recently, I’ve hit a plateau and find it less effective. It’s fair to say that this series, among Babolat’s self-developed frame series, has seen the least progress. From Infiniti 2 and 003 to 016 and Glory 002, the series has primarily focused on adjustments and optimizations rather than major breakthroughs. Since the introduction of 46T in 014, subsequent models have largely focused on balance point and stiffness. Now that the series has adopted a new numbering method and reached 215, Babolat likely hopes to achieve some breakthroughs.

Specifications:

• 4UG5
• With cap
• Total weight: 95.90g (in used condition)
• Balance point: 300mm
• Shaft thickness: 6.5mm
• Length: 220mm
• Stiffness: High
• Thin-wing small frame
• 76-hole string bed
• Full string grooves
• Warranty: 30 lbs
• Strung with VBS66N at 25-27 lbs

The Infiniti series traditionally uses a no-filler construction and applies varnish and water decals for decoration. While earlier models like 008-010 had their unique themes, this approach seemed to have reached its limit by 016, with some models even falling short compared to the early Infiniti 2’s pearlescent finish. The 215 has significantly improved in this regard, featuring more colored paint. The head transitions from white to teal at 4 and 8 o’clock, then to black at the T-head, creating a natural gradient. Although the official promotion describes it as a racing-themed paint style, the aesthetics are what matter most.

The current version has adjusted the balance point to 300mm. While not as aggressive as the Glory series I used, it still provides a noticeable head-heavy feel. Originally positioned as an offensive racket, the Infiniti series’s excellent frame wind resistance made me prefer it for doubles as a speed racket. The 215 maintains a high swing speed, similar to previous versions, with the full string grooves being a longstanding feature from Babolat.

However, the 215’s harder shaft and smaller head make it less user-friendly. Despite a relatively large sweet spot, increased string tension further raises the driving difficulty of the racket. The high balance point allows for effective power shots, but it becomes more challenging to generate power for defensive shots and net plays, which may limit its usability.

On the flip side, the 215 demonstrates a high ceiling for offensive play. Its small frame naturally provides a higher power threshold and more focused rebound feedback. When a player uses their power effectively, the racket delivers explosive shots. The lower wind resistance and fast swing speed contribute to rapid reactions. Although its 300mm balance point is not as high as Glory’s, it still outperforms the 295mm Lamberti in terms of placement and power.

The current weight allows for relatively agile handling, making quick transitions between forehand and backhand shots easier and maintaining stability during fast exchanges. The racket’s stability and directional control provide confidence in angled shots and precise placements. However, it still demands a high level of arm strength, and fatigue can lead to decreased shot quality and slower returns, giving opponents opportunities to pressure.

Previously, small-frame rackets weren’t ideal for my touch shots, but the 215’s improved feel has enhanced its performance. Although the racket’s small head can still cause some erratic shots during fine control, its overall stability has improved. Especially for backcourt drop shots, the increased frame inertia helps guide the shuttle closer to the net without the worry of being intercepted.

In defense, the 215 offers clear feedback for shots like lifting and blocking, but it faces challenges in two areas. Firstly, its small head offers less tolerance, making it difficult to react to fast shots and locate the shuttle accurately. Secondly, handling drop shots and soft touches becomes harder, particularly when fatigued, leading to less effective shots and potential form issues.

Despite the “buy new, not old” mindset, the Infiniti 215 remains one of the best small-frame rackets for those wanting to experience Babolat’s small-frame capabilities. It represents the highest quality within the series. However, it’s disappointing that the Infiniti series still lacks substantial progress, with the latest model mainly adjusting existing parameters. The boron fiber technology that significantly improved Babolat’s newer models has not yet been applied to the new Infiniti, which might be due to compatibility or production constraints. Nonetheless, incremental improvements in aesthetics alone might not satisfy long-time fans of the series.

When I was still improving my skills, the Infiniti series felt great to use, but after hitting a bottleneck recently, I found this series a bit difficult to handle. It can be said that among Bonny’s series with independently developed frame designs, this one has shown the least progress. Starting from the Infiniti 2 and 003, through to the 016 and Honor 002, after playing with so many models, the development of this series has been more about adjustments and optimizations. Since the 014 introduced the 46T material, the later models have mostly focused on balance point and stiffness. However, now that the series has adopted a new numbering method and reached 215, I think Bonny also hopes to achieve some breakthroughs with it.

Specifications: 4UG5, with grip, total weight in use 95.90g, balance point 300mm, 6.5mm shaft, length 220mm, high stiffness, thin-wing small racket frame, 76-hole string bed, full string grooves, warranty for 30 lbs, strung at 25-27 lbs VBS66N.
The Infiniti series has consistently used a no-filler process, with the rackets decorated using clear lacquer and water decals. Models 008-010 had their own mask themes, but beyond that, I felt this process should have reached its limit after the 016. Some models didn’t even have the same pearlescent finish effect as the earlier Infiniti 2. Recently, however, the situation improved significantly with the 215, which began using more colored paint to decorate the racket. The head transitions from white at the tip to cyan at the 4 and 8 o’clock positions, then to black at the T-joint, creating a natural layering effect. Although the official promotion claims it’s a racing-themed paint job, I think as long as it looks good, that’s what matters.

The current version has adjusted the unstrung balance point to 300mm, which isn’t as aggressive as the Honor series I’ve used before, but the racket still has a noticeable head-heavy feel when in hand. Originally, the Infiniti series was positioned as an offensive racket, but its excellent frame wind resistance made me more inclined to use it as a speed racket in doubles. In fact, the 215’s swing speed is also top-notch. For specifics on how fast it is, you can refer to previous reviews of the series. This full-groove small racket frame has been used by Bonny for many years.

Additionally, the stiff shaft and small racket face make the 215 difficult to handle. Although the sweet spot occupies a relatively large portion of the racket face, the increased net pressure further raises the difficulty of driving the racket, lacking the forgiving feel of the 003/007. When properly engaged, the high balance point allows for powerful, speedy returns, but backhand shots and low-power underhand drives become significantly harder, limiting the racket’s usability for some.

Conversely, the 215 has a very high ceiling in terms of offensive capabilities. The small racket face naturally has a higher power threshold and more concentrated rebound feedback, allowing for explosive shots when the user generates power. When there’s an opportunity for a full-power strike, utilizing body rotation, the shuttle speed can reach quite high levels, with the potential to penetrate the court with a single smash. Moreover, the low wind resistance of the frame allows for faster swings. Although the 300mm balance point isn’t very high, making the placement and downward pressure less intense compared to the Honor series, it’s still much better than the 295mm Lampard.

The current swing weight still gives me a relatively agile feel during use, not hindering the switch between forehand and backhand power or the formation of continuous defensive blocks in fast-paced exchanges. Meanwhile, the racket delivers a certain level of stability, with a clear sense of direction, making it more confident in angled shots and large swings, without the shuttle floating unpredictably. However, it should be noted that the racket still demands constant attention to finger and forearm power during exchanges. When fatigue sets in, the quality of the drive decreases, slowing down the return speed, and giving the opponent an opportunity to press the advantage.

In the past, I mentioned that small racket frames weren’t very suitable for my handling of delicate shots. However, on the 215, thanks to its well-tuned feel, it doesn’t feel unstable in the hand, and its performance in small ball play has improved. Although the current racket face can still cause some over-reaction during fine operations, the stability of its feel has been enhanced. Especially in the backcourt drops, with the increased inertia of the frame, the potential energy during the swing allows the shuttle to drop closer to the net, eliminating the fear of being intercepted.

In defense, the 215 is stiff and elastic, providing a clear feel when borrowing force to push to the backcourt, sideline, or block at the net. However, there are challenges in two areas. First, the small racket face has a low tolerance. When the opponent’s smash speed increases, the reduced reaction time makes it hard to align the racket face correctly, leading to several mishits during my usage, which was quite frustrating. Second, the difficulty in generating power on underhand shots makes it harder to place the shuttle accurately when dealing with drops or soft blocks, especially when fatigue sets in, forcing larger arm swings that can distort my movements.

Given the preference for buying new rather than old, the Infiniti 215 is still one of the small racket frames worth recommending, especially for players looking to try out Bonny’s small racket frames and advance their skills. This model represents the highest level in the series in terms of overall quality. However, I’m left with significant regrets because the Infiniti series still hasn’t made substantial progress. The new model is just another optimization of the original parameters. The boron fiber shaft, which gave Bonny’s new products a significant boost last year, has yet to be applied to the new Infiniti, perhaps due to incompatibility or low production capacity. Regardless, just improving the paint job isn’t enough to satisfy the series’ loyal fans.