Tag: BRAVE SWORD 11 BKA

  • Badminton Racket Victor BRAVE SWORD 11 BKA Reviews

    Badminton Racket Victor BRAVE SWORD 11 BKA Reviews

    This is the second entry in the Liangjian series. Released over a decade ago, it witnessed the heyday of the Korean team, so the version with the BKA small wing is even more popular.

    Its swing speed and frame shape are indeed classic. This classic can be verified from the introduction of this racket in the equipment library, especially as it has been used by various professional players including Li Daochang, Zheng Daxu, and Ma Huang, covering male and female players and both singles and doubles events.

    However, whether the Liangjian 11 or Liangjian 12 is still a viable racket today needs to be tested.

    Parameters: 4UG5, with a base, used condition total weight 92.0g, balance point 294mm, 7.0mm shaft, length 220mm, hard feel, diamond wind-breaking frame, 72-hole string bed, 9—3 o’clock string grooves, warranty 26/28 lbs, stringing 26 lbs with generic strings.

    The Liangjian frame is quite delicate. A small chip of paint can be seen after hitting the ball, and the excessively sharp edges cause a smaller contact area with more pressure upon impact, which results in significant wear on the sample in my possession. In terms of color, it reminds me of the JetSpeed 9 and Challenger 9500, with the same black, white, and red color scheme, which looks rather ordinary by today’s standards. It’s worth noting that the hardness markings on the racket vary by version: TW is softer, while CN is harder.

    I haven’t experienced the sharp, cutting wind-breaking sound of the Liangjian frame for a long time, but it returned when I started swinging it. When first handling it, it doesn’t feel like a 4U racket; the weight is quite substantial, which is the most puzzling aspect to me—how does a 4U racket with a base and strings achieve such a full feel with a balance point of only 294mm?

    The Liangjian 11’s static hardness is indeed high, with a shaft that looks considerably thicker than current rackets, possibly reaching 7.2mm after coating. Upon adapting to it, its dynamic hardness is also notable, with direct feedback and prominent frame rigidity, giving a similar feel to the Liangjian 12. This is a racket with a classic feel, but it seems somewhat outdated in terms of materials.

    Despite this, I found adapting to the racket wasn’t particularly difficult. Its fast swing speed and long shaft provide excellent power, and the smooth swinging experience, aided by the large sweet spot of the Liangjian frame, makes handling high and defensive shots quite comfortable. However, while the frame is rigid, and the T-head features a box-shaped frame extension for better speed, it doesn’t offer corresponding precision in controlling the landing points of long shots. The diamond wind-breaking frame still has its shortcomings in torsional resistance.

    Nonetheless, its swing speed remains impressive. Initially, I worried that my wife, who was used to the 5U Speed 90F, might find the Liangjian 11 too heavy, but she persisted and trained with me. She was able to handle it with decent performance. Although the feedback was somewhat stiff after numerous rallies, making her forearm sore, it’s still usable. In my own experience, the Liangjian 11 is more suited for fast-paced flat drives and net play rather than singles. At least, it is competent for handling shots in the front and middle court for players at my level.

    Of course, it requires some adaptation in downward shots due to its head-heaviness. Initially, when facing excellent front-to-back court opportunities, there were awkward moments where powerful shots went out of bounds because the shot trajectory wasn’t controlled well. This could be resolved by adjusting the timing of the swing. The heavy smashes feel good and the speed is there, but the shaft’s elasticity lags behind. Compared to the Speed 100X, which increases speed with better elasticity, the Liangjian 11’s shot speed has decreased, making it easier to defend against. Thus, offensive strategies should focus on leveraging the Liangjian 11’s advantages in continuity.

    Its low swing weight and high frame rigidity provide good instant power and fast initial shot speed, giving it a sharp and sudden striking experience. For well-placed attacks or counterattacks, a well-executed strike can often score or create scoring opportunities.

    The racket also has a good tolerance level. It provides clear feedback during high and flick shots in the backcourt, with a low error rate, and handles various smashes quite adeptly. This feeling reminds me of Li Xuanyi’s graceful footwork, smooth shots, and seemingly non-aggressive playing style, akin to a deceptive move.

    However, I must say that using the Liangjian 11 resulted in a very low win rate. The racket’s feel gave me excessive confidence, leading to unreasonably high expectations for my shots and resulting in many forced errors. The most memorable instance was in the decisive set of a singles match, where I had four match points but was overturned, making three errors on service returns and net play. It was my own fault.

    This makes the Liangjian 11 a racket worth long-term adaptation and main use, though its outdated shaft often leads to disappointment. It is a contradiction between being outdated and having no significant weaknesses.

  • Badminton Racket VICTOR BRAVE SWORD 11 BKA Reviews

    Badminton Racket VICTOR BRAVE SWORD 11 BKA Reviews

    This is the second model in the BRAVE SWORD series, which was released more than a decade ago and witnessed the peak of the Korean team’s dominance. Therefore, versions with the BKA small wing are particularly sought after.

    Its swing speed and frame shape are indeed classic. This classic design is validated by the introduction of the racket in the equipment library, as prominent players like Lee Dong-kwon, Jung Da-uk, and Ma Huang have used it, covering various professional players in men’s, women’s, and mixed events.

    However, whether the BRAVE SWORD 11 or BRAVE SWORD 12 are still viable rackets today remains to be tested.

    Specifications: 4UG5, with cap, total weight 92.0g in used condition, balance point 294mm, 7.0mm shaft, length 220mm, hard tuning, diamond-shaped wind-break frame, 72-hole string bed, 9-3 o’clock string groove, warranty 26/28, strung with 26 lbs generic string.

    The BRAVE SWORD frame is quite fragile; any contact with the shuttlecock easily chips the paint. The sharp edges result in a smaller contact area and more intense impact, which leads to noticeable wear on the sample I have. The color scheme, with its black, white, and red, reminds me of the JETSPEED 9 and Challenger 9500. From today’s perspective, it’s not particularly stunning—rather, it’s conventional. It’s worth mentioning that there are variations in the hardness markings based on different versions: TW indicates a softer racket, while CN indicates a harder one.

    I haven’t experienced the sharp, whooshing sound of the BRAVE SWORD frame for a long time, but it returned after a few swings. Initially, I didn’t feel like this was a 4U racket; its weight isn’t light, which I found quite puzzling. As a 4U racket with a cap and strings, how does it achieve such a substantial feel with a balance point of just 294mm?

    The static hardness of the BRAVE SWORD 11 is indeed high, with a shaft that looks significantly thicker than current rackets, possibly reaching 7.2mm with the paint. When adjusting to it, the dynamic hardness is also high, with a direct feedback and noticeable rigidity in the frame, and it feels similar to the BRAVE SWORD 12. It’s a classic feel, but with a slightly outdated material sensation.

    Despite this, adapting to the racket isn’t particularly difficult. Due to its fast swing speed and long shaft, the feel during hitting is excellent, and the smooth swing experience combined with the large sweet spot of the BRAVE SWORD frame makes handling lifts and defensive shots quite comfortable. However, despite its high rigidity, the frame’s control over the shuttlecock’s landing point is not as precise, and the diamond-shaped wind-break frame still has its weaknesses in torsional resistance.

    The swing speed remains impressive. Initially, I worried that switching from the 5U JETSPEED 90F to the BRAVE SWORD 11 might be a burden, but my partner adapted and trained with it, showing strong rally capabilities. The racket can handle fast-paced flat shots and net play, though I struggled to associate the BRAVE SWORD 11 with singles. At least it’s suitable for managing front-court shots at my level.

    Of course, its head-heavy nature requires some adjustment in smashes. Initially, there were awkward situations where powerful shots would miss the line due to improper control, which had to be corrected by timing the swings. The power in smashes is good, and the speed is there, but the shaft’s lack of elasticity means that compared to the JETSPEED 100X, which increases speed through elasticity, the BRAVE SWORD 11’s shuttlecock speed decreases and becomes easier to defend against. Thus, it’s better to use the BRAVE SWORD 11’s advantages in consistency.

    The low swing weight and high rigidity of the frame contribute to excellent instant power and initial speed. This gives the BRAVE SWORD 11 a sharp and sudden strike experience, allowing for precise and effective attacks. For a well-placed shot, a little arm power targeting open spaces or chasing shots can often score or create scoring opportunities.

    The racket’s error tolerance is also sufficient, providing clear feedback during clears and drops, with a low error rate and effective in various defensive situations.

    This feeling reminds me of Lee Hyun-il’s graceful footwork, fluid shots, and seemingly non-aggressive style of play, similar to the ghost steps.

    However, I must say that my success rate with the BRAVE SWORD 11 is very low. The racket’s feel gives excessive confidence, leading to high expectations and many unforced errors. I remember one decisive match where I lost after holding four match points, making three line mistakes during serves and net plays. That was my issue.

    This makes me think that the BRAVE SWORD 11 is a racket worth long-term adjustment and primary use, but its outdated shaft often leads to disappointment. It is a contradiction between being outdated and having no notable shortcomings.