It must be admitted that it is, first and foremost, a “collapsed king.” When I received it, it was still strung, and upon inspection, I found that the condition of the racket head was not ideal. However, after removing the strings, the situation wasn’t too severe, so I reluctantly accepted it. Upon further inspection, it turned out that all six holes in the racket head were problematic. If you decide to use this racket, make sure to find a responsible stringer with good skills, ideally someone who will adjust the angle of the protective tube for each stringing. For this review, the racket head was fitted with the lightest six-grommet system possible, which may have affected its performance. After replacing the grommets, it was found that the stringer didn’t rotate the protective tubes for the 2 o’clock and 10 o’clock directions, so I had to rely on their judgment.
With Wang Shixian as the spokesperson, the HX series flagship racket, designed and crafted by Victory in Taiwan, has a commendable reputation. However, it has received a score of 7.9 and mostly 4-star reviews. Strangely, the reviews include contradictory comments such as “head-heavy, stiff and hard shaft, slow swing speed” and “light head, soft middle shaft, easy to handle, faster swing speed,” which seem to describe the same racket.
A friend who has played with the entire HX series gave a negative evaluation of this racket, leading me to wonder what the HX990 is like.
Parameters: 3UG5, with bottom coating and shrink film, total weight 99.2g, balance point 300mm, 6.8mm Flash Shaft (M30J + M46J), 210mm shaft length, stiff, racket length 675mm, diamond-cut wind frame, 9-3 o’clock grommet slots, warranty 31lbs, string tension 25-27lbs, VBS66N.
The striking red base with white and black stripes and gold accents makes it hard not to notice this racket. The aggressive color scheme has a “hatred-provoking” effect, making one eager to pick it up.
After stringing, there is a noticeable head-heavy feel, which doesn’t quite align with the expected balanced design. After trying the HX900, I felt that a 3U would be better, but it seems I made a miscalculation with the HX990, especially for continuous doubles play.
Before changing the strings, I tried it with the original Li Ning No. 5 strings. The high-clearance shots were fine, and the head-heavy feel was just right for me, offering good power and a feeling of elasticity in the shaft. The diamond-cut wind frame provided a smooth swing experience, and the overall feel was on par with Victory’s flagship rackets. The response was clear with good directional accuracy and appropriate shot speed. However, there was a noticeable “sticky” feel on the string bed, making the feedback less crisp. This might be due to the large frame or shaft adjustments, showing a difference in understanding or handling of the Hypernano series between the Nanjing and Taiwan factories. The HX990 and HX900 are two distinct types of rackets.
Many of the national women’s singles players seem to prefer rackets with a “blurry” hitting feel, such as the Thruster 77. While the HX990 has a high upper limit, its feel is somewhat reserved and unremarkable. It excels in stability, control, and precision but lacks excitement. Its easily damaged nature also explains its lesser popularity.
