The latest racket is indeed quite niche—the third trial racket, the HX-SUN, a signature model of the Vice President of the Badminton Association, Sun Jun.
I wasn’t familiar with this name, so I checked the information. Coach Sun Jun was a national men’s singles player in the 1990s, known for his defensive and control play, following in the footsteps of Coach Zhao Jianhua. He was a major tournament player but retired prematurely due to health issues.
Since recovery is ongoing, the test intensity will be slightly lower; this experience is for reference only. Overall, the racket feels different from what I expected based on Sun Jun’s image.
Specifications:
Produced by Victor’s Nanjing factory, 4UG5, with grip tape removed and balance point at 306mm. The shaft is 6.8mm (M46J + M30) and 210mm in length, with medium stiffness. It features a diamond-shaped frame, 10—4 o’clock grommet design, and 23-25lbs string tension with NBG95.
The colors—navy blue, silver-gray, bright red, and white—combine to create an energetic, positive design, reminiscent of the classic color scheme of Gundam’s main characters. The frame stickers and shaft lettering are quite flashy, making the racket visually striking. Apart from the special Sun Jun signature on the shaft, the racket has a “three good” traditional quality feel, similar to classic models from the past, which I find appealing.
Although the balance point is at 306mm, it is not heavy to swing compared to the Dragon Tooth, leading me to question the mystical relationship between balance point and feel. The T-head features wind-breaking design, and the 4-6 o’clock direction includes flow channels. The diamond frame, used by Victor since the Nano 7, provides a clear and smooth wind-breaking effect. Despite the head-heavy nature leading to a slightly cumbersome feel during continuous swings, the overall process remains smooth.
After a few shots, the positioning of the SUN becomes apparent. The head and shaft have medium stiffness, while the shaft offers excellent elasticity and feedback, making it easy to deliver high-clear shots with controlled placement. The 6.8mm Flash Shaft is a mature design used in high-end rackets, explaining why models like TK15/30 were considered luxurious.
The feel for small shots is solid and reliable. The large frame and sweet spot make technical shots like drops easier to execute and offer a good sense of the ball. This wrap-around feel and large sweet spot improve the ability to break away from defensive shots, allowing for effective transitions from defense to offense in doubles. For attacking with power and precision, this racket performs well.
The racket’s attacking performance is impressive, with noticeable ball retention on the string bed but without the sticky feel of the HX990 or the dryness of the HX900. It offers a power feedback similar to the Arc 11, delivering direct power without a wooden or mushy sensation. The racket’s design requires minimal explosive force to achieve mid-shaft deformation, allowing for fast smashes and effective ground-stamping shots. The frame’s resistance to torsion is good, providing a predictable shot placement. Although it doesn’t have the rotational generation system of the Throat series, it still transitions well between heavy smashes and subsequent shots, proving effective in competitive matches.
The performance in flat drives is slightly lacking. In fast exchanges, it feels a bit sluggish, and successful predictions for intercepting shots may suffer due to swing speed issues. It remains suitable for backcourt play in doubles or singles with less power.
Regarding the NBG95 string, although it is often categorized as an all-around string among durable lines, its moderate character is not particularly favored. However, the new string’s performance is commendable, with hardness and elasticity approaching 80P and a decent holding feeling. For amateur players, it’s not economical to frequently change strings due to performance issues, and the NBG95 string’s post-tension performance does degrade, contributing to its less favorable reputation.
In my view, the SUN is a high-quality, user-friendly racket designed primarily for amateur players, with excellent feel and downforce. After receiving it, I couldn’t find any retailers on Taobao. Later, I found that new or first-hand models were priced around 500-600 yuan, with in-store prices around 800 yuan. This price is reasonable for the racket’s performance, though availability is currently uncertain. With the HX flagship discontinued, the HX-SUN continues to shine in its obscure niche. It’s a shame that such a good racket is relatively unknown. Victor’s previous marketing strategy has indeed overlooked many great products. I hope that Victor, after restructuring, will focus on improving their equipment. Ultimately, player choices depend on product quality.
