The White Swan TU160 had already left a strong impression on me, and this similarly priced Little Cannon GT-I also performed quite well.
Appearance: The mech-style flamingo color scheme with a white and red base, accented by gold patterns, features a symmetrical design. The top and T-joint grommets are also red, which I personally think looks fantastic. For a price under 200, I always worry about paint quality, but after long-term use, I realized my concerns were unfounded. Aside from a small paint bubble near the T-joint, the rest is nearly perfect. The overall texture is comfortable and robust—truly both attractive and durable, plus it’s affordable enough not to feel bad about using it.
Parameters: 4U G5 spec, 76-hole box frame, 3-9 string grooves, unstrung weight with grip and tape at 94.0g, grip length 205mm, shaft length 215mm, balance point around 300mm, strung with VBS66N at 26 lbs.
Feel: The flamingo color scheme of the GT-I certainly matches its bold attributes. Unlike the highly recommended White Swan TU160, the GT-I emphasizes offensive capabilities and is less balanced. You can immediately feel that the GT-I has more weight, and in practice, it has a noticeable head-heavy feel, which brings a solid offensive experience. The shaft’s stiffness is moderate, but I personally feel it leans slightly softer; the response speed isn’t very quick, and the feel is softer and more elastic—somewhat like a weakened, user-friendly version of the Fire Call.
I previously described the TU160 as being well-rounded, adaptable, and exceptionally user-friendly, making it perfect for casual play. In contrast, the GT-I excels in shot direction and stability; whether it’s high clears, kills, or delicate net shots, it feels more solid, with consistent landing points and excellent torsional resistance. This is likely due to the brand’s commitment to quality materials, using a mature 30T setup and an internal T-joint. As for net play and flat shots, they perform adequately, reflecting the normal standards for this price range—not particularly impressive but definitely usable.
The GT-I is easy to pick up. For me, the only drawback is that I feel the shaft could be stiffer to emphasize its offensive attributes, especially for those who prefer fast-paced attacks; it may feel a bit slow for them. I understand that most brands in this price range tend to play it safe, but there’s also a need for unique offerings, and many beginner players are confident and willing to try rackets that aren’t just for novices.
Summary: Although this post is about the Kawasaki GT-I, I still find myself strongly recommending the TU160! Both rackets are excellent choices for beginners and intermediate players, offering great value. For under 200, with strings included, who could ask for more? Both make great backups, but if you ask me about the king in this price range, I’d still side with the TU160.
Finally, I can relax for a while. My recent tasks have been eating, drinking, and having fun, getting plenty of rest, and of course, playing badminton! And sharing my experiences too~ Apologies for the delay with the Kawasaki GT-I review. That said, the White Swan TU160 already left a strong impression on me, and this similarly priced little powerhouse, the GT-I, is also impressive.
Appearance: The GT-I features a mech-style flamingo color scheme, with a white and red base complemented by some gilded patterns. The symmetrical design and the red top and T-head grommets enhance its appeal. For a price under 200, I always worry about paint quality, but after extended use, I found my concerns unfounded. Except for a minor paint bubble near the T-head, the rest of the racket is almost perfect. The texture is comfortable and durable; it looks good and is tough enough not to be a burden.
Specifications: 4U G5, 76-hole box frame, 3-9 o’clock grommets, unstrung weight + grip tape: 94.0g, handle length: 205mm, shaft length: 215mm, balance point: approximately 300mm, strung with VBS66N at 26lbs.
Playing Feel: The flamingo-colored GT-I truly embodies its bold nature. Unlike the White Swan TU160, which I previously highly recommended, the GT-I has a stronger attacking property and isn’t as balanced. Right from the start, you can feel that the GT-I has more weight, giving it a noticeable head-heavy feel, which translates into a great attacking experience. The shaft hardness is moderate but feels slightly soft, with slower response speed and a softer, bouncier feel, somewhat like a toned-down, easier-to-handle Fire Call.
I previously mentioned that the TU160 is versatile and easy to use, particularly well-suited for casual play and rotation in a variety of games. In contrast, the GT-I excels in directionality and shot stability, making it more solid for high clears, kills, slices, and even heavy smashes from the back court. Its accuracy is impressive, and its torsional resistance is excellent, thanks to the brand’s consistent use of materials, including a 30T solution and internal T-head. Its net play and flat drive performance are average for this price range—neither particularly standout but sufficient.
The GT-I is not too difficult to handle. For me, the only drawback is that the shaft could be a bit stiffer to emphasize its attacking properties. Especially for those who prefer a speed-focused attacking style, it might feel slightly slow. I understand that many brands in this price range opt for a conservative style, but there’s also a market for “oddities,” and many entry-level players are eager to try “non-beginner” rackets with confidence.
Summary: Although this review is about the Kawasaki GT-I, it seems to end up recommending the TU160! Both rackets are excellent choices for entry-level or intermediate players and offer great value. At under 200 with strings included, both are worth having as backups. However, if you ask me to choose the best in the 200 price range, I would still stand by the TU160.
Kawasaki’s entry-level models are produced in large quantities, and new models are released every quarter. In addition to the official models, Kawasaki also handles a lot of custom rackets for retailers, showing that their production capacity is quite robust.
What’s intriguing is that Kawasaki not only meets the demand but also maintains high quality in this category. Whether for casual play or for competitive entry-level rackets, their extensive product line offers suitable options for consumers. Furthermore, I often find satisfactory experiences with their two- and three-star rackets from the old rating system. The materials used in these rackets are transparent and reflect the manufacturer’s tuning skills.
Parameters: Aurora 5UG5, with shrink film, total weight in play 88.94g, balance point 299mm, shaft length 213mm, relatively low stiffness, box-type frame, 76-hole string bed, 9-3 o’clock string grooves, warranty for 30 lbs, string tension 24 lbs durable string.
Kawasaki clearly puts effort into the visible parts of their rackets. Their style, even in low-end rackets, is to use good appearance design and paintwork. The Qinghua porcelain series is a good example of this. The Aurora, similar in its fresh and slightly feminine style to Qinghua porcelain, features glacier blue and deep green colors, evoking the cold polar night sky. The color blocks have a gradient transition, giving a natural look to the wings of the frame, and the use of stickers is restrained, giving it a simple European style. Although I associate Aurora with vibrant visual effects, the current Aurora is much more understated, but still aligns with my aesthetic.
The light specification combined with the soft setting is clearly aimed at beginners. The standard fluid box-type frame and 76-hole string bed provide high stability and error tolerance. In routine high clears, the racket shows excellent handling, allowing for easy shaft deformation and elasticity, sending the shuttlecock to the opponent’s baseline effortlessly. Not only is the handling easy, but the physical demands are also very low, and the current quality of the Aurora is already satisfactory. The racket’s elasticity is above average for its level and uses 30T material. A slightly firmer stiffness setting would be even better.
In faster-paced exchanges, the Aurora has its pros and cons. The advantage is its lightweight performance, making transitions between forehand and backhand and continuous frame adjustments quick. With a low threshold for generating power, it’s also effective in defensive play and retrieving shots. The downside is the racket’s sluggish character; although the swing is fast, the shuttlecock doesn’t come off directly, and the recovery speed of the shaft after deformation is slow, leading to instability after a few shots.
Among 5U entry-level rackets, the Aurora performs above average in close-net shots. It doesn’t feel too erratic and has a decent ball-holding feel due to the ample string bed area. It’s easy to achieve stable actions and consistent shot quality when performing drop shots and net shots. The shuttlecock has a clear holding sensation, making it possible to execute tight net shots with a cut action from the backcourt. This is one of the aspects I’m most satisfied with.
In simple terms, even for intermediate players, the Aurora can still deliver a good experience.
Parameters: GTI 4UG5, with shrink film, total weight in play 91.03g, balance point 297mm, shaft length 215mm, medium stiffness, box-type frame, 76-hole string bed, 9-3 o’clock string grooves, warranty for 30 lbs, string tension 25-27 lbs BS710.
The GTI features a mecha style in its paintwork, inspired by VW’s famous small steel cannon. The bright red stickers on the frame at 2, 10, 5, and 7 o’clock create a combat atmosphere. The red stickers on the shaft make the racket look flashy, though this makes the model number less visible. Compared to the Aurora, the GTI’s visual appeal feels more ordinary to me.
The GTI’s feel is noticeably more substantial than the Aurora, with improved specifications and head weight distribution showing a certain heft. The medium stiffness of the shaft provides a more solid feel when hitting. The GTI is also easy to drive, but offers more power and is more suitable for male players. The feeling of sending the shuttlecock high and far into the opponent’s court is similar to many other entry-level rackets, which is straightforward and well-understood.
While the increased stiffness and swing weight don’t make the GTI more difficult in passive or defensive play, it remains light and easy to use. The feel in defensive drives is quite manageable, and in faster-paced rallies, the racket head responds better and maintains stability through multiple shots. The swing speed and agility are slightly reduced, but the impact is minimal. Powering through defensive shots or smashes remains effortless without the hindrance of excessive head heaviness or high stiffness. However, compared to the TU-160, noticeable differences can be felt.
In terms of small ball control, the GTI performs adequately, without outstanding or poor characteristics. The feel is primarily influenced by the racket’s weight distribution. Compared to the TU160, the GTI feels more solid. However, the GTI, like the Aurora, has noticeable power transmission issues, with a clear lack of force in powerful smashes. There is a feeling of insufficient explosiveness, and while the GTI may handle gentle downward shots better than the Aurora, its performance ceiling does not show significant differences. The additional power mainly comes from increased head momentum and the illusion of feedback from the stiffer shaft.
Both of these rackets are ones where users may reach their limits as their skill level increases, especially in offense. They suffer from insufficient downward force, with significant shaft deformation during heavy smashes and a lack of explosiveness. The responsiveness of the racket face is hesitant, and the rhythm in attacks is delayed.
For competitive play, they have quite a few shortcomings. However, trying out entry-level products occasionally can be beneficial after more serious competitive testing. These rackets are better suited for beginners or as gifts for new players, and they are indeed a reliable option.
