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Tag: MX2012LONDON

  • Badminton Racket Victor METEOR X 2012 LONDON Reviews

    Badminton Racket Victor METEOR X 2012 LONDON Reviews

    I initially thought the METEOR X series only had the JJS player version left, but a friend suddenly asked me if I had tried the Olympic commemorative edition.

    What? I checked the equipment library and indeed found this racket, which reminded me of the unfortunate situation of the hx800ltd.

    Specifications:
    Weight: 3U G5, with grip, total weight in use: 95.4g, balance point: 293mm, shaft length: 215mm, stiffness: high.
    Frame: octagonal aerodynamic frame, 80-hole string bed, grooves at 9-3 points.
    String tension: 28 lbs recommended, strung at 25-27 lbs with High-Tech Steel Armor 5.

    It’s very British; you can see that the Blue Factory has incorporated as many elements of the British flag as possible into the commemorative edition, including adjustments in color and lines. The full paint job is also a rarity. But is it visually appealing? I still think the standard models look more imposing. Besides, aren’t the water blue of the 30, mango yellow of the 60, and metallic silver of the 70 more striking than plain white?

    When I first held it, it felt very familiar, almost like I had used it recently. Checking the stiffness and head-heavy feel, wow, it’s quite similar to the MX90. Could it be a re-skinned version? But there are differences; the London edition has a 7.2mm shaft, unlike the 7.0mm of the MX90. Also, the London edition was released two years before the MX90, so it would be more accurate to say that the MX90 is a re-skinned version of the London edition.

    So, is it a product based on the MX80 with a MX90 tuning? Hey, it does feel that way. The slightly higher swing weight and better driving shaft stiffness are spot on. If we really need to get into details, the racket’s stiffness is between the 80 and 90, but the current High-Tech Steel Armor 5 is indeed stiffer than the KT66F, so focusing on small details might be unnecessary.

    For players with good power and technique, it is easy to drive. Even if you can’t feel the shaft deformation, the racket’s inertia and string bed power are enough to hit high-clear shots with a good arc when making proper high-clear movements, as long as you hit the sweet spot. The feedback still carries that slightly rigid MX series feel. Is it wooden? I would have definitely said yes before, but since the perception of “wooden” varies among players, it’s a matter of personal opinion. I still enjoy the stimulation from this hitting feel.

    Players who haven’t mastered their power technique should avoid forcing themselves to use it, as there is a risk of injury.

    I first assessed its various shot effects. The high-clear shots are good, net play has a solid feel, and net flicks are stable. The flat drives are also effective, but the higher swing weight makes the racket feel clumsy in fast-paced rallies. It’s harder to maintain fluidity in shots and get adequate small power windows, making it difficult to handle passive shots. This really feels very much like the MX90.

  • Badminton Racket Victor MX2012LONDON Reviews

    Badminton Racket Victor MX2012LONDON Reviews

    I originally thought that the METEOR series only had the JJS player edition left, but then a friend suddenly asked if I had ever tried the Olympic Commemorative Edition.
    What? I checked the equipment database, and sure enough, there is such a racket, which reminds me of the unfortunate fate of the HX800LTD.

    Specifications:
    3UG5, without a grip, total weight in use is 95.4g, balance point at 293mm, 7.2mm shaft, 215mm in length, high stiffness, octagonal aerodynamic frame, 80-hole string bed, 9-3 o’clock string grooves, warranty up to 28 lbs, strung at 25-27 lbs with Gosen R4X Momone strings.
    Hmm, very British. You can see that Victor tried to incorporate elements of the UK flag into this commemorative edition as much as possible, including adjustments in the colors and lines. The full paint coverage is also a bit of an exception. But if you ask whether it looks good, I’d say the regular edition looks a bit more imposing. Moreover, isn’t the light blue of the MX30, the mango yellow of the MX60, or the metallic silver of the MX70 more impactful than pure white?

    When I picked it up, it felt very familiar, as if I had just used it recently. Looking at the stiffness and head-heavy feel, wow, it’s very similar to the MX90. Could it be just a re-skinned version? But there are some differences—the London edition has a 7.2mm shaft, unlike the 7.0mm of the MX90. And speaking of timelines, the London edition came out two years before the MX90, so if anything, the MX90 should be considered the re-skinned version of the London edition.
    So, could this be a product made with the MX80 foundation, tuned to the MX90 specs? Hey, I really think that’s the case. The slightly heavier swing weight and slightly better drivability of the shaft’s stiffness, yep, it feels just right. If I had to further differentiate, I’d say the racket’s stiffness is between the MX80 and MX90, but the current tension of the Gosen R4X strings is already a bit stiffer than the KT66f, so focusing on too many details isn’t necessary.

    For players with good strength and technique, it’s obviously easy to handle. Even if you can’t feel the shaft flex, the inertia of the head and the power of the string bed are enough to send the shuttle to the opponent’s baseline with a high trajectory, provided you hit the sweet spot and execute the clear properly. As for the feedback, it still has that slightly rigid feel characteristic of the METEOR series. You might say it feels “wooden”? I used to agree, but “wooden” is a subjective term that every player interprets and tolerates differently, so now it’s a matter of personal preference. I actually enjoy the sensation this kind of feel brings.
    However, if you haven’t mastered your power stroke, don’t force yourself to use it—you might risk injury.

    Right from the start, I tested its various shot-making capabilities. Clears, of course, felt great; the touch for slicing and net shots was stable; drives and blocks were strong, but the slightly higher swing weight made it less agile during fast exchanges, making it harder to maintain continuity and find small windows for quick power shots. Defensive shots were also a bit uncomfortable… This really does resemble the MX90.
    Well, that’s that. Let’s see if I can get my hands on a JJS.