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Tag: VICTOR JETSPEED Ahmad T

  • Badminton Racket Victor JETSPEED S Ahmad T Reviews

    Badminton Racket Victor JETSPEED S Ahmad T Reviews

    If a signature racket of this type is not used for collection purposes, its highly sought-after nature can pose significant challenges for equipment enthusiasts due to its limited availability, high price, and niche audience.

    If it’s a signature version of an active or recently retired national team player, it might still be acceptable. However, if it’s a signature model from an older foreign player, its influence will undoubtedly drop dramatically.

    Before answering whether it’s good or not, it must first be noted that this is a very niche option.

    Specifications:

    • 3UG5
    • Weight (strung, without grip tape): 90.8g
    • Balance point: 298mm
    • Shaft: 7.0mm Bi-Tech carbon
    • Shaft length: 210mm
    • Stiff setup
    • 76-hole string pattern
    • Full aero frame
    • String groove at 9-3 o’clock
    • Max tension: 28 lbs
    • String tension: 24-26 lbs (XB63)

    The color scheme of the racket is impressive, both striking and elegant. The bright red glossy finish of the racket head, adorned with various technology labels and gold stickers, transitions into a deep burgundy at the T-joint area. The shaft also features the player’s signature near the cone, which adds to its presence.

    Over the past year, under the influence of a friend, I have gradually shifted from an unconditional preference for 4U versions of any racket to leaning more toward using 3U balanced speed rackets. The current 3U version of the “Amade” (the racket in question) still has a balance point below 300mm even after removing the grip tape, giving it a solid but not overwhelming weight in hand. It feels familiar and reminds me of a racket I’ve used before, the “Watermelon Knife.” However, the frame size of the Amade appears to be larger, and the stiffness of the shaft suggests that this flagship speed racket is not too difficult to handle.

    The ease of use was apparent even during the warm-up, before any serious match. During back-and-forth clears of any rhythm, the large sweet spot, low swing weight, high swing speed, and flexible shaft make it very confidence-inspiring for the user, even allowing beginners to hit good clears with decent height and depth.

    However, this doesn’t mean it’s all smooth sailing. Overall, the stiff tuning of the Amade still requires users to overcome some resistance during their strokes. Unfortunately, the current feedback from the racket also mirrors some early complaints from users of the “Watermelon Knife”—the shaft feels a bit stiff. This observation may lead to me extending my review time for the Amade.

    That said, despite the slightly unsatisfactory feedback from the racket, its performance in doubles is already very impressive. When it comes to smashing, its offensive power is similar to the “Energy 80,” which I tried not long ago, with the same vibrant color scheme. However, the Amade offers a crisper, more explosive feel. Additionally, the lower balance point aids in quick, sudden bursts during smashes. Although I haven’t fully tapped into its explosive potential due to some difficulties in adjusting to the shaft, I’ve already gained a considerable advantage in similarly skilled matches by focusing on more sudden and precise offensive strategies.

    The Amade’s performance in fast exchanges and defense can be described as fierce. For a 3U speed racket made of high-density materials, it shows excellent agility, speed, and stability during continuous rallies. As the pace quickens, the lower balance point and frame allow the racket to be in position faster. In comparison to other top-tier rackets like the Speed 10 or ZSP, the Amade’s larger string bed ensures more consistent contact and reduces mishits.

    In net play, the Amade’s large frame remains useful. Although the fast response of the racket makes it harder to control finesse shots like cross-court net shots, it provides an enjoyable experience for simple net returns. A light push can easily send the shuttle just over the net, which can be quite fun. Similarly, its performance in backcourt slicing and drops is outstanding, provided one gets used to its lively responsiveness. Initially, there might be a tendency to send the shuttle too high during drops.

    The first defense against powerful smashes is also quite good. With proper preparation, the Amade’s agility and responsiveness make it easier to return the shuttle accurately, disrupting the opponent’s rhythm. However, I emphasize “first defense” because, as the opponent’s attack continues, the stiffness of the shaft increases the difficulty of small adjustments, leading to diminishing return quality. During my testing of the Amade, I instinctively lowered my center of gravity during passive defense to stabilize my swings and produce higher-quality returns, but any lapse in preparation would result in continuous passive play.

    Overall, it has a similar feel to the 90k and Speed 10 series. In terms of feedback, I find the racket quite impressive, though the shaft lacks a bit of flexibility. It also doesn’t have the WES feature, and its tension durability is somewhat lacking. However, despite being a signature racket, it’s still more affordable than the 90k, though its low recognition has significantly affected its market demand.

    Sigh, Victory keeps producing these well-regarded but poorly received rackets…

  • Badminton Racket VICTOR JETSPEED Ahmad T Reviews

    Badminton Racket VICTOR JETSPEED Ahmad T Reviews

    If this type of signature racket is not used for collection purposes, its rarity, combined with limited availability, high prices, and a small audience, can create significant challenges for equipment enthusiasts.

    It’s better if the signature version belongs to a current or recently retired Chinese national team player. However, if it belongs to a more distant foreign player, the influence will inevitably decline sharply.

    Before discussing whether it’s good or bad, it’s worth noting that it’s already a rather niche option.

    Specifications: 3UG5, no base grip, weight in use is 90.8g, balance point is 298mm, 7.0mm Biocarbon shaft, 210mm length, stiff tuning, 76-hole string bed, fully aerodynamic frame, 9-3 o’clock grooves, warranty at 28 lbs, recommended string tension is 24-26lbs with xb63.

    The color scheme of the racket is on point, very striking and dignified. The bright red lacquer on the racket head is adorned with multiple gold stickers, in addition to some technical watermarks, gradually transitioning to a deep burgundy glossy paint around the 4 and 8 o’clock positions on the frame. Apart from the model on the shaft, there is also the player’s signature near the gold connector close to the cone. Once taken out, this racket’s aura makes its presence felt instantly.

    Over the past year, under the influence of friends, I have gradually shifted from unconditionally favoring any type of 4U racket to leaning towards selecting 3U balanced-speed rackets based on the actual situation. The current Ahmad T is also a 3U version, and even after removing the base grip, the balance point has not exceeded 300mm. It feels substantial in hand but not overly burdensome, offering a solid sensation. This feeling is somewhat familiar and reminds me of the watermelon knife I used before. However, looking at the frame, the string bed area of Ahmad T should be a whole circle larger than the watermelon knife, and combined with the stiffness marking on the shaft, it is clearly a flagship JETSPEED that is not too difficult to handle.

    The difficulty of getting used to this racket is apparent right from the initial warm-up shots before the match. During any rhythm of clears, thanks to its large sweet spot, low swing weight, high swing speed, and good shaft elasticity, it provides the holder with strong confidence in returning shots and a satisfying power experience. As long as the strokes are not too extreme, even beginners can achieve decent height and depth in clears with the current configuration of the Ahmad T.

    However, this does not mean that everything is smooth sailing. Overall, the stiff tuning of Ahmad T still requires the user to overcome some resistance when driving shots. Unfortunately, the current feedback from the racket also exhibits a similar situation to what some players reported during the early release of the watermelon knife— a stiff shaft. This means that my observation period of the Ahmad T might need to be extended.

    Nonetheless, it must be said that although the current feedback is still somewhat unpleasant, its performance in doubles matches is already quite satisfying. In terms of smashing alone, its offensive power is very similar to the Energy 80 I tested recently, which also has a bright color scheme, but the shot feels more crisp, adding a suddenness. Moreover, the lower balance point actually facilitates quick power execution during smashes. Although the shaft’s stiff tuning has made it difficult for me to fully grasp its explosive power, and early on I experienced some smashes into the net due to issues with the feeling during smashes, by employing more sudden and placement-focused attacking techniques, I was able to gain quite an advantage in evenly matched contests.

    The performance of Ahmad T in drive exchanges can be directly described as fierce. A 3U speed racket, equipped with higher stiffness materials, exhibited excellent qualities in flexibility, speed, and stability during fast-paced continuous exchanges. As the pace increases, the lower balance point and frame allow the racket to get into position earlier. Compared to similarly top-notch JETSPEED 10 or zsp, the larger string bed also ensures that the shuttlecock is easier to find during rushed shots, reducing mishits or swings and misses.

    In terms of net control, Ahmad T’s large frame is still quite useful. Even though the quick-release characteristic makes it difficult for me to control the power during more elaborate moves like cross-court net shots, often resulting in shots that go too high or out of bounds, for simple net shots, Ahmad T provides a very comfortable experience. A gentle tap just over the net, and it’s actually quite playable. Similarly, the performance in cutting and slicing from the backcourt is also outstanding, provided you adapt to its rebound feeling; after all, in the very early stages, there’s a high likelihood of hitting shots that are too high.

    The first defensive block against heavy smashes from the backcourt was quite good. When well-prepared, the Ahmad T, with its flexible and high-elasticity qualities, makes it easier to counter the force and place the shuttle accurately to disrupt the opponent’s rhythm. The reason I emphasize the first block is mainly because as the opponent’s continuous attack persists, the small power generation threshold brought by the stiff shaft can cause the quality of your returns to diminish, making it easy for the opponent to chase and pin you down. During my trial period with Ahmad T, I would subconsciously lower my center of gravity to stabilize my racket action and make high-quality shots during passive defense, but if the preparation was inadequate, it became much easier to remain passive.

    It’s still quite similar to the feel of the 90k and JETSPEED 10. From my experience, it feels pretty good, but the shaft lacks a bit of flexibility, doesn’t have the WES, and is slightly less durable under high tension. However, even though it’s a signature racket, it’s still more affordable than the 90k in terms of market price, though its low recognition directly affects its trade value.

    Ah,Victor always comes out with these rackets that are well-received but not well-sold…