Tag: VICTOR JETSPEED S 08

  • Badminton Racket Victor  JETSPEED S 08 Reviews

    Badminton Racket Victor  JETSPEED S 08 Reviews

    Specifications: 5UG6, no grip cap, total weight in use is 84.2g, balance point at 300mm, shaft length 210mm, stiffness is moderately high, oval aerodynamic frame, 76-hole string bed, string grooves at 9-3 o’clock, tension limit is 25 lbs, string tension is 25-27 lbs with KT66F string.

    Keywords: TK15
    I originally thought I would be quite familiar with this racket, especially since back then, everything except the frame was the same as the TK15. Both rackets were in direct competition within the same brand, claiming to be the fastest “sugar water” (easy-to-play) rackets. From a marketing perspective, this claim is debatable.

    With a 25 lb warranty, I strung it at 25-27 lbs, and after testing, there were no issues, proving the frame strength is sufficient—it is, after all, CSR.

    What’s rare is that the one I got is in 5U, just like the TK15 from before. However, the balance point of the JS08 is too low, making it difficult to generate power. Although the medium stiffness of the shaft makes it easy to handle, the power is hard to control. It takes a long time to adjust to hitting deeper shots properly; otherwise, even basic clears will either go out of bounds or fall short.

    The frame of the JetSpeed 08 is not particularly aggressive. Although it falls under the aerodynamic category, the entire racket has an oval cross-section, resembling a more rounded fluid-box frame. However, it is indeed fast. There’s no need to excessively pursue speed.

    I’ve always said that the JetSpeed series rackets have a large sweet spot, and this holds true for the JS08 as well. This makes it very advantageous in passive defense, as you can easily return shots without fear of mishits. However, this also highlights the problem of insufficient power from the string bed and a scattered sweet spot. On the bright side, off-center shots don’t drastically lose quality due to the high tolerance. On the downside, the lack of explosive power is noticeable.

    This absence of sweet spot strength makes the JS08 less exciting and doesn’t inspire me to smash hard. Is it a “sugar water” racket? Not quite that enjoyable.

    I admit, this is a very good racket for front-court play in doubles. It’s especially suitable for female beginners in mixed doubles, excelling at net play, interceptions, and drives due to the large hitting area and fast swing speed. Even when rotated to the backcourt, the well-tuned power and the elasticity from the M40J material allow many women to execute angled net shots that shift the opponent’s position.

    However, heavy smashes are this racket’s biggest weakness. During my use of the 5U JS08, there was not a single instance where I could score with a single backcourt smash. The lack of weight in the racket head and insufficient shaft stiffness prevent it from overwhelming the opponent with raw power or allowing precise kills to bypass defenses. Frustratingly, I’ve been continuously driven to the backcourt, a situation that feels like an insult.

    This racket has excellent continuity, as you can keep smashing without actually finishing off the point. Aside from mid-court half-smashes and net kills, there aren’t many reliable scoring opportunities. The racket’s light weight limits its control and scoring potential.

    I still prefer the TK15. The combination of frame and shaft in the JS08 doesn’t work as well, and its torsional resistance and explosive power are not on par with the former.

  • Badminton Racket VICTOR JETSPEED S 08 Reviews

    Badminton Racket VICTOR JETSPEED S 08 Reviews

    Not All Rackets Make It to the Review Room

    It’s true that getting a spot in the review room requires more than just monetary investment. The racket must also have exceptional quality, high cost-performance, or distinctive user experience. If any model has managed to meet these criteria while aligning with the current trend of sweeter, user-friendly rackets, it must have truly excelled.

    Today, I’m sharing a racket that I’ve been eyeing for a while, and it feels like meeting an old classmate after ten years—only to find they’ve changed quite a bit.

    Parameters: 5UG6, stripped down, total weight 84.2g, balance point 300mm, shaft length 210mm, medium-high stiffness, oval aerodynamic frame, 76-hole string bed, 9-3 o’clock string groove, warranty for 25 pounds, strung at 25–27 pounds with KT66F string.

    The racket I have is in red, a color version that suits my aesthetic preferences.

    Key Model: TK15

    I initially thought I would be quite familiar with this racket since, apart from the frame, it shares many similarities with the TK15. However, despite being from different series, these models directly compete at the same level, both claiming to be among the fastest sweet spot rackets. This marketing claim is debatable.

    The 25-pound warranty is good, and after stringing it at 25–27 pounds, I found no issues, proving the frame’s strength is up to standard.

    On-Court Performance:

    I received the 5U version, similar to the old TK15. However, the balance point is lower than expected, resulting in mediocre power transfer. While the moderately stiff shaft makes it easy to drive, it takes time to master the feel and achieve consistent high clears. Initially, even basic clears felt inconsistent, often falling short or going out.

    The TK08’s frame design is not aggressive. Although it features aerodynamic properties, it primarily has an oval cross-section, similar to a more rounded fluid box frame. Nevertheless, it’s still fast enough, so there’s no need to overemphasize speed.

    The larger sweet spot of the TK series makes the 08 very forgiving in defensive situations. It provides a high margin for error, ensuring that mishits are less of a problem. However, the downside is a lack of power. The sweet spot’s power is insufficient, leading to less explosive shots.

    Conclusion:

    The TK08 is a great racket for front-court play, especially suitable for beginners or female players in mixed doubles. It excels in net play, blocking, and fast reactions due to its large head and high swing speed. Even in the back-court, its easy-to-use design and the M40J material’s good elasticity allow many players to make effective shots.

    However, the TK08 falls short in heavy smashes. The 5U model didn’t provide any significant smashing power. Its light head and less stiff shaft mean it struggles with both brute force and precision in back-court smashes. This shortcoming is particularly evident when facing intense back-court pressure.

    The TK08 excels in continuity, but lacks strong scoring methods beyond mid-court and net play. I prefer the TK15, which offers better torsion resistance and power compared to the TK08.