This racket is the main racket of the team captain from my workplace. Saying “main” might be a bit much, but it is indeed the racket he has used the longest, and I know he has kept an old 88D in his collection for a long time.
When I first saw him using this racket, I couldn’t imagine how he could produce such powerful shots with what is clearly a female-oriented racket, to the point where I confused it with the JetSpeed 9 when I learned its model.
Parameters: 3UG5, total weight unknown, balance point 285mm, soft shaft, 210mm length, wind-breaking frame, 10-2 o’clock string grooves, string tension unknown, warranty 25 lbs.
This is a pink version, and the visual effect is quite different from how it is used by our captain, but I have to say the racket is indeed beautiful. The gradient color of pink and lemon yellow on the frame gives it a bit of a charming feel, and the lines on the shaft are smooth and soft. From the appearance, it definitely looks like a feminine racket. The paint quality cannot be guaranteed, especially since there are signs of paint chipping on the shaft, which is a part that rarely gets damaged. Although it has an L suffix, the available versions are the standard 3U and 4U.
From the pricing, I judged it to be a racket that sits on the threshold of intermediate level. Apart from the frame being the standard of the JetSpeed series, the technology used is just the strong heart filling, and the shaft is also a 7.0mm standard model, giving it a similar feel to the “Speed 50” in the JetSpeed series. Even though it’s a 3U, the lower balance point makes it quite swift, and it feels light and solid in hand. In reality, the 285mm balance point and the noticeable head weight don’t quite match, but it doesn’t affect performance.
The racket is designed to be easy to handle. The typical formula for an easy-to-drive racket includes: a shaft that easily deforms, low swing weight, fast swing speed, a large sweet spot, and good elasticity. This is basically achieved in the JetSpeed 09L. Although it doesn’t use a higher-grade shaft, the overall elasticity of the racket is still quite noticeable.
Therefore, users with well-formed power strokes will have no problem with high clears. Although the shot speed is not high, the racket’s temperament is very easy to understand and doesn’t feel as soft and resistant as the most entry-level soft shaft rackets from Victory. The 25 lbs warranty seems a bit low but is in line with the average needs of amateur female players.
The downward pressure feedback from the racket does not match the low balance point. The hitting point of the JetSpeed 09L is easy to find, with a low and stable trajectory. Thanks to the strong heart filling, the racket’s directional accuracy is good; at least when playing against the captain, he often hits the sidelines with precision. However, I still don’t understand how he generates such powerful shots with this racket…
The shots don’t have a crisp feel; there is a sense of holding the ball. The large sweet spot and frame offer high tolerance, good net play, and useful for reactive backhand shots, etc., so I won’t elaborate further. Overall, it is quite balanced; although its upper limit is not high, it has no significant performance flaws.
The captain is about the same age as me but is already married with a child. Between work and family, he also manages badminton activities for our workplace, which is quite remarkable. Moreover, due to some congenital factors, he is prone to high uric acid leading to gout, and even on his free days, he has to consider whether his physical condition allows him to play. It’s no wonder that compared to extreme stimulation, he prefers a more dependable and forgiving racket.
