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Tag: VICTOR JETSPEED S 12TD

  • Badminton Racket Victor  JETSPEED S 12TD Reviews

    Badminton Racket Victor  JETSPEED S 12TD Reviews

    Based on the principle of preferring new over old models, I haven’t explored Victor’s Speed series yet, especially the Brave Sword and JetSpeed series, as I already own rackets from the God Speed series. However, the continued production of the JetSpeed 10 and 12, and the development of subsequent models, indicates their success and maturity, and shows that these models still have room for development (commercial potential).

    The JetSpeed 12 and the Sword series have been widely recognized. High-end rackets with such long-lasting popularity are rare for me, so this time I decided to test the mid-range JetSpeed 12 Youth Edition, the JetSpeed 12 TD, which was strongly recommended by Coach Fat Tiger. I estimate that many players might have bought this racket during the Double 11 sales.

    Specifications: 4UG6, with a grip weight of 95.0g, balance point of 293mm, full wind frame, 10 o’clock to 4 o’clock string grooves, 210mm length of Babolat carbon shaft, moderate hardness, and string tension of 24lbs with VBS66N.

    The new color of this racket feels quite refreshing to me. The design includes some small patterns inside the 12 o’clock frame and a milk-white accent, making it look very youthful and appealing to players who value aesthetics.

    The racket feels slightly head-heavy when held. For some players who prefer lighter rackets, this head heaviness might be more pronounced. Thanks to the wind frame design, the swing speed is indeed excellent. However, Coach Fat Tiger mentioned that the wind frame at 12 o’clock is not as sharp as the JS12, but I couldn’t experience this due to the lack of comparison. In terms of the empty racket feel, it’s suitable, and the load is manageable, making it also appropriate for beginners.

    As a mid-range racket, it needs to meet the requirement of not having too high a barrier to entry. I recall that Victor’s Babolat carbon has always been tuned to be relatively stiff, offering great power but with a higher barrier to entry. For the price range of the JetSpeed 12 TD, Victor has still used good quality materials for the shaft, which is commendable. The elasticity of the shaft is evident in high clears, providing good leverage and satisfactory speed after the shaft deforms, producing a “syrup-like” effect. However, personally, I found the shot speed a bit sluggish and felt that the string bed was too sticky. This might reflect the trade-off between shaft hardness and performance.

    Indeed, the JetSpeed 12 TD has some shortcomings in smash performance. To simplify and accommodate my physical condition, I used strings with slightly lower tension, and I clearly felt that the string bed lacked the energy return and explosive feel on smashes. Although it has good downward pressure, it lacks a decisive offensive capability. Ideally, using higher tension strings could address this shortcoming, but unfortunately, the 12 TD only comes with a 26lb warranty. Coupled with the slightly less elastic shaft, the 12 TD has limitations in smash power. Nevertheless, it has excellent continuity and can maintain downward pressure without significant physical strain.

    Moreover, the racket’s defense and passive play are quite commendable. Returning smashes and high clears to the opponent’s backcourt feels smooth, especially with the high frame tolerance. It’s also less challenging when dealing with low net shots, allowing for more struggle space. Similarly, the JetSpeed 12 TD lowers the barrier for backhand shots. For controlling high drops from the backcourt, it’s above average, with a higher feeling of ball contact on the string bed, though the suddenness of the shot could be improved, causing limited pressure on the opponent.

    In this price range, it’s a highly cost-effective option. Players who favor smashes might not prioritize it, but for those learning continuous skills and on a budget, it’s a great choice among the top three brands at this price. Moreover, its shaft material is better than the God Speed 50. Overall, the JetSpeed 12 TD offers a “syrup-like” feel and can be a good companion for players looking to advance until they need to switch to a higher-end model. I haven’t fully recovered and also caught a cold, so my testing was limited; please take this into consideration.

  • Badminton Racket VICTOR JETSPEED S 12TD Reviews

    Badminton Racket VICTOR JETSPEED S 12TD Reviews

    Adhering to the principle of choosing new over old, I haven’t yet explored the Victor JETSPEED and LIAN JIAN series since I already have the神速 series. However, the two flagship models of the JETSPEED series, the JS10 and JS12, continue to be produced, and there are even follow-up versions, proving the success and maturity of these models and indicating that they still have room for development (commercial exploitation value).

    Of course, both the Watermelon Knife and JS12 have become widely known. It’s rare for high-end rackets to maintain such long-term popularity, so this time I decided to test the mid-range JETSPEED 12 Youth Edition (JS12TD) strongly recommended by Coach Pang Hu. I suspect many players bought this racket during the Double Eleven shopping festival.

    Specifications: 4UG6, with base grip, total weight 95.0g, balance point 293mm, full wind-breaking frame, 10-4 o’clock string groove, High Modulus Carbon shaft length 210mm, medium stiffness, string tension 24 lbs VBS66N.

    I’m not sure what others think of this new color, but to me, it looks quite fresh. The blue-and-white design, small patterns on the inner 12 o’clock side of the frame, and milk-white accents make it look very youthful. It should appeal to players who care about aesthetics.

    When holding this racket, there is a slight head-heavy feel, which might be more pronounced for players who use base grips. Thanks to the wind-breaking frame, the swing speed is excellent. Although Coach Pang Hu mentioned that the 12 o’clock wind-breaking feature isn’t as sharp as the JS12, I couldn’t compare it directly, so I can’t comment on that. Based on the empty-hand feel, the racket feels suitable with a manageable load, making it appropriate for beginners as well.

    As a mid-range racket, it should meet the requirement of not having too high a threshold. Victor’s High Modulus Carbon has always been known for its stiffness. While it has excellent explosive power, it also has a high entry threshold. At this price point, Victor has still equipped the JS12TD with a good quality shaft. The shaft’s elasticity is noticeable during high clears, providing good leverage, and the ball speed after shaft deformation is satisfactory, akin to “syrup”. However, personally, the ball output feels a bit lukewarm, as if the string bed is too sticky. This may reflect the compromise between shaft stiffness and ball feel.

    Indeed, the JS12TD shows some drawbacks in smashes. To simplify things and accommodate my physical condition, I used a lower tension string, which made the string bed’s energy storage and rebound feel insufficient. Although the downward feel is good, it lacks the definitive attacking power. In theory, using higher tension strings could compensate for this shortcoming, but unfortunately, the JS12TD only has a 26 lbs warranty, and combined with its slightly less stiff shaft, it has limitations in powerful smashes. Nevertheless, this does not significantly impact scoring, as it still has excellent consistency, maintaining smashes without excessive physical exertion.

    It is worth noting that this racket performs quite well in defense and passive escapes. Receiving smashes and lifting them to the opponent’s backcourt is smooth, especially when leveraging for high lifts. The large frame provides high forgiveness, making it easier to handle smashes and maintain competitive play. Similarly, the JS12TD lowers the threshold for backhand shots. For backcourt drop shots, it performs above average, with a high feeling of string bed wrap, though the suddenness of the shots could be better, putting limited pressure on opponents.

    At this price point, it is a rare value-for-money racket. While players who focus on smashes might not prioritize it, for beginners and intermediate players on a budget, it’s a top choice among the major brands in the 300 range. Plus, the shaft material is better than the 神速50. The racket overall provides a “syrup-like” feel, and for players who have already purchased it and are looking to advance, it should serve well until they reach the limits of the JS12TD’s attacking capability and need to upgrade to a higher-end model.

    My body hasn’t recovered yet, and I caught a cold, but with a backlog of rackets, I forced myself to play a few shots despite the limitations. Please don’t imitate this.