Badminton Pro Guide: News, Players, Gear, and Expert Reviews

Tag: VICTOR JETSPEED S 8PS

  • Badminton Racket Victor  JETSPEED S 8PS Reviews

    Badminton Racket Victor  JETSPEED S 8PS Reviews

    The JetSpeed 8PS is part of the high-end series from the Blue Factory, and its placement within the lineup has been somewhat awkward, especially as I haven’t fully explored the versions that haven’t yet been updated. Launched a decade ago, the JetSpeed 8PS, once used by players like Liu and Ahmed, has generally had a lower profile. This is largely because models like the 10, 11, 12, and 12F have overshadowed it, and even the JetSpeed 9 has gained attention through retailer promotions. As a result, the JetSpeed 8 has found itself in a somewhat embarrassing position.

    However, when it comes to using a racket, one should look at its performance rather than its advertisements.

    Specifications: 3UG5, with cap, total weight 96.01g, balance point 294mm, 7.0mm shaft, 215mm long shaft, medium-high stiffness, wind-breaking frame, 76-hole string bed, 9–3 o’clock string grooves, 27lbs warranty, string tension 25-27lbs with VBS68.

    I find that the appearance of the JetSpeed 8 is less striking compared to its siblings, primarily due to its color scheme. The silver-gray and blue of the 8ST are not very attractive, while the bronze of the P82 is somewhat better and more distinctive. However, compared to the fluorescent yellow of the JetSpeed 7 and the vibrant red of the JetSpeed 9, bronze seems like a somewhat outdated choice. The inner frame is coated with a silver-gray particle coating similar to the 8ST, and there are stickers at the 4 and 8 o’clock positions for visual separation. Despite decent layering, the 8PS still doesn’t captivate me.

    Moreover, despite being positioned as a high-end model, the materials used for the shaft are neither the familiar Babolat carbon nor the once-popular Flash Shaft, which is disappointing. Even though the shaft uses Nano Fortify and the frame incorporates the distinctive Sion fiber, it might still cause concern for those focused on material flexibility.

    Currently, the best prices are for the 3U specification, which I don’t mind. However, the 3U 8PS is indeed not heavy and doesn’t have a particularly noticeable swing weight. The high-end rackets in the JetSpeed series usually have aggressive wind resistance reduction techniques, so the balance of the 8PS feels stable and fast. The racket feels good when powering up, with a slight leverage effect, and its large head makes it easy to find the sweet spot. Even when using a forehand clear while out of position, it performs well with its lower power requirements.

    What surprised me was that due to the Sion fiber, the racket exhibited a stiff shaft but a softer frame, resulting in a very soft feel on impact. It’s like having an extra filter when taking photos—beneficial in terms of reducing shock and improving control of net shots, but the output is somewhat mushy, with a delay from power to shot. The official hardness markings on the shaft do not fully correlate with the actual feel; the overall performance isn’t as unyielding as expected.

    The 8PS is indeed fast, but not directly synonymous with agility. Even in the 3U specification, there is still a sense of restraint in fast-paced flat drives. It can be cumbersome when handling shots near the body or chasing down balls. Additionally, the racket’s face tends to feel less crisp compared to my usual speed rackets. While the final output is stable and powerful, it doesn’t come out faster. I often adjust my position slightly further back in doubles when using the 8PS.

    The 8PS does offer a good feel for net shots, especially if one doesn’t seek aggressive, decisive play. Despite its increased weight and stiffness compared to the 8ST, it exhibits stable and fast characteristics. Although its continuity may be somewhat limited, it is quick in the first shot and beneficial for sudden intercepts at the net or detailed net play. As long as the user is not in a hurry, its power rhythm can handle most passive shots effectively. Whether it’s reducing tempo after prolonged corner control or transitioning to a net shot or deep shot, the 8PS instills confidence in “staying steady and returning the shot.” With its large, slightly sticky face, defending against strong attacks or angled blocks is also manageable.

    The most controversial aspect is its power transmission. I did not expect a racket once favored by professional power hitters to have such a mushy feel in smashes. After powering up, the energy that should be concentrated at the head of the racket feels somewhat disconnected at the face, leading to less satisfying feedback. Although the actual shot outcome is acceptable, it disrupts confidence in my attacks, often leading me to adjust my backcourt shots. Reflecting on it, the Sion fiber rackets seem to offer better performance for Ahmed’s downward shots.

    The 8PS may not be a racket suited for relentless power play, even though it’s not difficult to handle and has a high potential. Its somewhat peculiar nature may not appeal to all consumers. The frame is indeed fragile, with many 8PS rackets requiring repairs on second-hand platforms, and the 27lbs warranty might not be sufficient. It has a somewhat quirky temperament compared to the straightforward feel of the JetSpeed 9 and, like the 8ST, requires more adaptation from its users.

  • Badminton Racket VICTOR JETSPEED S 8PS Reviews

    Badminton Racket VICTOR JETSPEED S 8PS Reviews

    The pit of the orthodox sequence of high-end rackets in the Victor JETSPEED series is one that I haven’t even finished filling in for the versions that haven’t been iterated yet. The JETSPEED 8PS, a racket launched ten years ago, was once used by Ahmad T and Liu Dan (who seems to have tried every racket). Its popularity has always been relatively low. There’s nothing that can be done; the 10/11/12/12F models have stolen most of the spotlight, and even the JETSPEED 9 managed to grab attention with discount operations by vendors. This has left the position of the JETSPEED 8 twins in a rather awkward situation.

    However, when it comes to using a racket, it’s all about the actual performance, not the advertisements.

    Specifications: 3UG5, with grip, total weight 96.01g, balance point 294mm, 7.0mm shaft, 215mm in length, medium-high stiffness, aerodynamic frame, 76-hole string bed, 9-3 o’clock grooves, 27lbs warranty, strung at 25-27lbs with VBS68.

    In my opinion, the appearance of the JETSPEED 8 isn’t as eye-catching as its other siblings, and the color scheme is one of the issues. The silver-gray and blue of the 8ST aren’t very attractive, while the bronze color of the P82 is slightly better, making it more recognizable. However, compared to the fluorescent yellow of the JETSPEED 7 and the bright red of the JETSPEED 9, the bronze is relatively dull. The inner side of the frame is coated with silver-gray particles, similar to the configuration of the 8ST, and the 4 and 8 o’clock positions on the frame have stickers for visual separation. Despite its good layering, the 8PS still doesn’t quite captivate me.

    Moreover, the 8PS is undoubtedly positioned as a high-end racket, but the fact that its shaft material isn’t the now well-known Pyrofil carbon nor the once-popular Flash Shaft is quite disappointing. Although the shaft uses Nano Fortify, and the frame incorporates the then-unique Syonic fiber, it might still cause “material enthusiasts” to worry about its elasticity.

    Currently, the more affordable options available in the market are mostly 3U specifications. I’m not too picky, but the 3U of the 8PS indeed doesn’t feel heavy, with no particularly noticeable swing weight. The aerodynamic frames of the high-end JETSPEED series have always been quite aggressive in reducing wind resistance, which, when combined with the balance of the 8PS, gives a feeling of stability and speed. The power transmission feels good, with a slight sense of borrowed force, and the racket face is very large, making it easy to find the sweet spot and generate power. Even when caught off guard and forced to handle a high clear with a forehand drive, it’s easy to generate enough power to escape the situation due to its low power requirement.

    However, I was surprised to find that the use of Syonic fiber resulted in a racket with a stiff shaft but a soft frame, giving the string bed a very soft feel, like adding a filter when taking a photo. The advantage is that it doesn’t sting the hand and improves control in net play, but the downside is that the shots feel mushy, lacking crispness, with a delay between exerting force and the shot leaving the string bed. If you look at the official hardness rating on the shaft, it’s hard to reconcile it with the actual feel of the racket; the overall performance isn’t as unyieldingly stiff as one might expect.

    The JETSPEED 8PS is said to be fast, but that doesn’t necessarily equate to agility. In the 3U specification, there’s still a sense of restriction in fast-paced flat drives and blocks, and it’s not always easy to handle shots to the body or underarm. Additionally, the racket face often gives the impression of being “not crisp enough,” with the rhythm of short bursts of power feeling slower compared to the speed rackets I usually play with. Although the final shot result is stable and powerful, it’s not quick enough to seize the initiative. When using the 8PS, I tend to position myself half a step back compared to my usual stance in doubles.

    I mentioned earlier that its feel for net play is quite good, and indeed it is. If you’re not seeking to dominate the front court with aggressive, decisive shots, the 8PS provides a very nice touch. Despite being heavier and stiffer than the 8ST, I find it characterized by stability and speed. Although its continuity is somewhat limited, its first shot reaches the target quickly, making it more suitable for front-court players to suddenly block the opponent’s return and play a soft, controlled shot, as well as for more delicate net play in the first three shots of a rally.

    Moreover, as long as the user isn’t in a hurry, its power rhythm can handle most passive shot situations. When being controlled in both corners repeatedly, actively slowing down the pace, transitioning with a net shot, or even driving the shuttle to the backcourt, the 8PS instills confidence in its ability to handle the situation. Additionally, its large and slightly sticky racket face makes it easy to defend against and counter powerful smashes from the opponent, either by blocking or redirecting the shot to the crosscourt.

    The most controversial aspect is the power transmission. I really didn’t expect a racket once favored by professional heavy hitters to have such a mushy feel when smashing. After exerting force, the energy that should have been concentrated at the shuttle head seems to get lost at the racket face, making the feedback less satisfying. Although the actual shot result is decent, it undermines my confidence in my offensive game, leading me to switch to drop shots more often than I usually would in the backcourt, thinking my previous shot wasn’t precise. Reflecting on it, the only racket with Syonic fiber that I’ve recognized for its smashing feel is Ahmad T’s.

    The JETSPEED 8PS isn’t exactly a racket that you can forcefully attack with, even though it’s not difficult to use and has a high ceiling. However, its peculiar racket face might not be well-received by consumers. The frame is genuinely fragile; there are many repaired 8PS rackets on the second-hand market, and the 27lbs warranty might not be sufficient. Its temperament is somewhat quirky, unlike the straightforward and combative feel of the JETSPEED 9; like the 8ST, the 8PS requires the user to take some time to adapt.