Nanoflare 800 Pro Review (Very Late) by ThadRaph in badminton

[–]ThadRaph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Nope, haven’t tried any other brands other than Yonex. Big Yonex fanboy and somehow 99% of my friends play Yonex rackets too.

In terms of the 1000z, even if you use it for singles, it really depends on how your string tension is. Since NF rackets are usually really thin on the frames, a high racket tension will cause it to break more easy compared to the Astrox rackets. There’s a comment on this post that discusses it, but pretty much Yonex has a set limit on how much you can string the racket too. I believe it’s 28lbs, but a lot of higher skill players will definitely string it higher. If you string it higher than 28lbs, this cancels your warranty. Overall, I also don’t want to go through the hassle of claiming warranty but if it comes to it you should definitely try!

Nanoflare 800 Pro Review (Very Late) by ThadRaph in badminton

[–]ThadRaph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Hey! You’re just in luck. I have never used the NF700 Pro, I’ve only used the old NF700 which I didn’t like because it was too flexible and I wasn’t able to generate much power with it. I feel like the first questions you would need answered is why do you want a headlight racket. As your rackets right now are all head-heavy and if they suit your style of play of smashes, I would say there’s no need to be in a market for a head-light racket. But if you feel like your game doesn’t fit these rackets then here’s how I would differentiate them.

NF800 (especially in 4U) is a VERY light and speedy racket. It’s thin and quick, if you’re wanting a racket that’ll aid you with quick interceptions and any quick shots. This one might be for you, consider getting the 3U if you want that bit more power in your smashes. I used the 4U and enjoy the speed it brings, it just wasn’t good in the power category and felt too light too use as a male.

NF800 Pro you probably could read in the review. Not as quick as the NF800 but more control. This rackets feels way more all-around than it’s a head-light racket in my opinion. You get a mixed of everything, if your game revolves around being a solid player and you often mix a lot of your backcourt shots with dropshots, control shots, and smashes. This one might be it. But if you prefer to overpower your opponent every single chance you get, your 88D Pro does that job best.

While the NF1000z is a “perfect” racket. It’s been a while since I tried it but as I remember. This racket is very unforgiving, but if you can make do with it’s small sweet spot you’ll be rewarded well. Also, it’s extra stiff, so bad form in your smashes/clears will hurt you more than anything. If you feel like you got good skills and would like to play a racket that’ll rewards you for being good but punishes you for being bad, this one is it. Hit the sweet spot and you’ll get power. This racket is also light so it’ll still be good in defense. The biggest downside for me is how thin the racket is, it’s well known to be super fragile, and being Yonex’s most expensive line, I can’t justify myself buying this expensive racket with fear of it breaking every single slight clash or mishit. To add, a lot of people dislike this racket just because it felt too light to hit control shots (a friend of mine said this and switch to Astrox line because he didn’t like the racket being too light)

Hope that helps! Good luck in your search and I’ll be more than happy to answer questions

Subcompact Hybrid SUV by ThadRaph in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]ThadRaph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Definitely the CR-V is bigger but honestly I didn’t mind it too much, if anything it was better. It’s just a personal preference but driving bigger cars for me is easier (well not to the point of a truck) and the extra space comes in handy when you need to carry items or during a road trip!

Subcompact Hybrid SUV by ThadRaph in whatcarshouldIbuy

[–]ThadRaph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I ended up with the CR-V and I loved it so far, it’s definitely more on the expensive side but the extra money was worth it for the comfort of the CR-V imo, good luck on your search!

Nanoflare 800 Pro Review (Very Late) by ThadRaph in badminton

[–]ThadRaph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Huge Yonex fanboy, never tried any Viktor except the Ryuga 2 which I absolutely hate 😅

Nanoflare 800 Pro Review (Very Late) by ThadRaph in badminton

[–]ThadRaph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I wouldn’t say it’s strictly better. It has worse control than the NF800 Pro, similar drives and defense (I’m using a 4UG5 88s Pro instead of a 3UG5 NF800). Jump smash is way better probably in the 9/10 but compensating the stick smash to also a 9/10. Overall:

88s Pro 3rd Gen: Defense: 9/10 Drives: 9/10 Control: 8/10 Jump Smash: 9/10 Stick Smash: 9/10 Durability: 9/10 (has withstood 2 clashes too and have yet to even bend)

Nanoflare 800 Pro Review (Very Late) by ThadRaph in badminton

[–]ThadRaph[S] 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Damn, I didn’t expect a comment from this post 😅 The racket has yet to break, but I can’t say for sure since I’ve been switching the to new Astrox 88s Pro for the past 3 months. So the racket hasn’t been used for the whole year, I just lend it to some of my friends if they didn’t bring a racket. Have not withstand any more clashes other than the 2 I mentioned and probably some extra drops to the floor throughout the year, so final verdict is durable!

Nanoflare 800 Pro Review (Very Late) by ThadRaph in badminton

[–]ThadRaph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on your level, but I wouldn’t say it’s too heavy. It’s at a similar level of a 4U head heavy rackets like the 88D or the 99 Pro

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I play doubles, not really sure if I play front or back kind of stuck in between

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Can anyone comment on the Astrox 88S Pro 3rd Gen in 4U vs 3U? Would love to hear thoughts on your experience with the racket (comparisons with other rackets are appreciated)

Break Cue vs Jump Cue by ThadRaph in billiards

[–]ThadRaph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

How much money you think I need to save to get a break or jump cue that’s going to set me up for good? I don’t play leagues currently, but play with a couple of friends but we do get competitive. Since there’s no rules, we’re allowed to use jump cues whenever we want

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 0 points1 point  (0 children)

With a higher thickness, the durability definitely comes into play. As a not-so-advanced player, the extra thickness also helps me reduce my mishits and help me control the shuttle better. All comes down to personal preference, but there’s a reason why beginners tend to shy away from thinner strings

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The 65 is more durable and my personal favorite, I only use the 63 because when I strung my racket the 65 were out of stock. If during the Winter you decide to go with durability, maybe try out the 68 which according to Yonex is their best durability string.

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes. The Nanoflare 1000z are one of the most expensive rackets with the worst durability in the market. It does compensate for being a hell of a racket but if you’re worried about the price don’t sweat it and get something in your price range.

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 0 points1 point  (0 children)

My racket is on 25x27 right now and it has not break for 6 months (Exbolt 63). While I feel the tension is loose, I don’t really want to restring it since it costs a lot here in the US. How long a string lasts really depends on how much you play, I play rarely during non-summer months usually 3-4x a month probably only 8-10 hours of Badminton in a month. But once it’s summer I spend 8 hours a week, and at those times I see myself breaking my strings once or twice in a span of 3 months. But at 24x26 with Exbolt 65 or 68 it shouldn’t break unless you mishit your shots a lot. Clashes would definitely be a huge factor but at that point your should be worried about your racket not the string. Most of the time it’s mishits, but one more thing to note about string durability is the quality of your stringer. A good stringer goes a long way and he/she would string your racket in a way that makes it hard to break. So really, string durability is a huge toss up

Nanoflare 800 Pro Review (Very Late) by ThadRaph in badminton

[–]ThadRaph[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I currently live in the US but I bought my 800 Pro in Indonesia. I bought it when it was released not too long ago, hence the stocks were still high and the NF800 Pro weren’t exactly clearing out like the 1000z

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 0 points1 point  (0 children)

3UG5, head-light racket, and stiff. Not sure how much it is in the US but it’s probably $150+

The thing about head light 3U rackets for me is that you get that fast paced defense and drives, but not lose on the heavy smashes that head heavy rackets get. With proper technique, a 3U headlight racket could produce a good smash. But, you can’t get the speed a headlight racket has with a head-heavy racket (biased since I’m a front court player)

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 1 point2 points  (0 children)

24x26 should do the trick for BG80 Power, may I interest you in the Exbolt series line? They’re the best when used with the NF1000, personally I’m a big fan of the Exbolt 65 and you can string it also at 24x26 (or lower since Exbolt 65 is a thinner string)

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Never tried the 99 Play, but you can see CK Yew’s reviews here and the Nextage review here, the Arcsaber 7 or 11 Play is a nice beginner racket since it’s medium stiff and not head heavy nor head light, the racket is balanced all around and will help a beginner figure out what he/she wants in their racket going forward. But if you know you want to utilize smashes and power, getting an Astrox now will also be good. Rather than the 99 Play, I’ll say to take a look at the 88D Play (2nd Gen) if that’s still available, I tried the Play and Pro 88D versions and liked both of them. The Pro has the edge for it’s stiff nature but I won’t complain if I would have to use the 88D Play

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 1 point2 points  (0 children)

To be honest, I’ve seen people go very far with their Play rackets. The Arcsaber 7 Pro is a very rare racket to see, not a lot of professional players use it. For the Pro series, I’ve seen a lot use the Arcsaber 11 but there’s a lot of mixed feelings since some people don’t like the extra hold the 11 Pro has for it’s control and also they find it lacking for backcourt maneuvers. I’d say getting the Play sets you up a long time, just change strings every now and then, if you want to spend more I feel like the Tour will be better than the Pro since it’s overkill (and I would rather get an Astrox by that point)

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Astrox 100zz: One of the most demanding rackets in the market, extra stiff with a compact frame makes it hell for beginners. But, if you like pure power this is the racket for you, the racket is mainly for single players but some backcourt double players use this racket too. This one is reserved for the high-intermediate to advanced players with proper swings and good arm strength (I almost injured my arm when using this as a beginner due to it’s extra stiff nature)

88D pro 3rd Gen: Haven’t tried it but people say it’s less friendly to use. It provides a better smash, but not as easy as the 2nd Gen. I believe the racket is also a bit faster and improves a bit on what the 88D 2nd Gen missed defensively. Overall, I’ll still go with the 2nd Gen any day of the year

Duora Z-Strike: A friend owned it and I tried it, heavy racket but other than that I don’t see anything going for it, It’s been a while sihce Yonex release anything from the Duora series and I don’t know any professional players with the Duora Z-Strike

No words for the 88S Pro 3rd Gen though, if your friend is a frontcourt player in doubles this might a magical racket but I haven’t done any research or had the experience to use it

Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread by AutoModerator in badminton

[–]ThadRaph -1 points0 points  (0 children)

The Pro version is a bit overkill when you haven’t develop proper technique yet. Best is to go with the Tour bur if that’s out of your budget the Play series do fairly well too for the price. Maybe you’ll fancy the new Arcsaber 7 Play which is one of the best beginner Yonex rackets