Assessment of my expertise with the Astrox 88D Professional after 11 months. Word: I play at a mid-intermediate degree – principally doubles. Play-style: Pace/flat exchanges. I take advantage of a pretty big grip on mine additionally (I do know some individuals like skinny grips so maintain this in thoughts), personally I like bigger grips to generate energy/cut back vibrations.
Strung with BG80 (27lb mains x 29 lb cross)
Management – 8.5/10
The racket feels good and the hen goes to the place I need it go more often than not (as a lot as my skill permits lol). Drops are fairly good and internet play is surprisingly sharp. The racket’s sharper flex provides it extra shuttlehold whereas nonetheless feeling stiff (increased rigidity helps stability this out for me).
Pace – 7/10*
Not the quickest racket, however I do not suppose that is one thing you are on the lookout for if you need the 88D, loads of higher choices there.
*That being stated I do not thoughts the slower feeling since I common play fairly agile on the court docket. So making me decelerate and be affected person helps me with shot choice.
There are occasions in flat exchanges the place I’ve to lock in with my very own response time because the racket is a bit slower.
Energy – 9.5/10
I prefer it, good and simple energy. I am not an enormous individual so having a racket on the top heavier facet helps maintain stress on my opponents once I get pinned within the backcourt. It additionally provides me extra confidence to place the hen away from the backcourt with out fear a couple of excellent return by my opponent. Provides the sensation of smacking the hen with a newspaper (like these ones within the asian grocery retailer, the thick ones). After I first used it, I instantly felt like I may get extra out of the racket, which over time it actually did get extra highly effective.
It virtually seems like its acquired a multiplier increase on smashes, if I put 100% of my energy right into a smash, it comes out with like +80% energy vs. on my nanoflare 800 3u (previous one) I am not getting that multiplier and my presence within the backcourt is non-existent ;-;. Clears are nice too, once more good and simple.
Protection – 7.5/10
Not excellent, however returns really feel direct. You gotta lock in if you need these sharp returns due to the smaller head and added head weight. However the additional shuttlehold from the bizarre flex it has helps. It really works although.
General, it is my favorite racket I’ve tried to this point and it is the one I carry out the perfect with. Most individuals would possibly suppose it is counter-intuitive to make use of an influence targeted racket for a speed-type participant, however I believe the other. It permits me to play within the backcourt with out being deadweight and provides that additional tempo/energy when killing on the internet. It is rather a lot geared towards offense targeted gamers, leaning in the direction of backcourt heavy gamers, however in the event you acquired the physicality to keep up pace then go for it. I’d say it’s a very simple racket to make use of when you get timing proper. Some individuals say different clever and to them I say observe with it extra (I do not wanna hear, “I used it twice and did not prefer it” – meaning you did not actually strive it).
NOTE: When you’re a fast participant, simply know you may must work in your footwork, physicality and pure quickness to keep up the identical pace you’ll usually play at with a head-light/even stability racket,.
When you’ve tried it, let me know what you guys give it some thought.
Greatest,
L