Yonex Voltric 7 Neo Badminton Racket Review
I’ve made bad decisions when it comes to buying badminton rackets. I’ve fallen for the hype or chosen my rackets because they looked good, instead of choosing the right racket for my style of play.
Yonex is a popular manufacturer that is revered by many badminton players. Does this mean that you should run out and buy a racket from them? Today I’m placing the Yonex Voltric 7 Neo under the microscope to determine if it’s a worthy racket or merely one that’s fashionable.
What to Consider Before You Buy a Badminton Racket
Buying a badminton racket that suits your style of play could be incredibly instrumental in improving your game. Some players are defensive, others offensive. Likewise, some rackets are made for control and others for attack. If you manage to choose the most compatible racket, your entire strategy could improve.
You should consider the specs of the racket when looking to make a purchase, to ensure that it improves your game and doesn’t hinder it. If you’re looking for a powerful racket that will compliment and boost your attacks, you should pay attention to the following specs:
- Weight distribution and balance. The more weight that’s distributed to your racket’s head, the harder it will be able to hit the shuttlecock.
- Racket weight. Higher units of weight mean a heavier racket. For power play, a weight of 3U is recommended. This gives you sufficient force without slowing you down.
- Stiffness. Flexible rackets are excellent for control but not for power. Choose a stiff racket if you want more force in your shots.
- String tension. If you want a more powerful racket, choose thin strings with a tension between 26 and 28 pounds.
The Yonex Voltric 7 Neo is made for an offensive player and meets the standard for power. It’s worth noting that it’s not as powerful as other rackets by Yonex, but it still packs a good punch.
If your strategy is to play a defensive game, you might want to consider a different racket. It’s not to say that you won’t enjoy it, just that it’s built to be moderately forceful. Regardless, care was taken to minimize how much maneuverability is lost, and so this racket is suitable for all skill levels.
A Look at the Yonex Voltric 7 Neo
The original prototype of this racket, the Yonex Voltric 7, was highly regarded by the sport of badminton. It had a simple design and was functional without being extravagant. The Voltric 7 Neo improved on the predecessor by adding some updated features; ones suited badminton players of all styles.
Although both rackets are made of the same materials and designed to be medium flex, the Voltric 7 Neo is engineered to be more aerodynamic. This makes it faster than its predecessor and easier to swing.
The Neo also includes the highly regarded and exclusive Yonex special features, like the tri-voltage system. This system compensates for any loss in speed and balances the racket’s power and control.
One of this badminton racket’s defining features is how versatile it can be. Players with an offensive strategy will benefit the most from this racket, but it will work for you whether you’re an absolute beginner or a seasoned badminton star.
Then again, if you have a set style of play, the moderate nature of this racket probably won’t suit you. It would be better to invest in one that is designed for your attack, defense or strategy.
- All-rounder racket that doesn’t place too much emphasis on either style of play.
- All skill levels can benefit from the racket, be it a total amateur or professional player.
- Has the excellence of the prior model, with modern features for extra power and control.
- The improved aerodynamics make it faster than the original Voltric 7.
- Although it’s an all-rounder, defensive players won’t benefit as much as offensive players will.
- It’s not tailored to the needs of professionals.
- You might feel that it’s lacking in both power and defense if you don’t specialize in offense or defense.
Firstly, it’s good to know that the Voltric 7 Neo has an isometric head. Such a feature provides a racket with a fantastic sweet spot, and so is the preferred head shape in badminton. The Voltric 7 Neo hasn’t failed in this department; your shots will be more precise and powerful because of it.
As for its technical specifications, this racket is a lightweight (4U), medium-flex model. This combination gives you as much versatility as possible, without compromising too much of your force and power. It’s the middle ground for both attack and defense, although as I have mentioned, your attack will be more noticeable.
It weighs between 0.17 and 0.18 pounds and has the standard Yonex G4 grip.
If you’re wondering how a lightweight, medium flex racket can supply so much power, you’ll have to look at its build to find the answer. The Voltric 7 Neo’s shaft is made from high modulus graphite, a lightweight but stiff and hardy material that gives the racket more strength. It’s also head-heavy, so perfect for power.
The racket also has a tungsten build, which makes it more stable, especially the head. Your strings will be supported well and the compound enhances the power in shots. You also get a built-in t-joint for extra durability, and a frame designed to eliminate torque.
Speaking of the frame, its aerodynamics shine. It speeds up your swings without losing its stability. You’ll get fast, solid and accurate shots with this racket.
As for the strings, the standard tension is set between 18 and 24 pounds. If you’re looking to make this racket even more powerful, keep in mind that you can adjust this.
Gameplay Comments
The Voltric 7 Neo is an excellent choice because of its adaptability. It may not be tailored to a specific player or style, but that’s where its strength lies. Everyone can enjoy this racket.
For Swings
I want to place more of an emphasis on its aerodynamics. On the court, you’ll feel a difference in the ease of your swing. You won’t experience much air resistance, and this will improve each of your hits significantly.
This, combined with its head-heavy weight distribution will give you powerful clears and drives. This justifies why it’s better suited for aggressive players. You’ll have speed and force with little difficulty.
It’s not as powerful as other rackets by Yonex. It’s not the best for smashes or net play, but this by no means implies that it’s unsuited for either. You’ll still have powerful shots in this area, only there’s more flexibility than other hard-hitting rackets.
You might find that you’ve exchanged just a little bit of power for more control. I wouldn’t call that a loss. If you put effort into finding your way around the Voltric 7 Neo, you’ll be able to wield a strong racket with ease and maneuverability, an area in which other heavy-weight or aggressive rackets lack. This could give you a huge advantage.
For Strategy
Staying with the aerodynamics, the racket will require less energy on your part when compared to the older version or competitors. Swings are near effortless with the Voltric 7 Neo. You’ll be able to play an easier game because you’ll exert less energy into your shots.
What about its defense? Sure, it wasn’t exactly designed with true defensive players in mind, but it does a great job of it. It’s medium-flex so you will retain control of this racket regardless of how head-heavy it is, making it appealing to players of moderate ability.
Any Drawbacks?
It still has some flaws though. For one, most professional players will swing to either side of the attack-defense spectrum and might find that this racket tries too hard to be in the middle-ground.
If you’re dead set on one style of play, you might do better finding a racket that’s more tailored to your style. While this racket has mass appeal, it’s not discerning, which works against it.
Beginners won’t have any trouble with this racket, but they might find that it’s too comfortable. It could prove counterproductive if you’re trying to improve your technique.
Special Features
There are some Yonex staples incorporated into this racket. It has the Control Support Cap, which improves the stability, speed and grip of the racket as a whole. It also makes the flat surface 90 percent wider, which is a massive improvement when it comes to handling.
As mentioned above, there’s also the tri-voltage system, exclusive to Yonex. This compensates for the loss of speed in the racket’s head-heavy design. Your control and maneuverability are enhanced; a feature that is worth the hype.
Conclusion
Overall, this racket is worth giving a try. If you’re new to badminton and are still finding your feet, this is the perfect practice racket. If you’re a seasoned player looking for an all-rounder, definitely consider this one.
The Voltric 7 Neo might not be the complete package, but thanks to its versatility it very well could be just what you’re looking for; it works for both power and defense. It’s a quality racket that has the potential to suit almost everyone and is definitely worth a trial run.
If you’re interested in checking the product out, please do so here.
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