Before diving into the Apacs Edgesaber 10 New review, let me tell you how I ended up with this racket.
AI tools have been all the craze lately. I’ve previously asked them about badminton gear only to realize the information was a mess, mixing and matching specs from completely different rackets.
It has gotten better, though. So, when I got curious about a brand I didn’t know too much about, Apacs, I asked an AI assistant to help me clarify the specs and find a new racket.
It saved me the trouble of nearly buying the wrong racket, seemingly a clone of the super-powerful Yonex Voltric Z-Force or Astrox 99.
My friend, who is more familiar with the brand, confirmed the differences that the AI had suggested between that racket and this Edgesaber, so at least that was something… It’s a nightmare confirming specs on some badminton gear, as the specs can vary from website to website so it’s hard to know what to believe.
Anyway, let’s start this Apacs Edgesaber 10 New review by comparing it to another racket you might know.
Apacs Edgesaber 10 New specs and similar rackets
Of the rackets currently on the market that most intermediate players might be familiar with, it seems the most similar to the Yonex Arcsaber 7 Tour/Pro — it’s even-balanced or slightly head-light with medium stiffness, suitable for intermediate players.
One thing I love about Apacs is that they write the specs right on the racket shaft, so when websites mix them up, you can always confirm it if you can find a clear image of the racket.
The Edgesaber 10 seems to be positioned as a more affordable clone of the classic Yonex Arcsaber 10, which suggests it’ll be a difficult racket for singles games as it doesn’t offer much power.
My understanding is that it was originally released around 2010, and this “New” edition came out around 2019. With the price being the big selling point here, costing about half that of a typical Yonex ‘Play’-racket, I didn’t quite know what to expect.
I had it strung with my usual Yonex BG80 string at 10.5 kg (about 23 lbs) and played with it for ten hours on court.
Let’s dive into how it played.
Power
As you’d expect from a slightly head light racket, it doesn’t have much power. It’s more suitable for players who prefer a fast-feeling racket and enjoy the defensive side of the game. To generate real power with the Edgesaber 10 New, you need to have good technique.
For me, this meant you’ll have to be careful not to hit your lifts too short and set your partner and you for trouble against opponents who love to smash.
Now, even though it’s categorized in the 4U weight class (80-84g), it feels on the heavier side. I noticed a difference that I didn’t expect from such a small variation in grams. The entire racket felt slightly slower moving through the air, but enough that it was noticeable to me. For comparison, with a super head-heavy racket like the Astrox 99 Play in 4U, it often feels as if it’s just the head that’s moving slower, which felt easier to adjust to.
The extra weight does make you feel like you get slightly more power, but the difference was too noticeable for me, especially on softer shots like net plays or during fast drive duels, where you need quick reactions. It felt just that bit heavier and slower to maneuver overall.
I’ve struggled to adjust my timing on shots, whether it’s due to this slight sluggishness, the weight, a slight difference in stiffness, or a combination, I’m not sure.
The verdict
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Aske
The thing that surprised me the most about the Edgesaber 10 New was that it felt slower than the Arcsaber 7 Tour. Meaning that I didn’t feel I was getting the benefit in defense I was hoping for, considering the trade of giving up power that I was expecting from this type of racket.
I wonder how it would’ve played if it were slightly lighter overall (not more head light). It might have been worse. I guess you do get something when buying Yonex at 4x the price.
Overall, forgiveness ranks high on my list as a recreational player so you don’t need to train all the time to have fun. I found that this Apacs Edgesaber 10 New was better for other things–now, ten hours in, I still don’t feel like I have adjusted my technique enough to feel comfortable with it. Especially on bad days, it felt like a struggle.
For us recreational players looking for exercise and improving our skills, it doesn’t seem like the best fit. But I have a feeling the Edgesaber 10 New isn’t made with us in mind.
The player type for Apacs Edgesaber 10 New
While it’s hard to complain too much at its price point, I’d suggest this racket for one specific type of player: the senior player who trained growing up, has solid technique, and just wants something super cheap for their casual doubles games.
