GRAVITAS 8.0-SX

Everyone's rating [Performance] Maneuverability and Control rated highly
GRAVITAS 8.0-SX
GRAVITAS 8.0-SX GRAVITAS 8.0-SX

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Average review score

  • Rating: 7.67 / 10
  • Number of reviews: 3
    • Swing: 8
    • Maneuverability: 8.67
    • Control: 8.33
    • Touch：8.33

    At the moment of eating the core, crush the shuttlecock and produce a stronger hit ball. Compact face + wide body frame design. Specifications for strikers who crush the shuttlecock without mercy.

    Specifications

    Producer
    Gosen
    Series
    Model number
    BGV80SX
    Grip size
    G5
    Color
    BG (black gold)
    Weight
    3U
    Shaft stiffness / feel
    Slightly hard
    Head balance
    Slightly head heavy
    Recommended tension

    20 to 28 (up to 30)

    Frame material
    PYROFIL made by Mitsubishi Chemical
    Shaft material
    PYROFIL made by Mitsubishi Chemical
    Frame shape
    Square

    User Review SummaryAI Summary
    The racket is highly regarded as a singles-focused option with a head-heavy design and stiff shaft that delivers strong performance when the sweet spot is hit. However, feedback suggests that string setup and tension management are critical factors that significantly affect overall playability.
    ■ Frequently mentioned points
    • Lightweight 4U with excellent maneuverability
    • Head-heavy design for powerful shots
    • Stiff shaft ensures stable trajectory
    • Proper string tension management essential
    • Recommended for intermediate singles players
    ■ Representative voices
    ▲ PositiveThe driven clear showed exceptional initial speed and distance. The performance was so impressive it made me want to change my match rally structure.
    ▽ CriticalThe crisp hitting feel disappeared, giving the impression that the shuttle was sliding across the frame rather than being gripped. I lost interest in purchasing it right away.

    User reviews

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    • kazu

      kazu （Experience：11-20 years） Very stiff, for hard hitters!!

      I bought it because I like 4U head-heavy rackets!
      At first glance the color looks black, but it's actually gray.

      My first impression on holding it was that it's on the light side even for a 4U.
      The frame size is exactly the same as the ZF2 and slightly thicker, and the shaft is a little thicker and longer than the ZF2's.
      The balance is head-heavy, but not overly so, so handling and maneuverability are good!

      When hitting, it's so stiff that the head and shaft feel like one piece; it's like hitting with a steel plate, or rather an iron rod, and I don't feel any flex.
      I didn't feel much flex with the 7.0 either, so maybe the whole series has that kind of feel.
      By the way, I usually use the ZF2, and this felt considerably stiffer than that.

      Since you don't feel any flex, it's hard to get clears deep, but once you get used to it the maneuverability is good, so it may be a good racket.
      When you hit the sweet spot, I think you can hit some pretty good shots.

      2019/01/09
      Overall
      8/10
      Swing
      8
      Maneuverability
      9
      Control
      9
      Touch
      7
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    • All-Out Beginner

      All-Out Beginner （Experience：2-3 years） Added alongside my GRAVITAS 7.0

      https://badminton-navi.net/racket/detail/384
      I'm the one who reviewed the GRAVITAS 7.0 at the link above.
      I've improved a bit, so I decided to use the easy-to-maneuver 7.0 for doubles and wanted a stiff racket for singles that could strengthen my smashes and driven clears, so I bought this.

      - In the hand it's light, as you'd expect from a 4U.
      - For receives and hairpins where you move your whole body into the shuttle, there's no problem at all with maneuverability.
      - On drives, if you don't tighten your grip a little earlier, the head doesn't come through.
      - Actually, the head is super heavy. The 8.0 had a balance point further forward than my friend's DUORA Z-STRIKE.
      - The shaft is stiff, so it's easy to aim your placement.
      - My smashes lose less speed. Even shots hit with just the wrist don't slow down, so once you get used to it, I felt it could be fun in doubles too.
      - Maybe because the head is heavy, my driven clears had the best initial speed and carry I've ever had. Enough to make me want to change how I build rallies in matches.

      It's cheap now, probably because it's being discontinued, so I think I can seriously recommend it to intermediate players who love singles and want to hit high-quality shots.

      2021/03/30
      Overall
      10/10
      Swing
      8
      Maneuverability
      10
      Control
      10
      Touch
      10
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    • Lei

      Lei （Experience：6-10 years） Fine at low tension, but,,,,,,,,

      The string was the recommended G-TONE 5 at about 22 lbs. It's advertised as hitting the sweet spot solidly. Perfect for people who like a firm, gripping feel. I saw an article saying it was developed by studying the Z-SPEED, but the shaft isn't that stiff.
      If I compare it to YONEX rackets:
      - Frame like the Z-SPEED (a small frame even among compact frames)
      - Shaft longer than the Z-SLASH (the point where the grip meets the shaft is the same, and it's longer by however much smaller the frame is)
      - Accordingly, a short grip of about 20 cm
      That's how it feels.
      I usually use 28 to 35 lbs, but with this racket there's no need to go to the recommended limit or above it.
      When I borrowed it, the G-TONE 5 was really fuzzy so it broke right away, and after restringing at 25 (since it was a demo, I couldn't raise the tension much) it became a completely different racket.
      The firm, gripping feel disappeared, and my impression was that the shuttle was sliding across the string bed? I was planning to buy it, but I lost interest instantly.

      2020/09/30
      Overall
      5/10
      Swing
      8
      Maneuverability
      7
      Control
      6
      Touch
      8
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