GRAVITAS 8.5SX

Everyone's rating [Performance] Swing and Maneuverability rated highly
GRAVITAS 8.5SX
GRAVITAS 8.5SX

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Average review score

  • Rating: 9 / 10
  • Number of reviews: 2
    • Swing: 10
    • Maneuverability: 9.5
    • Control: 8.5
    • Touch：9

    Successor to the GRAVITAS 8.0SX

    Specifications

    Producer
    Gosen
    Model number
    4549203002412
    Grip size
    4U5
    Color
    Black Red
    Shaft stiffness / feel
    Slightly hard
    Head balance
    Slightly head heavy
    Standard size
    Overall length: 675mm Weight: 82-84g/4U
    Standard spec material
    Recommended tension: 20-28LBS Max tension: 30LBS Grip size: G5 Target players Men: intermediate, advanced Women: advanced

    User reviews

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    • Konmari

      Konmari （Experience：6-10 years） Might be good for the doubles rear court

      Thanks to the compact frame and head-heavy balance, it's very easy to swing.
      The head-heaviness isn't extreme, just a normal head-heavy level, and it's 4U, so I found it very easy to hit overhead as the rear-court player in doubles. For receives and pushes too, because it's head-heavy, the path stabilizes once you start swinging, so I think odd shots are unlikely. The previous 8.0 felt like an easy-to-handle Z-SPEED, while the 8.5 feels like an easy-to-handle Z-FORCE II. People say the shaft is stiff, but if you swing fast it flexes nicely and smashes come easily, and if you swing lightly it flexes less, so control is good and you can place drops into the corners. However, being head-heavy, you tend to be late or get pushed on drives, so I think it's safest to choke up on the grip or leave them to your partner. Overall, I recommend it for flexible, super easy overhead shots from the rear court and for hitting placed shots that force your opponent to lift lobs or clears. I really think it's a good racket. I like it.

      2021/10/09
      Overall
      9/10
      Swing
      10
      Maneuverability
      9
      Control
      9
      Touch
      10
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    • YGK LINE

      YGK LINE （Experience：11-20 years） In search of a racket similar to the VOLTRIC Z-FORCE II.....

      I happened to be reading reviews of the 8.5SX on Badonavi, thought this might be it, and bought it right away.
      Impressions from basic drills
      Clear: The sweet spot feels a little small, and if you're slightly off center it clearly doesn't fly as far.
      High backhand: High backhands are easy to hit.
      Drop: Nice control and easy to make the shuttle sink.
      Drive: Even in fast rallies, I don't feel late and can hit strong shots.
      Push: Like the drive, it's easy to maneuver, so it's very easy to hit.
      Push receive: It doesn't get overpowered easily by the opponent's hard hits, and I can hit strong receives.
      Smash: If you're not used to it, the shuttle floats. Compared with the Z-FORCE II the destructive power is a bit lower, but I think you can hit pretty good smashes. It leaves less fatigue than the Z-FORCE II.
      Smash receive: Quite easy to hit. It feels like you could hit smash counters too.
      Hairpin: I'm bad at hairpins, so no comment.
      Overall: My impression is that it's like a slightly milder Z-FORCE II?
      I think it's a racket I'd definitely recommend to anyone looking for a 4U head-heavy racket.

      2023/02/28
      Overall
      9/10
      Swing
      10
      Maneuverability
      10
      Control
      8
      Touch
      8
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