Hey there. Second time posting a review. I'm not affiliated with Victor and bought this racket with my own money, so my bias here would only be that I was made in Taiwan - just like this racket, the Victor Jetspeed S 12 II. I promise there will be non-Victor reviews later.

YMMV

I have here a 3U 2020 version of the Jetspeed S 12 II, purchased at 220 AUD.

It has been strung with Yonex Nanogy 99 string at 25 lbs. I have additionally placed a thin overgrip on top of the factory grip.

I am swinging this racket with a body that's 185 cm and 94 kg.

Handling

Victor's FreeCore handled rackets have a very different feel compared with most other rackets on the market. There's reduced vibration, decreased feedback and it feels longer in swing.

The JS12ii feels incredibly light in the hand, even at 3u weight. So much so, it could be mistaken for a head-light racket, when in actual fact the balance points sits at 295mm for the 3u version. The JS12ii feels lighter in the hand than even other speedster sticks, including Victor's own Auraspeed rackets. Positioning and changing grips are all effortless.

Despite its featherweight, the racket feels very stable during hits without being rigid. Rather than being whippy, I'd describe the JS12ii movement as fluid. Playing with the JS12ii is an easy and relaxed experienced, for both your mind and your muscles!

The reduced vibration/feedback and its lightness in the hand can maybe contribute to it feeling hollow for players used to a more impactful racket.

Control

I remember a couple of earlier reviews from very experienced players (using the 4u) suggest that the control aspect of the JS12ii is its weakest link. Yet I never had this issue myself...though, no other reviews I've read had strung the 3u with a Nanogy 99 (a control string) like I have.

Admittedly the JS12ii does not have the needle like precision of the TK-FC Ltd A I reviewed last time, but there were no issues with accuracy or consistency for me.

Playing close to the net was perfectly easy too, as was returning smashes. Defending well proves an easy task with the JS12ii.

Speed

Massive speed and acceleration!!! Not only is the JS12ii ultra light in the hand, it moves through the air seemingly without resistance, making all manner of racket movement extremely fast. I don't recall ever having experienced a faster 3u racket.

If I were in a habit of using arbitrary numbers from 0 to 10, then my benchmark for a 10/10 speed would be the JS12ii. This thing is amazingly fast.

Power

As expected of a pure speed stick, it's absolute power is not a stand out here. Although, due to the high swing speed, my 3u JS12ii manages to still smack the birdie pretty hard.

Ease of power generation is good, just don't expect the high power ceiling that Astrox and Thruster rackets have.

Technology

At launch, according to the original Mandarin press release, the JS12ii was meant to replace both the Brave Sword 12 and Jetspeed 12. It features upgraded tech from both series with the addition of a FreeCore handle. The JS12ii features improved/stronger carbon in both the frame & shaft, and a thinner shaft than previous Victor flagships at only 6.6mm. The frame is also a combination of the aerodynamic frame from the older Jetspeed rackets and the sword frame from the Bravesword series - now the aerosword frame!

The main feature to pay attention to is the synthetic FreeCore handle. If you don't like the FreeCore feel, don't buy the JS12ii. If you want to try FreeCore, give it a solid month's trial before deciding on its merit.

Quality of Manufacture

The JS12ii is one of a handful of Victor's current rackets that's MiT. The JS12ii is very well made and the racket screams quality. I hear production is being moved to China? Here's hoping the quality remains high.

The original JS12 suffered from high frame collapse rates many years ago. This doesn't seem to be an issue for the JS12ii.

One aspect worth noting is that the paint finish is not particularly durable - clashes during doubles will result in chips.

Aesthetics

The matte finish with blues and whites is to my liking but neither the frame or shaft look particularly different to the average badminton racket aesthetic (too many colours, a bit too busy). The racket looks nice with a white grip!

Value

With a RRP of 7200 NTD and being available in Australia between 220 to 260 AUD unstrung, the JS12ii is a premium racket. It's definitely a luxury product rather than a good value racket.

Who is it for?

The JS12ii is for speedsters, doubles players, defenders and people with an all-around play style.

It is remarkably easy and fun to use, and undemanding of skill. It is for players of all skill levels. If you mainly play recreational doubles, the JS12ii should be a top consideration.

The JS12ii can also help tall and muscular players (who really don't need more power) dominate the court by covering their deficits when it comes to nimbleness/agility.

Who is it not for?

Players who are are power focused, keen on hard smashes and prefer to 'feel' their shots will not gel with the JS12ii.

Pros:

Very high quality racket

Truely for all levels

Absolute, world-beating speed!

Head-light handling despite 295 mm balance!

Forgiving and fun

Zero elbow/shoulder strain despite relatively stiff shaft

Cons:

The combination of FreeCore and light-handling can impart hollowness on impact

Limited maximum power level

Paint job not very durable - you will have chips after doubles

Some further thoughts:

I've never played the JS12ii with anything other than Nanogy 99, and I've run out of this discontinued string... I plan to string it with Aerosonic next time. Will be interesting to see how it changes things. I'm anticipating increased power but reduced consistency?

Also, very keen to compare the JS12ii to the new 90K II, in terms of absolute speed. No one I know has the 90K II tho!