Background

We have a running joke on the badminton discord about Dunlop rackets which feature their Miyazaki shafts - these are the Excaliber/Frostmourne swords of badminton sticks, in that they require a high degree of power, technique and athleticism to wield property. I previously reviewed the Aero-Star Speed 86, which had the hardest racket frame and string bed I've come across, made more diff3by it's even balanced design. Today, we check out the 'Power' stick of the three Miyazaki rackets, the ZSP88. Let's see if this absolute mace of a racket will be as difficult to use as the ASS86.

Handling The ZSP88 feels properly 3u heavy and dense in the hand. It's head-heavy balance is immediately obvious. The longer shaft and short handle makes it feel quite different from most current rackets (mostly doubles oriented) too. It is not easy to manoeuvre.

It is, however, slightly easy to flex than the ASS86 - the heavy head helps bend the incredibly rigid shaft, to a degree. Shots are fairly well cushioned, but impactful, and the string bed is stiff. This is a men's singles racket, if there ever was one.

Speed

The ZSP88 is on the slower end. It is not clumsy, but unwieldy. It glides smoothly but driving it fast is effortful.

Control

Due to the frame being very stiff and head heavy, the ZSP88 has excellent directionality and good precision. Net play is accurate but slow. Defense is effortful due to the rigidity and slower speed. Overall, the control is good if you have enough power to swing & flick this racket with the necessary speed. I like the lobs and drops that this racket produces.

Power

Massive, awesome power. The power ceiling here is higher than any racket I've owned or tried. The ceiling is beyond my personal capability, I believe. Smashes have extreme weight behind them, and difficult to return well. All types of power shots pack distance, weight and acceleration - provided you can flex the shaft. The ZSP88 is an absolute cannon.

Overall

The ZSP88 is a bit of a novelty racket, reminiscent of the 2u era of rackets when high end sticks were hefty, dense and difficult to use. I cannot see any sane person using this in 2024, outside of men's singles or for giggles at a social. If you want to challenge the integrity of your shoulder joint, by all means give the ZSP88 a go. I'm impressed that Dunlop has gone the route of high-end rackets that require power and skill to use, rather than many flagship releases now that even kids can play with. Well worth trying a Miyazaki shafted racket if you get a chance - this ZSP88 will offer you the ultimate in sledgehammer experiences.