SOTX badminton rackets are a relatively new name in the badminton world, however they have been growing at a fast pace in China. They have now entered the UK and US market, selling a wide range of badminton equipment including rackets, shuttlecocks, bags, clothing and shoes. SOTX was formed in China in 2002 and now has many outlets in many major Chinese cities. SOTX has also expanded globally, to 20 other countries, and is extremely active in promoting the sport of badminton. This can only be good for our sport, the added competition doesn’t hurt anyone and can help reduce costs for those buying badminton rackets.
I guess it was inevitable that a major badminton racket company would develop in China, the only mystery is that it didn’t happen sooner. Yonex is the most successful manufacturer in the Far East, selling millions of rackets every year. However, SOTX seems to have a big impact and is already eating away at market share. This rapid growth has now seen SOTX badminton reach the west, in the UK and the US.
There are nine ranges in the SOTX line, and the flagship rackets are the CP series, which stands for Commax Power, or circular power. These rackets are made with high modulus carbon, and also include a new exclusive SOTX technology, force pro nano. Force pro nano technology is designed to minimize vibration that can cause injury and strain to muscles in the wrist, arm and shoulder. The CP series is designed to handle higher string tensions, up to 31 lbs. This tension causes excessive vibration in normal badminton rackets, but with force pro technology, this is no longer the case. The benefit to badminton players could be enormous and SOTX appears to be the only manufacturer currently offering this protection for players. I guess the only way to know if this technology works is to try it for yourself. Hang your racket with a tension of 31 pounds and see if your arm hurts after a few hours of play. The only other problem is finding a string that can withstand this tension without breaking.
The disadvantage of this engineering is the price. The top-end CP 7000 retails for around £109 in the UK and $300 in the US. This puts SOTX in direct competition with top offerings from Yonex, who already have a strong reputation for quality and innovation. The CP 7000 is also very stiff, which increases vibration, so it is only recommended for experienced players who can get the most out of this type of racket.
At these prices I think it will be difficult for SOTX to sell many racquets, but over time, as their reputation grows and more online retailers stock their products, prices will drop to more reasonable rates, in line with most of the competition. The rest of the CP range is the 6000, which is a little more flexible, the 5000, which is even more flexible and lighter, all the way up to the CP 1000, and even this entry-level racket will set you back around £60.
Things get even more expensive with the SOTX Woven range. The Woven 16 costs a whopping £129.99… gulp. It is developed from high-quality carbon fiber and fiberglass, making it more stable and easy to control. It can also be strung at high tensions, but it doesn’t have the force pro technology, so you will most likely feel all the vibration at high tensions. Cue arm and shoulder injuries. There are 9 other racquets in this range, all very similar, with the bottom of the range being the Woven-2i, which is still £49.99.
The SOTX Diamond Fighter range is made from a special memory alloy that reduces the aging process of the racket. I don’t know how it does it, but it seems very similar to the Yonex ArcSaber range.
There’s also the superlight range, which, as the name suggests, offers very light rackets, at just 75 grams, that compete directly with Karakal’s badminton teams, only the SOTX ones are more expensive. The choice is yours…
It looks like SOTX is the new kid on the block, and more established brands could be under threat. The main hurdle for SOTX badminton rackets is earning an honest reputation for quality and durability, and only time will tell if they succeed.