Victor Drivex 12 Vs Drivex 10 And 88D Pro 2024
I was among the first users of DriveX 10. My first one developed a spinning shaft issue; after a successful warranty replacement I got another and never saw the…
Overview
I was among the first users of DriveX 10. My first one developed a spinning shaft issue; after a successful warranty replacement I got another and never saw the same problem again. DriveX 10 was my first exposure to alloy carbon fibre technology. At the time it felt impressive — especially on attack. Smashes felt explosive. Full smashes could be very fast and heavy, with obvious metallic sound; after smashing I often instinctively checked whether the strings had broken. Although it belongs to the Drive series, swing weight is large and default balance point is high. By my own classification it is a pure offensive racket — not a balanced one at all. For rackets with factory grip I usually remove the base cap. With the same thickness of shock-absorbing film and the same overgrip — including Astrox 88D Pro new colour and Astrox 100ZZ among most box-frame offensive rackets I have used — actual playing weight falls in the 89–90 g range with balance points around 305–310 mm. DriveX 10 at nearly 90 g actual weight had a balance point as high as 310 mm. DriveX 10 is not only heavy in swing weight and high in balance point — the shaft is also quite stiff. With this racket I struggled in intense same-level men's doubles; given my ability I could only use it for singles or mixed doubles. My preference is still for fast swing speed and good continuity. Back then my main singles and mixed rackets were Nanoflare 1000Z; for doubles my main rackets were Arcsaber 100X SE — both full aero-frame speed rackets. Switching to DriveX 10, you can imagine the contrast. After playing for a while I never took it out again.
DriveX 12 — two years later
When I picked up DriveX 12, it felt familiar. The two rackets share the same frame shape; weight and balance point are also very close — still that strong head-heavy feel, and you clearly still feel the high drag of a box frame when swinging. But after alternating between the two in several sessions, I was surprised to find DriveX 12 plays noticeably lighter and quicker than DriveX 10. Frame shape is the same — both use three-stage dynamic fluid hexagonal frames with the same spiral structure at the bottom — so drag coefficient should be the same, yet swing speed differs this much. I think it relates to DriveX 12 using nano aerogel as frame filler. Official marketing: with the support of the lowest-density solid known to humans, less blowing agent is used in the frame, freeing weight budget so more carbon fibre can be added; combined with Pyrofil carbon fibre, the racket is lighter, stronger at high tension, and feel is upgraded. DriveX 12 and Shadow Blade both use nano aerogel in the frame filler to achieve lightweighting and increased frame strength. From my experience this upgrade works. In flat drives at the front court, net rushing, defence, and passive shots, compared with DriveX 10 there is clear improvement. When I am fresh, in men's doubles that are not extremely fast or intense, DriveX 12 is acceptable on both offence and defence. When stamina drops, quality on passive returns still falls noticeably. DriveX 12's frame also upgrades Rebound Shield and 46T Pyrofil carbon. Rebound Shield adds glass carbon fibre to the frame — also used on Auraspeed 100X, 90K II, and 90KM — and I do feel it increases frame elasticity. Higher-grade 46T Pyrofil should also boost frame elasticity and strength. In actual play I feel DriveX 12's feedback is bouncier than DriveX 10, with crisper, faster shuttles. DriveX 12 also adds WES 3.0 in the shaft. WES technology adds flex points at different shaft positions to increase bending; version 3.0 has more flex points than 2.0, with sharper downward angle and better whip effect. WES 3.0 makes DriveX 12's downward angle sharper and whip more effective. Shaft stiffness feels close to DriveX 10 — both are among the stiffer offensive rackets. DriveX 12's shaft stiffness seems between Astrox 88D Pro new colour and Li-Ning AxForce 90 New. Possibly limited by first-generation alloy carbon fibre shaft technology, DriveX 10 still lacked stable physical connection between shaft and Free Core handle. DriveX 12's Power Ring Pro upgrade should strengthen that connection with a clip-in design and eliminate shaft-spin risk. With a firmer shaft-handle connection, I feel anti-torque is improved too — placement control is more precise than DriveX 10, with better directionality and higher forgiveness when missing the sweet spot.
DriveX 12 vs Astrox 88D Pro new colour
DriveX 12's shaft is slightly softer; shaft length and head size are almost the same; weight and balance are similar. My DriveX 12 actual weight is 89.2 g, balance 311 mm; 88D Pro new colour is 89.2 g, balance 308 mm. Swing speed seems similar, but 88D Pro new colour's shuttle speed is slightly faster. DriveX 12's shaft elasticity improved a lot versus DriveX 10 but is still slightly behind 88D Pro new colour. In shaft elasticity and rebound speed, 88D Pro new colour is among the most extreme offensive rackets I have used — on passive defence it borrows power better and reaches the back court more reliably; in flat drives, 88D Pro new colour feels more penetrating than DriveX 12. Based on those two factors, 88D Pro new colour suits singles-doubles crossover better; in doubles defence, passive play, and flat drives it does not show obvious weaknesses despite being head-heavy. In control, DriveX 12 has slightly stronger hold than 88D Pro new colour, so drops and tight net control are a bit more refined. In smashing both are excellent — 88D Pro new colour has sharper placement, faster speed, and seems one level more violent than DriveX 12. Overall DriveX 12 is the mainstream offensive racket most similar to 88D Pro new colour in performance. Comprehensive performance may still lag slightly, but if future price gap reaches 500 yuan or more, getting 90%+ of 88D Pro new colour for about two-thirds the price makes DriveX 12 a strong value alternative.
DriveX 12 vs Li-Ning AxForce 90 New
DriveX 12's shaft is slightly stiffer; bottom frame is a tiny bit narrower but the shaft is much longer. I have three AxForce 90 New in use — the heaviest actual weight 89.5 g, balance 304 mm; lightest 88.5 g, balance 301 mm. Even my heaviest AxForce 90 New swings clearly faster than DriveX 12, with obvious front-court advantage. AxForce 90 New's shaft is softer and slightly more elastic, making clears, defence, and passive returns easier. At the back court DriveX 12's heavier head and stiffer shaft give more stable drops and more precise placement control. DriveX 12's smash placement is sharper than AxForce 90 New and heavy smashes feel more powerful, but AxForce 90 New has better continuity and better drop smashes. AxForce 90 New is a typical speed offensive racket. When I first tried it I predicted it would become Li-Ning's next blockbuster. Five months after launch it had 600+ reviews and around 9.7 rating — by buzz and reputation it should be Li-Ning's most popular racket now. I even stockpiled four 4U AxForce 90 New though I knew 618 might bring discounts. The last time I bought four or more of one model was years ago with Arcsaber 100X SE — I bought up to seven and it remains one of my main doubles rackets. What attracts me most about AxForce 90 New is the shaft — its shaft quality is excellent, the smallest gap yet between Li-Ning and Yonex top rackets of the same type. Shaft stiffness is moderate, swing weight is not large, and swing speed can handle fast same-level men's doubles, especially the lighter ones I picked.
Verdict
Highlights: Victor's best shaft so far — excellent elasticity, crisp output, good directionality. Shortcomings: Swing speed improved versus DriveX 10 but balance is still high and swing weight large — still biased toward singles; for doubles it is not as good as Astrox 88D Pro new colour or AxForce 90 New of the same type.