Looking for one of the lightest feeling rackets on the market? Well you’re in the right place, they don’t come much lighter than the Eye Rackets V.Lite 110 Control.
If you could sort squash rackets ascending by weight, this one would be right at the top of the list. At just 110 grams, few rackets are lighter on the scales than this particular model from Eye.
The light feeling doesn’t end there though. Alongside only weighing 110 grams, it’s also evenly balanced. From my quick 10 minutes’ research, every single ultra lightweight racket on the market is head heavy, however as Eye don’t use bumper strips (more on that later), the 15% weight reduction this leads to is really, really noticeable.
I’d go as far as to say this racket feels even lighter in use than the 90 gram Karakal SN-90, which is billed as the ‘world’s lightest racket’. As the Karakal is head heavy, it has a heavier feel through the swing (aka swing weight).
What’s the result of such a light weight racket?
Total. Weightlessness. It’s quite surreal just how light this racket feels in use. It’s effortless. You can generate incredible racket-head speed from a short swing. Taking shots on the volley? No problem. Getting your racket up quickly? Piece of cake. Quick adjustments to your swing? Easy.
Simply put, there’s no other rackets to my knowledge that are this manoeuvrable. It’s a truly unique racket. For technically gifted players, this could really be a dream combination.
Are there any downsides to all of this?
The extra manoeuvrability this racket offers doesn’t come without sacrifice. With such little weight behind your swing, generating power in your shots requires you to use more racket head speed than you normally would with a heavier racket. The power is still there if you can hit the ball hard enough, you might just have to hit a little harder than you’re used to.
If you’re new to squash, this might not be a good attribute to have in a racket. Most coaches will be encouraging you to develop a smooth, consistent swing – having to speed up your swing could quickly result in you ‘hacking’ at the ball and overhitting it.
With the light weight, I also found myself struggling to take shots in short using this racket. I really felt like a touch extra weight in the head would have helped me to guide the ball in a little better on my drop shots.
I’m a very average team level player though – I’m sure better players than I would have no problem. It’s worth bearing this in mind if you’re a beginner as Eye do also offer a wide range of weights in this particular shape of racket that you might want to consider.
Racket design
One of the main features of Eye Rackets is that they choose to omit the bumper strip from their rackets. Eye claims that bumper strips won’t help in 96% of breakages. Honestly, for what it’s worth, I don’t think bumper strips are necessary. I’ve had a questionable track record with rackets, however the Eye V.Lite 110 is still going strong for me.
I’m sure a bumper strip would help durability somewhat, especially for beginners. However, I’ll take Eye’s word on the 96% figure, and I would say that it’s totally worth it when you look at the outcome of this racket.
The Eye V.Lite 110’s pink colour scheme would suggest that it’s aimed towards female players. It’s Coline Aumard’s signature racket and is also used by Tinne Gillis, among others.
That’s not to say it can’t be used by men. Far from it in fact. If you can look past the slightly feminine design, you’ll have landed yourself with a potentially awesome racket.
In fact, don’t just look past the design. Embrace it. The look of shame in your opponent’s eyes as you beat them with a pink racket is something I’ve gotten used to!
As of 2020, the Eye Rackets V.Lite 110 Control has been updated with with, dare I say it, an even pinker colour scheme. This racket from what I’ve been told has improvements to the frame, as it’s slightly stiffer than the older model.
Eye has really stepped up their game with the design of their new rackets. The new range features some of the nicest looking rackets on the market right now.
Eye Rakets V.Lite 110 Control – Overall
I feel Eye have designed this racket with a very particular type of player in mind. Those who are perhaps more experienced and technically skilled will likely reap the rewards from this racket’s unique specifications. The additional speed this allows you to inject into your game could genuinely change the way you play.
The lighter weight will also benefit players who don’t have quite as much arm strength as others. If you’re finding your arm feels strained after a game, even though you have a ‘good’ technique, this could be the answer.
For those not quite as skilled though, this racket could prove difficult to use. While its light weight is certainly fun to use and you’ll definitely benefit from the increased manoeuvrability, the compromises in power, control and accuracy may hinder your game rather than help it.
This is one of those rackets that I’d say to try before you buy. Eye has a full range in their arsenal of all weights, shapes and sizes, If you find this racket is ‘too’ light, then you can always move up through the heavier models until you find one that suits your game.
I found the Eye Rackets V.Lite 110 Control so fun to use, if I was skilled enough to master its lighter weight, I could easily look past the pink colour scheme for it to find a way into my bag.
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Do not buy anything of Eye rackets products. Bad quality and over prised. The rackets breaks easily, and all other products are of bad quality. Pro players and others that do speak well of Eye products are biased.