still havent found any shop selling apacs tantrum 200!!! is this racket really that popular???

i had used grips from RM2 to RM10, depending on brands and quality....
it also depending on over grip and replacement grip.... overgrip tends to be cheaper.....
but some non branded grips are really a bargain for like RM2 and quality is ok as well....

If you don't mind I recommend my own brand, do consider RCL shuttlecocks with the price around RM45 one. But I would say if you increase your budget to RM55, you can get shuttlecocks which are more durable and worthier.

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Added on May 29, 2010, 9:53 am
I think I reply you late. RCL is our own brand. You can get it in many badminton shops/halls nationwide. Our office is actually in Penang.

i'm using wilson carbon 8.0(a very old racquet), i wonder what type of racquet is that. attack or defense? hopefully this will help u guy to answer my question. the racquet is very flexible, low kickpoint and light(85g).
thank you

For beginner, racket is the least important thing. Just pickup any racket which feel good to you. The most important thing is grip. Learn the correct grip, and stroke technique.

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Added on May 30, 2010, 7:51 pmFantasia:
I used to have a racket that has similar style as yours. It's good for defense (cause it's light), and control (flexible).

Low kickpoint, do you mean it has relatively low pivot point? It happens to all light racket.

I think it need a lot thousands words to explain you all these. . .  maybe you can try to read this >> http://www.kkracketx.com/racket-guide.html

from my understanding, kick point = balance point (bp in short and normally measured in mm)
sweet point = sweetspot where it produces the best performance (i suppose if the shuttle hits any other spots except the sweetspot, it's consider as mishit)

the weight of the racket might be the factor for ur lack of power
if the racket is headlight, it will make matters worst
string has minimal factor but tension has a big factor
maybe consider lowering the tension?

through experience i guess lol how much are you using currently? then try to press on the sweet spot of the racket and see if its consistent, if it is then ur stringer is pretty good lol

It is more of a matter of preference IMO. I still prefer rougher strings like BG80 which is better for netplay as it kind of 'grabs' to the birdie when doing tumbling netshots. Currently using ZM67 but it is kind of not as good as BG80 at the same tension. In badmintoncentral, there's a talk about ZM67 being somewhat a little different compared to ZM62 and ZM70.

Sound IMO does affect some what of performance. My understanding is that if you can hear the BOOMING at least you know you are hitting dead on the sweet spot. It gives somewhat of a 'confirmation' that you have hit the birdie correctly.

I think high tension is suitable for control,low tension is for more power to smack the shuttlecock if this the same theory as tennis 
Correct me if i wrong,i still learning 

do u like the control of the racket now?
if not maybe u can try increasing it a little bit
maybe 24lbs?

the way i test is having multiple rackets
i string 1 racket 2lbs higher, just to see if i can handle it or not
not a good way i think
something like that
but if u have the power to flex the string bed with high tension, u can c the shuttle got "fire" lmao
some say head light rackets provide more control
so Bumbee, u can try to get a head light racket

and still, i don't mean head heavy racket cannot provide control
it still depends on technique