Victor Thruster K Ryuga Metallic Review (Used by Lee Zii Jia)
In the world of badminton, few players command the court with the sheer explosive power and aggressive flair of Malaysia’s Lee Zii Jia. When a player of his caliber steps onto the court, all eyes are not just on his footwork or his backhand smash, but also on the weapon he wields in his hand. Enter the Victor Thruster K Ryuga Metallic (often abbreviated as Ryuga Metallic), a racket that has generated a storm of excitement, curiosity, and awe in the badminton community.
As the latest evolution in the famous “Ryuga” dragon lineage, this racket isn’t just a fresh coat of paint; it is a technological beast designed to amplify the offensive capabilities of elite players. If the original Ryuga was a wild, untamed dragon, and the Ryuga II was a smoother, more controlled creature, the Ryuga Metallic is the “Mecha-Godzilla” of the family—armored, precise, and devastatingly powerful.
In this review, we will take a deep dive into every aspect of this racket, from its dazzling aesthetics to its bone-crushing performance, to help you decide if you have what it takes to tame the metal dragon.
1. Design and Aesthetics: A Visual Masterpiece
First impressions matter, and the Ryuga Metallic does not disappoint. Victor has always been good at theming their rackets (especially the Thruster series), but they have truly outdone themselves here.
The racket features a predominantly dark, menacing color palette—a matte black base accented with deep reds, burnt oranges, and the star of the show: shimmering metallic silver highlights. These aren’t just painted on; they are integrated into the “Metallic Carbon Fiber” material itself, giving the frame a unique luster that catches the stadium lights as you swing.
The “Dragon” motif, which defines the Ryuga series, is present but modernized. You will find subtle dragon scale decals running along the frame, giving it a textured, organic look that contrasts beautifully with the industrial metallic finish. It looks like a futuristic relic, something forged rather than manufactured. When you walk onto the court with this, it sends a clear message to your opponent: I am here to attack.
2. Technology and Specifications: The Heart of the Dragon
To understand why this racket performs the way it does, we have to look under the hood. The Ryuga Metallic is packed with Victor’s latest tech, but one innovation stands above the rest.
- Metallic Carbon Fiber (The Game Changer) This is the headline feature. Victor has fused thin metal sheets with high-strength carbon fiber in the frame. This hybrid material is designed to do two things: boost elasticity and ensure “sturdy handling.” In simple terms, it makes the frame feel incredibly solid yet responsive. When the shuttlecock hits the string bed, the metallic reinforcement minimizes energy loss, transferring more of your swing speed directly into the shuttle.
- Hard Cored Technology Inspired by military helicopter rotor blades, this multi-layered structure creates a sandwich of carbon fiber and composites. It minimizes material size while reinforcing the handling feel. This is what gives Victor rackets their signature “solid” feeling, dampening unwanted vibrations without making the racket feel dead.
- The Return of the Wooden Handle This is a crucial point for enthusiasts. The Ryuga II (the predecessor) introduced the “Free Core” synthetic handle, which was designed to be easier on the arm and offer a smoother whipping action. However, for the Ryuga Metallic, Victor—likely at the request of Lee Zii Jia himself—has returned to a traditional wooden handle.
Why? Feedback.
A wooden handle offers a direct, crisp sensation that synthetic handles sometimes dampen. For a pro player like Lee Zii Jia who needs to feel the exact location of the shuttle on the string bed, that raw feedback is non-negotiable. This gives the Ryuga Metallic a “classic” hitting feel that purists will adore.
The Specs at a Glance:
- Weight: Available in 3U (approx. 88g) and 4U (approx. 83g). Lee Zii Jia uses a 3U version (likely modified), but the 4U is the popular choice for most advanced club players.
- Balance: Head Heavy. Very head heavy.
- Stiffness: Stiff to Extra Stiff.
- Frame Shape: Isometric Power Box (box-shaped frame for stability).
- Frame Material: High Resilience Modulus Graphite + Hard Cored Technology + Metallic Carbon Fiber.
- Shaft Material: High Resilience Modulus Graphite + Pyrofil + 6.8 Shaft.
3. On-Court Performance: How Does It Play?
I have analyzed reports from various play-tests and community reviews to break down exactly how this racket behaves in a real match.
Power and Smashing: 10/10
Let’s be honest—you don’t buy a Ryuga to play soft. You buy it to smash. And in this department, the Ryuga Metallic is absolute royalty.
The combination of the head-heavy balance, the stiff shaft, and that metallic frame creates a “sledgehammer” effect. When you connect with the sweet spot, the power generation is frightening. The shuttlecock explodes off the string bed with a satisfying, metallic crack.
Unlike the Ryuga II, which had a “whippy” feeling that helped generate power for you, the Metallic requires you to generate the swing speed. But if you have the technique to bend that stiff shaft, the racket rewards you with a heavier, steeper smash that feels almost unfair to your opponent. It is the closest thing to a “one-shot kill” weapon currently on the market.
Control and Feel: The “Crisp” Factor
This is where the Metallic Carbon Fiber really shines. Often, power rackets sacrifice control because the frame deforms too much or the head is too unstable.
However, the metallic reinforcement in the frame makes the head extremely stable. When you hit a slice or a net shot, the head doesn’t wobble. The feedback is “crisp” and “sharp.” You know exactly where the shuttle is going the moment it leaves your strings. The wooden handle amplifies this, sending clear vibrations to your hand. It’s a very honest racket—it tells you exactly what you did right, and exactly what you did wrong.
Speed and Defense: The Trade-Off
Here is the reality check. The Ryuga Metallic is a head-heavy sledgehammer. It is not a speed demon.
In fast, flat exchanges (drives) or desperate defensive blocks, the racket can feel cumbersome. The weight in the head means it takes more effort to change direction quickly. If you are a doubles player who spends a lot of time in the front court intercepting fast shots, your arm might get tired, and your reactions might feel a split-second slower compared to a headlight racket like the Victor Auraspeed series.
However, the stability helps with “block defense.” If you can get the racket behind the shuttle, the mass of the frame will easily send the shuttle back to the rear court without you needing to add much swing.
Clears and Drops
- Clears: Effortless. The mass of the head does the work for you. You can hit baseline-to-baseline clears with a simple flick of the wrist once you get the timing down.
- Drops: Because the frame is so stiff and stable, “stick smashes” and fast drop shots are deadly. You can cut the shuttle with high precision.
4. Comparisons: Ryuga Metallic vs. The Siblings
To truly understand this racket, it helps to compare it to its family members.
- Ryuga Metallic vs. Ryuga 1 (Original): The original Ryuga was raw and wild. The Metallic feels like a refined, premium version of the original. It keeps the wooden handle and the aggression but adds better stability and a crisper feel due to the metallic tech. If you loved the original, the Metallic is a direct upgrade.
- Ryuga Metallic vs. Ryuga II (Pro): These are very different beasts. The Ryuga II uses the Free Core handle and is designed to be more “user-friendly,” offering a whippy shaft that helps generate power easily. The Ryuga Metallic is stiffer, unforgiving, and hits harder.
- Choose Ryuga II if: You want comfort and easy power.
- Choose Metallic if: You want maximum precision, raw feedback, and have the strength to wield it.
5. Who Is This Racket For?
This is not a racket for everyone, and that is okay.
Perfect for:
- Aggressive Singles Players: This is Lee Zii Jia’s racket, after all. It is designed for the singles game where you have time to set up big smashes and need precise placement.
- Backcourt Doubles Gunners: If your partner does all the work at the net and your job is just to smash from the back, you will love this.
- Advanced Players: You need good technique. If your swing is wrong, the stiff shaft and heavy head will punish your arm.
Not Recommended for:
- Beginners: The stiffness and weight will likely cause shoulder pain or “tennis elbow” if your form isn’t developed.
- Defensive/Front Court Players: It’s simply too slow for lightning-fast net exchanges.
6. Pros and Cons Summary
To make it easy, here is the breakdown:
Pros:
- Incredible Power: Generates heavy, steep smashes that are hard to return.
- Crisp Feedback: The Metallic Carbon Frame + Wooden Handle combo offers amazing “feel.”
- Stability: The frame does not warp or wobble, offering high control.
- Aesthetics: It is arguably one of the best-looking rackets on the market.
- Effortless Depth: Clears are easy due to the head momentum.
Cons:
- Demanding: It requires good physical strength and technique to use effectively.
- Fatigue: The head weight can tire out your shoulder and forearm during long matches.
- Sluggish Defense: Not the fastest racket for rapid-fire defensive reflexes.
- Unforgiving: Off-center hits can send jarring vibrations up the arm (more so than the Ryuga II).
7. Conclusion: The Verdict
The Victor Thruster K Ryuga Metallic is a masterpiece of offensive engineering. It takes the spirit of the original Ryuga—that raw, dragon-like aggression—and encases it in a suit of high-tech armor.
It is a racket that demands respect. It won’t hold your hand or fix your bad habits. But if you are a player who loves to dictate the pace of the game, who thrives on hitting that winning smash, and who appreciates a crisp, solid feeling on impact, this racket will feel like an extension of your arm.
Lee Zii Jia uses it to dominate the world stage for a reason. It is precise, it is heavy, and above all, it is powerful. If you are ready to unleash the dragon, the Ryuga Metallic is waiting for you.
