I've been using the Kawasaki Badminton Racket Set for about a month now, and it's honestly surprised me. Coming from someone who's played with everything from cheap Walmart sets to mid-range Yonex rackets, these hold their own remarkably well.

The first thing I noticed was how light they feel during swings - that graphite shaft makes a noticeable difference compared to aluminum ones. I play mostly in my backyard with friends, and the rackets give me enough control for tricky drop shots while still packing power for smashes.

The included grips are a nice touch. I sweated through one during an intense match (blame the summer heat), and being able to quickly swap to the spare grip saved our game night. The shuttlecocks that come with it? Surprisingly decent - they don't wobble mid-air like some cheap ones do.

Now, about that bag complaint I saw in reviews... yeah, it's tight fitting both rackets, but I actually prefer this compact size when tossing it in my car trunk. For serious players wanting professional gear, look elsewhere. But for $40? This set outperforms every other beginner option I've tried.

After three weeks of regular use (about 10 hours total play time), no signs of wear yet - strings still feel taut, frame hasn't developed any weird flex. Just last weekend, my friend who uses expensive Yonex gear tried mine and said 'Hey, these aren't bad at all.' High praise coming from him!