The Victor Thruster Ryuga 3 badminton racket arrives as the fifth generation of Victor’s flagship Ryuga bloodline, bringing a redesigned pink and magenta aesthetic, a thinner shaft, and the second generation of the brand’s Free Core handle technology, according to product reviews.
Aesthetics and Sub-Line Identity in the Ryuga 3
Victor updated the visual presentation for the Thruster Ryuga 3 by introducing a predominantly pink and magenta colorway. At the T-joint, the manufacturer split the branding so that one side carries the Victor logo while the other displays the Ryuga logo, establishing a distinct sub-line identity.
The racket also features a 3D effect on the butt cap. Tilting the cap in one direction reveals the Victor logo, whereas tilting it the opposite way morphs the graphic into the Ryuga logo.
Technical Updates: Free Core 2.0 and Frame Design
Under the hood, the Ryuga 3 incorporates two primary engineering updates. The first is a twisted frame style spanning the 4 o’clock to 8 o’clock region, which draws inspiration from the Dynamic Hex frame seen on the Drive X 9 and evolves into what is designated as the Dynamic Box shape.
The second major inclusion is Free Core 2.0, representing Victor’s second generation of non-wood, plastic handle technology. Historically, Free Core handles provided a softer and more damped playing feel but occasionally suffered from a loss of torsional stiffness that created a twisty sensation in the hand. Out of the five Ryuga models released previously, only the Ryuga 2 and Ryuga 2 Pro utilized Free Core handles. The updated iteration in the Ryuga 3 is designed to counteract those historical stiffness trade-offs with a more solid overall response.
Specifications and Swingweight Performance
Testing data evaluated a 4U G5 specification model rated for string tensions up to 32 lbs on the 4U frame, which was strung using Yonex Aerobite at 27 lbs by 29 lbs for consistency. The racket features the thinnest shaft in the Ryuga lineup to date.
On the swingweight machine, the bare Free Core handle recorded a balance point of 331mm, marking the highest balance point recorded for a Victor racket. Adding one layer of grip adjusted the balance point down to 315mm, and further additions brought the balance down to 303mm while keeping the swingweight number largely stable, indicating that mass is carried in the head rather than shifted solely by grip weight. When compared directly against the Ryuga Metallic, the Ryuga 3 registers lower swingweight numbers in certain configurations, indicating a more accessible playing experience.
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