Every VICTOR Thruster Ryuga Measured & Tested: Which One Should You Buy?

Five Victor Thruster Ryuga rackets. All flagships. All marketed as head-heavy, stiff, attacking rackets. So which one is actually right for you? I've tested and compared every one of them to find out!

What Is the Victor Thruster Ryuga Line?

The Victor Thruster Ryuga line is built around one idea: pure raw power. It's intentionally head-heavy and sledgehammer-like.

In this comparison, we're looking at all five:

• Victor Thruster Ryuga 1 (the original) - full review here

• Victor Thruster Ryuga 2 - full review here

• Victor Thruster Ryuga 2 Pro

• Victor Thruster Ryuga Metallic - full review here

• Victor Thruster Ryuga 3 (the latest) - full review here

There's already an in-depth review for each Ryuga, so if you want to go deeper on any single racket, the links are above!

You'd think each generation would be a simple iteration on the last, but that's not how it played out. Each generation has tried to fix something, and you can see what Victor was trying to do:

• Ryuga 1: a very stiff sledgehammer

• Ryuga 2: gone too far, with new handle tech that turned it too soft and left it without enough torsional stiffness

• Ryuga 2 Pro: improved response

• Ryuga Metallic: back to an even head-heavier sledgehammer

• Ryuga 3: scaled back the head weight a little, and improved the response even further with an updated handle

Wooden Handles vs Free Core Handles

One thing to keep in mind throughout this comparison: out of the five rackets, the original Ryuga and the Ryuga Metallic have wooden handles, and the Ryuga 2, Ryuga 2 Pro and Ryuga 3 have Victor's Free Core handles. This split matters a lot, and you'll see it show up in the measurements and in how the rackets feel.

How These Rackets Were Measured

Every racket was strung with the same string and tension: Yonex Aerobite (UK here, US here) at 27 lbs x 29 lbs. Rackets were typically measured with one overgrip (the Yonex AC108 grip) on top of the stock grip.

Where a racket has no stock grip, which is normally the case with current Free Core rackets, two grips were added so it feels similar in the hand.

A few caveats worth knowing:

• Access to 4U Ryugas only started with the Ryuga Metallic, which is why this comparison has a mixture of 3U and 4U rackets

• The Ryuga 2 Pro stock row is unstrung, so don't compare it directly with the others

• The Ryuga 3 is a 4U, so the fairest comparison for it is the Ryuga Metallic 4U

• The Ryuga 3 comes with only the bare Free Core handle, so it was measured with none, one and two grips

Measured Specs: Two Clear Patterns

Looking at the measurements, two patterns jump out:

1. The Free Core rackets have slightly thinner shafts but shorter shaft lengths. That's backed up by a longer Free Core handle compared with the wooden handle rackets.

2. The Ryuga and Ryuga Metallic share a 16 cm handle and a 22 cm shaft. The Ryuga 2, 2 Pro and 3 share a 17.5 cm handle and a 21.5 cm shaft.

All the rackets share similar frame height, width and thickness, and every frame has the same top-half recessed design. So there are no major shape changes, apart from the Ryuga 3 and its Dynamic Box frame design. The changes between generations are mostly in materials and handle.

A note on shaft sizes: Victor markets shaft sizes like "6.6" and "6.8", which don't match the diameters we measured. The figures above are our own measurements.

Looks and Design

On looks alone, there's a soft spot for the Ryuga 3 and the original Ryuga.

The magenta on the Ryuga 3 is lovely, alongside the 3D-effect butt cap. The proper name for it is the lenticular effect butt cap, but "3D effect" works too. And on the original Ryuga, the orange colourway really pops!

Swingweight and Head Weight: Which Ryuga Is Most Demanding?

Swingweight is one of the most crucial measurements for working out how demanding a racket will be to swing. It also tells us a lot about the head weight of the racket.

Strung, Stock Grip

(*Note: The Ryuga 3 has no stock grip, and the Ryuga 2 Pro is unstrung)

Strung + Grip (Closer to Real Use)

What the Numbers Tell Us

• The original Ryuga sets the benchmark: a swingweight of 97 at 313 mm. Only the Ryuga Metallic 4U beats it.

• Moving to Free Core (Ryuga 2): balance drops 5 mm and swingweight falls 3.5 units compared with the original.

• Ryuga 2 Pro: strung with a grip, it reaches a swingweight of 96, which is 1.5 units above the Ryuga 2.

• Ryuga Metallic: here's the scary part. The 4U is the lighter racket, but it has a higher swingweight than the 3U. It weighs 2 g less but is 17 mm more head-heavy, and swingweight jumps from 94.5 to 98.5.

• Ryuga 3: the bare handle balance point is 331 mm, the highest balance point recorded on a Victor racket. It looks like the most head-heavy racket here, but the swingweight is only 90.5. The fairest comparison is the Ryuga Metallic 4U with a grip: 315 mm vs 317 mm, which is basically the same balance point, but the Ryuga 3 swings 7 units lighter (92 vs 99).

How Each Ryuga Actually Feels

The swingweight and head weight measurements only tell one side of the story. Here's how each one felt in play!

Victor Thruster Ryuga 1: Stiff, Heavy Sledgehammer

The crisp hitting feel is lovely. But it's very demanding, especially at 3U. At a recreational-to-club level of play, it's difficult to leverage the full potential of the racket, particularly in terms of racket reaction speed. Also, the head and overall weight make it sluggish.

It's lovely for singles though, so it's perfect for anyone who wants a solid, stable, powerful but demanding racket!

Victor Thruster Ryuga 2: Smoother, Faster & Softer

Compared with the Ryuga 1, this one is smoother and faster, but it feels soft and spongy. It's more user-friendly and forgiving, but it has lost that crisp, sharp feeling. That's a valid tradeoff and compromise.

If you're looking to enter the world of Victor's head-heavy rackets without anything too demanding, this might be the best one to start with. You get easy power, but it feels soft compared with the Ryuga 1.

Victor Thruster Ryuga 2 Pro: More Power, Not Necessarily Easier

This one felt head-heavier than the regular Ryuga 2, so there's more raw power, but that doesn't make it any easier to play with. The numbers back that up. If you want this one, grab the 4U (only the 3U was scanned here).

Again, it feels softer and spongier than the Ryuga 1, and it's a little more user-friendly too, but it's not the favourite of the bunch.

Victor Thruster Ryuga Metallic: The Ultimate Sledgehammer

The Ryuga Metallic is a complete departure from the Ryuga 2 and 2 Pro. It goes straight back to the original version, but even head-heavier and stiffer.

It's hard to say who Victor had in mind as the target player here. The only person who really comes to mind as made for this racket is Lee Zii Jia.

Scarily, the 4U tester has a higher overall swingweight than the 3U version. Proceed with caution, especially with the 3U. On a good day it's great, but on a bad day, it's unforgiving!

Victor Thruster Ryuga 3: The Most User-Friendly of the Bunch

The Ryuga 3 kind of completes the circle for Victor, especially with the Free Core models. It's the most user-friendly out of the bunch, with better response and better looks too. And it still packs a huge punch when you time it right.

An Honest Take: Two Separate Product Lines

In all honesty, these five rackets feel like two separate lines of products, even though Victor launched them all as Ryuga flagships. The measurements show it: one family with the 16 cm wooden handle, and one with the longer Free Core handle.

It would have been fine if Victor had gone with a normal-sounding "Ryuga 1, 2, 3" for the wooden-handle models, and then "Ryuga Free 1, 2 and 3" for the Free Core models. It would have been much easier for consumers to recognise and identify where the line was heading!

Which Victor Thruster Ryuga Should You Buy?

My personal recommendation: if you want a Free Core Ryuga, go for the Ryuga 3. If you want a wooden-handled one, try to find the original Ryuga.

And be honest about your level because even the lightest Ryuga is stiff and head-heavy!

Which Ryuga do you play with, and do the numbers match what you feel? Let me know in the comments, don't forget to use my code 'CKYEW' for extra discounts, and I'll see you in the next one!

FAQ: Victor Thruster Ryuga Rackets

What is the best Victor Thruster Ryuga? For a Free Core handle, the Ryuga 3 is the most user-friendly and refined. For a wooden handle, the original Ryuga is the one to look for.

Which Victor Thruster Ryuga is the most head-heavy? The Ryuga Metallic. The 4U version has the highest swingweight of the line at 98.5 stock and 99 with a grip. The Ryuga 3 has the highest bare-handle balance point (331 mm), but a much lower swingweight.

What is the difference between the Ryuga and the Ryuga Metallic? Both have wooden handles and the same 16 cm handle and 22 cm shaft. The Metallic is even head-heavier and stiffer than the original.

Which Ryuga is the best for beginners to head-heavy rackets? The Ryuga 2 is a good starting point. It offers easy power without being too demanding, though it feels soft and spongy compared with the Ryuga 1.

Which Ryuga is best for singles? The original Ryuga is lovely for singles, and the Ryuga 3 also suits singles players well, offering power with a more user-friendly feel.

Should I buy the 3U or 4U Ryuga? Where there's a choice, go for the 4U, especially with the Ryuga 2 Pro. With the Ryuga Metallic, be careful with either: the 4U tester actually had a higher swingweight than the 3U.

What is the Free Core handle? Victor's non-wood, plastic handle technology. It generally makes rackets easier to play, but can feel softer and less torsionally stiff. The Ryuga 2, 2 Pro and 3 use it.