Victor NCS PRO Shuttlecock Review: Is It Worth £21?
Victor NCS PRO: Premium Price, Premium Performance?
We've been selling Victor's NCS PRO shuttlecocks for six months now, and at £20.99 per tube, they're not cheap. But after handling dozens of tubes and getting feedback from our regular club players, there's a reason they keep coming back for more.
The first thing you notice when you pop the tube is the carbon fibre stem. It's not just marketing fluff - you can actually see the weave pattern if you look closely. Feels different too - slightly heavier than your standard cork base shuttlecock, but in a good way. More substantial.
Flight Characteristics: Does It Live Up to the Hype?
Victor claims "feather like flight" and they're not wrong. We tested these against Yonex AS-40 and RSL Classic Tourney shuttles on the same court, same conditions. The NCS PRO flies dead straight out of the tube - no wobbly first few shots you sometimes get with cheaper shuttles.
The Speed 77/78 rating feels accurate. We're based in the UK where most players use Speed 77, and these sit perfectly in that range. In our heated shop testing area (around 18°C), they flew with good pace but dropped nicely at the back line.
Durability: The Real Test
Here's where the NCS PRO justifies its price. Most of our club players get 2-3 games from a standard shuttle. With these, we're hearing reports of 4-5 games consistently. The carbon stem definitely helps - it doesn't snap as easily as traditional cork when you catch the shuttle awkwardly.
That said, they're still shuttlecocks. Hit them badly and they'll break just like any other. But for normal club play, the durability upgrade over the original NCS is noticeable.
Sound and Feel
The "crisp contact feel" mentioned in the specs is spot on. There's a satisfying ping when you hit these cleanly - more pronounced than with softer shuttles like the RSL Silver. Some players love it, others find it a bit sharp. Personal preference really.
One thing our female players have mentioned: these feel slightly firmer off the racket than Yonex equivalents. If you're used to AS-40s, there's a brief adjustment period.
Who Actually Buys These?
In our shop, it's mainly serious club players and county-level juniors. Not many casual players want to spend over £20 on shuttles, and fair enough. Most recreational players pick up our Yonex alternatives instead.
We've sold quite a few to badminton coaches who want consistent flight for lessons. The durability means they're not constantly opening new tubes mid-session.
Value Comparison
At £20.99, you're paying premium money. For comparison, decent Yonex shuttles cost around £16-18, and you can get perfectly good RSL shuttles for £12-14.
But if you're playing 3+ times per week and durability matters, the extra £3-5 per tube works out cheaper in the long run. We've done the maths with our regular customers - if you're getting nearly double the games per shuttle, the cost per game is actually lower.
Storage and Packaging
Standard Victor tube packaging - nothing fancy but does the job. We store these in our main display cabinet and haven't had any issues with feathers getting damaged. The tubes stack well, which matters when you're dealing with limited shop space.
One minor gripe: the plastic tube doesn't have humidity control like some premium shuttles. In our experience, that doesn't affect performance, but worth noting if you're storing them long-term.
Performance in UK Conditions
Most UK sports halls are pretty consistent temperature-wise, and these perform well in typical conditions. We've had good feedback from players using them in everything from school halls to purpose-built badminton centres.
Speed 77/78 works for most UK players, but if you regularly play in particularly hot or cold venues, you might want the Speed 76/77 version instead.
Final Verdict
The Victor NCS PRO is a premium shuttlecock with premium performance to match. If you're serious about badminton and shuttle consistency matters to you, they're worth the extra money. The durability alone makes them cost-effective for regular players.
Skip them if you're a casual player or tight on budget - there are perfectly good alternatives for less money. But for club players, coaches, and anyone who plays multiple times per week, they're one of the best shuttles we stock.
Available now for £20.99 per tube. Grab them here if you want to try them, or pop into the shop if you want to see them first.
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