It’s the Eye X.Lite 120 from Eye rackets.
Eye X.Lite 120 Signature Series (Amr Shabana)
Eye put out a new cosmetic for this racket in 2019:
Product Info
Release year: 2019
Price: $160
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Paul from PDH Sports compare this 2019 model versus the original 2016 one:
Eye X.Lite 120 Control
Here’s the 2016 cosmetic, which was called the Eye X.Lite 120 Control at the time. It was also an Amr Shabana signature frame.
Image via Eye Rackets Facebook →
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I got a brief chance to hit with some of the Eye rackets, including the X.Lite 120 Control. The video is below. It’s an interesting racket, quite light but still just a touch head-heavy.
Joey Barrington, a partner at Eye, put together this video showing off the new cosmetic:
Spotted
I think Fiona Moverley was using this in 2018 at Nantes:
Photo via SquashSite →
Thanks
Thanks to Lloyd for the tip!
Original 2014 Model
This is the original, non-signature version from back in 2014:
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Search:Racket Specs chart
Advertised weight (unstrung): 120 grams
Head size: 490 cm sq
String pattern: 14x18
Measured weight (all-in): 142.5 grams
Measured balance: 36.0 cm
Spotted
I’ve been getting a ton of questions about this racket.
Amr Shabana, the Maestro, uses the Eye X.Lite 120 Control:
Photo by Steve Cubbins ∞
So smooth.
Oh, and then there’s Borja Golan. He used it too:
Photo by Steve Cubbins ∞
I think Chris Ryder was also using this, at the 2016 British Nationals:
Photo via Steve Cubbins →
Reviews
Sam from Eye Rackets in the UK was kind enough to send me this racket to demo, and I recorded a video review (including a comparison with the Eye X.Lite 120 Power), which you can check out here:
In the video, I mention how this racket has taken some time to get used to. Well you know the guy I lost my league match to? (The one I talk about in the video.) I played him again this week and beat him for the first time ever, using the X.Lite 120 Control.
GRANTED he hasn’t been playing squash for about a year, but hey, he beat me two weeks ago, and I got him this time. I’ll take it.
Anyway, here’s what Joey Barrington, the main Squash TV commentator, has to say (he’s also a partner at Eye):
Interestingly, Joey says the racket is weighted towards the head.
When I did the review I felt it was quite evenly balanced, but I just measured the racket and came up with a balance point of 35.25 cm. The exact midpoint of a racket would be 34.25. So, this puppy is 1 cm head heavy. Not much, but perhaps when you have feel like Joey Barrington, it’s noticeable.
Here’s Paul from PDH Sports, who says this “suits an attacking-style player”:
Borja Golan Signature
Way back when, Borja Golan had a custom version of this racket, in an orange color. Now he has his own signature racket, the Eye X.Lite 130.
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Search:Product Notes
Product description from Eye Rackets:
A closed throat racket with a head heavy balance. Although the same weight as the ‘Shabana’ version, the balance is very noticably more in the head, ideal for those looking for a bit more momentum through the shot. The slightly over-sized frame provides a generous sweet-spot whilst allowing for excellent control and touch. This racket will suit those that require feel and power in equal measure.
Thanks to Alex for the tips!
Spotted
Borja’s holding the racket here, after winning something:
Andrew says
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Really impressive racket,I was able to pick one up the other day.
Amazing control and sufficient power with stock factory strings.
I alternate my eye 120 control with my Salming Fusione pro strung with tech x one bi phase at 24 lbs.
Will re string the eye 120 with bi phase when eye strings break,probably at 20 lbs tension.
In the meantime enjoying the eye 120 and it’s all round feel and touch,
I highly recommend this racket for the all round player,gives you an ability to hit more nicks and winners.
3idraven says
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This a review after playing with this racket for an year…
It is a bloody brilliant racket,it is light racket with a head heavy balance…
Has totally improved my game. It has immense power with a really good touch.
Have topped it up with bi phase tecnifibre strings.
One has to be prepared before playing a shot cause of the balance , it is not easily maneuverable for the quick shots you get it in the middle of the court but whoever plays with it gets the feel in an instance ..
I think it a racket for who likes a heady heavy racket with good touch , you can always find your opponent burried deep in the court with relatively less power..
P.S.
I dont know its me but the racket makes my deception game easy to play..
Andrew says
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Thanks for the comment,what tension do you use with the bi phase?
Wilker Dallas says
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Hello Guys! I’d like to share with you my experience with Eye Rackets.
I bought the X Lite 120 Shabana Model and also the X Lite 110 racket few months ago. I liked the 120, but I felt it a bit heavy. And, indeed, it is a heavy racket! So I decided to try the X lite 110 model and, for my surprise, it was even heavier then the 120 model. I can’t believe that yet!
In the first moment, I felt it in my hand. After that, I used a precision scale to be sure about this difference. The 110 model was about 175 grams and the 120 model was about 155 grams.
I tried to contact by e-mail with Eye Rackets support and, only after my insistence, they answered me. I had sent pictures of the rackets in the scale for them, but they contested my pictures and send me another pics, with differents weights.
In their pictures the 110 was 152 grams and the 120 was 153. I believe more in my pictures of the rackets in the scale then their pictures. And, come on!! 1 g of difference? What?
I’m sorry Eye, but you are tricking the costumers. I’m very disappointed with Eye rackets. I’m a amateur but very enthusiastic player and I was expecting a very nice product and now I’m feeling like I got tricked or cheated. I’m gonna come back to my Prince Rackets.
Eye Rackets? NEVER MORE!
Evan says
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Question: is there any difference between old and new X.lite 120 Control rackets? Or does the 2017 version just have a new paint job?
Thanks
Pierre says
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I believe it is just a new paint job
Pierre says
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Actually, see some of Niklas’s comments below. He is getting a very different weight measurement on the new model. I will see if I can get a copy of the new model and compare to the old one.
Manuel says
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I can confirm what Niklas said. I also had the old version, which had really approx. 120gr. The new one (I got two) is still a very nice racket, but not 120gr.
Also the balance changed a bit. The new racket feels a little bit more head heavy.
I had mail contact the a distributor and he said they tried to make the rackets more durable, so they could gain some weight….
Niklas says
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Hi Manuel. Did you encounter any of the same problems as i had? As I’ve mentioned earlier I had issues with paint that chips and flakes off, small cracks in the frame and skewed end-caps or handles.
Manuel says
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Hi Niklas. Sorry for the late response. One end-cap is a bit broken, but it holds in place. The paintjob on my two rackets is not that bad, but mostly worn off, where the bumperstrip would be. The crashtape doesn’t harm the paintjob on my rackets. Also no small cracks.
I hope this was helpful.
Bartek says
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Hi mates, my xlite120 control has just broke in half after of 1,5 year and now I want another 120control or 120 power. Can anyone tell more about comparison of these two? I would use a bit of extra power but mainly I dont want to lose control and durability of 120 control. Is it worth trying 120 power?
chris c says
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I had two 120 pro control rackets, broke one at the top after twelve months, playing three times a week, and giving them a thrashing. Replaced the one I broke with a 120 pro power version. So far I really like the power version, but it will need a string upgrade, to gain a real benifit from it . Great rackets both of them, but hard to find now if you have to replace one!
Niklas says
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Just got myself one of these and here are my thoughts:
1. Looks great and feels very stiff and sturdy which I like. It gives you a feeling of a high build quality and a premium product.
2. The racket is much heavier than expected. Weighed it in at 157 grams all in, which seems a bit heavier than many others that have weighed theirs. Both Paul and Pierre say in their reviews that it feels very light and nimble, but mine does not. Seems like the racket weight differ alot from batch to batch, and mine certainly is not extra light like it’s name implies. No flicking wrist shots with this one.
3. The x.control string that the racket comes fitted with did not impress. They feel cheap, are very loose and always out of place. Requires a re-stringing like almost every other racket on the market.
4. My opinion is that it’s a good overall racket but maybe doesn’t live up to all the hype. There’s nothing wrong with it and it is indeed a great racket, but I can’t really find that special thing that would make it stand out from the competition.
Pierre says
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Thanks Niklas, I weighed one of the original Shabana models today and the all-in weight was 142.7 grams. Do you have the original or the 2016 one?
Niklas says
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Hi Pierre, it’s a brand new 2016/2017 model. That weight difference is huge, 15 grams, it essentially makes it a totally different racket. If you can find a 16/17 model to test it would be interesting if you could do a comparison to the original.
Niklas says
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One other thing, there is a stamp on the handle under the grip that states the racket was made 05/2016 and that the model is strangely the 110 control. This means in all probability that the X.lite 110 and 120 Control are the exact same rackets, just with different paint jobs.
Matthew says
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I’ve been using the original 120 control Shabana marked version for about 6 months. Love it, but definitely not a wrist flick type of racquet as Niklas said.
Mine all in with grip and string….a whopping 161g! Still feels great though as it’s evenly balanced, but nowhere near as light as I was expecting for a racquet labeled as a 120.
Pierre says
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Wow, mine weighed in at about 142.5 – I’m not sure how they ended up so far off!
Niklas says
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Here is an update on my experience with the x.lite 120 control racket. I only got to play with it a couple of times before I found severe problems with it.
– After a short while I noticed that the paint started to flake off. The slightest touch to anything hard resulted in bits of paint coming off. Even when you change the crash-tape the old tape pulls the top-layer paint off.
– The handle or end-cap was somehow crooked and askew from new. I did not notice it at first but it felt strange, and after looking at it closely I noticed it. Super annoying.
– When inspecting the frame closely I also found a crack in the head part of the frame, even though it never got any real contact with the walls and I only spent a short time with it on court. I can only assume the crack was there from the beginning
– Since many of you are happy with your rackets, and I haven’t heard of similar problems, I have to believe that it was a singular faulty product that has had a bad day at the factory. Somehow they messed up all the stages of production of my particular frame.
Lazarus says
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I Have a crack too, in my 120 control pro, the fault it´s there, but I play a lot, and no have any problem.
s0ya says
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Hi, Ive been using this racket for about 1,5 year and its great but i have terrible problems with strings. I’ve changed it 10 times. Problems are mainly that after few hits strings get loose and there appear ‘holes’. I must fix this once in a 2 minutes during every match. Last time it took only one game to break new string (technifibre). Did someone experience such problems? Is there some way i could help the man who fixes the string do it better? My friends used the same service with his wilson and everything’s fine for him… Tension i ask for is 11.5×10,5kg. I tried wilson/ technifibre strings. Didnt have that problem with oryginal EYE string.
Sherif Gehad says
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Hi S0ya,
I have faced same issues regarding string behavior till i used ashaway super nick zx (orange) .. so far, looks fine and the control is much better. Tension used (12×11)
Bas grootjans says
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Hi,
I need to restring the eye x.lite 120, does anyone know wherry i could find the pattern, haring trouble figuring out the bottom as iT had 2 holes for main as Well as cross strings. Any help is much appriciated.
Regards bas
Niklas says
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There are no shared grommet holes (or eyelets) in the x-lite 120, if that’s what your wondering. Just look at any picture of the racket head. The bigger grommet holes are for tie-offs, mine seems to have 5 of the larger grommets. For the mains: skip number 6 & 8 grommets at the bottom and number 7 at the top, counting from the 6 o’clock and 12 o’clock positions respectively. Just re-strung mine the usual way. There is a video on youtube by eye rackets giving stringing tips:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YAgKSZu9PIU&t=14s