Yonex 2018 Upcoming Badminton Rackets

February 05, 2018

Yonex 2018 Upcoming Badminton Rackets

Yonex is releasing a whole line-up of Astrox rackets this year along with two brand new Duora rackets.

Astrox 88D and Astrox 88S

BUY IT HERE: ASTROX 88D

Item Code: AX88D
Flex: Stiff
Balance: Head Heavy
Frame: H.M. GRAPHITE + NANOMETRIC + Tungsten
Shaft: H.M. GRAPHITE + Namd
Weight / Grip Size: 4U (Ave.83g) G4,5; 3U (Ave.88g) G4,5
Stringing Advice: 4U 20-28 lbs, 3U 21-29 lbs
Colour: Ruby Red

BUY IT HERE: ASTROX 88S

Item Code: AX88S
Flex: Stiff
Balance: Head Heavy
Frame: H.M. GRAPHITE + NANOMETRIC + Tungsten
Shaft: H.M. GRAPHITE + Namd
Weight / Grip Size: 4U (Ave.83g) G4,5; 3U (Ave.88g) G4,5
Stringing Advice: 4U 20-28 lbs, 3U 21-29 lbs
Colour: Emerald Green

First off, we have the new Astrox 88 rackets which are available in two models. The 88D and 88S. These two rackets are designed specifically for doubles play with one for the front court player (88S) and the other for the rear court player (88D).

*You may recall that Yonex has done something similar in the past with the Armortec series. (Armortec 800Off/Def and Armortec 900Tech/Power)

New Frame Design and Racket Length

The Astrox 88D (Dominate) and Astrox 88S (Skill) have a new frame design. A new carbon material composition is used in these two rackets, creating different flex points on the frame. The whole frame of the 88S flexes when swung, thus it holds the shuttle on the string bed and allows the player to have better accuracy and control of the shuttle. For the 88D, only the top of the racket frame flexes, allowing maximum transfer of energy to the shuttle, resulting in more powerful shots.

Along with a new frame design, the Astrox 88S has a shorter racket length (5mm shorter) compared to conventional rackets, improving both precision and accuracy.

New Cap Design

The new shape of the cap allows the racket to flex in the front/back direction which maximizes the shaft performance. It also prevents the racket from twisting side to side, increasing stability and enhancing control.

Endorsed by a respected double specialist, Lee Yong Dae

Legendary Korean doubles player Lee Yong Dae, the Beijing Olympic Gold Medalist and former BWF World #1, tested the racquet several times during its development and gave the following feedback: “I’m really impressed that Yonex managed to improve the performance every time I tested these unique racquets. The “ASTROX 88 S and 88 D” have become racquets that maximize the performance of both the front and back court doubles player positions.”

The “88 S and 88 D” also feature the Rotational Generator System technology that is unique to the ASTROX series and is already performing for the world’s best. By precisely distributing the weight throughout the entire racquet it prevents a loss of follow-through power and allows quick fire attacks by creating a smooth transition into the next shot.

BUY IT HERE: ASTROX 88D / ASTROX 88S

Astrox 66

BUY IT HERE: ASTROX 66

Item Code: AX66
Flex: Hi Flex
Balance: Head Heavy
Frame: H.M. GRAPHITE + NANOMETRIC + Tungsten + Tough G Fiber
Shaft: H.M. GRAPHITE + Namd
Weight / Grip Size: 4U (Ave.83g) G5,6
Stringing Advice: 4U 19-27 lbs
Colour: Mist Purple

The Astrox 66 has a lighter racket head compared to the rest of the Astrox models and has a more flexible shaft.

“TOUGH G FIBER” is a mixture of Carbon Nanotube and Glass Fiber which has approximately 3 times the elasticity of conventional material. This new technology is utilized in the frame of “ASTROX 66” to enhance flexibility and maximize repulsion power which provides a soft shot feeling and increases the flight distance of the shuttle. This badminton racquet delivers the shuttle to the back of the court creating further advantage in the game.