If you are a regular reader of this blog, you would have read our earlier pieces about the best badminton rackets for players who have either just taken to the sport or have been playing badminton for some time but haven’t reached the advanced level of quality yet.
Such badminton players, also called beginners and intermediate players respectively, typically pay a lot more attention to their rackets as their game starts to take shape.
If you are interested in looking for the best badminton rackets for power and control, you can check for product guide here.
Once a badminton player has become an advanced level player or a professional, they know their rackets like the back of their palms on most occasions.
The following article serves as a guide to help them navigate through the various brands and models to find them a piece of equipment which could be better than what they currently use or if they are looking to change things around to gain that extra per cent of improvement in their game.
For starters, let’s get the question we often hear out of the way – who is an advanced badminton player or a professional?
An advanced badminton player’s game, which consists of the technical, physical and mental aspects, has evolved brilliantly with time.
Such players have also can dig into their longer playing experience to come back from difficult situations against those just starting out or at an intermediate level.
Their level of badminton combine all the aforementioned characteristics well together and give the player a mighty edge over the others. Which is also why such a player probably competes at a professional level of badminton.
Table of Content
Characteristics of an Advanced or a Professional Badminton Player
Technical Skills
Advanced players have attained strong technical skills, which include good footwork, fast and accurate shots, and the ability to control the shuttle with precision.
They can perform a variety of shots such as clears, drops, smashes, and net shots with ease and accuracy.
Physical Fitness
As with most other racket sports, badminton requires a high level of physical fitness, and professional players are typically in excellent shape.
Players who have excellent endurance, solid agility, higher speed on court and higher strength to go with that are typically physically fitter than others.
They are also able to recover quickly between rallies and maintain their focus and concentration throughout the match.
Strategic Thinking
Strategically speaking, advanced players do a far better job than beginners or even intermediate players. That is what allows them to compete at a professional level.
On the feet thinking, which plays a key role during a game, is highly ingrained in their play and they are able to tweak their game plan around depending on the match situation and the opponent in question.
Mental Toughness
Badminton can be a mentally challenging game, and professional players have developed strong mental toughness.
They are able to handle pressure and stay focused under stressful conditions. They possess an ability to stay positive even a period of play hasn’t gone their way, knowing things can turn around because of their confidence in their own capabilities.
Experience
As mentioned earlier, advanced players have typically played badminton for a long time and have accumulated a lot of experience.
This has enabled a deep understanding of the game which helps them apply their knowledge to a variety of situations during an encounter.
While on paper a player with three years of experience and another with five might not have any tangible differences associated with their respective games, the experience goes a long way in helping a badminton player read their opponents and match situations better.
We would also recommend selecting at least two of the rackets mentioned below, trying them out and then choosing what works best for you at your level.
Your badminton playing style will dictate what suits you best and where possible we have indicated that as well. What this implies is singles and doubles play at this level of badminton needs different types of rackets.
For instance, badminton doubles is a lot quicker and smashes aren’t as common as they are in singles. Hence a quicker, head-light badminton racket might be needed in it.
Also Read:
Here’s list of recommendations for the best badminton rackets for advanced players who are also playing at a professional level.
Our Best Recommended Badminton Rackets for Advanced & Professional Players
The list below has badminton rackets for advanced players. We will do our best to keep the list updated every year but do note that at times a racket model might go out of circulation.
- Yonex Astrox 99
- Yonex Astrox 88S
- Victor Auraspeed 90K
- Li-Ning N7II
- Babolat Satelite Gravity 74
- Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ Badminton Racket
- Li-Ning Windstorm 72
- Victor Thruster F
Here’s why we think these rackets make the cut for top-notch badminton players and some of the pros and cons associated with them.
Yonex Astrox 99
Yonex Astrox 99 is a badminton racket to behold. Not for you if you are a beginner or intermediate level badminton player but even if you have reached your advanced stage, you would do well to be careful about using it.
One of the best things about this racket is the power with which it hits the shuttle, which makes it a deadly weapon to wield but at the same time it’s not for everyone.
Think of this as the Thor’s Hammer (forgive me for this bizarre-sounding comparison but you need to be a top-notch player to use it, that’s for sure!)
And while it scores over others as a result of this, it also means it’s not the quickest rackets around. Or, to put it in other words, you need to be very accurate to try and get a hold of it.
Pros
- One of the best badminton rackets if you are an attacking player
- A powerful racket that can deliver the smash with ease
- If you are highly skilled this could turn out to be a good racket to use for defensive play as well
Cons
- Some of the other rackets in this list can be used by intermediate players as well. Not this.
- Need to have a solid technique
- Fitness a key here, without which it could lead to injuries over time because of its bulky nature
Yonex Astrox 88S
Now that we have spoken about one badminton racket that is meant for players who are supremely fit, let’s turn our focus to a lighter one. This is the Yonex Astrox 88S – not to be confused with the Yonex Astrox 88D – which has a lighter head and has a lot more room to maneuver closer to the net.
The Yonex Astrox 88S provides a lot more control than the Astrox 88D or the Astrox 99 and it works wonders for players who are looking to make their mark in doubles or mixed doubles badminton.
If you are looking to hit the shuttle as hard as you possibly can but with control, or if you are looking to use your skills to conjure up defensive shots, this is the badminton racket for you.
Pros
- Lighter head makes it easier to play for longer time
- Gives good control to the player
- Despite the lighter head it allows for a good smash
- Players skilled for defensive and touch shots find this a solid racket
Cons
- Racket could be more suited for doubles play
- You need to be skilled enough to use this racket for defensive and touch play else it becomes a lot of hard work.
Victor Auraspeed 90K
Many of the top badminton players love using a badminton racket which has a head that’s heavy. The Victor Auraspeed 90K is a head-light racket which might not be the best-looking badminton rackets around but still solves a purpose for some professional players.
Looks aside, the Victor Auraspeed 90K is one of those rare head-light rackets that has a very easy hitting feel to it. The head-light racket allows for better control and an easy change from defensive play to getting back into an attacking mode.
The only problem you might face using this racket is it could become slightly difficult for you to play the the overhead power shots.
That can be overcome, however, by tweaking your technique a little by transferring some more of your body into your shots giving them a tad more punch.
Pros
- Brilliant speed thanks to its light head.
- Allows to counterattack from defensive position
- It’s one of the best rackets around for the net-kill
Cons
- Not made for players whose game is based around smashes
- Lacks punch that some of the other rackets on this list possess
- Not the best looking racket
Also Read:
Li-Ning N7II
There are a few of us who like our Li-Ning rackets and if you are an advanced player of this kind, you would love the Li-Ning N7II racket.
A slightly head heavy racket, the Li-Ning N7II has a brilliant matt finish in the white, gold and purple combination. This also means it can be used by doubles players too, along with the singles ones.
The Li-Ning N7II is good racket to look at on the defensive front but an N9II could be a slightly better option when it comes to speed. That being said, it has good speed close to the net despite its heavy head.
It also offers enough power from the back of the court.
This is also a reasonably priced racket for the kind of quality it offers but at the moment, it might not be available everywhere.
Pros
- The heavier head makes it appealing to a wide variety of players
- Offers a good mix of reasonable speed at net and power from the rear of the court
- It’s reasonably-priced for its features
Cons
- Not the quickest badminton racket. An Li-Ning N9II might be a better option
- The grip could be a tad bigger
Babolat Satelite Gravity 74
The Babolat Satelite Gravity 74 racket is a defensive player’s dream. The 74 represents its weight – it weighs 74 grams – making it one of the lightest badminton rackets around used by players at an advanced stage of their careers or just as they are about to become a professional.
And despite its extremely light head weight, the Babolat Satelite Gravity 74 offers accurate shot-making to the players.
A good technique is a must if you are looking to achieve power and distance in your shots, but at the same time the drop-shot is much easier to perform. This racket is so light it feels like an extension of one’s own self, and that is what makes playing against smashes a comfortable job.
Because it’s that light, one will need to adjust one’s shot timing in order to get used to its lower head weight.
Pros
- One of the lightest badminton rackets used by advanced players
- Offers a lot of flexibility while moving on court
- A racket made for defensive players with special focus on drop-shots and other defensive shots like the block
Cons
- Need supremely good technique to play aggressive shots
- Lack of power could be an issue for those used to playing the smash regularly
- Could take time to get used to it
Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ Badminton Racket
As 88 grams, the Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ Badminton Racket is one of the heavier badminton rackets used by advanced players. It is also a head heavy racket which makes it extremely popular among the fitter crowd who love their aggressive game.
When it was first released in 2020, Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ was said to have the slimmest shaft ever made by Yonex. This allows players to crack a shot more easily with the reduced air resistance to the thin shaft allowing that luxury.
What also works in this racket’s favor is that while it’s excellent for power shots, it also provides good stability from the back of the court and is quick and agile in the front. This makes it a great all-round racket.
What could work against it is it’s slightly more expensive than most of the other similar badminton rackets.
Pros
- Aptly made for aggressive players
- Smashing becomes a child’s play because of its head heavy frame
- Thin shaft makes it easier to play forceful shots
- Touch shots at the net aren’t much of a problem either
Cons
- More expensive than some of the others on this list
Li-Ning Windstorm 72
From one of the heaviest to the one of the lightest. That’s our journey here as we look at the Li-Ning Windstorm 72, which is the lightest racket on this list of badminton rackets used by professional badminton players.
The Li-Ning Windstorm 72 is best for those players with very quick hands who are looking for good speed with control. The racket has no issues with the drives either.
The biggest advantage is for players who are defensive in nature, as the Li-Ning Windstorm 72 makes it easy to get lifts and block shots.
Where a racket like this could become a problem is with its overhead shots which over time could feel like you are expending as much strength as you would with smashes.
Pros
- Provides good speed and control because of its lightweight
- Great for defensive players looking for lifts and blocks
- Excellent repulsion for short motion shots
Cons
- Not the easiest racket to hit the overhead shot
- Better for doubles players than singles
Victor Thruster F
The Victor Thruster F has a bigger sweet spot because of its different head-shape. It doesn’t take too much time for one to get used to that shape and the sweet spot then does it bit by allowing players to time their shots so much better.
It’s not the most head-heavy racket, nor is it very stiff which makes it easier to use.
A different technology powers its handle which gives it an increased control and make the Victor Thruster F more comfortable to play with.
While it’s one of the best in the business, the Victor Thruster F also comes at a cost. Among those mentioned in this list, it’s one of the pricier ones but if you are one of those who don’t mind the cost, it could elevate your game that much more.
Pros
- A better sweet-spot than most others allows players to time their shots better
- It’s got a great balance
- Opponents will find it difficult to get their smashes past you
Cons
- Some players might not prefer the head-shape because it could take time to get used to it
- It’s an expensive piece
