IntoBadmintonFindings drawn from manufacturer specs, community sources (BadmintonCN, Reddit r/badminton, BadmintonCentral, video reviewers), and on-court testing. See our editorial process for the full citation model.
Why this comparison matters
The Li-Ning AxForce series (formerly known by its Chinese name 雷霆 / Thunder, now consistently labeled AxForce in English markets) and the Yonex Astrox 88D Pro 2024 are the two strongest head-heavy attack racket lines on the market right now. Both lines compete head-to-head for tournament players who want a smash-focused weapon. The AxForce 90 New is the current flagship of the Li-Ning line and uses Li-Ning's Thunder Tech platform with M46 and T1100 carbon. The AxForce 80 is the easier-driving sibling. The Astrox 88D Pro 2024 is the cross-brand benchmark for many serious smash-focused players.
AxForce 90 New: Li-Ning's strongest shaft to date
BadmintonCN reviewers calls the AxForce 90 New shaft Li-Ning's strongest to date. The shaft is 6.4mm thick — thicker than the 6.2mm of the AxForce 90 Dragon-Tiger predecessor — but the construction balances permeability, full elasticity, and balanced hardness. Surprisingly forgiving sweet spot for a small frame. Anti-torsion is excellent even with the thin shaft. A 4U sample measures 89.5g with the underbase removed, balance 304mm. The Thunder Technology platform is supposed to help players transition from defense to attack quickly, and on court the rapid recovery does seem to support continuous attack.
AxForce 80: the sugar-water sibling
The AxForce 80 lives below the 90 New as the easier-driving sugar-water option in the line. A 4U measures 89.2g with the underbase removed, balance 304mm — same balance as the 90 New, but heavier swing weight, softer shaft, and less crisp feel. Stronger one-shot smash for players who already lean on head weight to generate power; weaker on continuous attack and on barely-defended balls. BadmintonCN reviewers plan to retire his AxForce 80 in favor of the 90 New across the board, but says the 80 stays as the more entry-friendly option for amateurs who specifically want pure head-heavy feel without the demands of the 90 New shaft.
Yonex Astrox 88D Pro 2024: the cross-brand benchmark
The Yonex Astrox 88D Pro 2024 is the cross-brand reference. Yuan-style shaft hardness 7.59 — slightly stiffer than the AxForce 90 New. BadmintonCN reviewers rank it as the strongest 2024 attack racket in his collection on overall package: top-tier shaft, transparent power transmission, lower swing weight than peers, and ranked above the original 88DP camel-gold and even the Astrox 100ZZ. Versus the AxForce 90 New: the 88D Pro 2024 edges it on raw rear-court attack, off-string speed, feedback clarity, and pointing accuracy. The AxForce 90 New responds with better frame pocketing for delicate net shots and drops.
Pick by hand profile, not just by smash power
If you want pure rear-court speed and clarity, the 88D Pro 2024 wins on most measures. If you want a more rounded attack racket that handles drops and net play with more pocketing, the AxForce 90 New is the better fit. If you have not yet developed the shaft-loading technique for either, start with the AxForce 80 — it is more forgiving and still meaningfully head-heavy. None of these are good choices for pure speed-attack: if you want fast-pace doubles drives, look at the Yonex 1000Z, Victor 100X SE, or Halbertec 9000 Power instead.
Founder firsthand notes
I (Rui Su, Division 4 Ireland) have not personally played the AxForce line, so the editorial weight on this article comes from BadmintonCN reviewers' measurements plus my own framing of what the comparisons mean for amateur and competitive players. I have played the Astrox 100ZZ and 88D Pro and found both demanding; if you find the 100ZZ punishing, the AxForce 90 New is likely a more comfortable home than the 88D Pro 2024 even though the Yonex has slightly stronger absolute attack. Try in person before you commit to either flagship.
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