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.
The Halbertec line is not a smooth upgrade path
Many buyers assume the Halbertec 9000 is a strict upgrade over the 8000, and the 9000 Power is another tier above that. This is wrong. The 8000 is a control-leaning balance racket with a soft-medium shaft and a large fluid-box frame. The 9000 is a speed-leaning racket with a thinner frame and stiffer shaft. The 9000 Power, despite the name, is not a Halbertec 8000 successor — it is a refined version of the 9000 with even more shaft stiffness, marginally more head weight, and more crisp/snap. Picking by name alone leads to disappointment.
Halbertec 8000: the amateur all-rounder
BadmintonCN reviewers has called the Halbertec 8000 the racket he has recommended more than any other on the forum, and he still owns two. It is around 400-500 USD cheaper than the Yonex Astrox 88S Pro 2024 and 600-700 USD cheaper than the Arcsaber 11 Pro, and yet it competes on smash quality (especially with the underbase removed) and on rear-court solidity. The 6.8mm hard-flex shaft is moderate enough that most amateur players can drive it. Yuan-style shaft hardness around 8.33. If you do not yet know your style or are buying your first serious racket above the entry tier, this is the safe pick.
Halbertec 9000: thinner frame, faster swing, weaker rear
The 9000 was marketed as a control king, but reviewers disagree with that positioning. The 9000 has a thinner frame than the 8000 (lower wind resistance, faster swing) and a stiffer shaft (Yuan-style 7.92), but on hard smashes the combination produces what BadmintonCN reviewers call 卸力 — a loss of power compared with other hard-shaft rackets. He attributes this to the relatively soft frame paired with the harder shaft: the frame absorbs energy that should travel to the shuttle. The 9000 is faster and more accurate at front court than the 8000. It is also less solid at the rear court. If you are choosing between 8000 and 9000 by hype alone, you may end up with the wrong one.
Halbertec 9000 Power: a speed racket disguised as a balance racket
The 9000 Power (战戟 9000P) launched 2025 takes the 9000 thinner frame and makes the shaft even stiffer. Yuan-style hardness 7.65 — same range as the Astrox 88D Pro 2024 (7.59) and 88S Pro 2024. Frame is nearly identical to the 9000, with a minor wind-cutting tweak at the head. Slightly more head weight than the 9000. The 卸力 problem is mostly fixed. But BadmintonCN reviewers' verdict is direct: the 9000 Power is functionally a speed racket. It can be substituted by his other speed rackets (Yonex 1000Z, Yonex 800 Pro, Victor 100X SE) without much loss. The 8000 cannot — its pocketing and balance character are unique within Li-Ning's lineup.
Sample variance: weigh before you buy
If you order a 9000 Power online, weigh it on arrival. the BadmintonCN reviewer's weighed 10 brand-new 4U samples and got: 5 around 82.5g unstrung, 3 around 83.5g, 1 at 84g, 1 at 84.5g. Half the samples weigh in at the very low end — meaningfully lighter than the average attack racket and noticeably different in swing feel. Buyer beware. This kind of variance is one of the strongest arguments for buying from a stringer or shop that lets you handle the racket before commitment.
Final pick guide
Buy the Halbertec 8000 if: you are an amateur or club-league player, you want a single racket that does not punish wrong choices, and you want best-in-budget smash and rear-court performance. Buy the Halbertec 9000 if: you specifically prioritize front-court speed and accept weaker rear-court attack — but honestly consider whether a Bladex 800 Speed or Yonex 700 Pro might serve the same need better. Buy the Halbertec 9000 Power only if: you are an advanced doubles player who already drives stiff shafts comfortably, and you specifically want a Li-Ning speed racket inside the Halbertec brand language.
Compare any two Halberds in our compare tool — fit-score and rationale render side by side.
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