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.
Naming note before we start
On Chinese badminton forums the Viktor Axelsen 100ZZ edition is referred to as 100ZZ 安塞龙 — 安塞龙 is the standard Chinese transliteration of Viktor Axelsen, NOT Anders Antonsen. Antonsen is sponsored by Victor (his signature racket is the Auraspeed 99). So when you see Chinese reviewers compare 100ZZ 安塞龙 vs 100ZZ 古红色 (Kurenai), they are comparing the Viktor Axelsen (VA) edition to the original red Kurenai. We previously got this wrong on this page and have corrected it.
What actually changed in the VA edition
Yonex's Viktor Axelsen (VA) edition of the Astrox 100ZZ is sometimes pitched as a colorway, but the technical sheet shows otherwise. The frame swaps Black Micro Core (used in the Kurenai red and Navy blue editions) for Volume Cut Resin — a resin-system change that lowers frame mass and slightly softens the shaft response. Frame footprint, line-hole pattern, shaft diameter, and shaft length are otherwise identical. Yonex's hand on the dial here is subtle but real, and the on-court reading from BadmintonCN reviewers backs that up.
The numbers
Reviewers' measured 4U samples: VA edition 88.7g with underbase removed at balance 309mm; Kurenai 89.7g with underbase removed at balance 309mm. Both with 26-28 lb AB string. Unstrung weight ranges 84.6-85.7g across both editions — under-84g samples are rare. Shaft hardness numbers come from the YuanShi (源式) creator's racket testing rig — a Chinese badminton creator who measures rackets with a professional shaft-deflection machine and posts the results, lower number means stiffer: VA edition 8.23, Kurenai 8.09. The VA edition is softer by about 0.14 on YuanShi's scale. That's a small absolute number but a noticeable real-world tier difference. Combined with the slightly lower swing weight, the VA edition is meaningfully easier to drive. These are independent creator measurements, not Yonex official data, so treat them as a useful guide rather than a precise truth.
What this means in singles
Founder firsthand (Rui Su, Division 4 Ireland): I have played the regular 100ZZ Kurenai and found it fast but very demanding — repulsive on contact and tiring across long matches. The VA specs read like the version I would actually play. Lighter swing, slightly more flex, same head-heavy + extra-stiff DNA. For singles where you need consistent rear-court attack across a 21-21 game, the VA edition should reduce fatigue without giving up the marquee 100ZZ feel. The Kurenai remains the right pick if you have time to condition for the stiffer shaft and want maximum power transmission on every swing.
What this means in doubles
BadmintonCN reviewers note that even the VA edition, with its lighter swing and easier shaft loading, is still a marginal pick for fast men's doubles. The 100ZZ family was built for singles back court and won't beat the Nanoflare 1000Z, Nanoflare 800 Pro, or Auraspeed 100X SE on swing speed and front-court reactivity. If you want a 100ZZ-style frame for doubles, the VA edition is a more honest fit than the Kurenai because it shaves the swing weight that worked against you in fast exchanges. But your main racket should still be a speed-leaning frame.
Buying guidance
Buy the VA (Viktor Axelsen) edition if: you like the 100ZZ profile but find the Kurenai tiring across full matches, you compete in singles or back-court doubles, and you want the lightest-swinging 100ZZ. Buy the Kurenai if: you have the technique and conditioning to load a very stiff shaft, you prize maximum power transmission and pointing accuracy, and you want the no-compromise marquee 100ZZ feel. Skip the entire 100ZZ family if: you play fast doubles primarily — start with the Astrox 88D Pro 2024 (head-heavy with lower swing weight) or a speed racket like the Nanoflare 1000Z.
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