Li-Ning flagship racket buying guide 2026: AxForce, Halbertec, and Bladex compared
Three flagship Li-Ning racket families, three distinct identities — here is how to pick between AxForce (attack), Halbertec (heavy attack), and Bladex (speed) for your game.
Overview
Introduction I have been playing badminton seriously for several years across club nights in Ireland, Singapore, and China — around division 4 club level. Over that time my Li-Ning collection grew one frame at a time. This guide pulls together notes on every high-end AxForce, Halbertec, and Bladex racket I have owned long enough to trust in real sessions, not just a hit in the shop. Tokyo 2021 cemented it: AxForce 80, defensive counterattack through Lee Zii Jia, Chou Tien Chen, and Anthony Ginting, silver against peak Axelsen. That was enough for me to save up and buy my first proper frame — an AxForce 80, same model as my idol. That purchase opened the door to AxForce 100, Halbertec 8000 and 9000, and Bladex 900 New over the years. Without national-team results proving the line, I might not have taken Chinese-brand frames seriously as early as I did. The whole racket uses large areas of matte black and partial cool-light grey alternating as the base, paired with hot-gold sticker accents and the eye-catching pink AXFORCE lettering—low-key yet luxurious. From afar it looks like an ordinary little black racket, but up close it is a top-tier Li-Ning weapon combining cutting-edge technology. Much like spokesperson Brother Long's style: not flashy, very low-key, but once you understand him deeply you find he has already won countless honors. The AxForce 80 is equipped with a 6.6 mm slim high-strength biomimetic shaft made from M40X+Ultra high-elasticity carbon fibre, raising the shaft's bending point, improving smash quality, and bringing a sharper shuttle angle and faster shuttle speed. The box-frame concentrated small head uses M46+Ultra high-elasticity carbon fibre material and employs the high composite density shock-absorption system. Through filling with high-tech lightweight damping material, it improves hitting feel, makes power transfer smoother, makes shuttles more direct and faster, gives more comfortable hitting feedback, and effectively reduces injury from play. The moderately thick 6.6 mm shaft paired with the box frame has excellent torsion resistance and elasticity, with very good shuttle directionality. Whether clears, lifts, slices, net drops, or smashes, the crisp springy shaft always brings good power borrowing feel. Working together with the large sweet-spot concentrated box frame, every swing gives solid, clear hitting feedback: every user can handle themselves with ease in high-precision intense net battles, precisely control returns, and reduce mistakes in passive situations. When going all-out on offence, it can also deliver a threatening smash, and the relatively fast shaft recovery speed ensures continuity on the next shot—very suitable for drop-and-rush and defensive counterattack play. In active shots and passive blocks, it handles calmly; high forgiveness means fewer mistakes, waiting for the opponent's error in repeated defensive counterattacks—this is an efficient and steady scoring method, like the steel wall possessed, guarding the final glory of Li-Ning's black-cap high-end! The AXFORCE lettering on the frame and the Li-Ning logo at the T-joint use dazzling holographic laser stickers, refracting changing iridescent gloss under different light, becoming the brightest visual focus of the whole racket. An orange-red dragon head and silver-white lightning-shaped dragon body surge from the shaft toward the frame, like towering waves stirred when an azure dragon breaks the sea, with extremely strong visual tension. The domineering thunder dragon pattern on the shaft leaps upward; silver-white scale details use micro-raised processing—fingertips can feel fine texture, extraordinary feel. This is a masterpiece perfectly blending the nobility of the "azure dragon" with the swiftness of "thunder," and under low-key matte texture, it cannot hide its wild offensive nature of breaking the sea and rising to the sky. 2. FRTP boost kinetic energy system: works with M50 carbon to increase shaft deformation, converting into stronger whip-like explosive power. 3. UHB SHAFT: specially tuned shaft with a more forward bending point, more concentrated power feel, more direct and fierce shuttles. 4. WIND STABILIZED wing stabilisation system: embedded on both sides of the frame, effectively suppressing face wobble at impact, ensuring stability and torsion resistance on hard hits. 5. High composite density shock-absorption system: fills the frame with damping material, optimises hitting feel, smoother power transfer, reducing uncomfortable vibration. 6. 72-hole small frame + full groove: uses a design with length close to standard frame and narrowed width, enhancing concentration feel while keeping sweet spot sufficient. Full groove design further reduces air drag and improves swing speed. Its core advantage shows fully in active offence. On full smash, the energy burst from M50 carbon and the FRTP system is very obvious—the shaft's deformation whip effect provides huge extra acceleration for smashes; shuttle speed is fierce, placement sharp; every shot comes with an extremely intimidating explosive sound, bringing strong satisfaction. The 90 Dragon has absolute offensive power—ending a rally with one heavy smash is common; smashes are fast and heavy, and even if the opponent receives, it will likely pop out of bounds. Frame torsion resistance is excellent, shuttle directionality precise—an unquestionable smash weapon, essential for heavy hitters. However, as a weapon born for offence, its 4U perceived swing weight is naturally not light. In fast flat drives and passive defence, head inertia feels somewhat sluggish; it demands solid power fundamentals and wrist strength, otherwise continuity is somewhat affected. The 72-hole small frame also means higher hitting precision is needed—in passive escapes and front-court small ball handling, forgiveness is inevitably slightly lower than 76-hole rackets. In summary, the AxForce 90 Long is a distinctly characterised singles offensive heavy weapon. It lowers the threshold of traditional heavy cannons—not a dead-hard shaft with heavy overall weight—it trades excellent elasticity for lower learning difficulty, but its core is still built for players pursuing one-shot lethality and active offence, like crazy me, Tiger. It is not suited to fast-paced doubles, but on the singles court lets you unleash firepower freely and experience ultimate offensive pleasure. The AxForce 90 Tiger's paint design is equally highly recognisable, perfectly matching its "Tiger" name. The racket body uses large areas of deep ink green and small amounts of silver-black matte starlight flash powder paint as the base, like a fierce tiger lurking in a dark jungle—calm yet hiding lethal intent. Paint texture is fine, in the same vein as Dragon MAX. In design, blazing orange-red flame patterns and pale blue lightning stripes burst and intertwine on the frame, like the collision of prairie fire and sky-shaking thunder, with extremely strong visual impact. The AXFORCE lettering on the frame and Li-Ning logo at the T-joint also use holographic laser processing, flowing with colour. The pattern on the shaft gathers into a galloping "tiger head"—pale blue and silver lightning as bone, orange-red flames as soul—merging the tiger's might, thunder's swiftness, and fire's fury. The whole racket's colour contrast is strong; warm and cool tones collide on the ink-green base paint with unprecedented tension, like wildfire lit in darkness—dazzling and dangerous, showing its unconventional offensive aesthetics. 2. FRTP boost kinetic energy system: increases shaft deformation, converting elastic potential into stronger hitting explosive power. 3. UHB SHAFT: forward bending point, more concentrated power, more direct shuttles. 4. WIND STABILIZED wing stabilisation system: effectively suppresses face wobble at impact, improving frame torsion resistance and stability. 5. High composite density shock-absorption system: optimises hitting feel, smoother power transfer, reducing physical load. 6. 72-hole small frame + full groove: narrow frame design enhances concentration feel; full groove effectively reduces air drag and improves swing speed. In clear exchanges, power-borrowing feel is extremely easy; the excellently elastic shaft easily catapults the shuttle to the opponent's back line with clear, comfortable feedback. Its core advantage lies in continuous offence. Whether flat lifts or slices, the shaft's fast elasticity and response make finger-and-wrist-powered shuttles extremely fast, with high movement consistency, precise placement, and strong threat. In the smash segment, it does not pursue the 90 Dragon's one-shot kill heaviness, but emphasises continuous downward pressure rhythm. Shaft deformation recovery is extremely fast; almost no stall after hitting, quickly linking to the next offensive shot, leaving opponents exhausted under unending pressure. In flat drives and front court, its agility shows—though not matching pure speed rackets, among offensive rackets it is already top-tier, keeping up well in fast-paced exchanges. In summary, the AxForce 90 Tiger is a weapon born for "continuous offence." It lowers the power threshold of top offensive rackets, trading excellent elasticity and more agile swing weight for a tempest-like offensive experience. It is not for absolute power players pursuing one-shot finish, but tailored for players who believe in court control and excel at tearing open defenses through fast continuous offence. If the 90 Dragon is a decapitating great axe, the 90 Tiger is a throat-slitting sharp blade. The officially rated 6.0 mm slim elastic shaft uses M50+T1100+Extra high-elasticity carbon fibre; material upgrade brings extreme elastic experience. Though a 200 mm short shaft, moderate stiffness paired with excellent tough-springy feel made it the shaft king of its time. The frame uses M50+M40X+Extra high-elasticity carbon fibre, equipped with high composite density shock-absorption system. Through filling with high-tech damping material, it enhances the racket's shock absorption, makes power transfer smoother, shuttles more direct, feedback clearer and more immediate, while reducing injury. AxForce 100 uses a 72-hole small frame for stable shuttles; combined with higher swing weight and balance point, it brings extremely strong offensive ability and one-shot finish heavy smash capability. Its 72-hole design enhances smash concentration feel while increasing shuttle hold feel, achieving a perfect balance of both 68-hole and 76-hole characteristics. Unfortunately, more extreme design brings lower forgiveness—in passive returns and front-court battles, if you don't hit the sweet spot precisely, due to string-bed pressure differences, feel will contrast somewhat with the satisfying sweet-spot hit—this is an extra adaptation difficulty users need to handle. The highly concentrated small frame working with the 6.0 tough-springy solid shaft gives greater deformation and faster rebound at full power moments, providing extra acceleration for every hit—every smash faster and heavier. At full heavy smash, the whip effect fully unleashes this extremely thin shaft's advantage. Technology-equalising AxForce 100 regardless of skill level lets every badminton player feel the charm of high-end thin shafts, letting more players unleash their own fierce offence—this is the true peak of offence. AxForce 90 New interprets new-generation AxForce aesthetics with "dark green flame orange" coloring. The whole body uses matte parrot green (same as SU7 Ultra) as the base, like dark currents surging in the deep sea—calm yet full of power. Black and parrot green naturally gradient and blend on the frame, creating deep visual layers. The design language is clean and sharp. Three blazing orange lightning totems form the visual core—the splitting flash mark at the centre top of the head, symmetric lightning patterns on both sides of the frame extending from T-joint toward the frame, and on the shaft a bright orange lightning bolt piercing the dark night sky, connecting upper and lower momentum. Lightning edges accented with gold details, paired with deep blue trim stripes, like thunder tearing the night sky—brilliant and dangerous. AXFORCE on the shaft and Li-Ning logo at the T-joint use hot-gold processing, flowing with iridescent gloss under different light. Overall paint abandons complex lines, using minimalist lightning elements to highlight the "AxForce" theme, bursting with dazzling energy sense within a dark base—continuing family design bloodline while shaping a distinct contemporary style. 2. Frame polymer energy-storage shock-absorption system: fills frame with high-elasticity polymer material, absorbing and releasing hitting energy, enhancing elasticity and reducing vibration. 3. 6.4 mm high-density shock-absorption shaft: filled internally with composite damping material, improving shock absorption and rebound speed. 4. Fluid box frame + full groove: classic 76-hole layout, optimised top frame cross-section enhancing downward pressure inertia; thin sides reduce air drag. 5. FRTP boost kinetic energy system: increases shaft deformation, strengthening offensive power. 6. High composite density shock-absorption system: improves hitting comfort, reduces physical load. First impression on pickup is exceptionally transparent power delivery. The lengthened 6.4 mm shaft, though rated rather hard, actually feels crisp and springy; at full power the whip effect is significant and power transfer extremely smooth. The 76-hole frame compared to the previous 72-hole design significantly improves forgiveness while maintaining concentration feel; hitting feedback is solid and stable. These improvements let 90 New retain the 90 Tiger's light agile swing speed and fast counterattack ability while greatly enhancing stability at impact—like adding steel claws and solid armour to a galloping tiger. In active hitting, it shows excellent elasticity. Clears borrow power easily, flat lifts catapult swiftly, placement control precise—this crisp shuttle style fully inherits 90 Tiger's legacy, but with frame damping tech and shaft reset system optimisation, comfort is clearly improved. On heavy smash it is not as overwhelming as 90 Dragon, but shaft deformation recovery is extremely fast; paired with optimised frame downward pressure inertia, continuous offensive pressure is strong. Point smashes and sudden attacks are its advantage areas—light swing speed, crisp shuttles, no drag, elevating 90 Tiger's "continuous pressure" design concept to new heights. However, small face characteristics still exist. Though 76-hole design improves forgiveness considerably, passive low defence and delicate front-court handling still demand user technical foundation. When power is not concentrated or impact point misses the sweet spot, shuttle quality fluctuates noticeably—this is a common trait of all rackets pursuing extreme speed and response. Overall, AxForce 90 New can be called the ultimate evolutionary form of the 90 Tiger concept. It not only continues Tiger MAX's signature flexible agility and fast continuity, but through material innovation and structural optimisation solves the previous generation's shortcomings in absolute stability and control fineness. It suits advanced players with concentrated power pursuing continuous pressure play—in singles it fully unleashes explosive power and control; in doubles its back-court continuity advantage is equally prominent. This is a perfect weapon inheriting AxForce's soul, combining Tiger's swiftness and Dragon's might, truly born for fast-paced drop-and-rush offensive tempo changes. Details show weapon aesthetics throughout: Halbertec patterns at the frame top echo ancient Halbertec form; series marking at the T-joint uses holographic laser processing, flowing with iridescent gloss under different light. The shaft's black-white gradient continues the Taiji imagery, purple accents adding mystery. The whole racket preserves traditional Chinese weapon cultural flavor while injecting modern fashion visual elements—a eye-catching national-style trendy piece on court. 2. Full groove design: compared to traditional half groove, improves torsion strength and enhances shuttle directionality 3. High composite density shock-absorption system: fills internally with new damping material, optimising feel comfort 4. Multi-dimensional composite control system: through unique process tuning, achieves optimal control performance 5. Special structural reinforcement: key areas at T-joint and frame top reinforced, improving overall stability In clear exchanges, this heft converts into powerful power-borrowing advantage. Even with incomplete power, head inertia easily sends the shuttle to the back line. Shaft stiffness is clearly higher than similar control rackets; more active power is needed to handle it—one of the few non-easy balanced control rackets. But once driven, the elasticity feedback is quite excellent—a unique "hard first, then springy" feel. Flat lift performance is stunning. Anti-torsion improvement from full groove design is visible to the eye; shuttle directionality is precise like a guided missile. Hitting feedback is clean and crisp without the sticky feel of traditional control rackets—more suited to fast continuous flat lift pressure. On offence, it shows rare explosive power among control rackets: point smash precision extremely high, face stability makes placement control easy; heavy smash weight exceeds expectations, head weight provides good downward pressure feel; continuous offensive ability is strong, hard springy shaft recovery is fast, multi-shot linking is smooth. Note that 3U spec has some vibration on heavy smash, making feedback slightly blurred—needs slight adaptation. Defence is unexpectedly good—with 3U high balance and large swing weight, the large face provides ample forgiveness; the hard springy shaft produces good force-dissipation rebound feel on kill returns. Even passive defence can borrow power for high-quality returns. Front court is textbook-level performance. Head weight provides super stability; net drops, pushes, and hooks feel solid and reliable—net play rolls however you want. Especially in push-lift technique, shuttle quality is stable and control precise—almost aim where you hit. Halbertec 8000 redefines the concept of "control racket"—it does not blindly pursue soft shuttle hold, but achieves more precise control through rigidity improvement. Like an ancient Halbertec that can both thrust and chop, this racket finds perfect balance between control and offence. I call it an active-power quality-inspection racket—suited for advanced players pursuing precise control without sacrificing offensive power, especially singles players and doubles back-court control types. Halbertec 9000 uses highly impactful asymmetric colour-block design—high-saturation cyan and deep purple on both sides of the frame form sharp contrast, evoking the colour aesthetics of the classic mecha "Unit-01." Cyan pure and cold like aurora, purple mysterious and steady like dusk; two highly recognisable colours connect naturally through matte black transition bands, presenting avant-garde modern visual impact. Halbertec patterns on the frame use micro-relief processing with refined detail work. T-joint marking uses multi-layer holographic coating, showing fine iridescent changes under different light. The shaft uses ink-wash gradient design with silver-grey lines faintly visible. Overall design preserves Eastern weapon cultural flavor while cleverly incorporating mecha design language—steady yet tech-forward. 2. Head eight-nail reinforcement system: enhances head stability and durability 3. 6.6 mm agile control speed-spring shaft: 0.2 mm diameter reduction from previous generation 4. High composite density shock-absorption system: optimises hitting feel comfort 5. Full groove design: balances swing speed and torsion resistance 6. Multi-dimensional composite control system: ensures shuttle precision Shaft stiffness is clearly lower than Halbertec 8000—easy to drive but not too soft; actual feel is firm yet elastic. Hitting feedback is clear and direct; deformation recovery is extremely fast; when whipping power you clearly feel rebound assist. This feedback is precisely and refreshingly mecha-like—a unique experience other rackets struggle to provide. 9000 uses large frame design with comfortable sweet spot—even off sweet spot feel remains good. Forehand and backhand clears benefit from crisp springy shaft with obvious power borrowing; shuttles are stable, solid, and well-placed. Flat drives are also stunning—full groove design brings excellent swing speed, large frame is very elastic, anti-torsion excellent; in fast exchanges it is not inferior. Front-court movements can be quite delicate. Defence is outstanding: large frame + sufficient elasticity + fast swing speed makes lifts and placement clean. Even passive defence can turn danger to safety relying on excellent feedback precision. Offence is among the best among control rackets—users need not rely on their own active power to easily drive this racket for high-quality smashes: point smashes with low wrist burden, fast shuttle speed and sharp placement; heavy smashes with smooth follow-through and high placement precision; slice kills and other tactical shots benefit from appropriate shuttle hold feel, techniques flow freely. On the controversial "smash power loss" issue, my view is: stop echoing others blindly; let rumors stop with the wise. I forget which blogger(s) started the trend a couple years ago, claiming Halbertec 9000 loses power on smashes. That claim spread in the amateur community; many who never held one, thinking they understood from so-called "professional" blogger reviews, started spreading wrong information—one to ten, ten to a hundred—and Halbertec 9000 got tagged with this baseless "big power smash power loss" label. If after personally trying with hard strings you still say smash power loss, I can only say: perhaps this Halbertec 9000 carrying Li-Ning's milestone ultra-springy shaft is just not meant for you. Halbertec 9000 redefines "peak" with strength—it does not rely on simple parameter stacking, but conquers users through exquisite feel balance and comprehensive experience improvement. This racket greatly lowers the learning threshold, letting players at all levels pursuing extreme control without sacrificing offensive power handle it easily. Especially for players with relatively weaker strength, this cyan-purple Halbertec 9000 will become your capable "wheelchair racket," helping you easily unleash full potential. If you are looking for a flagship racket that amplifies technical advantages and provides precise feedback, Halbertec 9000 is absolutely worth trying—use real experience to break rumors and let this masterpiece carrying Li-Ning's milestone ultra-springy shaft prove its true value. Purple-blue gradient stripes in the shaft transition zone are like visual afterimages at high speed; copper holographic sticker at the T-joint refracts iridescent gloss under different light. The whole racket is like condensing a GT supercar speeding on track into a small space—even at rest you feel kinetic energy ready to burst forth. 2. Full groove configuration: full groove except T-joint, smaller air drag than previous half groove 3. TB-NANO+M46+UC carbon fibre: triple material composite balancing elasticity and rigidity 4. Lightning acceleration system (ACCELE TECH): improves initial shuttle speed 5. 6.8 mm agile control speed-spring shaft: 0.2 mm thicker than previous 6.6 mm shaft, improved stability 6. Long handle design (214 mm): convenient grip adjustment, adapts to doubles rhythm switching On offence, this racket shows extremely distinct pros and cons: when catching opportunity balls in mid-court, the 6.8 mm hard springy shaft can fully convert instant power into catapult-like shuttle speed—especially handling half-high balls with that touch-and-go response, as swift as badminton's Porsche PDK gearbox; on back-court full-power heavy hits, the 302 mm balance point struggles to provide enough downward pressure feel—though shuttle speed is extremely fast, it lacks the smash "heaviness" that prevents opponents from returning precisely. If you hunt one-shot kills, abandon the traditional mindset of nailing one shot to the floor, and instead use crazy follow-up fast pressure to create kill chances. When the opponent's return quality drops and placement is off—that is its true harvest zone. This racket's true terror is in mid-front court. When gaining offensive chances through fast flat pressure, its continuous kill ability is nearly unsolvable. On back court, you need to rely more on precise placement control and multi-shot organisation rather than brute force suppression. What surprised me is the adaptation cost—ultra-fast swing speed brings advantages but also demands completely adjusting power rhythm. In my first few matches I frequently swung too early, especially on various back-court heavy smashes—you need to delay the backswing, watch the shuttle, then instant-power swing to perfectly match its high swing speed characteristics. On defence, this speed characteristic converts into astonishing reactive ability. On passive lifts the face response is extremely hand-following; on backhand diagonal blocks frame anti-torsion is excellent. Even facing two people's crazy kill pressure it does not fear—fast shuttles that were hard to receive with various offensive rackets before can be handled in a flurry and defence completed. Only when the shuttle lands steadily on the opponent's floor do you realise what just happened seemed busy and chaotic, but urgent yet stable. But holding such a fast-swinging face requires constant focus—maintain your "ready-position hitting" framework; any impact point deviation clearly feeds back in shuttle quality, causing a previously perfect defence to collapse. In summary, Bladex 900 New is Li-Ning's ultimate speed machine built for fast-paced doubles. It is not for traditionalists pursuing heavy cannon smashes, but a precision weapon prepared for players who believe "in the world of martial arts, only speed is unbreakable." When you learn to think in its rhythm and fight with speed instead of power, you will lead this lightning war. Stretchability and length are both very sufficient—at this price point it feels like the best big-three entry-level grip. For me who loves wrapping big butts, these two points are really important. After stretching the grip, the smooth surface does not show fine pore damage—only strip-like wrinkles appear. Because when grip material is poor, pores below the smooth surface expose on the surface; when palm sweat seeps into fine holes without actively wiping or even drying, the stretched pore-exposed grip parts will secretly mold, making pores look from afar like tiny dense black dots from a distance. Length importance is ensuring after wrapping a rounded big butt, remaining length is still enough to wrap to the cone-handle junction. One point worth mentioning — Li-Ning's overgrip sealing tape is my favourite among the big three: just-right tightness and stretchability won't cause severe deformation from exceeding threshold during pulling (getting thinner, even breaking). And the silver-white logo on the sealing tape won't fade like a rival factory's logo leaving silver glitter all over fingers—convenient for obsessive-compulsive Tiger to repeatedly adjust until the seal perfectly adheres to the cone cap with parallel wraps before satisfactorily finishing the grip. Wrapping grips is really a decompressing enjoyment for me, and most Li-Ning overgrip models really perfectly address my key concerns and avoid every pitfall of mine—thoughtful design and conscientious pricing, consumers really see it all. GP1000 series overgrips are truly highly recommended. Halbertec series: first choice for control players—8000 suits active-power players, 9000 lowers the learning threshold without losing precision, firmly holding the "peak of control" throne; Bladex series: weapon for doubles players—pink supercar 900 NEW elevates speed attributes to new heights; The badminton road is endless. May every player find the divine weapon best suited to themselves and write their own legend on court. Looking forward to AxForce 100 Gen 2 bringing new surprises, and looking forward to Chinese badminton equipment continuing to shine in the world!
Origin
Chen Long at Rio 2016 — N55, steel-wall defence, two 21-18 sets against Lee Chong Wei — was the match that made me pay attention to Li-Ning gear. I only learned later he had already won back-to-back world titles and Olympic bronze in London.
Review Main Text
AxForce Series — All-Round Offence
AxForce 80
Appearance
Parameters and Design
String holes 76. Spec 4U G5. Length 675 mm. Shaft stiffness moderate, crisp and springy. Shaft diameter 6.6 mm. Weight 92.21 g. String No. 5 line (old line series, balancing elasticity and durability). Tension 26 lbs. Balance point 305 mm. Base cap removed no.
On-Court Experience
A very typical balanced easy-to-use offensive racket—whether entry-level beginners or players trained from childhood can easily handle it and bring out its excellent performance.
Buying Guide
Racket type all-round offensive racket (easy-to-use). Suitable users players with some fundamentals. Usage scenarios singles/doubles, drop-and-rush, defensive counterattack. Official MSRP 1680 yuan. Author's purchase price 1200 yuan. Suggested purchase price ≤1000 yuan.
AxForce 90 Long MAX
The AxForce 90 Long's paint job comes with the imposing momentum of "azure dragon rising from the sea." The racket body uses deep navy blue matte starlight flash powder paint as the base, like the abyss of a dark seabed, calm yet holding endless power. The faint starlight shimmer in the paint is like light spots flowing between waves when sunlight pierces the sea surface.
Parameters and Design
String holes 72. Spec 4U G5. Length 675 mm. Shaft stiffness hard, hard and springy. Shaft diameter 6.2 mm. Weight 92.83 g. String N70 (N series durable line, hard and springy, good at high tension, not easy to break). Tension 29 lbs. Balance point 311 mm. Base cap removed yes.
Core technology breakdown:
1. M50 new-generation carbon fibre: core material for frame and shaft, providing ultra-high elastic modulus, achieving large bending deformation and elastic potential energy storage—the foundation of violent offence.
On-Court Experience
The first impression on pickup is that its hard shaft is not unmanageable. Unlike the nearly dead-hard springy feel of some rackets, the 90 Dragon's shaft clearly lets you feel deformation and energy storage when powering—it's a hard yet tough, clearly feedbacked springiness, somewhat similar to Astrox 100ZZ's flavor. In clear exchanges, the 311 mm balance point combined with the hard springy shaft gives obvious power-borrowing feel, easily blasting the shuttle to the opponent's back line with a crisp sound and solid feedback.
Buying Guide
Racket type extreme offensive racket. Suitable users solid fundamentals, strong physical fitness. Usage scenarios singles/doubles, loves offence, pursues one-strike finish. Official MSRP 1780 yuan. Author's purchase price 600 yuan (second-hand). Suggested purchase price ≤950 yuan.
AxForce 90 Tiger MAX
Appearance
Parameters and Design
String holes 72. Spec 4U G5. Length 675 mm. Shaft stiffness moderate, crisp and springy. Shaft diameter 6.2 mm. Weight 88.34 g. String L67Q (L series high-elasticity line, good tension retention, outstanding domestic value). Tension 28 lbs. Balance point 314 mm. Base cap removed yes.
Core technology breakdown:
1. M50 new-generation carbon fibre: same top-tier material as Dragon MAX, providing high elastic modulus for frame and shaft, ensuring huge energy storage and explosive power.
On-Court Experience
The first impression of the AxForce 90 Tiger is "firmness with softness." Unlike the 90 Dragon's pure hardcore offensive feel, the 90 Tiger's shaft stiffness is moderate, with crisper feel and obvious catapult sensation. The 314 mm balance point brings very significant head-heaviness, but thanks to full groove design and a relatively short shaft, perceived swing weight is surprisingly agile—drive difficulty far lower than expected, even easier to handle than some balanced rackets.
Buying Guide
Racket type speed offensive racket. Suitable users solid fundamentals. Usage scenarios singles/doubles, continuous offence, pursues continuity. Official MSRP 1780 yuan. Author's purchase price 850 yuan. Suggested purchase price ≤950 yuan.
AxForce 100
(No hands-on photos; images taken from official test room and fellow players—if you mind the reference please DM)
Appearance
This generation continues the family design. Following the previous generation's Dragon and Tiger, AxForce 100 chose the traditional divine beast Qilin. Unlike AxForce 80's low-key restrained appearance design, AxForce 100 makes no pretense—though also black-gold coloring, it gives a luxurious handsome visual impact: flames on the left of the head and middle of the frame connect into a fire blade; the Qilin blade-like dorsal fin details on the right side of the frame are full; the shaft front shows Qilin head and body, the back shows a pouncing Qilin claw—vivid and domineering, as if Qilin surrounds the racket. Large champagne-gold areas spread from the cone cap over shaft and frame, with small amounts of purple stripe sticker accents; heavy use of hot-gold stickers (such as the golden Li-Ning logo at the T-joint and frame patterns) makes it glitter under lights, showing the dazzling brilliance and kingly style belonging to the peak of offence.
Parameters and Design
String holes 72. Spec 4U G5. Shaft length 200 mm. Shaft stiffness slightly hard, tough and springy. Shaft diameter 6.0 mm. Weight 93.8 g. String N68 (N series high-elasticity line, balanced performance, pleasing sound). Tension 28 lbs. Balance point 310 mm. Base cap removed no.
On-Court Experience
AxForce 100 as a violent offensive racket with ultra-thin solid shaft carries the industry's thinnest 6.0 mm solid shaft of its time. Drive difficulty is moderate; lower learning threshold and excellent elastic deformation make every hit more solid and on-point. Clears that were once strenuous become easy; weak backhands become stronger; hard-to-handle passive shots become well-placed—this is the power-borrowing feel the thin shaft brings.
Horizontal Comparison
Overall offensive ability sits between AxForce 90 Long and Tiger—having heavy smash ability not inferior to Dragon, and continuous offence like Tiger. Compared to AxForce 80's easy-to-use nature, all-roundness is slightly lower, but tuning leans more toward one-shot finish offensive ability.
Buying Guide
Racket type violent offensive racket. Suitable users slightly weaker strength, some fundamentals. Usage scenarios singles/doubles, loves back-court offence. Official MSRP 1880 yuan. Author's purchase price 1350 yuan (launch). Suggested purchase price ≤1050 yuan.
AxForce 90 New
Appearance
Parameters and Design
String holes 76. Spec 4U G5. Length 675 mm. Shaft stiffness rather hard, crisp and springy. Shaft diameter 6.40 mm. Weight 93.32 g. String No. 1 line (old line series, high elasticity and good sound, easy tension loss). Tension 28 lbs. Balance point 313 mm. Base cap removed no.
Core technology breakdown:
1. M46+T1100+ULTRA high-elasticity carbon fibre: shaft core material combination ensuring excellent elasticity and explosive power.
On-Court Experience
AxForce 90 New is a weapon built for new-era continuous offence. Compared to the 90 Dragon's violent heavy strikes and 90 Tiger's extreme agility, it shows more comprehensive competitive characteristics: retaining AxForce series offensive foundation while achieving refined feel optimisation through tech upgrades. If AxForce 90 Tiger is a blade pursuing speed and continuity, then AxForce 90 New is its fully tempered complete form—in perfectly inheriting Tiger's agile genes while through comprehensive tech upgrades filling in stability and control precision, becoming a more mature, more comprehensive speed offensive flagship.
Buying Guide
Racket type speed offensive racket. Suitable users solid fundamentals. Usage scenarios singles/doubles, all-round. Official MSRP 1780 yuan. Author's purchase price 1150 yuan. Suggested purchase price ≤1200 yuan.
Halbertec Series — Balanced Control
Halbertec 8000
Appearance
Halbertec 8000's visual design is a bold breakthrough in Li-Ning aesthetics. The frame uses stunning ice blue and pink asymmetric colour-block design, like Taiji yin-yang poles achieving subtle balance on the racket—one side cold ice blue like a cold blade, one side hot pink like a flame core, separated by a black transition band in the middle, forming extremely tense visual impact.
Parameters and Design
String holes 76. Spec 3U G5. Length 675 mm. Shaft stiffness slightly hard, hard and springy. Shaft diameter 6.8 mm. Weight 91.57 g. String N65 (N series high elasticity, good elasticity, pleasing sound, weak tension retention). Tension 27 lbs. Balance point 300 mm. Base cap removed yes.
Core technology breakdown:
1. T1100 carbon debut: Li-Ning's first application in frame, significantly improving torsion rigidity
On-Court Experience
Halbertec 8000's first impression is balanced steadiness hiding a burst ready to strike at any moment—though positioned as a control racket, the 3U spec Halbertec 8000 has unexpected heft. Head weight is clearly greater than similar balanced rackets; when swinging you feel significant inertia support—as expected, no need to worry about its offensive ability like with 4U.
Buying Guide
Racket type balanced control racket. Suitable users solid fundamentals, understands active power. Usage scenarios singles/doubles, all-round. Official MSRP 1680 yuan. Author's purchase price 1250 yuan (launch). Suggested purchase price ≤1000 yuan.
Halbertec 9000
Appearance
Parameters and Design
String holes 76. Spec 4U G5. Length 675 mm. Shaft stiffness slightly soft, crisp and springy. Shaft diameter 6.6 mm. Weight 87.9 g. String N61 (N series high-elasticity line, ultra hard and springy, suits soft frame soft shaft). Tension 28 lbs. Balance point 308 mm. Base cap removed yes.
Core technology breakdown:
1. T1100+ULTRA carbon fibre composite frame: improves rigidity and torsion performance
On-Court Experience
Halbertec 9000 is like "Unit-01" on the badminton court—possessing mecha-like precise control yet strong explosive potential. No need to deliberately choose heavy 3U spec—the head eight-nail setup gives this balanced control racket a 308 mm balance point, paired with widened lower frame and just-right swing weight. Unlike 8000's middling feel, 9000 shows its unique personality from the first shot—revolutionary ultra-springy shaft tuning and perfect head-weight allocation.
Buying Guide
Racket type balanced control racket (easy-to-use). Suitable users everyone. Usage scenarios singles/doubles, all-round, casual play. Official MSRP 1780 yuan. Author's purchase price 950 yuan. Suggested purchase price ≤1000 yuan.
Bladex Series — Ultimate Speed
Bladex 900 New
Appearance
Bladex 900 New boldly uses high-saturation fluorescent berry red colliding with matte black, creating a speed-filled new visual language. Asymmetric frame paint breaks series tradition, like carefully designed racing stripes in supercar modification—sharp arrow patterns swirl around the face like a hurricane; bronze "BLADEX 900" marking accents it, the streamlined tail at the second "0" echoing speed imagery.
Parameters and Design
String holes 76. Spec 4U G5. Length 675 mm. Shaft stiffness slightly hard, crisp and springy. Shaft diameter 6.8 mm. Weight 93.11 g. String L67Q (L series high-elasticity line, good tension retention, outstanding domestic value). Tension 28 lbs. Balance point 302 mm. Base cap removed no.
Core technology breakdown:
1. Three-dimensional wind-blade shallow groove: innovative groove design below 3 and 9 o'clock inner frame, reducing air drag while enhancing torsion resistance
On-Court Experience
On first swing of Bladex 900 New its gale-like swing speed almost caught me off guard—completely overturning my understanding of Li-Ning speed rackets. The low air drag effect from full groove design combined with the new wind-cutting frame is frighteningly obvious, as if lubricant is spread in the air; swinging the racket is silky smooth like Dove chocolate.
Buying Guide
Racket type ultimate speed racket. Suitable users solid fundamentals. Usage scenarios doubles, pursues continuity and defence. Official MSRP 1880 yuan. Author's purchase price 1300 yuan (launch). Suggested purchase price ≤1050 yuan.
Li-Ning Three Series Badminton Strings
People say: "Three parts racket, seven parts string." But honestly, I am not a string specialist, so I cannot do horizontal comparisons of different strings for everyone, explaining detailed differences between them. But Li-Ning's three series—X-number line, N series, L series badminton strings (domestic)—over these years I have naturally encountered and broken many, so I can still feel the general characteristics of strings. Therefore in the [Parameters and Design] sections of the eight racket reviews above, after the strung string I wrote the corresponding series, category, characteristics, selection reasons, price, and other aspects—hoping to provide reference for everyone.
Overgrip (Grip Tape)
Writing here, this article has unknowingly reached over 11,000 characters. As it nears the end I still want to recommend my favourite GP1000 series from recent years—the sweat-absorbing GP1000 NEW and tacky GP1000S are my most repurchased grips among the big three manufacturers. Each box has 10 rolls, large quantity and generous, price only a bit over 3 yuan—for me who loves wrapping grips, it is really quite cost-effective; a rival factory's 102C at double the price is enough for me to change GP1000 twice.
Summary and Buying Guide
After five years exploring badminton equipment, from Chen Long's N55 in hand to today's three series flagships, Li-Ning has proven with strength that the rise of domestic rackets is no accident, but generation after generation of continuous research and careful craftsmanship. AxForce series' violent offence, Halbertec series' precise control, Bladex series' ultimate speed—every racket carries the ingenuity of Chinese manufacturing.
Series Feature Summary:
AxForce series: suited for players pursuing offensive pressure—from easy balanced 80 to brutality-maximised 90 Dragon, meeting different stages of offensive needs;
Unified Buying Advice:
Beginners can start from AxForce 80 or Halbertec 9000, gradually exploring their own playing style; advanced players choose specialty-enhancement rackets according to technical characteristics; experts can match rackets of different characteristics according to competition needs.
Acknowledgments:
Special thanks to national team players like Chen Long for excellent performance on international stages, letting more people see the strength of Made in China; thanks to Li-Ning brand's continuous innovation for bringing us so many excellent pieces of equipment! Finally thanks to every player who persists in love—it is you who make this sport full of vitality and hope: whether praise or criticism, all will be key drivers pushing China's badminton industry forward.