Yonex NanoSpeed 9900 LTG (Green Sword) review: the rarest 2011 grail still plays
The 2011 London Worlds limited Green Sword is the rarer half of the NS9900 LTD pair: a 3U frame that handles like 3.5U, with a firmer shaft and the line's signature fast, forgiving drive game.
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Why the Green Sword is the rare one
Yonex released the NanoSpeed 9900 Limited as a paired set for the 2011 London World Championships, and only the green LT colourway was held back to a single 2011 run with no later reissue. That makes surviving examples far scarcer than the purple sibling, which is most of why prices have drifted into grail territory. The community I is candid that a lot of the appeal is heritage and finish rather than on-court advantage: the silver-grey-to-teal gradient, the cross-weave throat pattern and the London 2011 marking are the draw. We have flagged this as a collector evaluation, not a current-market buying recommendation, because the racket is long discontinued and only trades second hand.
Build, weight and setup
The tested frame is a 3U, but with grommets, cushion film, grip and string fitted it came in at roughly 90 grams, which I notes feels closer to a 3.5U in hand than a true 3U. The shaft is stiffer than the standard NS9900, and the example here was strung with a hard, crisp vertical-and-cross combination in the high-20s pounds. The takeaway for a buyer is that this is not a heavy bruiser: it sits between weight classes and rewards timing over muscle. If you already like fast head-light frames, the loading will feel familiar; if you come from a head-heavy attacker, expect to supply your own pace.
Drives and defence: the signature strength
Flat exchanges are where the 9900 line earned its reputation, and I says the Green Sword pushes that further. The low swing weight and very quick handling let you sit half a beat ahead of an opponent in mid-court drives. Unlike the purple version's pure touch-and-go speed, this one pairs the fast release with a firmer, more planted feel, so block returns and counter-drives stay controlled rather than skittish. Defence is a highlight: the light head lifts easily into position, and the stiff shaft and solid frame return enough energy to push a smash back to the rear court, or even counter-attack, from a passive position.
Net play, drops and the smash question
The larger frame and generous sweet spot make slice and check drops consistent, which helps disguise, and net touches are forgiving enough that a slightly off-centre contact does not blow up into an error. Pushes and net kills are quick. On the smash, I pushes back on the assumption that a head-light frame cannot hit: the Green Sword does not deliver the one-punch weight of a Voltric, but it strings together fast, accurate, repeatable smashes that are hard to read. For most club and league players that continuous pressure is more useful than raw single-hit power, and the frame keeps that up without tiring the arm.
Who should actually buy one
I's most useful line is that the racket does not depend on your form: on a tired or off day it still produces a stable level, which is the real charm of the 9900 platform. That makes it a lovely racket to own and play. As a purchase, though, be honest about why. If you want a fast, forgiving, all-court head-light frame to actually compete with, a current speed flagship delivers comparable handling, a warranty and string support for far less money. Chase the Green Sword only if the 2011 heritage and the colourway are the point, and buy from a seller who can prove authenticity given the prices involved.
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