Yonex Astrox 99 LCW badminton racket is a Special Limited Edition racket, designed exclusively for, and in collaboration with, legend Lee Chong Wei. Yonex staff traveled to Malaysia several times to consult with Lee Chong Wei, hear his thoughts and opinions, and get his approvals on designs, arriving at a racket which expresses his commitment and passion to the game.
Yonex Astrox 99 badminton racket is targeted at advanced players and designed to deliver power from hit after hit. The earlier model of the ASTROX series has utilized next-generation graphite Namd in the shaft, which results in a large increase in the snap-back speed of the shaft, producing greater smash speeds. The new ASTROX 99 has adopted Namd in the entire body of the racquet, including the frame, doubling contact time with the shuttle, resulting in an explosive shot as the racquet returns from flexed to straight at the end of the swing. Additionally, the Energy Boost Cap shape is designed to encourage even more flex in the shaft, further benefiting from the effects of the Namd graphite. The series trademark technology, Rotational Generator System, which contributes to a smooth transition from shot to shot also helps the player maximize the effects of the entire Namd body.
The design of the ASTROX 99 is inspired by the power and energy of the sun. The base of orange and black echo the sun spinning in the vast blackness of space, while red highlights recall the explosive solar flares that occur on its surface.
ASTROX 88 & 99 uses a world-first, new dimension graphite material, Namd, which greatly improves the adhesion of the graphite fibres and resin by attaching nanomaterial directly to the graphite fibre.
In high-performance racquets, it is common to combine nanomaterials with resin that connects graphite fibres, but in Namd, nanomaterials are directly adhered to the graphite fibres and the degree of adhesion between graphite fibres and resin is greatly increased. This major improvement produces a shaft that flexes and stores energy, delivering explosive force on impact with the shuttle.
From the initial movement of the player to the impact, the new dimension graphite is difficult to harden, and the shaft extends and accumulates energy due to the speed of the fast swing. Since the follow-through of the swing is smaller after direct impact with the shuttle, the swing speed drops and the new dimension graphite regains hardness and strengthens the resilience of the shaft, allowing the energy to explode rapidly before returning to its original state.
By applying the counterbalance theory, weight is distributed throughout the grip end, frame top and the joint for maximum control. The transition to the next shot can be performed smoothly with a rapid succession.
