Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ VA Badminton Racket | Viktor Axelsen

This is Viktor Axelsen's professional match racket, built specifically for advanced to elite singles players who have fast swing speed, clean technique, and an aggressive back-court attacking style. The extra stiff shaft, head-heavy balance, and NAMd graphite construction demand that the player generates their own power — the racket amplifies what you bring rather than compensating for what you lack. If you're an intermediate player still developing your technique and swing speed, this racket will feel stiff, unresponsive, and difficult to use effectively. If you're an advanced player who already hits a steep, heavy smash — this racket will elevate that shot to a completely different level.

Regular graphite shafts store energy when they flex and release it on the return. NAMd graphite has carbon nanotubes bonded directly along the graphite fibres at a molecular level — not wrapped around them or coated over them. This bonding changes how the fibres interact under load. The practical result is a shaft that bends with more energy stored and snaps back faster and more explosively than standard graphite can achieve. On the steep smash, this translates into a feeling that the racket is actively contributing to the power of the shot — a sharper, more decisive energy release at contact.

Both are elite versions of the Astrox 100 ZZ, but the VA is Viktor Axelsen's specific signature version. The VA sits in the 4U weight class — lighter than the standard 3U Astrox 100 ZZ — and is tuned to the specific balance and swing profile that Axelsen uses on the professional circuit. The lighter 4U weight combined with the Hyper Slim extra stiff shaft produces faster head speed, which suits Axelsen's style of generating steep smash angles through swing speed rather than physical mass.

It can work in doubles for players on the back court who smash frequently from the rear, but it is fundamentally designed and optimised for singles. The head-heavy balance and extra stiff shaft make it demanding in the fast, flat exchanges at the net that doubles requires. For most doubles players, a more manoeuvrable, lighter, or more evenly balanced racket would serve them better across the variety of shots that doubles demands.

Yonex recommends 20–28 lbs for the 4U version. Most advanced players using this racket at competitive level string it between 24 and 28 lbs. Yonex BG80 is a popular choice for hard hitters who want snap and durability. Yonex Aerobite Boost suits players who want a control-oriented string with good touch at the net alongside the smash power. String above 28 lbs is not recommended as it risks frame damage and voids warranty.

The Astrox 100 ZZ VA is sold unstrung — standard practice for professional-grade rackets, as advanced players have strong preferences for specific strings and tensions that vary from player to player. Stringing it at the factory to a generic tension would not serve the intended user well. A full cover is included with the racket. We recommend having it strung by a professional stringer familiar with high-tension performance rackets to get the best from this frame.

Yonex BG66 Force – for maximum repulsion and attacking play.
Yonex Aerobite – for enhanced control and spin.
Yonex Exbolt 65 or Exbolt 68 – for a balanced combination of durability, power, and control.

Yes. The Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ VA includes an original Yonex premium full-length protective cover in the box. The cover helps protect the racket from dust, scratches, and minor impacts during storage and transport.

For newer production batches of Yonex rackets (including some 2025 and 2026 Astrox models), Yonex has started removing the "JAPAN" text from the butt cap. Instead, the butt cap often shows only the Yonex logo. This is a design change and does not mean the racket is fake or no longer made in Japan. Community reports indicate the change began appearing on newer batches, and a Japanese badminton retailer has also announced a grip end cap design change for rackets produced from January 2026.

Laser-engraved shaft and cone serial numbers (not printed).
High-quality paint finish and decals.
Correct weight and balance.
Genuine Sunrise (India) hologram if it's an Indian-distributed racket.
Purchase from an authorized Yonex dealer.