ASTROX 88D [Discontinued]

Everyone's rating [Performance] Touch and Swing rated highly
ASTROX 88D
ASTROX 88D

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Average review score

  • Rating: 9.47 / 10
  • Number of reviews: 32
    • Swing: 9.28
    • Maneuverability: 8.88
    • Control: 9.28
    • Touch：9.34

    Power destroys opponents with aggressive smash. · Position-specific kick point design · Energy boost cap · Nu-mu · Rotational generator system · Nano metric DR · Aero + box shape · New grommet pattern · Solid feel core · Nanometric · New built-in T type joint · Super slim shaft

    Specifications

    Producer
    YONEX
    Series
    Astrox (ASTROX)
    Model number
    4550086095514
    Grip size
    3U4、3U5、4U4、4U5
    Color
    Ruby red
    Length
    675
    Weight
    3U,4U
    Shaft stiffness / feel
    Slightly hard
    Head balance
    Slightly head heavy
    Recommended tension

    4U: 20 to 28 (lbs) 3U: 21 to 29 (lbs)

    Frame material
    High elastic carbon frame + nanometric + tungsten
    Shaft material
    High elastic carbon shaft + Namd, new built-in T type joint
    Frame shape
    isometric

    User Review SummaryAI Summary
    Highly rated as a high-performance racket for doubles backcourt play. The powerful and stable smash is its greatest appeal, but its head-heavy design and hard ball feel cause significant variation in suitability depending on playing style and skill level.
    ■ Frequently mentioned points
    • Powerful smashes that drop easily
    • Optimized for doubles backcourt
    • Good swing despite head-heavy design
    • Hard ball feel and stiff shaft
    • Feels lighter once accustomed
    ■ Representative voices
    ▲ PositiveThe smash power and exhilarating feel are unbeatable. For a doubles backcourt racket, the weighty smash it delivers is astonishing. Despite being head-heavy, it swings well even at 4U weight.
    ▽ CriticalDoesn't suit users accustomed to stiff-shafted head-light rackets. Those prioritizing speed and quickness over power should consider other rackets instead of relying on this one's characteristics.

    User reviews

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    All Monthly
    • Kazuki

      Kazuki （Experience：6-10 years） Not what everyone thinks

      I'd been using the ARCSABER 11 for years and thought there was no racket as godly as that, but I fell for the design and took the plunge even though it's head-heavy. The size is 4UG5, and the shaft is about the same as the ARCSABER 11. I didn't get the impression it was rock-hard stiff. Since it's supposedly very head-heavy, I was worried whether I could handle it, but when I used it I was amazed. The Rotational Generator System? works, so it doesn't feel head-heavy at all. If anything, it's too light. And the swing speed is insane. It swings so easily I almost sent the racket flying. A pretty good racket.

      2019/01/18
      Overall
      9/10
      Swing
      10
      Maneuverability
      9
      Control
      8
      Touch
      8
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    • Shichisan Kamen

      Shichisan Kamen （Experience：4-5 years） At first I almost cried.

      These are my impressions with a 4UG5 strung at a fairly low 24lbs.

      My first impression on picking it up was that even though it's 4U, it felt heavier than my 3U DUORA7. I immediately tried some light hitting at the ceiling, and the feel was extremely heavy and dull, and the shuttle didn't fly at all. Some odd part of my arm also felt stiff, and I almost cried.

      When I switched back to the DUORA7 for a bit, I kind of understood why it wasn't working, and when I tried hitting without hesitation, sort of leaving it to the head (?), it transformed. The shots are well controlled and fly out sharply, there's quite a direct feel coming back to your hand on impact, and it seems easy to control. Whereas the DUORA7 feels like it sends the shuttle soaring solidly, the 88D has a somewhat similar feel but drives even further forward, and it makes me want to hit hard shot after shot.

      2018/11/09
      Overall
      10/10
      Swing
      9
      Maneuverability
      9
      Control
      10
      Touch
      10
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    • Ponzu

      Ponzu （Experience：2-3 years） Glad I bought it

      I started playing badminton in high school. Until I bought this, I was using the NANORAY 250.
      When buying my second racket, I was used to head-light rackets, so others felt heavy, and I read online that it's better to use an intermediate racket first rather than jumping straight to an advanced one, so I was planning to buy a head-light, fairly flexible racket. But I borrowed my friend's VOLTRIC 80 E-TUNE, found it easy to hit with, and decided to go with a stiff, head-heavy racket.

      I chose this racket because I usually played the rear court in doubles, and I thought it would be easy to use in singles too. I passed on the VOLTRIC 80 E-TUNE because I didn't want the same racket as my friend.

      But I think choosing this one was the right call. I'm female, so I went with 4UG5. At first the difference between head-light and head-heavy was big, and it took effort to get used to, but once I did, my clears really carried, my smashes definitely feel like they transfer more power than before, and above all, lobs were really easy to hit. It works perfectly well for singles too. Cuts and drops are easy to hit as well.

      2018/11/04
      Overall
      8/10
      Swing
      9
      Maneuverability
      7
      Control
      8
      Touch
      10
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    • Chochorina

      Chochorina （Experience：6-10 years） A doubles-specific racket

      The ASTROX 88D is made specifically for doubles, so it's easy to use in doubles, and when I smash I can hit heavy smashes, so I was able to hit nice, steep smashes. I also tried it in singles and it worked without any problems, so I think it's an all-round racket. However, the 3U felt heavy for me, so I went with the 4U.

      2018/10/24
      Overall
      10/10
      Swing
      8
      Maneuverability
      10
      Control
      10
      Touch
      8
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    • Well

      Well （Experience：2-3 years） Just what you'd expect from a rear court racket.

      I play a lot of doubles in badminton, so I wanted a doubles racket and bought this one.
      I smash a lot, so I went with
      the 3U G5.
      ASTROX has a reputation for being heavy even in 4U, so I was a little worried.
      But when I actually used it, I didn't feel the weight at all,
      and I think my smash speed went up too.
      I highly recommend it for hard hitters.
      If you're torn between 4U and 3U,
      I definitely think the 3U G5 is better.

      2018/10/15
      Overall
      9/10
      Swing
      9
      Maneuverability
      10
      Control
      8
      Touch
      10
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    • Kakakaaakaakaaakkaakka

      Kakakaaakaakaaakkaakka （Experience：2-3 years）

      The other day, I played a match against the leader of the YS badminton club (I reserved a gym). The leader is apparently good enough to play in regional tournaments, but I was able to play on even terms. It was easy to control and I could hit fast smashes. I'd like to keep using the ASTROX 88D in all kinds of situations.

      2018/09/29
      Overall
      10/10
      Swing
      9
      Maneuverability
      10
      Control
      10
      Touch
      9
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    • Zhang Nan

      Zhang Nan （Experience：Less than a year） The best racket right now

      I bought it for 18,000 yen at a sale at a certain shop. I was torn between the extremely head-heavy Voltric Z-Force2 and Babolat's satellite6.5 blast, but in the end I went with this racket. Since it's 3U, I thought it might be heavy, but apart from receiving, it's easy to maneuver and the swing isn't bad either. The balance is said to be head-heavy, but it feels like a head-heavy leaning toward even balance. If you put your body weight into a smash, you can hit quite heavy, penetrating shots, and if you meet a clear squarely with the face, it flies all the way to the back. That doesn't mean it struggles with finesse play, though; I think it's a superb racket that lets you control hairpins and drops while really feeling the shuttle.
      I used to use the voltric70 E-TUNE, but this one has a stiffer shaft and a heavier head. Conversely, once you get used to this one, I imagine most rackets will feel light and soft.
      I think it's a racket with very good overall balance.

      2018/08/07
      Overall
      10/10
      Swing
      10
      Maneuverability
      9
      Control
      10
      Touch
      10
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