Li-Ning
Axforce Cannon
Li-Ning's accessible head-heavy attacking racket with a flexible 7.0mm shaft — reviewed in all three weights GOS stocks: 4U, 5U and 6U.
GOS verdict
Read this first"Axforce attack made easy — pick the weight that fits your swing."
The Li-Ning Axforce Cannon brings the Axforce attacking recipe — head-heavy balance and a Dynamic Optimum Frame — down to an accessible price. Li-Ning builds it from standard modulus carbon fibre with a flexible 7.0mm shaft, which it says optimises the shaft for better smash defence while the frame provides greater power for smashing and improves service life. GOS stocks it in three weights: 4U (80–84g), 5U (75–79g) and 6U (70–74.9g).
The flexible shaft does much of the work, so club players get real smash weight without a fast, perfect swing. The honest limitation is precision and pace at the top end: a flexible, standard-modulus frame does not give the crisp, direct response of a stiffer Axforce, and the 4U is slow in fast flat exchanges. The weight matters as much as the model — the 4U is the attacker's choice, the 5U the best all-rounder, and the 6U the easiest to swing. The scores in this verdict are for the 4U; the 5U and 6U are compared in full below.
- A club player moving to an attacking racket
- Wanting smash power without a stiff shaft
- Looking for Axforce style at an accessible price
- Choosing between 4U, 5U and 6U for your swing
- An advanced player with a fast swing — choose a stiffer Axforce
- Wanting a crisp, direct shaft response
- A front-court specialist (unless you choose the 6U)
- Stringing above 27 lbs on the 6U
What is the
Axforce Cannon?
01 / 08
The Li-Ning Axforce Cannon is the most accessible racket in Li-Ning's Axforce attacking family, below the Axforce Cannon Pro, Axforce 90 and Axforce 100. Li-Ning describes it as built for "the Canon Smash": a head-heavy attacking frame made from standard modulus carbon fibre, with a tensile profile that gives greater flexibility in the shaft.
Unlike most rackets, the Cannon comes in three weight classes at GOS — 4U, 5U and 6U — and the weight changes how it plays as much as the frame does. All three share the same head-heavy balance, flexible 7.0mm shaft and Dynamic Optimum Frame; what changes is the mass, the grip size and the tension ceiling.
The Axforce Cannon's defining decision is to pair a head-heavy frame with a flexible shaft at an accessible price, then offer it in three weights. Head weight supplies the power and the flexible shaft releases it with a wide timing window — so club players can feel a real smash. Choosing the weight lets the same racket suit a rear-court attacker (4U), an all-court doubles player (5U) or a player who needs the lightest possible swing (6U).
4U vs 5U vs 6U at a glance
| Weight | Grams | Grip | Max tension | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 4U | 80–84g | G5 | 29–32 lbs (by colourway) | Rear-court attackers who want the heaviest smash |
| 5U | 75–79g | G6 | 29–31 lbs (by colourway) | All-court doubles players — the best balance of power and speed |
| 6U | 70–74.9g | G6 | 27 lbs | Players who want the easiest swing and fastest hands at the net |
Technical
specifications
02 / 08
Ambrosia: 29 lbs · Deep Teal: 32 lbs
Ambrosia: 29 lbs · Deep Teal: 31 lbs
← The defining spec
Series
positioning
03 / 08
Li-Ning's performance rackets map to three playing philosophies. The Axforce Cannon is the entry point to the attack pillar.
Within the Axforce series at GOS
The Axforce flagship
High-end attack with an easier-to-time shaft
The step up from the Cannon
Entry to the Axforce range · this racket
Technology
breakdown
04 / 08
The flexible shaft — why not stiff, like the Axforce flagships?
Axforce Cannon — Flexible 7.0mm shaft
Alternative — Stiff attacking shaft
Li-Ning gives the Cannon a tensile profile with greater flexibility, which it says optimises the shaft for better smash defence. The shaft bends on the backswing and releases at contact, widening the timing window on smashes, clears and lifts.
Li-Ning's frame shape, used across its performance rackets, combined here with head-heavy balance. Li-Ning says the racket's composition and frame design provide greater power for smashing and improve service life.
A standard modulus carbon layup rather than the high-modulus carbon of the Axforce 90 and 100. It keeps the price accessible and suits the flexible, forgiving character of the racket.
The same frame in 4U, 5U and 6U, with a G5 grip on the 4U and G6 on the 5U and 6U. Lighter weights swing faster but carry less mass into the shuttle and have lower tension ceilings.
On-court
performance
05 / 08
Recommended setup: Yonex BG65 Titanium or Victor VBS-63 at 23–26 lbs (4U), 22–25 lbs (5U) or 21–24 lbs (6U). Head-heavy balance. Bars below are for the 4U.
Weight-by-weight scores
| Zone | 4U | 5U | 6U | What changes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Smashes | 89 | 86 | 81 | More mass means a heavier smash. The 4U hits hardest; the 6U trades smash weight for swing speed. |
| Flat drives | 84 | 86 | 85 | The 5U and 6U get the racket up faster in drive exchanges. |
| Control | 84 | 84 | 81 | The heavier frames are more stable on contact; the 6U is lighter and less stable on off-centre hits. |
| Defence | 83 | 84 | 81 | The flexible shaft helps lifts reach depth in every weight. The 6U has less mass to absorb a hard smash. |
| Net play | 82 | 85 | 86 | Lighter weights react faster at the net. |
| Maneuverability | 81 | 86 | 90 | The biggest difference between the three. The 6U is clearly the quickest to swing and reset. |
| Overall | 84 | 85 | 83 | The 5U is the best all-rounder; the 4U is the attacker's pick; the 6U is the easiest to swing. |
Zone-by-zone assessment (4U)
| Zone | Rating | Performance | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smashes | 89 | Exceptional | The racket's identity. Head weight and the flexible shaft give club players a heavy smash without a perfect swing. It lacks the steep pace of a stiff, high-modulus Axforce. |
| Flat drives | 84 | Good | Drives carry weight once the racket is moving, but the 4U's head mass costs time in fast exchanges. |
| Control | 84 | Good | The wide timing window helps consistency. Placement is less precise than with a stiffer shaft. |
| Defence | 83 | Good | The flexible shaft helps lifts and clears reach the baseline from a short swing. Recovery against repeated smashes is slower than with a head-light frame. |
| Net play | 82 | Good | Net kills are solid when the racket is up early. Fine touch needs care because of the head weight. |
| Maneuverability | 81 | Good | Honest limitation of the 4U. It is slow to reset in fast flat exchanges. The 5U (86) and 6U (90) are much quicker. |
Real on-court situations — which weight wins?
| Situation | Best weight | What the player feels |
|---|---|---|
| Full rear-court smash | 4U | The heaviest smash of the three. Head weight and flex do much of the work. |
| Deep clear from the baseline | 4U | Reaches the opposite baseline easily with a relaxed swing. |
| Defensive lift under pressure | 5U | Light enough to get there, with enough mass and flex to send the shuttle deep. |
| Mid-court drive exchange in doubles | 5U | Gets the racket up quickly while still putting weight on the drive. |
| Net kill on a loose reply | 6U | The fastest to react at the net, though the kill carries less weight. |
| Fast flat exchange at the front | 6U | Clearly the quickest of the three to swing and reset. |
| Long session for a developing player | 5U / 6U | Less tiring to swing over a full session than the 4U. |
Head-to-head
comparison
06 / 08
Compared against its most natural competitor at GOS: the Yonex Astrox 99 Play (3rd Gen), Yonex's entry-level head-heavy attacking racket.
| Li-Ning Axforce Cannon | Yonex Astrox 99 Play (3rd Gen) | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Accessible attack · easy power | Entry-level Astrox 99 attack |
| Balance | Head-heavy | Head-heavy |
| Shaft flex | Flexible | Medium |
| Material | Standard modulus carbon fibre | Graphite |
| Max tension | 27–32 lbs (by weight and colourway) | 20–28 lbs (4U) |
| Weights | 4U · 5U · 6U at GOS | 4U |
| Grip | G5 (4U) · G6 (5U, 6U) | G5 |
| Choose Axforce Cannon if... | You want the most forgiving shaft, a choice of three weights including a very light 6U, and a higher tension ceiling in 4U and 5U | |
| Choose Astrox 99 Play if... | You want an entry point to Yonex's Astrox 99 family with a slightly firmer medium-flex shaft | |
String
recommendations
07 / 08
The tension ceiling depends on the weight: 27 lbs for the 6U, and 29–32 lbs for the 4U and 5U depending on colourway. Every recommendation below stays under 27 lbs, so it is safe for all three. Club players get the most from this racket in the low-to-mid 20s.
Durable, with a crisp feel for regular players
Tension guide: 4U 23–26 lbs · 5U 22–25 lbs · 6U 21–24 lbs · Ceilings: 6U 27 lbs, 4U and 5U 29–32 lbs by colourway · Professional machine stringing above 24 lbs recommended.
Who should
buy this?
08 / 08
Which weight should you buy?
| If you are... | Choose |
|---|---|
| A rear-court attacker with a full swing | 4U |
| A doubles player who attacks and defends | 5U |
| Unsure — the best all-round choice | 5U |
| A junior, or a player who tires with heavier rackets | 6U |
| A front-court or net-first player | 6U |
| Wanting to string above 27 lbs | 4U or 5U |
- A club player moving to an attacking racket
- Wanting smash power without a stiff shaft
- Looking for Axforce style at an accessible price
- Wanting a choice of 4U, 5U or 6U
- Building an attacking doubles game
- An advanced player with a fast swing
- Looking for a crisp, stiff shaft response
- Wanting high-modulus, tournament-level construction
- Stringing above 27 lbs on a 6U
- A front-court specialist choosing the 4U
- Real smash weight for club players (89 / 100 in 4U)
- Flexible shaft — wide timing window
- Three weights: 4U, 5U and 6U
- 6U is very quick to swing (90 maneuverability)
- Up to 32 lbs tension in 4U
- Four colourways at GOS
- 4U maneuverability is the weak point (81 / 100)
- Less crisp and precise than a stiff Axforce
- Standard modulus carbon, not high-modulus
- 6U gives up smash weight (81)
- Tension ceiling varies by weight and colourway
- Advanced players will outgrow it
All colourways at GOS
| Colourway | 4U | 5U | 6U |
|---|---|---|---|
| Black/Pink | Buy 4U | Buy 5U | — |
| White | Buy 4U | Buy 5U | Buy 6U |
| Deep Teal | Buy 4U | Buy 5U | — |
| Ambrosia | Buy 4U | Buy 5U | Buy 6U |
Buy the Li-Ning Axforce Cannon
God of Sports · Authorised stockist · Pan-India delivery from Mumbai
Also explore: Axforce Cannon Pro · Axforce 90 · Axforce 100 · Yonex Astrox 99 Play · All Li-Ning Rackets at GOS