Yonex
Astrox 100 ZZ VA
Viktor Axelsen's signature edition of the Astrox 100 ZZ — a head-heavy, extra-stiff, Made in Japan attacking racket built for steep smashes from the rear court.
GOS verdict
Read this first"The steepest smash Yonex makes — if your swing can drive it."
The Astrox 100 ZZ VA (Yonex code AX100ZZVA) is the Astrox 100 ZZ in Viktor Axelsen's signature design, launched worldwide on 26 September 2025 as part of Yonex's Viktor Axelsen Collection. Yonex describes the collection's racquets as special-edition designs based on its existing high-performance models, so the playing character is the Astrox 100 ZZ's: head-heavy, extra stiff, 10mm longer than standard and made in Japan.
That combination produces some of the heaviest, steepest smashes of any racket we stock, with a precise, direct feel for players who hit cleanly. The honest limitation is how much it asks of you. An extra-stiff shaft in a head-heavy frame needs a fast, well-timed swing, and it is slow to reset against repeated smashes. For advanced singles and rear-court doubles players with strong technique, it is a flagship worth its GOS price point. For everyone else, a softer Astrox will produce more.
- An advanced player with a fast, full swing
- A singles or rear-court attacker who wins with steep smashes
- Wanting a direct, crisp extra-stiff response
- A Viktor Axelsen fan who wants his signature edition
- Still building swing speed and technique
- A defence-first or front-court player
- Wanting a forgiving shaft with easy power
- Needing string tension above 28 lbs
Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ VA Badminton Racket
Viktor Axelsen Edition · 4U · God of Sports · Authorised stockist
What is the
Astrox 100 ZZ VA?
01 / 08
The Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ VA is the signature racket of the Viktor Axelsen Collection, which Yonex launched worldwide on 26 September 2025 under its "We Strive Together" campaign. Yonex states that the collection's racquets are special-edition designs based on its existing high-performance models. Here that model is the Astrox 100 ZZ, the flagship of the Astrox power series, finished in Grayish Beige with green accents and Axelsen's VA logo and signature.
Underneath the design, the specification matches the Astrox 100 ZZ: an extra-stiff Hyper Slim Shaft, head-heavy balance, a frame 10mm longer than standard, Namd graphite throughout and Made in Japan construction. It is a racket for players who already generate their own power and want every bit of it converted into a steep, fast smash.
The Astrox 100 ZZ VA's defining decision is to pair an extra-stiff shaft with a head-heavy, 10mm-longer frame. The head weight and extra length add leverage, and the stiff shaft sends that energy into the shuttle without delay. The result is a very steep, very direct smash — but only for a player whose swing is fast and well-timed enough to load it.
Signature player: Viktor Axelsen (Denmark, men's singles) — two-time Olympic champion (Tokyo 2020, Paris 2024), two-time World Champion and former world #1, who played with the Astrox 100 ZZ before retiring in April 2026 — see his player gear profile.
Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ VA Badminton Racket
Viktor Axelsen Edition · 4U · Available at God of Sports
Technical
specifications
02 / 08
← The defining spec
Head-heavy, with weight also at the grip and joint
Series
positioning
03 / 08
Yonex's performance rackets map to three playing philosophies. The Astrox 100 ZZ VA sits at the top of the power pillar.
Within the Astrox 100 series at GOS
Viktor Axelsen signature edition · this racket
The standard design of the same flagship
The Axelsen design one tier below the ZZ
The most accessible Axelsen-design Astrox 100
Technology
breakdown
04 / 08
The extra-stiff Hyper Slim Shaft — why make a flagship this demanding?
Astrox 100 ZZ VA — Extra stiff, Hyper Slim
Alternative — Medium-flex shaft
A very slim shaft that cuts air resistance through the swing, set at extra-stiff flex. It bends very little, so a fast swing reaches the shuttle without delay — direct and steep, but with a narrow timing window.
Yonex's counterbalance system places weight at the grip end, the frame top and the joint. Yonex says it optimises weight distribution for control, helping a head-heavy frame come back to ready position between shots.
Yonex's Namd material bonds nano-material directly to the graphite fibre. Yonex describes it as delivering rapid snapback for fast, powerful shots.
Tungsten adds mass in the head for smash weight, while the Aero + Box Frame combines an aerodynamic profile with a box section for a solid, stable contact.
Vibration-damping materials in the frame and handle that cut unwanted vibration at impact, giving a cleaner, more solid feel on full-power contact.
Yonex's squared head shape, which enlarges the sweet spot compared with a conventional oval head, so off-centre hits lose less pace.
On-court
performance
05 / 08
Recommended setup: Yonex BG80 Power or Exbolt 65 at 25–27 lbs. 4U. Head-heavy balance.
Zone-by-zone assessment
| Zone | Rating | Performance | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smashes | 96 | Exceptional | The racket's identity. Head weight, the extra 10mm of length and an extra-stiff shaft combine for a very steep, very fast smash when the swing is clean and on time. |
| Control | 88 | Exceptional | The stiff shaft barely bends, so the face goes where the swing sends it. Placement on smashes, clears and drops is precise for a player with consistent technique. |
| Flat drives | 85 | Exceptional | Drives are heavy and direct once the racket is moving. In very fast exchanges the head weight shows, and a head-light racket gets there sooner. |
| Net play | 84 | Good | Net kills are heavy and the stiff frame gives a clean, precise touch. Quick net exchanges need early preparation because of the head weight. |
| Maneuverability | 80 | Good | Quicker than its balance suggests, thanks to the Rotational Generator System and slim shaft, but still slower than an even or head-light frame in flat rallies. |
| Defence | 76 | Good | Honest limitation. Blocks are stable, but against repeated steep smashes the head-heavy frame is slow to reset, and the stiff shaft gives little help on short-swing lifts and clears. |
Real on-court situations
| Situation | Level | What the player feels |
|---|---|---|
| Full rear-court jump smash | Exceptional | Steep, heavy and fast. This is the shot the Astrox 100 ZZ VA is built for. |
| Steep smash on a short lift in singles | Exceptional | The extra length and head weight make the angle very difficult to return. |
| Deep clear with a full swing | Exceptional | Reaches the baseline with a clean, direct feel when the swing is complete. |
| Smash from a late, off-balance position | Good | The stiff shaft gives back less here. A medium-flex frame is more forgiving when you are late. |
| Net kill on a loose reply | Exceptional | Heavy and decisive when the racket is up early. |
| Fast flat exchange in doubles | Good | Keeps up, but the head mass is noticeable. Front-court specialists may prefer a head-light frame. |
| Defending repeated steep smashes | Good | Stable on contact, but slower to reset between smashes than an even-balance racket. |
Head-to-head
comparison
06 / 08
Compared against its most natural competitor at GOS: the Li-Ning Axforce 100, Li-Ning's head-heavy attacking flagship.
| Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ VA | Li-Ning Axforce 100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Attacking flagship · steep smashes | Attacking flagship · crisp power |
| Balance | Head-heavy | Head-heavy |
| Shaft flex | Extra stiff | Stiff |
| Shaft | Hyper Slim Shaft · HM Graphite + Namd | 6.0mm thin shaft |
| Stringing | 20–28 lbs (4U) | Up to 30 lbs (4U) |
| Weight at GOS | 4U | 4U |
| Choose Astrox 100 ZZ VA if... | You have a fast, complete swing, play singles or rear-court doubles, and want the steepest possible smash with a direct, extra-stiff feel — or Viktor Axelsen's signature edition | |
| Choose Axforce 100 if... | You want a head-heavy flagship with a stiff rather than extra-stiff shaft, a 6.0mm thin shaft and a higher 30 lbs tension ceiling | |
String
recommendations
07 / 08
All recommendations sit inside Yonex's 20–28 lbs stringing advice for the 4U frame. An extra-stiff frame rewards a slightly lower tension than you might expect — it keeps the sweet spot lively.
Power, repulsion and strong tension retention
Best for players who build points with placement
Tension guide: Club 22–24 lbs · Advanced 24–27 lbs · Yonex stringing advice 20–28 lbs (4U) · Professional machine stringing above 26 lbs recommended.
Who should
buy this?
08 / 08
- An advanced player with a fast, full swing
- A singles player who attacks from the baseline
- A rear-court attacker in doubles
- Wanting a direct, extra-stiff response
- A Viktor Axelsen fan who wants his signature edition
- A beginner or intermediate still building swing speed
- A defence-first player
- A front-court doubles specialist
- Looking for easy power from a flexible shaft
- Needing a tension ceiling above 28 lbs
- Very steep, heavy smashes (96 / 100)
- Precise, direct control from the extra-stiff shaft
- Extra 10mm of length adds leverage and reach
- Rotational Generator System helps a head-heavy frame recover
- Made in Japan, Pro-tier construction
- Viktor Axelsen signature design
- Defence is the weak point (76 / 100)
- Narrow timing window — needs a fast, clean swing
- Little help from the shaft on short-swing lifts and clears
- Head weight shows in fast flat exchanges
- 28 lbs stringing ceiling (4U)
- Plays the same as the standard Astrox 100 ZZ — the VA difference is the design
Buy the Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ VA
God of Sports · Authorised stockist · Pan-India delivery from Mumbai
Also explore: Astrox 100 ZZ (Kurenai) · Astrox 100 Tour VA · Astrox 100 Game VA · Li-Ning Axforce 100 · All Yonex Rackets at GOS