Yonex
Astrox 99 Pro
The 3rd generation Astrox 99 Pro — a head-heavy, stiff, Made in Japan smashing racket, now with 2G-Namd Flex Force in both frame and shaft.
GOS verdict
Read this first"Pure rear-court weight — for players who can swing it."
The 3rd generation Astrox 99 Pro launched worldwide on 5 September 2025. Yonex says the Astrox 99 has been reimagined to deliver explosive power with more confidence. The Pro keeps the series' identity — head-heavy balance, a stiff shaft and a frame 10mm longer than standard — and adds 2G-Namd Flex Force graphite to both the frame and the shaft, a Power-Assist Bumper at the frame top and a Lightweight End Cap that makes the head-heavy balance more pronounced.
The result is one of the heaviest-hitting rackets we stock: steep, weighty smashes and clears that reach the baseline with little effort. The honest limitation is speed of handling. With this much head weight, the 99 Pro is slow to reset in fast flat exchanges and against repeated smashes, and it needs a strong, well-timed swing. For advanced singles players and rear-court doubles attackers, it is a flagship worth its GOS price point.
- An advanced player with a strong, full swing
- A singles player who attacks from the baseline
- A rear-court attacker in doubles
- Wanting maximum weight behind smashes and clears
- Still building swing speed and technique
- A front-court or defence-first player
- Wanting quick handling in flat exchanges
- Needing string tension above 28 lbs (4U)
Yonex Astrox 99 Pro Badminton Racket (3rd Gen)
God of Sports · Authorised stockist
What is the
Astrox 99 Pro?
01 / 08
The Yonex Astrox 99 Pro is the Pro-tier model of the Astrox 99 line, Yonex's head-heavy smashing series. The 3rd generation, in Black/Green, launched worldwide on 5 September 2025 alongside the Astrox 99 Tour, Game and Play. GOS also stocks the previous generation in White Tiger and Cherry Sunburst.
The new Pro keeps what defines an Astrox 99 — head-heavy balance, a stiff shaft, a frame 10mm longer than standard and Made in Japan construction — and changes how the power is delivered. 2G-Namd Flex Force graphite now runs through both the frame and the shaft, a new built-in T-Joint connects them, and a Power-Assist Bumper and Lightweight End Cap push more of the weight towards the head.
The Astrox 99 Pro's defining decision is to push the balance further towards the head. The Power-Assist Bumper adds weight at the frame top and the Lightweight End Cap takes it away from the handle, so the racket swings with real momentum. That makes smashes and clears heavier with less effort — and makes the racket slower to bring back into position.
Used by: PV Sindhu (India), Lu Guangzu (China) and Alex Lanier (France) — see their player gear profiles: PV Sindhu · Lu Guangzu · Alex Lanier.
Yonex Astrox 99 Pro Badminton Racket (3rd Gen)
Black/Green · Available at God of Sports
Technical
specifications
02 / 08
← The defining choice: more weight in the head
Pro and Tour models only
Series
positioning
03 / 08
Yonex's performance rackets map to three playing philosophies. The Astrox 99 Pro sits in the power pillar.
Within the Astrox 99 series at GOS
2G-Namd Flex Force in frame and shaft · this racket
The step below the Pro
Club-level version of the 99
The most accessible Astrox 99
The earlier Astrox 99 Pro, still at GOS
Technology
breakdown
04 / 08
Head-heavy and stiff — why does the 99 Pro ask for a fast swing?
Astrox 99 Pro — Stiff shaft, head-heavy
Alternative — Flexible shaft
The bumper adds weight at the top of the frame and reduces air resistance; the lighter end cap takes weight away from the handle. Together they make the head-heavy balance more pronounced for heavier smashes and clears.
Yonex's second-generation Namd graphite, now in both the frame and the shaft of the Pro. Yonex describes it as giving faster flex and snapback, so the stiff shaft still helps release energy into the shuttle.
Counterbalanced weight at the grip end, frame top and joint. Yonex says it gives smooth transitions between shots, which matters in a racket this head-heavy.
A redesigned one-piece connection between frame and shaft, keeping the frame stable and the energy transfer direct on full-power contact.
An aerodynamic box-section frame for a stable, solid hit, with Yonex's squared Isometric head shape to enlarge the sweet spot compared with a conventional oval.
A vibration-damping core that cuts unwanted vibration at impact, for a cleaner, more solid feel on heavy contacts.
On-court
performance
05 / 08
Recommended setup: Yonex Exbolt 68 or BG80 Power at 25–27 lbs. 4U. Head-heavy balance.
Zone-by-zone assessment
| Zone | Rating | Performance | Assessment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Smashes | 95 | Exceptional | The racket's identity. The extra head weight, 10mm of added length and a stiff shaft put real weight behind the shuttle, producing steep, heavy smashes from the rear court. |
| Control | 87 | Exceptional | The stiff shaft and stable frame give a direct, predictable response. Placement on smashes, clears and drops is precise when the swing is clean. |
| Flat drives | 84 | Good | Drives are heavy once the racket is moving, but the head weight costs time in fast exchanges compared with an even or head-light frame. |
| Net play | 82 | Good | Net kills are powerful when the racket is up early. Fine net touch needs more care than with a lighter head. |
| Maneuverability | 78 | Good | The Rotational Generator System helps, but this is a heavy-headed racket and it feels like one in quick flat rallies. |
| Defence | 76 | Good | Honest limitation. Blocks are stable and lifts reach the baseline easily, but against repeated steep smashes the 99 Pro is slow to reset between shots. |
Real on-court situations
| Situation | Level | What the player feels |
|---|---|---|
| Full rear-court smash | Exceptional | Heavy and steep. This is the shot the Astrox 99 Pro is built for. |
| Deep clear from the baseline | Exceptional | The head weight does much of the work; the shuttle reaches the far baseline with little effort. |
| Steep smash on a short lift in singles | Exceptional | The extra length and head weight make the angle hard to return. |
| Net kill on a loose reply | Exceptional | Decisive when the racket is already up. |
| Mid-court drive exchange in doubles | Good | Drives carry weight, but the head mass is noticeable as the exchange speeds up. |
| Fast flat exchange at the front | Good | Keeps up with good preparation. Front-court specialists will prefer a head-light frame. |
| Defending repeated steep smashes | Good | Stable on contact, but slower to get back into position than an even-balance racket. |
Head-to-head
comparison
06 / 08
Compared against its most natural competitor at GOS: the Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro, Victor's head-heavy attacking racket.
| Yonex Astrox 99 Pro (3rd Gen) | Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro | |
|---|---|---|
| Character | Attacking flagship · heavy smashes | Attacking · head-heavy power |
| Balance | Head-heavy | Head-heavy |
| Shaft flex | Stiff | Stiff |
| Level | Advanced | Advanced |
| Weights | 4U · 3U | 4U |
| Stringing | 20–28 lbs (4U) | Up to 30 lbs |
| Choose Astrox 99 Pro if... | You want the heaviest possible smash and clear, a 10mm-longer frame for extra leverage, and Yonex's Made in Japan Pro-tier construction | |
| Choose Thruster Ryuga II Pro if... | You want a head-heavy, stiff attacking racket from Victor with 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. A head-heavy, stiff frame already supplies the power, so most players do not need to string at the top of the range.
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 strong, full swing
- A singles player who attacks from the baseline
- A rear-court attacker in doubles
- Wanting maximum weight behind smashes and clears
- Upgrading from an earlier Astrox 99 Pro
- A beginner or intermediate still building swing speed
- A defence-first player
- A front-court doubles specialist
- Looking for quick handling in flat exchanges
- Needing a tension ceiling above 28 lbs (4U)
- Steep, heavy smashes (95 / 100)
- Clears reach the baseline with little effort
- 2G-Namd Flex Force in both frame and shaft
- 10mm-longer frame adds leverage
- Made in Japan, Pro-tier construction
- Used by PV Sindhu, Lu Guangzu and Alex Lanier
- Defence is the weak point (76 / 100)
- Slow to reset in fast flat exchanges
- Needs a strong, well-timed swing
- Fine net touch takes more care
- 28 lbs stringing ceiling (4U)
- Demanding for players below advanced level
Buy the Yonex Astrox 99 Pro (3rd Gen)
God of Sports · Authorised stockist · Pan-India delivery from Mumbai
Also explore: Astrox 99 Tour (3rd Gen) · Astrox 99 Game (3rd Gen) · Astrox 100 ZZ · Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro · All Yonex Rackets at GOS