YONEX ASTROX 99 (AX-99)

Discussion in 'Badminton Rackets / Equipment' started by konww002, Jul 2, 2018.

  1. Cloud Kim

    Cloud Kim Regular Member

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    Do you think the grip weight had anything to do with the difference in perceived racket weights?

    Also, I thought namd was supposed to make the racket more sturdy? I heard that the string tension suggestion from yonex was increased because of the use of namd.
     
  2. konww002

    konww002 Regular Member

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    Not sure where the NAMD was at in the 77, a few mates had sinking frame issues.


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  3. Cloud Kim

    Cloud Kim Regular Member

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    AX99 is the first one to have the head made with Namd
     
  4. konww002

    konww002 Regular Member

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    Oh well, time will tell


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  5. Cloud Kim

    Cloud Kim Regular Member

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    Time will tell a lot of things.
    But it won't tell me what US customs is still doing with my AX99.
     
  6. konww002

    konww002 Regular Member

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    I wonder what you can hide in an already thin and slim badminton racquet frame


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  7. lostLore

    lostLore Regular Member

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    Probably testing out your ax99 lol
     
  8. Cloud Kim

    Cloud Kim Regular Member

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    Probably more lsd and coke than my home is worth lol

    OMG.
     
  9. konww002

    konww002 Regular Member

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    There could be some badminton fans in the agency


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  10. Cloud Kim

    Cloud Kim Regular Member

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    I got it strung nice with aerobite at 28 lbs too... maybe they were just staring at the scanner thinking, "there's gotta be some dude who ordered AX99. I just gotta find it..."
     
  11. Quentin11

    Quentin11 Regular Member

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    @konww002

    What do you mean by sinking head??




    Maybe there is a secret about the AX99 ... the AX99 too came in 'S' and 'D' :p But you won't know about it until you actually get it :p
     
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  12. lostLore

    lostLore Regular Member

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    Well I pulled e trigger n got myself a 4u. Will try it out tonight. This is the first racquet that I'm actually glad I chose the 4u version lol.
     
  13. konww002

    konww002 Regular Member

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    Ah, it’s just that my stringer teacher was stringing one of them 99s as he sells non-Yonex products. It was his observation


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  14. icewater888

    icewater888 Regular Member

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    I've just sold my AX88S 4U. Even though it was a really good racquet but it was just lacking a bit in smashing power.
    I was considering either a AX88S 3U or a AX99 either in 3U or 4U.

    I've borrowed an AX88S 3U from a friend, and it is certainly better than the 4U.
    However, the AX99 was only $5 more than the AX88S.
    So I was tempted to go straight to the AX99.

    Went to the local shop and had a 5 mins hit with their AX99 3U demo racquet.
    Very solid. Head heavy.
    Effortless in clears and drives.
    Smashing power is excellent.
    But a bit slow in defence.
    My arms was a bit sore the next day though.
    Maybe I didn't really had a warm up.

    Anyway, I decided to buy the AX99 4U instead.
    Strung it up last night. 27lbs Aerobite.

    Just finished my 3 hours session this morning.
    Here are my thoughts on the AX99 4U:

    It certainly is a very head heavy racquet.
    Initially, I thought I might struggle to handle this for the whole 3 hours.
    It "feels" head heavier than the AX88S 3U and also the ZFII 4U.
    Almost feels like a ZFII 3.5U. In between a 3U and a 4U.

    It "feels" more flexible at the lower part of the shaft giving some small amount whipping power.
    Not as whippy than the AX88S though.
    I would not say it is as flexible as a medium flex racquet. It plays like a stiff shaft in its timing.
    But with a little flex.
    Somewhere between a AX88S and ZFII.

    Very effortless in clears and drives. The racquet head carries the swing very well.
    Control is very good. Much the same with AX88S or the ZFII.
    Good power in smash. Definitely much better than the AX88S and I even prefer this over the ZFII.
    However, the racquet is somewhat more demanding than the AX88S.
    You really need some good techniques to use the racquet well.
    So, I would not recommend this to a beginner or even an intermediate player.

    Defence is a little slower than the AX88S. But still quite usable.
    Probably better than ZFII due to the counterbalancing weight.

    No sore arms after a 3 hours session.
    I'm quite happy with this racquet.
    It is a little bit more demanding. But definitely more rewarding.

    If you want something more heavy duty than a AX88S and not as hardcore as a ZFII, then this is the racquet for you.
     
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  15. Cloud Kim

    Cloud Kim Regular Member

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    Wunderbar! Sounds exactly like what I want. Now we just need to know if your AX99 is the s version or the d version XP

     
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  16. icewater888

    icewater888 Regular Member

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    IMG_9295.JPG IMG_1575.JPG

    Some photos of the new racquet and stringing up the racquet last night.

    I would say the 4U version is great for both singles and doubles.
     
  17. Adi Tariono

    Adi Tariono Regular Member

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    After reading some review about Ax 99, so I buy and do little comparation to my Zf2.

    But first of all please do remind this is just my personal experience.

    First comparation for the spec;

    Ax 99:
    Weight : 4U
    BP : 325 (gross) take out original grip and put plastic wrap and cusion grip.
    String: BG 66 Ultimax
    String tension : 28 lbs

    ZF II:
    Weight: 4U
    BP: 315 (gross) take out original grip and put plastic wrap and cusion grip.
    String: BG 66 Ultimax
    String tension : 28 lbs

    For equal result I string both racket in same day at same stringer.

    Day 1 ( 12 Game, 3 hour Playing, MD)
    Day 2 ( 5 Game, 1 hour playing, MD)

    The Summary:
    Ax 99 is much more solid than ZFII, in ZFII I can feel a little hollow when I do shot. I never feel it before I use Ax99.
    When you smash with AX 99 you can feel the "beef" or push power from the frame better than ZFII.
    Defence it is depend on the return that you want, if you want to return it with slow pace (placing) Ax99 is much better, but if you want return it with fast pace (lob, drive) ZFII is much better.
    For drive it is still better ZFII than AX99, I think it is because due the head heavy AX99.
    last time I say ZFII is very stiff but now AX99 is much more stiffer. hahahhahaha.
    The most different thing is the frame, AX99 is much more solid than ZFII.

    So depend on hoew I want to play, if i want to play fast pace game I use ZFII, if I want to slow pace I use AX99.

    Oh one last thing:
    If your physical is on the top or good condition use AX99, if not don't use AX99. otherwise you will think this is a bad racket. hahahahha ( my personal experience).

    I think that all.

    I Hope this information can help.

    Best regards,
     
  18. Yong

    Yong Regular Member

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    Being a AX88D (3ug4) user and willing to have a second new generation racket to be part of my gear, I ordered the AX99 (4ug4).
    But what is nicer than ordering the racket at you favorite web shop? Yes travel to the webshop which is actually also a physical store next to a badminton court... and apart from shopping for some badminton goodies, play some baddy with the AX99 with the shop owner after opening hours.
    Based on the opinions in this thread i was wondering if the racket would feel as head heavy as some reported. First feeling not yet on court was, luckily, that it didn't feel so head heavy, more similar to the AX88 3u. Some 4u Voltrics that i had in hands earlier on, felt more head heavy to me. On court, with a setup BG65@27 lbs, the racket has a very solid feel. Coming from AX88 3u, the first impression for difference with the AX99 4u seemed minimal to me, you feel the namd kicking in if you swing it nicely with some speed, which is nice like it is nice with the AX88D. It looks like though that the racket is somehow more foregiving compared to the AX88D. With the 88D, the shuttle tends to take a completely differente angle if the execution of the stroke was done not exactly 100% what you intended. With the AX99, i didn't experience this at all. Strokes went very consistent. Overall I like the racket a lot and think that it is, apart from singles, also suited for doubles if you are a rear court player.Being in a Europe country where the AX rackets only come in 4u, i like it that i don't need to pay extra for importing 3u from France. Coming from 2u rackets (Mp100 and some other old school rackets) and playing with AX88D 3u for some month, it is the first time that i am comfortable with a 4u racket in my hands.
    One thing to add, since wednesday i went down 1 layer of grips for thinner total grip. Playing 2 hours with the AX88D, my wrist felt a bit sore right after playing and 2 days following. I think it was beause of the different grip size. But i was wondering how the AX99 would feel on my wrist. I played with the same grip setup (1 thin overgrip over the basic yonex grip) as i played wednesday.
    Sore feeling didnt come back.
     
  19. Tommy.Yumo

    Tommy.Yumo Regular Member

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    Tested out a 4U version of this racket. It feels super heavyyyy, probably the heaviest racket out there
     
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  20. Ch1k0

    Ch1k0 Regular Member

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    From the sounds of it..they've had some serious QC issues on this racket for a first production run...that's extrenely disappointing considering its YY. But majority seem to have echoed my own thoughts and feelings on what the AX99 is like in general. I'd love to try one of those off spec ones that's similar to the 88D. I like the 88D a hell lot more too.

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