Updated 24 Oct 2026
Head-heavy rackets put more mass behind the shuttle, so smashes and clears come off harder. They suit the back of the court in doubles; the trade-off is a slower recovery in fast defence.
Stiffer Axforce 90. The stiffer of the two Axforce 90 Max rackets (Dragon, with Tiger as the softer sibling). Head-heavy with a 6.2 mm shaft, aimed at advanced attackers who want a firm, fast-recovering shaft.
From £150.95 at Badminton HQ RRP £190
Tuned by weight class. The 2025 flagship F-series racket: Aerogel frame, metallic-carbon shaft and a shaft diameter that changes with weight class (6.0 mm in 3U, 5.8 in 4U, 5.6 in 5U). Head heavy and stiff, built for rear-court attackers.
From £199.99 at Badminton HQ
Heaviest smashes. The top racket of the third-generation 99 family and the most head-heavy frame in Yonex's own line-up. It is built for players with a full, fast swing who want maximum steep smash power from the back of the court, and…
From £223.99 at Badminton HQ RRP £280
Slim-shaft power. Launched mid-2024 with an unusually thin 5.8 mm metallic-carbon shaft to cut air resistance while keeping the head-heavy Thruster punch. It sits at the control end of Victor's power chart rather than the bounce end.
From £189.99 at Racketworld
Value head-heavy. A mid-priced Thruster with a PYROFIL shaft and Hard Cored frame, sold in 3U and 4U. It gives Ryuga-like head-heavy power at around two-thirds of the flagship price.
From £117.60 at Badminton HQ
Stiff, heavy smashes. Ryuga II with Power Ring Pro and a heavier swing weight (response level 8), launched January 2024 for Kodai Naraoka and other elite attackers. Head heavy and firm, built for steep smashes.
From £159.99 at Racketworld RRP £168
Mid-price Thruster. A mid-tier Thruster with a PYROFIL shaft and low 27-28 lb tension ceiling. It appears in Victor's power mapping near the centre, so it is neither the stiffest nor the heaviest option.
From £90.99 at Badminton HQ
High-tension value. A budget Thruster with an unusually high 35 lb tension rating and a stiff-leaning slider position. Gives intermediate players a firm, head-heavy racket at entry money.
From £79.99 at Badminton HQ
Affordable Ryuga power. A simplified, cheaper Ryuga for players stepping up to a head-heavy racket. It drops the PYROFIL shaft material and has a lower tension ceiling than the full Ryuga.
From £130.00 at Badminton HQ
Budget smasher. A stiff, head-heavy 4U racket for players who want an attacking set-up at a modest price. Expect a firm feel and most of the weight towards the head.
From £88.95 at Central Sports RRP £115