Yonex Astrox 77 Pro review

The Astrox 77 Pro gives me the kind of contact that makes badminton feel straightforward. I can bend the medium, lively shaft easily, send force through cleanly and read the result clearly in my hand. Control and ease of use both get 96. Those are the reasons I like it.

The feedback does the work

The balanced overall feel keeps the attack accessible. I get a quick, concentrated release without forcing the shaft, worth 92 for power. On controlled shots, I can feel exactly how much effort I used and the angle I released from. The large sweet spot makes that precision easy to repeat.

The slight head bias gives repeated hits substance, while the prompt rebound keeps them stable and clean. Rally play earns 92. I also love the black, orange and gold finish, worth looks 95.

Three samples did not feel identical

I later tested three freshly bought 4U rackets with matching strings, tension and grips. Their surface measurements were very close, but rebound, stiffness and settling differed. The sample I tagged yellow had the strongest elastic response in attack. The green tagged sample felt lightest and most comfortable to me, with smoother power and finer control.

That comparison stopped me treating the model name as a guarantee of one exact feel. I still think the 77 Pro is excellent. My own favourite of those three was the green tagged sample, because its comfort and precise release mattered more to me than the strongest rebound alone.