The big racket news from Yonex this year has been the launch of the Z Force II and the Nanoray 900.
Ever since Yonex withdrew their Nanospeed series replacing with Nanoray, Yonex fans have been waiting for the release of a successor to NS9900. So the big question is, ‘does NR900 fill these shoes?’
The Yonex Nanoray 900 is not a bright, flashy looking badminton racket as we have seen from Yonex in the past. This is a very toned down, simple design which also featured on their Z Force II release. The iron grey colour with green decals is pretty smart although no doubt will not please everyone.
The racket arrived with standard Nanoray cover which I prefer over the cloth covers provided with some rackets. This is a 3U (weight 84-89g) G5 grip size (the standard grip size for the UK market is G4). The NR900 arrived as frame only and was therefore strung at 25/27 lbs in BG80.
Yonex have confused the market over the last year by introducing rackets into a range that generally does not fit correlate with their known characteristics. We all understand the Yonex ranges as:
Voltric – Head Heavy
Arcsaber – Even Balance
Nanoray – Head Light
And yet, the last Nanoray I tested, the Nanoray Z Speed, was head heavy. This racket should have been named a Voltric.
With many Yonex devotees hoping the Nanoray 900 will be the updated Nanospeed 9900 I’m sorry to report that you may be disappointed. This is a stiff racket with a slightly weighty head. It is not as head light as NS9900.
Yonex have found a new way to market this racket too. Rather than the usual speed or power variations, this is the racket that helps you smash at a different angle. Mmmmm…
It’s hitting time…
In many respects Yonex have attempted to make NR900 close to NS9900. The string pattern, handle size, shaft length are identical and there’s not too much difference in the thickness of the frame. However, it’s clear NR900 is weightier in the head which I prefer.
There’s a really nice feel about this racket when striking the shuttle…most of the time.
Clears were crisp and clean which no doubt was helped by the custom stringing. There’s still a lighness to the NR900 which allows for an easy flowing swing speed without having to thump the shuttle hard. But, there’s one slight drawback. There were a number of power shots I hit where the feeling was rather dull. I asked another player who tested the racket whether they experienced anything unusual and they reported exactly the same.
Drop shots were good with plenty of speed although the feel on impact may require some getting used to for NS9900 users. For me that bit of weight in the head provided a more solid connection although considerably short from what I experienced with Voltric Z Force.
Smashes were powerful but I wasn’t hitting sharper angles per the marketing. That said I was happy with the speed and power of the racket. Again, one or two shots felt really dull and perhaps this is a result of hitting off centre.
Flat drives were very responsive and this is where the racket really shines. The power and speed from relatively little swing was superb.
Nanoray 900 continued to perform well in defence too, which was always a great asset of NS9900. It’s fast and easy to manoevre which helps to speed up reaction time. You don’t have to work hard to get a decent result which you do with heavier headed rackets. It’s particularly nice to drive the shuttle and add a lot of pace from the smash.
I was really happy with the performance around the net too. It’s quick, got great feel and has that controlled snap. Again, that extra head weight was nice to have and yet it’s not too much to slow the racket and make it more demanding.
Summary
Overall I think Nanoray 900 is a delightful racket but it’s not a NS9900. I think it’s better in some respects with the extra head weight providing additional “punch” where NS9900 was lacking.
RRP for Nanoray 900 is £190.00, considerably more than NS9900. Online retailers are discounting but not at the same levels found on other models so expect to pay around £180,00.
Rating Nanoray 900 has proved to be a challenge. On the one hand I believe it’s an improvement on NS9900. However, those dull shots bother me along with the price. However I liked the NR900 and therefore award it four and a half stars. I recommend adding the Yonex Nanoray 900 badminton racket to your list of should test rackets if your budget will stretch. It may be worth it.
To Your Success
Paul
Hey Paul,
Bravesword 12 or nanoray 900, which one you’d prefer more? Personal preference.
it doesn’t matter which I’d prefer. The important question is which you prefer. NR900 is more head heavy and slower than BS12. If you need the combination of speed and power then BS12 wins. That said 900 is a great racket and one of my favourites from current Yonex range.
Hi Paul
How would you compare this to jetspeed s10?
I have nr900 3u and js10 4u
I personally love js10, but never really tried nr900 yet since I bought one
Nanoray 900 is a lovely racket and one of my favourites from the current Yonex range. It is slightly heavier in the head compared to JS10 and not as aerodynamic. JS10 is 4U will also feel so light and easy to swing compared to the heavier and more sluggish 900
Just got myself the nano 900 setiawan.
Been using ZF 2 and Arc 10 Taufik.
Nano is a great racket and totally agree with Paul on choosing and adapting to the hardware.
I need to work on my wrist,arm and shoulder strength ( build up muscles) in order to get the most out of the 900, where else using the ZF or Arc requires less energy generation IMO.
Hi sir, if you’re going to read the comments about voltric 7, you’re going to see my problem. And that question is still in my mind.
As far as I know, 24 lbs. is the recommended tension for VOLTRIC 7, but my string tension on this racquet is 26 lbs. I decided to put that tension because my friend told me that BG65 will lose 2lbs. of its tension on the first week of using, and I dont know that the stringer will pre-stretch the string. How if something on my racquet will be broken, what is it? The string? The frame? Or both?
Please, I need your answer. Thanks sir. Please clarify the details about BG65 string.
It is unlikely that the frame will break at 26lbs tension. However, your warranty will be invalidated as the tension exceeds the recommmendation.
Your stringer may be correct in that the string will lose 10% through stretching. If they pre-stretch there will still be some tension loss but not at the same rate.
Good luck
Paul
How would you compare this to Nanoray 800?
I have now used NR 800 for a while (3U G5, strung with BG-80 to 10kg) and i have been quite happy with it. I tried to go on Voltric-side but it just confused my game (Yonex Voltric Z-Force 2 Lin Dan Limited Edition (4U G5), BG-80 power 11kg).
Now i have been thinking something similar than my NR800, but if the development has gone further, why not to test something new if this is improved from NR800. Thats why i’m asking how would you compare NR900 vs NR800.
I would say that NR900 is slightly head heavier than 800.
I always recommend players test rackets because they learn so much about what they like and dislike. Test other brands too as you may find another manufacturer’s racket suits you better.
Good luck
Paul
Sir I want to buy two reckets among these…….
1) Arcsaber 11
2) Arcsaber z slash
3) Nanoray 900 or 800
4) Nanoray Z speed
5) Voltric z force 2
Plz suggest two reckets which will suit me as I m playing with musclepower 22.
Plz help….
PLease read my article on choosing a racket as this will help you.
Paul
Hi Paul, I was wondering if you could do a review on the Nanoray 90dx or 70dx for me please? I’m still trying to decide which one I should get.
Thanks in advance 🙂
Hi Jason
Sadly it’s not that easy as it depends on whether my retailer stocks the rackets you are asking for. So let’s look at this another way. What are the pros and cons of each racket as you see it?
Paul
Marketing a racket around ANGLES is pretty bizarre, but when you consider that POWER’s been done, and SPEED’s been done… what does that leave…
I doubt we’re going to see a true headlight ever again, to be honest – the materials are so light and strong nowadays that a 4U head heavy can hit as hard as an old 3U head heavy AND defend like a 3U headlight.
The definition of head-heavy needs a bit of changing as we have progressed throughout the times and most rackets are head heavy…. Well your new even balance rackets are now headlight 😛
I think YONEX are deliberately making inferior rackets than what they can research, and are deliberately using power creep to extend their profits. There should be some more power and speed that can be improved upon.
Alex
Many thanks for your comments.
Whilst racket technology has increased significantly over the years, in essence, most players do not hit any harder than they were 20 years ago. So whilst we marketed the latest XX materials, the truth is only coaching will make the changes to your game that you want. However, some players almost see a new racket as a magic wand that is going to deliver all that it promises. However, if the player has poor technique a new racket cannot fix it.
I’m not so sure Yonex are making inferior rackets. I believe they have lost their way a little and the lines between their respective ranges are now extremely blurred. However I consider other manufacturers are making better rackets and therefore Yonex does not stand out the same. I was very sorry to leave the Yonex corporation but have been so happy with the Victor family in terms of how they support me. I still see Yonex as the premier brand although I honestly believe they have the ability to outshine other brands if they did the right things.
To your success
Paul
Me again…
Could you give this racket to a big smasher and give them a few smashes to hit? I believe it requires the frame to bend in order to do the marketed sharp smashes.
Great review, as always.
Alex
A number of players have tried it and reports are pretty much the same. If a racket could bend that much then it would be considered highly flexible and I would expect more prone to break.
Paul