14/10/2022
Racket Review – Li Ning Axforce 90 Max Dragon Official Technical Specification
Weight and grip: 3U/G5, 4U/G5
Max string tension: 3U – 31lbs (14kgs), 4U – 30lbs (13.6kg)
Frame and shaft material: 6.2mm shaft, M50 super carbon and HDF shock absorption system
Racket Balance: Head Heavy
Shaft Flexibility: Medium Stiff
My racket’s specification
Weight and grip: 4U/G5
Racket Balance: Head Heavy (balance point: 309mm)
String and tension: Li Ning N61 @ 25 lbs
General Comment
This dragon takes time to tame! Personally, I don’t think there is a buy and play well immediately racket as every racket is different and thus time is needed to get used to it. This one will definitely take longer than your average racket due to its specification, namely the thinness of the head and shaft as well as its stiffness. The head is very thin (comparable to the Nanoflare 800LT’s razor frame) and the shaft is also very thin (comparable to the Astrox 100ZZ). So, what we have here is a racket that has the thinnest head and shaft and this translates to tons of speed. The shaft is stiff even though according to Li Ning it is only medium stiff. I think it’s equally as stiff as the shaft on the Astrox 100ZZ. The head also feels stiff (I had my Mizuno JPX Reserve Edition strung using the same string at the same tension by the same stringer and the string bed of that racket felt much softer than this one). On paper this looks like a recipe for one of the best rackets in the world, and yes, it is ONLY if you are an advanced player AND you are willing to spend much time in getting used to it.
I think in order to extract this racket’s full potential, you will need to be at least a grade C player in Hong Kong’s standard or a county player in the UK standard. This is definitely not your average Joe’s racket! For me, because I am a grade D player or an advance club player in the UK, so this racket actually hindered my game. I did not play well with this racket as I could not fully extract power from it albeit the fast head speed. The shaft was just too stiff for me.
Racket Review - Offense
Smashes – My smashes weren’t great even though I was using a very repulsive string and had lower the tension from my usual 26lbs to 25lbs. The feeling when you smash, on the hand, was solid. A typical high-end Li Ning racket, they’re built like a tank due to the material they are built with.
Drops – My drops were very precise due to the stiffness of the shaft however, I had to follow through more with my swing to make sure my drops went over the net.
Punch clears – My punch clears were normal and this was because it was not a full speed shot like the smash. Not much extra effort was required when compared to other rackets.
Drives – Due to the very slim head and shaft, I was quick with the drives. The shot itself, however, wasn’t that great and it lacked the power I usually get when I play with other rackets with a more flexible shaft. To counter that, I had to put more emphasis on the height of the shuttle so that it would just be slightly above the net when it goes over.
Racket Review – Defence
Lifts – The stiffness of the shaft makes the lifts precise. I can direct the shuttle from corner to corner using this racket.
Blocks to the nets – I had to use more of my wrist when I block or else the shuttle would not go over the net. Just like the lifts, my blocks were precise due to the stiffness of the shaft.
Racket Review – Control
Pushes – Pushes were precise because of the stiff shaft.
Net shots – These were wonderful to hit as the stiffness of the shaft meant I could control the amount of tumble and the direction of the shuttle with ease.
Overall
If you are an advance player and you want to switch to Li Ning and is willing to put time and effort in getting used to this racket then go for it as I can foresee huge potential with this one. If your skill level is not quite there yet (in my case) then I would skip this for sure. There are plenty of head heavy fast rackets out there. Yes, they may not be as fast as this one but they won’t be far off, and the user-friendliness of those rackets will definitely complement your game much better than this one.
Moving Forward
Instead of trying to master this racket, I am going to try the Axforce 90 Max Tiger. That racket is less head heavy and has a softer shaft. I guess this will increase the user-friendliness rating and perhaps easier to get to used. Stay tuned for the review of this racket.
