What rackets do the Chinese badminton players use, and how much tension do they set it to? Surprisingly, he’s using the stiffest racket of all!

•7 min read
What rackets do the Chinese badminton players use, and how much tension do they set it to? Surprisingly, he’s using the stiffest racket of all!
The 2022 season is set to wrap up in just one more month, and this year has marked the end of the "Lin-Lee-Chen" era as Chen Long's world ranking officially disappeared. Now, young Chinese badminton players are steadily stepping up, ready to carry the national team's legacy forward.

Today, join us as we take a look at the badminton rackets, strings, and string tensions used by China's top singles players—hoping to provide you with some helpful insights when it comes to buying equipment and choosing the right string setup.

Men's singles: Primarily focuses on an aggressive playing style, favoring 3U rackets with string tensions above 30 pounds.

Shi Yuqi: Yonex Nanoflare 100ZZ (4U), Yonex BG80P strings, 30-31 lbs

After making his comeback this year, Shi Yuqi immediately claimed victories at the Denmark Open and the Australia Open. He’s wielding the Yonex Astrox 100ZZ in navy blue—a racket featuring a super-thin 6.3mm Hyper Slim solid core shaft and an ultra-lightweight, ultra-thin frame with a full-line groove design, making it the thinnest Yonex model ever created. This innovative design seamlessly combines the lightning-fast speed of the Astrox 800 with the explosive power of the Astrox 99/88D, delivering both exceptional agility and impressive offensive capabilities from the backcourt—while remaining impressively lightweight.

The BG80P is an offensive-type string, featuring the same durable coating as strings like the BG65. However, compared to the BG80, the BG80P offers significantly enhanced durability while delivering a softer hitting feel—no longer as crisp as the BG80 but instead providing a more, cushioned response. That said, the BG80P remains an excellent string choice, especially at higher tensions, where it strikes a perfect balance between power and longevity. It’s ideal for most players who favor an aggressive playing style and prefer working with higher poundages. Unfortunately, due to its immense popularity, the BG80P has become nearly impossible to find on the market today.

Zhao Junpeng: Yonex Bow 11 PRO (3U), Yonex BG66UM strings, 31-33 lbs

Zhao Junpeng, who delivered standout performances in the first half of this year by clinching the runner-up spot at the Indonesia Open and securing third place at the World Championships, is currently wielding the new 3U version of the Arc11 PRO. Although his strings are strung at around 31–33 pounds, he still doesn’t feel much heaviness in the racket head—so much so that he often wraps a layer of tape around the tip to boost offensive power and enhance his smashes. The BG66UM features an ultra-thin 0.65mm diameter string, once hailed as Yonex’s finest line ever. Renowned players like Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei, Taufik Hidayat, and Kento Momota have all cherished this iconic string for its exceptional elasticity, which places it among the industry leaders. What sets it apart even further is its unique Ultimax coating, which not only produces a sharper, more exhilarating impact sound during shots but also delivers an incredibly crisp, satisfying feel in hand. However, this premium experience comes with a steep price: the BG66UM boasts extremely low durability. For players whose timing isn’t perfect or those who hit with considerable force, this string tends to snap almost instantly. Even under normal wear and tear, its lifespan remains disappointingly short—though for those willing to splurge, it can certainly be used without much concern over breakage.

Li Shifeng: Yonex Nanomesh 100ZZ (3U), Yonex BG66UM strings, 30-32 lbs

Li Shifeng and Shi Yuqi use the same racket model, though Li prefers the 3U version, which is slightly heavier overall. Paired with BG66UM strings featuring a fine 0.65mm diameter, it delivers powerful offensive performance.

Lu Guangzu: Yonex Astrox 99 PRO (3U), Yonex BGAB strings, 30-32 lbs

Lu Guangzu, who finally secured a medal after finishing as runner-up at the Australian Open at the end of the year, was wielding the Tianfu 99PRO—but surprisingly, he opted for the 3U version. The Tianfu 99PRO is widely regarded as the most offensive-oriented racket in the current Tianfu series. It features a tungsten-infused connecting nail system at the top of the frame, adding weight compared to traditional single-piece string protectors and delivering an even heavier head-heavy feel than the Tianfu 99. Additionally, it boasts a slimmer "EXTRA SLIM SHAFT" design, while the sides of the frame have been thickened—making it more durable under high string tensions. These enhancements also contribute to superior control during play. However, since the Tianfu 99 PRO now sports 68 string holes instead of the previous 76, players may need some time to adjust when first using it. To ensure optimal performance, it’s recommended to string it 1 to 2 pounds higher than your usual tension.

Yonex BGAB is a hybrid string set featuring the BGAS main strings—designed with a 0.61mm diameter for exceptional elasticity, though their durability is fairly average. The cross strings, on the other hand, stand out as a uniquely engineered option called Aerobite, boasting a 0.67mm diameter and a distinctive polyurethane-coated surface that delivers impressive stickiness. This results in significant friction against the racket head during impact, offering superb control over shots. Paired with the 3U Tianfu 99PRO racket and AB strings, it’s no wonder this combination has become the go-to choice for Lu Guangzu, China’s national badminton singles fitness champion.

Women's Singles: Zhong prefers BGXB63 and BG66UM strings

Chen Yufei: Yonex Astrox 77 PRO (4U), Yonex BGXB63 strings, 26–28 lbs

This season, Chen Yufei has secured 1 gold and 7 silver medals, showcasing remarkably consistent performance. Currently, she’s using the new Tianfu 77PRO racket, which features a 76-hole string pattern, a box-shaped frame, a slightly stiffer shaft, and a mid-sized 6.8mm grommet—neither too thin nor too thick. This balanced setup makes it incredibly easy for recreational players to pick up and enjoy. Plus, the Tianfu 77PRO naturally leans toward an offensive style, offering strong continuous downward pressure while delivering a solid, stable feel with virtually no major drawbacks. On the flip side, the BGXB63 strings are exceptionally fine at just 0.63mm in diameter, resulting in a hard yet highly elastic playing experience. However, this comes with a trade-off: the strings aren’t very durable and tend to wear out faster, plus they’re on the pricier side.

He Bingjiao: Yonex VTZF2 (4U), Yonex BG66UM strings, 29-31 pounds

This year, He Bingjiao has claimed four championships, making her the standout performer among China's women's singles players. What’s more, her choice of racket is nothing short of iconic—she’s wielding the Yonex VTZF2, famously nicknamed the "Wrist-Breaking Tool" by badminton enthusiasts. This racket is notoriously tough to handle, boasting an impressive 310mm balance point with a head-heavy feel that’s almost overwhelming. Its exceptionally stiff shaft makes it nearly impossible to generate that satisfying whip-like motion during smashes—instead, it feels more like swinging a solid iron bar. On top of that, the compact, smaller frame design significantly shrinks the sweet spot, leaving very little margin for error. Paired with the ultra-thin 0.65mm BG66UM string and strung at around 30 pounds, the VTZF2 has perfectly complemented Bingjiao’s aggressive playing style, turning her already formidable offense into an even more lethal weapon on the court.

Wang Zhiyi: Yonex Astrox 100ZZ (4U), Yonex BGXB63 strings, 28-30 lbs

Wang Zhiyi, who claimed the Asian Championships title at the start of the year, had a strong beginning but struggled in the latter half of the season, showing inconsistent form. Playing with a push-and-loop style, she relies on the Tianfu 100ZZ racket, paired with the ultra-thin, highly elastic BGXB63 strings—providing her with exceptional feel and control on the court.


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