A comprehensive review of the badminton rackets used by Lee Chong Wei—possibly the most complete ever!
Jayce
Although Lee Chong Wei does not hold the unprecedented record of a complete Grand Slam like Lin Dan, his diligence and hard work have earned him a place among the four greats of badminton, with a vast global fan base. Every piece of badminton equipment he has used becomes a trendsetter in the sport, influencing the choices of amateur players worldwide.
From the Start to 2010: NS Series, AT Series
MP88
Reviewing Lee Chong Wei’s career, he has used numerous badminton racket models, most of which are known for their aggressive play style. In the early stages of his career, Lee Chong Wei used rackets such as the MP88, NS8000, and NS9000. However, due to the scarcity of video and image resources, these are not extensively discussed here.
NS9000
As the demands for speed and attack-defense rhythm in badminton increased, and with the decline of round-head rackets and the rise of square-head rackets, Yonex introduced the AT700 in the spring of 2003. This racket incorporated square-head design, titanium armor, and a 7mm thin elongated shaft, becoming the new generation’s aggressive weapon.
Subsequently, in 2007, Yonex launched the AT900P and AT900T, defined as “Power” and “Technique” respectively. If the AT700 can be compared to the Xuantie Heavy Sword used by Yang Guo, then the AT900 can be likened to the Dragon Slaying Saber and the Heavenly Sword forged by Guo Jing and Huang Rong. Compared to the AT700, the AT900P emphasizes offense while also considering defense.
AT900P
During the men’s singles final at the 2008 Beijing Olympics, Lee Chong Wei used the older AT900P in his classic match against Lin Dan. The AT900P features a square head, box frame, and built-in T-joint, with the frame and shaft made from soft titanium alloy. It is designed as an offensive racket with a head-heavy and stiff shaft, particularly suited for powerful smashes. While it may seem outdated by today’s standards, it was highly popular at the time. Holding the AT900P felt like wielding a Dragon Slaying Saber, ready to unleash your potential at any moment.
Arcsaber Z
The year 2009 was challenging for Yonex, losing two star teams, the Chinese and Korean national teams. Nonetheless, Yonex aimed to conquer the market with new products, introducing the Arcsaber Z that year. Lee Chong Wei briefly used the Arcsaber Z but later returned to the AT900P. Notably, at the 2010 World Championships, Taufik Hidayat defeated Lee Chong Wei (using the AT900P LCW) with the Arcsaber Z TH, leading to a surge in the Arcsaber Z’s popularity.
In 2010, Yonex released a signature version of the AT900P-LCW for Lee Chong Wei. The racket’s frame was still the AT900P, but the appearance was meticulously designed, adding a commemorative significance. At the 2010 Asian Games, Lee Chong Wei, using the AT900P LCW, reached the men’s singles final but lost to Lin Dan with a score of 1-2 (13-21, 21-15, 10-21).
2011 to 2014: VT Series Rackets
VT80
In 2011, Yonex introduced the VT series, a culmination of their technological advancements, launching the classic VT-80 in March. With its ultra-thin shaft and the renowned Tri-Voltage System, the VT-80 offered powerful smashes and excellent control in the front and mid-court. It was one of the top rackets of its time. Lee Chong Wei used the VT-80 at the 2011 All England Open, where he defeated Lin Dan in straight sets, 2-0 (21-17, 21-17), to win the championship.
VT-ZF
In March 2012, just before the All England Championships, Yonex released the VT-ZF, an even more aggressive racket than the VT-80. The VT-ZF featured a head-heavy design, a stiff shaft, and a thin frame, minimizing wind resistance. With its concentrated power and fast ball speed, it was highly suited for offensive players.
VT-ZF-LTD
For the 2012 London Olympics, Yonex introduced the special limited edition VT-ZF-LTD, designed as Lee Chong Wei’s Olympic racket. Unfortunately, Lee Chong Wei lost to Lin Dan 1-2 (21-15, 10-21, 19-21), missing out on the world championship once again. The racket’s purple and white color scheme was considered quite stylish at the time.
VT-ZF2
In early 2014, Yonex launched the VT-ZF2, popularly known as the “Second Brother.” Lee Chong Wei immediately used it at the All England Championships, where he defeated Chen Long in the final to win his third All England men’s singles title. While the VT-ZF2 was powerful, it was slightly less aggressive in smashes compared to the VT-ZF. However, with the thinnest shaft ever, a maximum tension of 28 pounds, and excellent feel, the “Second Brother” remained popular among amateur players even three years after its release.
VT-ZF2-LCW
Following the release of the VT-ZF2, Yonex introduced the VT-ZF2-LCW in August 2014, just before the World Championships. In a video promoting the new gear, Lee Chong Wei noted, “I might be the first male player to use a pink badminton racket. I believe it will bring me good luck.”
Unfortunately, the pink VT-ZF2-LCW did not bring him good fortune. At the end of August, at the World Championships in Copenhagen, Denmark, Lee Chong Wei lost to Chen Long 0-2 (19-21, 19-21), extending his streak of near misses. Moreover, during the tournament, he was found to have used banned substances, leading to an eight-month doping scandal. Subsequently, Yonex released additional colors of the VT-ZF2-LCW in yellow, red, and white.
2015 to Present: DUORA Series Rackets
DUORA10
After his comeback in May 2015, Lee Chong Wei began a grueling schedule to accumulate points for the 2015 World Championships in August. He entered the tournament ranked 44th in the world and used the latest dual-sided racket, the DUORA10 (with one side a box frame and the other a aerodynamic design). Unfortunately, he lost in the final to the top seed, Chen Long, with a score of 0-2 (14-21, 17-21).
In fact, the 2015 World Championships posed even greater challenges for Lee Chong Wei than the 2014 event. In 2014, he was banned due to a failed drug test and only returned in May. Additionally, his major rival Lin Dan was also competing, presenting a significant challenge. However, Lin Dan was unexpectedly eliminated in the quarter-finals, providing Lee Chong Wei with an opportunity to win the world title, though reality remained harsh.
DUORA10-LCW
Yonex often introduces new equipment for major tournaments, and 2016 was no exception. To align with the March All England Championships, Yonex launched the DUORA10-LCW edition in February. Lee Chong Wei immediately used the latest DUORA10-LCW but was forced to withdraw early due to health issues.
Comparison of DUORA10 and VT-ZF
Subsequently, during the Malaysia Super Series and the Asian Championships, fans captured high-definition images of Lee Chong Wei’s rackets. It was discovered that the DUORA10-LCW was essentially a re-painted version of the VT-ZF, based on the shape of the frame and the placement of the decals.
In August 2016, Lee Chong Wei competed in the Rio Olympics with the DUORA10-LCW, making another attempt at his first world championship at the age of 33. Despite defeating his rival Lin Dan in the semi-finals and reaching the final, he was narrowly defeated by Chen Long.
DUORA10-LCW New Color (Silver)
Entering 2017, at 34 years old, Lee Chong Wei was in the latter stages of his career and opted for selective participation to minimize injuries. Yonex released a new color variant of the DUORA10-LCW in silver.
During the Sudirman Cup in May and the Glasgow World Championships in August, Lee Chong Wei aimed once again for his personal world championship dream. It remained to be seen if he would use the new color DUORA10 in these tournaments. Regardless, fans hoped for Lee Chong Wei to conclude his career with a world championship victory.
