[Review Experience] Li-Ning AERONAUT 9000

Jayce September 3, 2024 1 0

Preface

There is no best racket, only the most suitable one.

Choosing a racket that fits your power style and playing technique greatly aids in performance. Although brands offer various detailed classifications of products, when players make their selection, they may still face some awkwardness. Sometimes, even rackets labeled as offensive by the brand can produce vastly different experiences in the hands of different players. Enthusiasts who chase these differences find joy in buying and testing new rackets, while average players might struggle, just wanting to find a racket that suits them…

In this review, the Badminton Central Review Room presents a joint evaluation of Li-Ning’s newly launched AERONAUT series: AERONAUT 9000, AERONAUT 9000C, and AERONAUT 9000D. We hope this will help players in their racket selection.

Introduction

“AERONAUT” can also be understood as “Wind Tunnel.” The frame of the AERONAUT series is an improvement on the fluid box frame design, which has been tested in the market for many years. The lower part of the racket frame is slightly thicker, enhancing hitting stability, and features four airflow channels to reduce wind resistance during swings. This airflow channel design is somewhat similar to the spoilers on cars and airplanes, which guide the airflow to the rear of the high-speed moving object, reducing the negative pressure at the tail during high-speed movement, thereby decreasing motion resistance and increasing aerodynamic stability.

In simple terms, the AERONAUT series frame is an upgrade of the classic box frame, offering excellent hitting stability.

This time, the AERONAUT 9000 is available in three models. The AERONAUT 9000 is a versatile racket endorsed by the new generation of Chinese national men’s singles star “Little Stone” Shi Yuqi. The AERONAUT 9000C (Combat) focuses on offense, endorsed by mixed doubles star Zheng Siwei. The AERONAUT 9000D (Drive) emphasizes driving, endorsed by Li Junhui of the “Twin Towers” pair. Shi Yuqi’s style is steady and comprehensive; Zheng Siwei poses a significant threat from the backcourt, often surprising opponents with his fast-paced smashes and slices; as a doubles player, Li Junhui demands high racket flexibility and speed in drives, so the introduction of the AERONAUT 9000D might finally let him put down his flashy pink racket.

Paintwork

Li-Ning’s racket paintwork is known for its durability and aesthetics, far exceeding the industry average. However, this time, Li-Ning excels not just in aesthetics but in the relationship between paintwork style and the physical properties of the racket.

The AERONAUT 9000 features a champagne gold and ivory white color scheme, with an overall style that is low-key and restrained, matching its nature as an all-round racket and Shi Yuqi’s calm on-court demeanor. The AERONAUT 9000C adopts a deep blue, sky blue, and crimson color clash scheme, offering more visual impact and aligning with Zheng Siwei’s aggressive play style. The AERONAUT 9000D uses a large amount of fluorescent yellow with hints of green, making it flashy and, yes, just right for Li Junhui!

Specifications

The AERONAUT 9000 weighs 86g unstrung with a balance point of 305mm. The AERONAUT 9000C weighs 88g unstrung with a balance point of 298mm. The AERONAUT 9000D weighs 84g unstrung with a balance point of 314mm. All models use the relatively thin S1 grip.

Experience

During the initial trial, the AERONAUT 9000 feels slightly lighter than the AERONAUT 9000C. Both have similar shaft stiffness, but the AERONAUT 9000C feels harder on impact. The two models have a noticeable difference in overall weight, making the AERONAUT 9000C more burdensome in actual use. The AERONAUT 9000D, however, is entirely different, feeling noticeably lighter during swings, with a large shaft flex due to its head-heavy nature. This characteristic is somewhat similar to the pink Energy 70i, though with significant differences in hitting stability, swing speed, and overall weight.

AERONAUT 9000

The AERONAUT 9000 is a racket with excellent shot directionality. Unlike the AERONAUT 8000, which feels heavy and stable, or the crisp and agile AERONAUT 7000, the AERONAUT 9000 feels like a combination of the two or somewhere in between. The frame stiffness is moderately hard, providing a crisp but not overly hard hitting sensation. Among Li-Ning rackets, the last one to give me this kind of comfortable feel was the Windstorm 900. Compared to the Windstorm 900, the AERONAUT 9000 offers even greater hitting stability, though the Windstorm 900 still outshines it in swing speed and point smash.

Forgiveness and power feedback jointly determine shot directionality and racket control properties. Rackets with a high degree of ball wrapping around the frame usually offer high forgiveness and a soft hitting feel (such as the AERONAUT 8000). However, due to this soft feel, these rackets often lack direct power feedback. In actual use, this may result in minimal differences in shot effect when using 4.8 vs. 5.2 units of force, greatly reducing error rates but not benefiting players seeking precise control. Similarly, many rackets with very clear power feedback have low forgiveness, increasing precision but also the error rate.

The AERONAUT 9000 strikes an excellent balance between forgiveness and power feedback, making control comfortable.

A minor regret is that the AERONAUT 9000 uses a 210mm handle, with a shorter shaft compared to the AERONAUT 8000. Long-handle, short-shaft rackets generally offer higher hitting stiffness and more direct, quick response, but they fall short in power transmission during smashes and have a higher skill threshold than short-handle, long-shaft rackets (those who have played with the short-handle, long-shaft Windstorm 900B/N904 will understand). Therefore, when it comes to heavy smashes, the AERONAUT 8000 still has the advantage. Fortunately, the AERONAUT 9000 has moderate shaft stiffness, so while it’s not a zero-skill-entry-level “sugar water” racket, it doesn’t require too much time to adapt.

Control is the biggest feature of the AERONAUT 9000. As an all-round racket, it also performs well in midcourt drives and backcourt attacks. Especially in midcourt drives, although not as agile as the AERONAUT 7000, its directionality is excellent. The AERONAUT 7000 offers a more direct and quick drive, while the AERONAUT 9000 is more comfortable. In backcourt attacks, the AERONAUT 9000 lacks the powerful downward pressure of the AERONAUT 8000, missing that feeling of stored power in heavy smashes. However, because it is lighter overall than the AERONAUT 8000 and has a stiffer hitting feel, the AERONAUT 9000 is still advantageous in quick attacks.

Based on the AERONAUT 9000, Li-Ning has adjusted the weight distribution and stiffness parameters to launch the more attack-oriented AERONAUT 9000C and the drive-enhanced AERONAUT 9000D.

AERONAUT 9000C

The AERONAUT 9000C has a hitting feel very similar to the AERONAUT 9000, but with higher overall weight, making smashes more stable, though defense may be more challenging. The AERONAUT 9000D differs significantly from the AERONAUT 9000, concentrating weight in the racket head, reducing overall weight, and making it more flexible and easy to drive.

Besides the increase in overall weight, a closer comparison reveals that the racket face of the AERONAUT 9000C is also stiffer than that of the AERONAUT 9000. Compared to the AERONAUT 9000, the AERONAUT 9000C sacrifices some comfort to increase attack power, akin to switching a vehicle to sport mode, where pursuit of exhilaration naturally comes at the expense of comfort. Compared to the more attack-focused AERONAUT 8000, the AERONAUT 9000C provides a more straightforward and firm smashing experience, with the AERONAUT 8000’s heavy smash feeling like a power move requiring buildup, while the AERONAUT 9000C’s heavy smash feels like wielding a large broadsword. Players who favor Bao’s heavy build-up smashes might prefer the AERONAUT 8000, but those who enjoy Zheng Siwei’s fast-paced heavy smashes and slices will find the AERONAUT 9000C an excellent choice.

AERONAUT 9000D

The differences between the AERONAUT 9000D and the AERONAUT 9000 remind me of the Energy 70i and Energy 70. Both reduce overall weight and increase the balance point based on the original version. The AERONAUT 9000D is a racket with a very low entry threshold, head-heavy but overall light, with a large shaft flex, making it easy to use the force of the shot. In doubles, the AERONAUT 9000D is very agile in drives and defense, producing a shot that is slightly less swift than the AERONAUT 700

The racket face of the AERONAUT 9000D is also stiffer than that of the AERONAUT 9000. Combined with its larger swing amplitude, the AERONAUT 9000D sacrifices significant control. Compared to the speed-oriented Windstorm 900, the weight of the AERONAUT 9000D is more concentrated in the racket head, making it easier to leverage for point smashes. However, the lack of a wrapped feeling in the racket face makes the Windstorm 900 more comfortable in my opinion. The AERONAUT 9000D may be more suitable for players with slightly less power or those who enjoy the AERONAUT 7000i but prefer a softer shaft, or for those who like the Energy 70i but find it too light.

Selection

The AERONAUT 9000 perfectly embodies the essential control properties of the AERONAUT series, while the AERONAUT 9000D and AERONAUT 9000C make performance adjustments based on this foundation. The AERONAUT 9000C is quite similar to the AERONAUT 9000, but with a higher overall weight, making it suitable for players who have more power and love to attack. The AERONAUT 9000D, however, differs greatly from the AERONAUT 9000, resembling a softer-shafted, 675mm long AERONAUT 7000i, or a box-framed, slightly heavier Energy 70i, making it more suitable for doubles players with slightly less power.

String Combination

All three rackets were tested with Li-Ning No. 1 string, strung at 26 lbs vertical and 28 lbs horizontal. In my experience, both the AERONAUT 9000C and AERONAUT 9000D have stiffer racket faces than the AERONAUT 9000, so pairing them with slightly softer strings can increase the wrapped feel on the racket face. Considering the wear and tear on strings during attacks, the Li-Ning No. 7 string might be a good choice for the AERONAUT 9000C, while the AERONAUT 9000D, designed for driving and doubles, naturally pairs better with the crisp-sounding Li-Ning No. 1 string. Since the AERONAUT 9000 has well-rounded performance, pairing it with the equally versatile Li-Ning No. 5 string could be a viable option.