Yonex Astrox 99 Pro (Gen 3)
Yonex’s flagship head-heavy power racket, rebuilt for its third generation with 2G-Namd Flex Force now running through both the frame and shaft.
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Our Verdict
The Yonex Astrox 99 Pro (Gen 3) is the third generation of Yonex’s Astrox 99 series. It’s a great choice for singles players who want a powerful backcourt game, with clears and smashes that feel effortless. Smashing is the racket’s main quality (“Pure Power” according to Yonex), but it requires strength and decent technique to unlock due to its head-heavy design.
That head-heavy balance also makes it feel slower at the net. Serving and netting are weaker, and driving is its biggest weakness. Because of this, we don’t recommend it for doubles.
If you play singles, this racket is a strong pick. It can still work for doubles in the lighter 4U version, but you’ll need to stay in the backcourt and let your partner cover the front. It’s best suited for lower-intermediate singles players and above, and for doubles players who stick to the back court.
- Power Output: Independent testing found the racket capable of extremely heavy, high-swing-weight smashes, an absolute beast in terms of raw head weight.
- Feel & Control: At slow swing speeds the frame felt notably stiffer, giving testers more control on flatter shots, while flexing more at full swing speed to add extra snap on the smash.
- Handling & Recovery: The extreme head-heaviness makes fast exchanges at the net and quick defensive resets far tougher, with some players describing the adjustment period as wrestling the racket into submission.
Yonex named Alex Lanier the face of this racket’s launch, and he’s spoken about switching to the new Astrox 99, though he stuck with his old first-generation racket for a while before making the change, even opting for the lighter 4U build over the standard 3U.
Our Ratings
Pros & Cons
Pros
- +Most of the weight sits in the head, so smashes hit harder.
- +New flexible carbon material in the frame and shaft adds extra shuttle speed.
- +A very powerful singles racket, clears feel effortless from the backcourt.
Cons
- –Heavy and stiff, so it takes strength and good technique to control. Not ideal for beginners.
- –Feels a bit slow at the net and on drives, so front court play is weaker.
- –Built for singles, not recommended for doubles.
Is This a Singles or Doubles Racket?
Yonex Astrox 99 Pro Gen 3 is a singles racket that produces powerful smashes and effortless clears.
It’s not recommended for doubles play because serving, drives, and netting can feel slower and more difficult in the front court.
Specifications
Recommended Setup for This Racket
Athletes Using This Racket
