Yonex Astrox 100 Game VA Badminton Racket Review & Buying Guide (India)
A head-heavy attacking frame from the Astrox 100 family at a club-player price. Who it suits, how it compares to the Tour, and what to string it at.
Yonex Astrox 100 Game VA badminton racket review: the attacking frame for club players
The Astrox 100 family is Yonex's power line, and it carries the shadow of Viktor Axelsen's endorsement. The problem for most Indian club players is that the flagship frames in this family are genuinely demanding — stiff, unforgiving, and built for players who already smash properly.
The Yonex Astrox 100 Game VA Badminton Racket at ₹7,665 is the answer to that problem: the same head-heavy attacking character, in a frame that will not punish you for every imperfect contact.
Who the Astrox 100 Game VA is for
This is a head-heavy racket, and that single fact determines who should buy it. Weight in the head means more mass arriving behind the shuttle at contact — more smash, more weight on the clear. It also means the racket is slower to move, so late or lazy swings get exposed, particularly in defence and at the net.
The right buyer is an improving club player with a repeatable overhead action who wants to add sting to their attack. If you play mostly singles and like dictating rallies from the back, this frame suits you. If you play fast doubles and live at the net, a lighter, even-balance racket will serve you better.
Where it sits against the Astrox 100 Tour
This is the question most buyers actually have. The Astrox 100 Tour VA at ₹10,035 is the stiffer, more demanding frame. Stiffness rewards players who generate high racket-head speed — the shaft resists, loads, and releases. For everyone else, a stiff shaft simply feels dead, because you are not swinging fast enough to make it work.
The Game is softer through the shaft. It flexes and helps you, which is exactly what a club player needs. You give up a little at the very top end of the power range and gain a great deal in consistency.
| Racket | Price | Character | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Yonex Astrox 100 VA Game | ₹6,999 | Head-heavy, softer shaft | Improving club attacker |
| Yonex Astrox 100 Game VA | ₹7,665 | Head-heavy, softer shaft | Improving club attacker |
| Yonex Astrox 100 Game | ₹7,665 | Head-heavy, softer shaft | Non-VA colourway |
| Yonex Astrox 100 Tour VA | ₹10,035 | Head-heavy, stiff shaft | Advanced, fast swingers |
The pricing quirk worth knowing
There are several near-identical listings in this family, and the prices are not identical. The Yonex Astrox 100 VA Game is ₹6,999, while the Yonex Astrox 100 Game VA Badminton Racket and the Yonex Astrox 100 Game Badminton Racket are both ₹7,665.
These are variations on the same frame — colourway and edition differences rather than fundamentally different rackets. If the ₹666 matters to you, the ₹6,999 listing is the same playing experience. Check the grip size on whichever listing you choose before ordering, because that is the specification that will actually affect your game.
Stringing it properly
A head-heavy attacking frame strung badly is a waste of ₹7,665. Most Indian club players should land in the 24–27 lb range. Start at 24 lb: you get a more forgiving sweet spot and the strings do more of the power generation for you.
Move up only when you notice you are consistently middling the shuttle and want more control instead of more help. Chasing 28 lb because a professional uses it is the most common and most expensive mistake in club badminton — the pros can hit the middle every time, which is precisely why they can afford the tension.
The verdict
At ₹6,999–₹7,665, the Astrox 100 Game VA is one of the more sensible buys in Yonex's attacking line for Indian club players. It gives you the head-heavy character the Astrox name promises without the stiff shaft that makes the Tour a frustrating purchase for anyone who is not already very good.
Buy it if you attack from the back and want more weight behind it. Skip it if you are new to the sport, or if your game lives at the net.
Shop the gear
- Yonex Astrox 100 VA Game — ₹6999
- Yonex Astrox 100 Game VA Badminton Racket — ₹7665
- Yonex Astrox 100 Game Badminton Racket — ₹7665
- Yonex Astrox 100 Tour VA Badminton Racket (Unstrung) — ₹10035
Related reading
- Yonex Nanoflare 1000 Game Badminton Racket Review & Buying Guide (India)
- Badminton String Tension Explained: A Buying Guide for India
- How to Choose Badminton Shoes: A Buying Guide for India
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between the Astrox 100 Game and the Astrox 100 Tour?
They sit at different points in the same family. The Game is the more accessible frame — softer in feel and more forgiving through the swing, priced at ₹7,665 for the VA edition. The Tour is the stiffer, more demanding version at ₹10,035, and rewards players who already generate their own racket-head speed. If you are asking the question, the Game is almost certainly the right answer.
Is the Astrox 100 Game VA good for beginners?
Not really, and that is not a criticism of the racket. This is a head-heavy attacking frame, and head-heavy rackets punish slow, late swings — a genuine beginner will find their defence and net play suffer. It suits an improving club player who has a repeatable overhead action and wants more weight behind the smash. A true beginner is better served by an even-balance racket.
What string tension should I use on the Astrox 100 Game VA?
Club players in India typically string this family in the 24–27 lb range. Lower tension gives you a more forgiving sweet spot and more built-in power; higher tension gives more control but demands cleaner contact. If you are unsure, start at 24 lb and go up only once you find you are consistently hitting the middle of the strings.