This article will rate and review the best Ashaway badminton rackets on the market.
Ashaway is a famous brand for manufacturing world-class strings, meeting the stringing needs of not only professional badminton players but also those who play tennis, squash, and even racketball at an elite level.
Without wasting any time, let’s jump into it.
Ashaway Phantom Helix
(Best Overall)
Material: Graphite
Grip Size: G2
Pros
Surprisingly comfortable grip: Whether you play badminton in your free time or earn your living playing this sport, this racket’s comfortable grip won’t let you feel any strain on your wrist or arm, even after playing for hours.
Durable, high-quality strings: Ashaway has used its flagship ZyMax 69 Fire string in this racket. This string is constructed using a state-of-the-art polymer core and delivers ultimate strength as well as durability. You can thus count on it to withstand the most demanding playing conditions.
Lightweight construction reduces air drag: Compare this racket’s weight with competitors from other brands, and you’ll realize that it’s incredibly lightweight. Which is a good thing as it means that this model won’t experience much air drag, facilitating quick and powerful shots.
Cons
Head-heavy balance might not be to everybody’s liking: That might especially be the case if you’re a beginner. The head-heavy balance means this racket might not be as maneuverable as its head-light counterparts.
Summary
Lightweight construction? Check. Durable and high-quality strings? Yes. Helps you hit powerful shots with better control? Absolutely. All these qualities make the Ashaway Phantom Helix our top pick.
Buy Ashaway Phantom Helix on Amazon
Ashaway Vex Striker 100
(Best Budget-Friendly)
Material: Graphite
Grip Size: G2
Pros
Comes at a pocket-friendly price: Want to know how inexpensive this badminton racket is? Well, you can get three of these rackets at the price of one Phantom Helix. As such, if you’re on a tight budget, the Vex Striker 100 is a must-have.
Features the exact same string as our top pick: The fact that the Vex Striker 100 has the same string (Zymax 69 Fire) as the Ashaway Phantom Helix should assure you that no corners have been cut to keep this racket’s price low.
Has an extended sweet spot: Its VS head shape has given this racket a larger sweet spot than other similarly-priced models. As such, the risk of mis-hits will be low.
Cons
Not for advanced players: Given its bargain-basement asking price, it shouldn’t be surprising to note that this model won’t win you many championships.
Summary
Despite coming in at an affordable price, the Ashaway Vex Striker 100 has all the features you usually expect from a premium badminton racket.
Buy Ashaway Vex Striker 100 on Amazon
Ashaway Vex Striker 300
(Best Value for Money)
Material: Carbon
Grip Size: G2
Pros
Has rust- and corrosion-resistant construction: Even though this model doesn’t cost a fortune, a protective coating will prevent the accumulation of dirt and, more importantly, moisture. As a result, you can safely play with this racket in humid environments.
Allows for more powerful shots: Compared with your average racket, this model has more weight concentrated towards the head/throat area. As such, you won’t have to apply much force to play powerful smashes and clears.
Boosts excellent durability: Here’s one feature that distinguishes this racket from its mid-range counterparts. High-quality carbon construction means that this model can continue for years with proper care.
Cons
The grip is average: Do you take your badminton seriously? If so, then you might want to replace the grip at the first chance you get.
Summary
The Ashaway Vex Striker 300 is a must-have for anyone who wants a high-quality racket at a mid-range price.
Buy Ashaway Vex Striker 300 on Amazon
Ashaway Nano Qube X1
(Best Premium)
Material: Graphite
Grip Size: G2
Pros
Is incredibly durable: Its graphite construction means that this racket won’t react with elements in the air, such as moisture or dust particles. Graphite’s added stability also gives it an edge over carbon, which has less lateral strength.
Comes with a shock-absorbing grip: This racket comes with Ashaway’s Super Grip, which has a tacky PU (polyurethane) surface for maximum shock absorption and ultimate grip. So, even in the event of a mis-hit, it won’t sting your hands.
The racket head’s orientation is self-corrected during sting: This is made possible by the QubaTech profile Ashaway has employed in this racket’s design. So, you can expect a clean and crisp impact.
Cons
Doesn’t come with a cover: All the Ashaway rackets you see above are supplied without a cover. Given this model’s steep asking price, we expected that it would be an exception. Unfortunately, that isn’t the case.
Summary
The Ashaway Nano Qube X1 ticks all the right boxes for a premium racket, though the absence of a cover disappoints.
Buy Ashaway Nano Qube X1 on Amazon
Ashaway Phantom X-Shadow
(Best for Aggressive Play)
Material: Graphite
Grip Size: G2
Pros
Has a relatively flexible shaft for power hitting: As noted in our badminton rackets buying guide, a flexible shaft bends just before the racket comes into the shuttlecock, thus transferring maximum power to your shots.
Isometric head shape ensures better contact with the shuttlecock: This, in turn, reduces the likelihood of mis-hits, thereby forcing your opponent to improvise to rob a point off of you.
Strung with ZyMax 69 Fire to complement an aggressive style of play: The string’s high tension combines with the racket’s excellent lateral strength to complement a forward playing style on the court.
Cons
Doesn’t come cheap: If you’re on a tight budget, this racket may not be the one for you.
Summary
The Ashaway Phantom X Shadow has all the attributes to take the game of power hitters to the next level.
Buy Ashaway Phantom X Shadow on Amazon
Frequently Asked Questions
Why Choose Ashaway Badminton Rackets?
One of the major reasons Ashaway badminton rackets sell as well as they do is because they feature world-class strings that provide excellent repulsion power, improved durability, and enhanced tension stability.
Furthermore, the latest Ashaway rackets (like those mentioned above) come with new ZyMax strings, which produce less creep and elongation at professional stringing tensions. This means that they’d maintain their tension for a long time.
Is Ashaway better than Dunlop?
While some badminton players think Ashaway is better, others side with Dunlop. Check out our guide on the best Dunlop badminton rackets to decide for yourself.
