I’ve recently had the chance to play test the complete Astrox range from Yonex and have already posted my thoughts on the 88 S Pro and the 88 D Pro. The next racket I wanted to share my thoughts on was the 88 D Game as I felt this was a fantastic racket – and here’s why.
First impressions
When I first picked up this racket it felt very similar to the 88 D pro in terms of spec. Head weight felt very similar and indeed both rackets measured in at 310mm which put them into the head heavy classification. It also had the same gold and black paint job which looks very nice indeed.
The spec tested was a 4U G5 strung with BG80 at 24lbs, so again set up was very similar to the set up on the Pro. I used my standard grip set up of cushion wrap and an over grip only to keep the test consistent. Despite feeling the same in the hand, there are differences between the Game and the Pro. Firstly the head looked a little larger and it only had a semi-recessed frame whereas the Pro and Tour have fully recessed frames. The shaft of this racket also felt easier to flex.
So on to the test…
Rear Court
Clears with this racket were effortless and the power was very easy to obtain. The sweet spot definitely feels bigger on this racket compared to the Pro model and the shaft whips a lot more easily which would account for the power being easier to extract. This would be very beneficial to those who like the feel of a head heavy racket, but need the extra help in getting the shaft to flex
One noticeable difference is that this racket doesn’t quite have the same solid feel compared with the Pro, however, smashing was still very nice with this racket and it certainly packed a punch.
Mid Court
This model feels slightly slower versus the Pro and would be due to the slightly different frame profile of the head. Once again the solid feel was missing but this racket still performed well and there wasn’t too much of a lag when playing drives or defending which you sometimes gets with a more flexible racket.
Front Court
As with the Pro I had no issues playing the fore court with this racket, despite its head heavy balance. Net tumbles and lifts were easy to execute.
Summary
For me this racket was the shining star of the whole bunch. Currently retailing at approximately £80.00, this really is a great racket for the price you pay and I’d have no issue recommending this to an intermediate club level player. The large sweet spot and flexible frame make it very easy to use and much more forgiving, while the retained head weight of the Pro model makes it a fun racket to use from the rear court – delivering lots of power.
These rackets are currently available at YC Sports.