You Do Not Need Heavy Badminton Rackets To Generate Awesome Power (Why Alex Lanier Uses a 4U Racket)
- CKYew
- 34 minutes ago
- 4 min read
When it comes to racket setups, one detail about Alex Lanier may surprise a lot of people: he actually plays with a 4U racket.
Alex Lanier is one of the most explosive, powerful men’s singles players on the World Tour, currently inside the top 10, but uses a lighter racket weight than many would expect. I recently sat down with Alex on my podcast with Viktor Axelsen, The Average Not Average Podcast, to discuss his equipment, training life, golf, chess, and even his hatred for bananas! His episode is now live, which you can check out here if you want the full deep dive.
But today, let’s talk about the part that really stood out: why Alex uses a lighter 4U racket and how you can figure out whether switching to a lighter weight could actually increase your power too.
Understanding Racket Weights (U-System)
The numbers before the letter “U” indicate weight class:
Lower number = heavier racket
3U > 4U > 5U > 6U and so on
Back in the late 1990s and early 2000s, 2U and 3U were the norm, and finding a 4U or 5U was rare. Today, however, 4U and 5U rackets are extremely more common, and 4U is arguably the most popular weight category right now, even at a professional level.
Why A Lighter Racket Can Still Generate Power
Alex mentioned that he wants to generate power without spending unnecessary energy. And having gone through the same transition from 3U to 4U myself, I understand exactly what he means.
A lighter racket can actually give you more racket head speed, which translates into more power, provided you have decent technique and timing. You’re not sacrificing as much as you think.
For me, switching from a 3U Arcsaber 10 to a 4U Astrox 88D Pro (UK here), and now to my 4U Nanoflare 700 Pro (UK here), it gave me:
Faster racket head speed
Better defence
More counter-attack opportunities
More power than before
It was a win-win!
What Alex Lanier Looks For In A Badminton Racket
I asked Alex to describe his ideal racket characteristics. Here’s what he said:
He prefers a bit of head weight, but not as much as people assume.
He likes reactivity in the shaft, meaning the shuttle should come off quickly with less effort.
Too much head weight means generating power becomes too energy-consuming.
Overall, he wants a racket that is balanced, reactive, and efficient.
This aligns perfectly with why he settled on a 4U!
Alex Lanier’s Long Testing Process: 10 Months of Trials
Alex didn’t immediately switch to the 3rd generation Yonex Astrox 99 Pro (UK here), even though he was actually the poster athlete for the launch. He stayed with his first-generation orange-and-purple Astrox 99 for as long as possible, even after Yonex discontinued it.
He explained that:
The racket change took 10 months
He tested prototypes for a long time in practice
He needed assurance that the racket would also perform well in tournaments
He wouldn’t switch “just for marketing reasons”
These photos I took of him at the Paris 2025 World Championships show that he was still using the original Astrox 99 even then, long after the new model had launched.
My Own Racket Customisation Process
Because of the reviews I do on YouTube, I do test a lot of rackets. When testing, I try to keep everything as consistent as possible:
Same strings
Same string tension
Same grip - I personally love the Yonex AC108 yellow grip
Same wrapping style - I typically wrap a minimum of three loops at the base, sometimes four or five if I want to adjust the feel or balance.
Recently, I also wanted a bit more head weight on my Nanoflare 700 Pro, so I added the premium racket protection tape to the frame, which just helps add a touch of weight while protecting against chips.
You can check out the Premium Racket Protection Tape to protect your precious badminton rackets from chips and scratches (with free delivery worldwide) on ckyew.com/shop. We also have some super limited edition player signed prints too!
How to Test Whether You Should Switch to A Lighter Badminton Racket
There are two key steps:
1. Know what you're looking for
What do you look for in a badminton racket? Power, speed, stability, balance, reactivity? Write it down and make a note of how your current racket feels as a baseline.
2. Test, test, and test again
Borrow a lighter racket from a friend or demo one from a shop and always keep notes of how each racket you test feels. Compare it against your current racket and repeat until you find one you like! When everything clicks, you’ll know.
Many manufacturers now create multiple weight classes of the same model. For example, the new Victor Thruster FC Ultra comes in 3U, 4U and 5U, giving you plenty of room to experiment.
To conclude, you don’t need a heavy badminton racket to generate great power anymore. Technique + timing + physical conditioning = real power! This means a lighter racket might actually unlock more of it, as we saw is the case for Alex Lanier. With that said, good luck with your testing and I’ll see you in the next one!