Rank #1 in Best Badminton Rackets: 10 Ranked, and Why the Specs Disagree
Yonex Nanoray Light 18i Graphite Racket, 77 g
Price and rating as shown on Amazon when we collected them. Both change.
The Yonex Nanoray Light 18i sits at number one in this guide: a carbon graphite badminton racket listed at £31.40, with a 4.4 average from 21,156 ratings and a Best Sellers Rank of 1 in Badminton Rackets. Most listings in this guide fall apart when you put their numbers side by side. This one largely does not. The 77 g in the title is the same 77 g in the Item Weight field, and both agree with the 5U class the specifications give as 75–79.9 grams. The 30 lbs tension in the title is repeated in the specifications. On weight and tension, the listing is consistent with itself.
What does not line up is the name. The title and the Item Type Name field say Nanoray Light 18i; the first bullet describes a different racket, the NANORAY 68 Light. The same bullet gives a head size of 6.5 sq. in. sitting next to a 68 cm overall length, and nothing on the listing reconciles a head that small with a racket that long. The cover is the other loose end: the title promises a free full cover, one reviewer says a bag came with it, and the Included Components field lists only 'Racquet'. Everything on this page comes from the Amazon listing as it stands — we have not weighed, strung or hit with this racket.
How those 21,156 ratings break down
An average hides its own shape. This is the spread behind the 4.4 stars.
Specification
Exactly as published on the Amazon listing, field for field.
| Price | £31.40 |
|---|---|
| Rating | 4.4 out of 5 from 21,156 ratings |
| Item weight | 77 g |
| Weight class | 5U (75–79.9 grams) |
| String tension | 30 lbs |
| Frame and shaft material | Carbon Graphite |
| Head size (as listed) | 6.5 sq. in. |
| Overall length (as listed) | 68 cm |
What buyers actually say
Quoted from customer reviews on Amazon
Verified purchase“I have been using this for nearly a year. The weight is superb - 5u light and appropriate for my needs. I have wrist issues so unable to use heavier rackets. Net player and able to return fast with this racket. For beginner to intermediate level - adequate racket to enjoy the game. Also came in with a bag so that's great.”
Verified purchase“a brilliant racquet for someone who is getting back into badminton. Great value without sacrificing the quality or durability. it is a heavier racquet than most but that works perfect for me”
What it is up against
The rivals it was ranked against in Best Badminton Rackets: 10 Ranked, and Why the Specs Disagree.
Questions people ask
How heavy is the Yonex Nanoray Light 18i?
The title, the Item Weight field and the specifications all give 77 g, and the listing classes it as 5U, which it defines as 75–79.9 grams.
What string tension does it take?
30 lbs, stated in the title and repeated in the specifications under String Tension.
Does it come with a cover?
The title promises a free full cover and one reviewer says it arrived with a bag, but the Included Components field lists only 'Racquet'. That is all the listing says either way.
Is the racket described in the bullets the same model as the one in the title?
The title and the Item Type Name field say Nanoray Light 18i, while the first bullet describes the NANORAY 68 Light. Both appear on the same listing and the listing does not explain the difference.
What is the head size?
The bullet gives 6.5 sq. in., in the same sentence as the 30 lbs tension figure. It is the only head measurement on the listing, and it sits alongside a stated overall length of 68 cm.
Is the Yonex Nanoray Light 18i pre-strung?
Yes. The specifications list Pre-Strung as 'Strung' and Sport Racket String Installation as 'Strung'.
Comments
Reader comments are not checked against the manufacturer's claims above.
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