Last updated: June 2026 · Written by the team at Badminton House
Quick Answer: An Se Young Racket and Gear
For most Canadian club players, copy An Se Young’s racket style and string choice before copying her pro-level string tension.
Club Copy
Best choice: choose a 4U, slightly head-heavy, medium-flex racket feel and use Yonex BG80 at a club-friendly tension instead of jumping straight to her reported 28–29 lbs setup.
Exact Gear
An Se Young is listed by Yonex with the Astrox 77 Pro and BG80 string; her reported tension is around 28–29 lbs, which is better treated as a pro reference point than a default club-player target.
Canada
BG80 is available via our Moncton, NB stringing service; full Canadian buying options are covered below.
If you searched for an se young racket, you probably want more than a model name. You want to know what An Se Young actually uses, why it works for her defensive-counter style, and which parts of her setup make sense for a Canadian club player who is not training like a world No. 1 singles athlete.
As of June 2026, An Se Young is officially listed by Yonex with the Astrox 77 Pro and BG80 string. The racket choice is especially interesting because it is not the most extreme pro frame in the Astrox family: it sits in a more controlled, maneuverable lane that fits her ability to absorb pressure, turn defence into attack, and finish rallies with sharp changes of pace.
Her gear story also has a footwear twist. After discomfort with Yonex shoes in 2024, she was granted limited footwear autonomy during the Denmark Open period, then later signed a four-year personal Yonex deal on June 26, 2025. So this guide separates what is confirmed, what is reported, and what Canadian players can realistically copy without overspending or choosing a setup that is too demanding.
Want the most practical part of An Se Young’s setup? Badminton House stocks Yonex BG80 through our Moncton stringing service, with BG80 listed as a 0.68 mm crisp, high-repulsion option and a 2–3 day turnaround: see our badminton stringing service.
In This Guide
- What Is An Se Young's Current Racket?
- Why the Astrox 77 Pro Fits Her Defensive-Counter Style
- Her String Setup: Yonex BG80 and Reported Tension
- Should Club Players Copy Her String Tension?
- The Shoe and Sponsorship Saga: What Changed?
- What Canadian Players Can Actually Buy or Copy
- Which An Se Young Gear Choice Should You Copy?
What Is An Se Young's Current Racket?
Verified June 2026, Yonex lists An Se Young as an Astrox 77 Pro athlete on its official Astrox 77 Pro page. Her current racket is reported as the Yonex Astrox 77 Pro in High Orange.
The useful detail for Canadian club players is the racket character: she is reported to use the 4U version, around 83 g, with a mid-flex shaft and a maneuverable, slightly head-heavy feel. In plain terms, it is still an Astrox power frame, but it is not the most punishing ultra-stiff option in the line.
An Se Young racket snapshot
- Model: Yonex Astrox 77 Pro
- Colour: High Orange
- Reported weight class: 4U, around 83 g
- Feel: mid-flex, maneuverable, slightly head-heavy
- Best-fit idea: controlled power for fast defence-to-attack transitions
The section below on her playing style explains why this more controlled Astrox frame suits her defensive-counter game so well: it can feel head-heavy enough on the smash, then become easier to handle when she is driving, blocking, or moving forward for the net kill.
Badminton House does not currently stock the Astrox 77 Pro. You can still browse our current badminton racket collection for Canadian-available options, restocks, and alternatives; orders over $200 qualify for free Canadian shipping.
Why the Astrox 77 Pro Fits Her Defensive-Counter Style
An Se Young is not a one-shot power player. Her game is built on rhythm, powerful defence, sharp drop shots, and the ability to turn a defensive block into an attacking net situation almost immediately. That is why the Yonex Astrox 77 Pro makes sense for her style: it gives her enough head weight to threaten with the smash, without feeling locked into slow recovery after the shot.
The key detail is how the racket behaves in motion. The Astrox 77 Pro is reported to feel head-heavy on smashes, but to even out when driving or defending. For An, that matters because her best rallies often happen in the transition: absorb pressure, reset the rhythm, then step forward for a tight net shot or net-kill.
Balance is the real lesson. If you are not sure why a racket can feel powerful in the rear court but still quick in defence, start with our head-heavy vs head-light racket balance guide.
Power without giving up recovery speed
A very head-heavy racket can help a player hit steep, heavy smashes, but it can also feel demanding when the rally speeds up. An Se Young needs something different: a racket that supports full-court defence, counter-attacking lifts, fast drives, and sudden front-court pressure. The Astrox 77 Pro sits in that useful middle ground.
- Rear court: the slightly heavy head helps add weight behind smashes and attacking clears.
- Mid-court: the racket is reported to even out well enough for drive exchanges and quick counters.
- Defence: the 4U version, reported at about 83 g, gives her a lighter platform than a heavier 3U setup.
- Front court: faster recovery makes it easier to follow a smash into the net and finish the rally.
The mid-flex shaft is part of the fit
The Astrox 77 Pro is described as having a mid-flex shaft. That is important because it makes the racket less punishing than ultra-stiff pro rackets. For An, the benefit is not simply easier power; it is repeatable power under pressure. In long singles rallies, a racket that helps her clear, lift, punch, and counter without over-forcing supports the rhythm that makes her so difficult to break down.
For club players in Canada, this is the part worth copying more than the exact model. Look for a racket that gives you attacking weight without slowing down your defence. If your racket makes you late on blocks, drives, or recovery steps, it probably does not match the way most rallies are actually won at club level.
Her String Setup: Yonex BG80 and Reported Tension
An Se Young is listed on Yonex’s official BG80 athlete page, which is the cleanest confirmation of her string choice. That same BG80 athlete list also includes Michelle Li of Canada, making this a nice Canadian connection: one of badminton’s biggest global stars and Canada’s leading women’s singles name are both associated with the same Yonex string.
The tension number you will often see attached to An Se Young is around 28–29 lbs. Treat that as a reported setup, not an official Yonex-published specification. Pro players can also adjust tension depending on hall conditions, shuttle speed, tournament week, and feel, so the exact number is less useful than the takeaway: she uses a crisp, high-performance string at a very high tension.
What BG80 is known for
- Repulsion: BG80 has a strong reputation for lively response, helping clears and smashes come off the string bed sharply.
- Crisp feel: Badminton House lists BG80 as a 0.68 mm string with a crisp, high-repulsion character.
- Durability reputation: BG80 is widely regarded as a popular tournament string because it balances power response with better durability than many thinner-feeling performance strings.
- Demanding at high tension: at a reported 28–29 lbs, it is not a forgiving setup for casual mishits or developing technique.
For Canadian players, the useful part is that you do not need to copy An’s exact tension to copy part of her feel. If you like a firm, direct response and play regularly, BG80 is a realistic string to try at a club-player tension. If you want a similar Yonex-family option with a slightly different feel, Badminton House also carries BG80 Power through its Moncton, NB stringing service.
Want An Se Young’s string in Canada? Badminton House stocks Yonex BG80 and BG80 Power through our Moncton, NB stringing service, with a 2–3 day turnaround and tension guidance for club players.
If you are unsure where to start, pair this section with our badminton string tension guide before jumping straight to pro-level numbers.
Should Club Players Copy Her String Tension?
Usually, no. An Se Young’s tension is reported around 28–29 lbs, which is an elite-level setup and sits near warranty-limit territory for many retail rackets. For most Canadian club players, the smarter move is to copy the principle of her setup — crisp response and control — not the exact tension number.
A better discussion range for many club players is 24–27 lbs, depending on your level, racket, string choice, and how cleanly you hit the shuttle. That range still gives a tighter, more direct feel than beginner tensions, but it leaves more margin for off-centre hits and everyday club-night durability.
| Tension choice | Best practical takeaway |
|---|---|
| 28–29 lbs | An Se Young’s reported range. Treat it as a pro-level reference point, not a default recommendation for club play. |
| 24–27 lbs | The safer discussion range for many intermediate and advanced club players who want a firmer, more responsive string bed without jumping straight to elite tension. |
This matters even more if you are using a crisp string like BG80. BG80 is valued for repulsion and a solid hitting feel, but it is also a string where mishits can cost you durability. If your timing is still developing, dropping a couple of pounds can make the racket more forgiving without abandoning the all-court feel you are trying to build.
Need help choosing a number? Start with our badminton string tension guide, then use the Badminton House stringing service if you want a player-informed recommendation and a typical 2–3 day turnaround.
The Shoe and Sponsorship Saga: What Changed?
An Se Young’s racket story is fairly straightforward. Her shoe story is not. After winning women’s singles gold at Paris 2024 — South Korea’s first Olympic gold in that event since 1996, after defeating China’s He Bingjiao in the final — the attention around her equipment shifted from “what does she use?” to “what is she allowed to use?”
The key issue was national-team equipment control. Under Badminton Korea Association rules at the time, national team players had been required to use officially designated equipment, including shoes. In October 2024, after An expressed discomfort with Yonex shoes, the BKA and Yonex granted her a temporary, limited footwear exception starting from the Denmark Open on Oct. 15. Around that period, she had recently worn Asics shoes during the National Sports Festival, while the BKA said it was working on custom shoes that would meet her needs.
| Date / period | What changed | Why it matters for gear watchers |
|---|---|---|
| Paris 2024 | An Se Young won Olympic women’s singles gold. | Her equipment choices became much more closely watched after the biggest title of her career. |
| Oct. 15, 2024 | A temporary, limited exception allowed her footwear autonomy from the Denmark Open after discomfort with Yonex shoes. | This explains why shoe photos from late 2024 may not match the rest of her Yonex setup. |
| Late 2024 | A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism audit followed An’s criticism of national team management after Paris 2024. | The footwear issue sat inside a larger discussion about athlete control and national-team equipment policy. |
| By May 2025 | The Korea Badminton Association began allowing personal gear sponsorships for items such as rackets, shoes, and braces. | This opened the door for top Korean players to negotiate individual equipment deals instead of relying only on team-wide arrangements. |
| June 26, 2025 | An signed a four-year Yonex deal worth ₩10 billion, reported at about USD $7.2 million. | That resolved the sponsorship question: her current personal equipment sponsor is Yonex. |
The June 2025 resolution is the important update. Yonex and Li-Ning had reportedly been competing for a four-year deal, with offers discussed as high as USD $10 million. On June 26, 2025, An signed with Yonex instead: four years, ₩10 billion, reported at about USD $7.2 million, making it the most lucrative single-player equipment sponsorship in Korean badminton history. Her team reportedly cited product quality, branding rights, and post-care support as reasons for choosing Yonex even though Li-Ning’s offer was reported higher.
For Canadian players, copy the lesson more than the logo. An’s shoe saga is a reminder that comfort, stability, and confidence on court matter more than matching a pro’s exact model. Browse current badminton footwear in Canada; Canadian orders over $200 ship free.
So what shoes does An Se Young wear now? The safest answer is that she returned to Yonex footwear after the 2025 deal, while the exact model should be treated carefully. Some gear lists connect her with Yonex Power Cushion Aerus Z2, and the late-2024 Asics period explains why older or event-specific photos can be confusing. Because elite players can change shoe models for fit, injury management, custom testing, or sponsorship timing, current shoe-model claims should always be checked against recent match photos before being repeated as definitive.
If you are choosing shoes for club play in Canada, start with the same practical priorities this story highlights: a secure heel, enough forefoot room, strong lateral stability, and a non-marking outsole for indoor courts. If you are unsure whether badminton shoes are worth it versus regular runners, see our guide to badminton shoes vs running shoes or compare Yonex court-shoe families in our Yonex 65Z vs Aerus vs Eclipsion guide.
What Canadian Players Can Actually Buy or Copy
The useful takeaway is not “buy everything An Se Young uses.” It is to copy the parts of her setup that match your level: a fast-but-stable head-heavy racket feel, a crisp repulsive string, and court shoes that protect your movement.
Most Canadian players should copy the string before the full pro setup. The Astrox 77 Pro may need to be sourced through Canadian badminton specialty retailers or your local club pro shop, but Badminton House can support the BG80 choice directly through our stringing service.
| What to copy | Realistic Canadian option | Who it fits |
|---|---|---|
|
Racket feel Astrox 77 Pro style: controlled power, not the stiffest Yonex pro frame |
Look for the Yonex Astrox 77 Pro through Canadian badminton specialty retailers or a local club pro shop. For Badminton House availability context, see the shopping note in the current-racket section above. | Intermediate to advanced singles players who defend a lot, counterattack quickly, and do not want an ultra-stiff hammer. |
|
String choice Yonex BG80 |
Book BG80 or BG80 Power through Badminton House’s Moncton, NB stringing service. | Players who want a crisp, direct hitting feel and are comfortable with a performance string rather than a maximum-durability setup. |
|
Tension idea Inspired by her reported high tension, not copied exactly |
Use a club-friendly range instead of jumping straight to pro tension. If you are unsure, compare with our badminton string tension guide. | Most club players who want better control without making clears, late lifts, or off-centre hits unnecessarily punishing. |
|
Shoe lesson Prioritize comfort and movement confidence |
Babolat Shadow Tour Men’s Badminton Shoes are in stock at $119.99 CAD, regular $139.99 CAD, as a comfort-first indoor court-shoe option. | Players who value cushioning, grip, and secure court movement over copying a sponsored shoe model exactly. |
As of June 13, 2026, Badminton House’s closest in-catalogue Yonex Astrox alternatives are sold out: the Yonex Astrox 100VA Game Grayish Beige at $349.99 CAD and the Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ Kurenai, Dark Navy at $299.99 CAD. If you are watching for future Yonex Astrox availability, check the Yonex Astrox Series collection.
For fans following An Se Young as Team Korea’s biggest women’s singles name, the Korea National Team collection is the right place to watch for Korea-themed apparel and related drops. Current catalogue availability can change, so check the product page before planning a full outfit around a tournament look.
If your cart includes shoes, strings, grips, or other essentials, remember that Badminton House offers free Canadian shipping on orders over $200. That matters when you are building a practical setup rather than chasing one exact pro-sponsored kit.
Which An Se Young Gear Choice Should You Copy?
Use this as a decision matrix, not a shopping list. An Se Young can make a demanding setup look easy; the better move is to copy the parts that match your level, timing, and footwork. For availability and Canadian buying routes, use the Canadian gear options section.
| Choose this path | Best if... | What to copy | What not to copy blindly |
|---|---|---|---|
| Astrox 77 Pro-style setup | You are an intermediate-to-advanced player who wants a racket that helps with clears, defence-to-counter transitions, and controlled attacking play. | Copy the 4U, mid-flex, slightly head-heavy idea: enough weight in the head for smashes, but still manageable for drives and defence. | Do not buy purely because it is An Se Young’s racket. If you struggle with timing on head-heavy rackets, start with a more forgiving setup. |
| Stiffer Astrox 100ZZ-type jump | You already have fast racket preparation, clean contact, and want a stiffer pro-style attacking alternative often compared with the Astrox 77 Pro. | Copy the attacking intent, not the name. This route is for players who can load a stiff shaft consistently. | Do not assume the stiffer option is automatically better. An Se Young’s 77 Pro choice points toward control and accessibility over raw force. |
| BG80 feel at club tension | You want the crisp, high-repulsion feel associated with BG80, but you are not already comfortable at very high string tensions. | Copy the string character first, then choose a club-appropriate tension. For many club players, the practical range is closer to 24–27 lbs than her reported pro range. | Do not jump straight to the reported 28–29 lbs because it looks professional. BG80 can lose tension quickly and can break on mishits. |
| BG80 at reported pro tension | You are a tournament-level player who already strings high, hits the sweet spot reliably, and accepts the extra breakage and frame-risk tradeoff. | Use her reported 28–29 lbs as a reference point for elite control and response, not as a default recommendation. | Do not treat pro tension as free power. At this level, tension choice sits close to warranty-risk territory for retail frames. |
| Comfort-first court shoes | Your shoes affect lunges, recovery steps, or confidence changing direction on indoor courts. | Copy the lesson from her shoe saga: fit and comfort matter. Her 2024 footwear exception came after discomfort with the required shoes. | Do not wait for an exact match-day shoe model if another proper badminton court shoe fits your foot and movement better. |
Practical Canadian next step. If the BG80 row is your match, Badminton House’s Moncton stringing service can help you choose a tension that fits your level; if you are unsure, start with our badminton string tension guide before copying a pro number.
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If you are trying to build an An Se Young-inspired setup, copy the principles first: a racket you can defend with, string tension you can actually control, and court shoes that feel stable through hard lunges. We play badminton ourselves, so if you want help choosing a racket, BG80 tension, shoes, or a safer club-player alternative, contact Badminton House and tell us your level, playing style, and current gear.
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