An Se Young Racket and Gear Setup (2026)

Last updated: July 2026 · Written by the team at Badminton House

Yonex lists An Se Young with the Astrox 77 Pro and BG80 string. This guide separates the manufacturer’s listing from reported personal specifications, then explains which equipment choices a club player can assess for themselves.

As of July 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.

What Is An Se Young's Current Racket?

Verified July 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.

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.

Browse our badminton racket collection for Canadian-available options and alternatives.

Why Does the Astrox 77 Pro Fit 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.

Handling descriptions are player impressions, not a physical shift from head-heavy to even balance during a rally. For a club-player trial, compare overheads, drives, blocks and net shots with the same string setup rather than inferring the result from a professional’s playing style.

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: compare how easily you prepare it 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

Yonex specifies a medium-flex shaft. That distinguishes it from extra-stiff options, but it does not prove why An chose it or guarantee repeatable power for another player. Judge whether the frame supports your own timing and familiar shots.

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.

What String and Tension Does An Se Young Use?

An Se Young is listed on Yonex’s official BG80 athlete page, which is the cleanest confirmation of her string choice. The same athlete list features other top internationals such as Viktor Axelsen and Seo Seung Jae, which says a lot about BG80’s standing as a serious tournament 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: the reported number is not a recommended starting tension.

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, you can also ask about BG80 Power through our Moncton, NB stringing service.

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.

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.

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.

The June 2025 signing is the important update. Yonex and Li-Ning had reportedly competed for her with offers discussed as high as USD $10 million; An chose Yonex — the most lucrative single-player equipment sponsorship in Korean badminton history — with her team reportedly citing product quality, branding rights, and post-care support even though Li-Ning’s offer was reported higher.

Yonex’s US athlete-kit listing identifies the Power Cushion Aerus Z second-generation women’s shoe alongside the Astrox 77 Pro and BG80. This is a manufacturer listing, not confirmation of every match-day pair or any custom changes. The late-2024 footwear exception explains why older photographs may show something different.

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 fit securely and suit the surface.

Badminton House’s closest in-catalogue Yonex Astrox alternatives are the Yonex Astrox 100VA Game Grayish Beige and the Yonex Astrox 100 ZZ Kurenai, Dark Navy — two different tiers of attacking frame. Check the Yonex Astrox Series collection for current availability.

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.

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.

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.