Yonex Duora 10, Is it the perfect singles badminton racket?

First impressions

The Yonex Duora 10 badminton racket is a unique racket featuring the Dual Optimum System- two unique frame shapes into one revolutionary racquet combining alternating box and aero-shaped structures which delivers the power of a box frame on the forehand side and, swift and quick repulsion of an aerodynamic frame on the backhand side.  Yonex has color-coded the forehand and backhand side with distinct graphics – black/blue on the forehand and black/pink on the backhand.  Only available in a 3U/G4, the Duora 10 was introduced as a singles racket, which our experts tested over a 2 week period. Among the top players using this racket is the legend Lee Chong Wei.  Yonex even introduced a special edition LCW version of this racket in Jewel Blue representing Lee Chong Wei’s inimitable playing style. Although it is a 3U, the Duora 10 badminton racket felt light in the hand with good momentum and energy. The experts at BW tested the Duora 10 for shots that are most important to the everyday player.

Smash - 9.0

The stiff shaft with the combination of the box frame helped generate powerful and steep angled smashes.  Its even balance allowed for reasonably quick racket swings generating significant power on smashes. While it took a little time to get used to the feel of hitting with the box frame, smashes were easy to execute after the first week. A four-corner test conducted by our experts demonstrated increased accuracy from week 1 to week 2.  The BW experts unanimously agreed that the smash was one of the best attributes of the Duora 10 badminton racket.

Drop – 8

Consistent drops are incredibly important to a player’s success. Our BW experts tested several variations of the drop including the cross drop, slice drop, reverse drop and even the backhand drop. For the most part, they felt the Duora 10 held up nicely. The racket felt easy and maneuverable except it took a bit to get adjusted to backhand cross drops, perhaps because of the unconventional design of the aero frame. An overall score of 8/10

Clear - 8.0

Clears may be the simplest shot but quite hard to execute with the improper badminton racket. Once you get used to the overall weight of the racket, clears were easy to execute. Backhand clears were surprisingly easy to execute proving that the aero design in the dual optimum system works well. 

The BW experts felt there was ease in clearing with the aero frame side of the racket. Also clearing from backcourt to backcourt with the box frame side was often difficult. The clears sometimes fell short of backcourt because of the stiffer shaft. Overall, there needs a little bit of effort with Yonex Duora 10 for clears. Our BW team of experts gave 8.0/10.

Drive – 10

The aerodynamic frame of the Yonex Duora 10 really helped in cutting through the air for a flat and attacking drive. The BW experts felt that dual frame - box for forehands and aero for backhands, combined with a stiff shaft made for powerful and consistent drives despite its 3U weight. A perfect 10. 

Defensive Lift - 8

Defensive lifts are an important shot in a player’s arsenal and is quite often used to extend rallies to win crucial points.  The Duora 10 performed really when it came to returning drops and smashes back to the front of the opponent’s court. What was surprising, according to our experts, was the ability to return smashes when playing doubles, for this required additional maneuverability and quickness to return it to the backcourt. The Duora 10 proved that it can perform admirably as a doubles racket. BW experts gave it an 8 out of 10.

Net Kill - 8.5

The control on the aerodynamic frame side allowed for sharp net kills.  Also, BW experts concluded that the Yonex Duora 10 demands higher skill level while dealing in the net area. A quick racket despite its overall 3U weight.

Our team gave 8.5/10 for the racket.  

Summary

Overall impressions for the Duora 10 were positive. There are things it is good for and others where it performs adequately. That said, it may not be the perfect racket for everyone. If you are a beginner or intermediate player, you might want to consider other alternatives like the Duora 33 badminton racket or the Duora 55 badminton racket, cheaper alternatives with the same technology. These rackets will not have the same overall feel and playability as the Duora 10, but they are options to consider. After 2 solid weeks of testing, our team felt that the dual optimum system is good technology and not just a marketing gimmick. The racket is great for advanced singles players who prefer power, speed, and maneuverability. Along with the ZForce 2, it could be the perfect singles badminton racket. In fact, in some ways, our experts felt Duora 10 is more maneuverable and playable than the ZForce2 especially when it comes to lifts and clears. The Duora 10 is a great badminton racket and should be on the list of rackets to consider.

Other Rackets to consider:

1. Yonex Duora ZStrike Badminton Racket

2. Yonex Astrox 99 Badminton Racket

3. Yonex Astrox 88D Badminton Racket

4. Yonex ZForce 2 Badminton Racket