Li-Ning Halbertec 9000 Power review

Full review

Li-Ning is one of Yonex's and Victor's main rivals, and the Halbertec line is its flagship family for serious players. The 9000 Power is the version tuned for attack: Li-Ning's Danish distributor describes the balance as even, leaning towards head heavy, with a medium-flex shaft and a frame made from T1100 carbon. It is offered in 3U (85 to 89 g) and 4U (80 to 84 g) weights.

In practice that means a racquet that sits between a pure head-heavy smasher like the Victor Ryuga and a quick head-light frame like the Nanoflare. You get some free weight behind clears and smashes, yet the handling should stay reasonable in fast drives. The distributor targets it at experienced and elite players, and an Australian retailer rates it intermediate to advanced and gives a recommended tension of 23 to 25 lbs for men, with a maximum of 30 lbs.

The sources are not entirely consistent. That retailer calls the shaft hard, while the Danish distributor says medium, and neither publishes a length, string pattern or frame shape, so we show those as not stated. Check the stringing and balance on the day you buy.

If you want to move away from Yonex but not give up on a premium frame, this is a good one to test. Stronger swingers will benefit most; beginners will not get the value from it.