Lining Axforce 90 Tiger Max Badminton Racket

Quick answer: The Axforce 90 Tiger Max is Li-Ning's premium head-heavy attacking racket. It uses a 6.2 mm slim shaft, an M50 Super Carbon frame and a 305 mm head-heavy balance, and it takes up to 30 lbs of tension. It ships unstrung with a full cover. Best suited to advanced players who already generate their own racket-head speed.

This is the 4U (83 g) build with a G5 grip. It sits at the top of the Li-Ning Axforce power series, above the Axforce 90 and well above the entry-level Axforce Tiger.

Specifications

What the technology actually does

• M50 Super Carbon frame: higher stiffness for the same weight, so the frame holds its shape through a hard smash instead of deforming and losing energy.
• FRTP: speeds up how quickly the frame returns to shape after contact, which is what you feel as repulsion on flat drives.
• Wing Stabilizer and Box Wing Frame: reduce frame twist on off-centre hits, so mishits off the upper part of the string bed stay in court more often.
• HDF Shock Absorption: damps the shock that travels down a stiff 6.2 mm shaft into the wrist and elbow.

Who this racket is for

• Advanced singles players who want steep, heavy smashes and can already swing fast without help from the racket.
• Players moving up from a mid-range head-heavy frame such as the Axforce 90 and wanting a stiffer, more demanding version of the same feel.
• Anyone who strings above 26 lbs and needs a frame rated for it.

Who should skip it

• Beginners. A 6.2 mm medium-flex shaft with a head-heavy balance punishes a slow or late swing. You will hit the shuttle shorter, not longer.
• Doubles players who defend a lot. The head weight slows down the racket in fast exchanges at the net. A head-light or even-balance racket is the better tool.
• Anyone with an existing wrist or shoulder issue. Head-heavy plus stiff is a demanding combination over three games.
• Anyone on a tight budget. This is a flagship-tier racquet. The cheaper Li-Ning Axforce Tiger below covers most of the same attacking intent at a fraction of the price.

Axforce Tiger vs Axforce 90 vs Axforce 90 Tiger Max

These three Li-Ning models are often confused because the names overlap. They are not the same racket.

Li-Ning also released the Axforce 90 Dragon Max alongside the Tiger Max. The two share the same frame and shaft specifications and differ in cosmetics, so choose on colourway rather than performance.

Stringing and grip

The Axforce 90 Tiger Max ships unstrung. You can add a string and tension at checkout as a paid service, or take it to your own stringer. We string to a maximum of 27 lbs in-house to avoid transit shock damage on the way to you, even though the frame itself is rated to 30 lbs. If you want it at 28 lbs or higher, get it strung locally after delivery.

For a frame like this, a thin high-repulsion string suits the attacking brief. Browse the full range of badminton strings and badminton grips.

Buying a genuine Axforce 90 Tiger Max in India

This racket is imported and marketed in India by Sunlight Sports Pvt. Ltd., Bangalore. SportsUncle has been retailing Li-Ning badminton equipment since 2016, and every unit ships new, sealed and with its MRP and barcode intact. That is also why we ship any grip you add separately rather than fitting it for you.

See more from the brand on the Li-Ning page, or compare the wider range of badminton rackets.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Axforce 90 Tiger Max the same as the Axforce Tiger?
No. The Axforce Tiger is a separate, much cheaper entry-level racket with a 7 mm shaft that ships strung. The Axforce 90 Tiger Max is the flagship Axforce 90 variant with a 6.2 mm shaft and ships unstrung.

What weight options does it come in?
Li-Ning produces the Axforce 90 Tiger Max in 3U (approx. 88 g) and 4U (approx. 83 g). The 4U is the version listed here.

What string tension can it take?
Up to 30 lbs. Most club players get the best balance of power and control from this frame between 25 and 27 lbs.

Is it head heavy or head light?
Head heavy, with a balance point of roughly 305 mm. That is what gives the smash its weight and also what makes it slower to defend with.

Is the Tiger Max better than the Dragon Max?
Neither is better. They are the same frame and shaft with different graphics.

Does it come strung?
No. It is supplied unstrung with a cover. Custom stringing is available as a paid add-on at checkout.

Is this racket good for beginners?
No. The head-heavy balance and 6.2 mm shaft need a fast, well-timed swing. A beginner will get more out of a lighter, more flexible racket.