Badminton

Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro Badminton Racket Review & Buying Guide (India)

An attacking, power-focused racket endorsed by Lee Zii Jia — here's whether the Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro is right for your game.

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Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro badminton racket

Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro badminton racket review and buying guide for India

The Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro sits in Victor's attacking, power-focused Thruster lineup, priced at ₹11,899 in India (down from a listed ₹16,900). It's built around explosive smashing power and is associated with Lee Zii Jia, one of the sport's top attacking players. Here's what that actually means for club and competitive players deciding whether to buy it.

Who the Thruster series is built for

Victor's Thruster line is designed specifically for aggressive, attacking players — those who build points around hard smashes and fast, offensive rallies rather than a patient, defensive style. The Ryuga II Pro continues that identity, prioritising smash power and swing speed over the more forgiving, all-round balance you'd find in a control-oriented racket. If your game is built around waiting for a short return and putting it away hard, this is squarely the kind of racket built for that style.

What "power and precision control" means in practice

Victor markets the Ryuga II Pro around explosive power paired with refined control, which in practical terms usually comes down to frame stiffness and weight distribution tuned for a fast, whip-like swing that transfers more energy into the shuttle on a smash. That combination rewards a player with reasonably developed technique and swing speed already — a racket tuned this aggressively toward power tends to feel demanding rather than forgiving in the hands of a complete beginner still building their swing mechanics.

Should a club-level player buy this racket?

If you're an intermediate or advanced club player who already favours attacking play and wants a racket that rewards committed, powerful smashes, the Ryuga II Pro is a reasonable step up from an entry-level racket. If you're newer to the sport, still working on consistent technique, or your game leans more defensive and control-focused, the aggressive tuning here may feel harder to control than a more balanced, all-round racket at a lower price point — it's worth demoing a similar-spec racket at a local shop or club before committing to this price bracket if you're unsure which category you fall into.

The Lee Zii Jia endorsement, and what it actually tells you

Player endorsements are a genuine signal of a racket's design intent — Victor builds and markets the Thruster Ryuga line around Lee Zii Jia's aggressive, attacking playing style, so the endorsement lines up honestly with how the racket is tuned rather than being a generic marketing stamp. That said, remember a professional's technique, fitness and swing speed extract far more from a power-tuned frame than a club player's will — buy this racket because the attacking style and power focus suit your own game, not primarily because of who plays it.

What to check before you buy

Confirm the racket's weight and balance point suit your build and swing speed — power-focused rackets like this one are typically head-heavy or at least not extremely head-light, which adds smash power but demands more from your wrist and forearm over a long session. Check whether it's sold strung or unstrung and budget for stringing separately if needed, and pick a string tension appropriate to your level — attacking players often prefer a firmer tension for control on power shots, but that typically needs a somewhat higher swing speed to use effectively. If you're moving up from a much lighter, more control-oriented racket, expect a short adjustment period as your arm adapts to the different swing weight.

Getting the most out of a power racket like this

A power-focused frame like the Ryuga II Pro rewards proper string tension and timely restringing more than a forgiving all-round racket does — strings that have gone slack noticeably blunt the smash power this racket is built around. Most club players restring every few months of regular play, sooner if you play multiple times a week or notice the strings feel visibly looser than when new. Pairing the racket with a grip size and overgrip that suits your hand size also matters more here than on a lighter racket, since a poor grip fit undermines the control side of the power-and-control balance this racket is designed around.

Alternatives if the Ryuga II Pro isn't quite right

Victor's own range offers other Thruster models at different price points if this one is out of budget or you want to compare within the same attacking family before committing. It's also worth trying a demo racket at a local badminton shop or club if one is available — power-focused rackets are genuinely felt differently by different players' swing styles, and a spec sheet alone won't tell you as much as ten minutes on court.

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Frequently asked questions

Is the Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro good for beginners?

Not ideally. It's tuned for power and attacking play, which tends to feel demanding for players still building consistent swing technique. Beginners are usually better served by a more balanced, all-round racket.

Does the Victor Thruster Ryuga II Pro come strung?

Check the specific listing, as this can vary — confirm whether it's sold strung or unstrung before buying, and budget for stringing and your preferred tension separately if it's unstrung.

What type of player suits a power-focused badminton racket?

Attacking players who build points around hard smashes and fast offensive rallies, with reasonably developed swing technique already, get the most out of a power-tuned racket like this one.

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