Nanoray 700 RP
Model NR-700RP
Where to find it
Repulsion, precisely: Nanoray 700 RP
The opposite philosophy
The RP twin to the 700 FX took the opposite approach: stiff shaft, maximum repulsion, designed for players with fast, compact wrist-driven strokes who wanted direct and immediate energy transfer at impact. The 'RP' shaft achieved this through high-density graphite composition that minimised flex — keeping the shuttle on the string bed for the shortest possible duration and launching it at peak velocity. Where the FX forgave poor timing, the RP rewarded good timing with something close to perfect directional control.
What reviewers found
Period reviews emphasised control precision: 'superb control, it's almost perfect' wrote one reviewer who demanded high shot placement accuracy. The head-light balance kept swing speeds high, while the thicker-at-the-bottom Nanoray frame generated notable repulsion power for a head-light racquet — challenging the assumption that power required a heavy head. The combination suited doubles players who initiated attacks through driving rather than smashing, compressing opponents' reaction time through shuttle departure speed rather than trajectory.
The RP argument
At $180, the NR-700RP sits at the same price point as its FX sibling — equally accessible, equally interesting, entirely different in character. The two together form one of the clearest illustrations of Yonex's 2013 design philosophy on record: that two players with identical physical attributes but different technical styles should use different equipment. For collectors, owning both is more interesting than owning one.
RP shaft designation — distinct from the FX variant. Stiff flex — notably firmer than the NR-700FX. Head-light balance. HM Graphite frame. Thicker bottom frame section visible on inspection. 4U Made in Japan. Standard Yonex hologram.
Best acquired alongside the NR-700FX as a paired illustration of Yonex's RP/FX design contrast. Slow appreciation tracking general Japan Nanoray collector interest.
Prices last updated March 2026. All data based on tracked secondary market transactions.