Nanospeed 9000S
Model NS-9000S
Where to find it
The softer side of the same era: Nanospeed 9000S
The Type S companion
The Nanospeed 9000S was the 'Type S' — Stiff — companion to the 9000X, released simultaneously in the same Glorious Gold colorway with the same material platform: HM Graphite + Fullerene + Elastic-Ti frame, HM Graphite + Fullerene shaft. Where the 9000X demanded crisp, compact technique from an Extra Stiff shaft, the 9000S was more permissive on mistimed strokes while still delivering the Nanospeed frame's characteristic speed and control. For club and league players who wanted to play at the same technological tier as the 9000X without its unforgiving demands, the 9000S was the rational choice.
The LSC advantage
The 9000S included Yonex's LSC (Low Shock for Comfort) system at the frame base — a titanium and elastomer construction that reduced impact shock by 15% compared to conventional racquets of the era. That comfort feature, absent from the 9000X, made the 9000S the more practical daily player during extended sessions. The Fullerene molecule in the shaft enabled a livelier response on clears and drives despite the more moderate flex rating, giving the 9000S a liveliness that its 'Stiff' designation didn't fully communicate.
The companion piece
At $180, the NS-9000S sits just below the 9000X in both rarity and price — a natural companion acquisition for any collector building a complete NS-9000 shelf. The two racquets are identical visually in Glorious Gold; the stiffness designation on the shaft is the only differentiator at a glance. Together they represent the Nanospeed platform at its fullest expression: two genuinely different playing characters presented under a single model name.
'Type S' designation on shaft — Stiff, distinct from the 9000X. HM Graphite + Fullerene + Elastic-Ti frame construction. LSC system at frame base — tangible comfort difference vs. 9000X. Stiff flex. Glorious Gold colorway. Made in Japan. Standard Yonex hologram.
Best acquired alongside the 9000X. The LSC system gives it a practical playing advantage the 9000X lacks. Stable appreciation tracking the overall Nanospeed-era LCW collecting thesis.
Prices last updated March 2026. All data based on tracked secondary market transactions.