As an intermediate badminton player constantly on the lookout for the next best thing in footwear, I was excited to get my hands on the brand new Li-Ning Thunder Pro for this review.
At first glance, this pair seemed an awful lot like the Li-Ning Blade Max I recently reviewed so I was curious to put them to the test.
After buying this shoe with my own money to give you the unsponsored insights and clocking in ten hours on the court, I’m ready to share my experience.
The Thunder Pro came in on the heavier end of the scale, being the second heaviest one I’ve come across in my shoe tests at this point.
The weight and cushion seem to be aligned and this is where it falls in the shoe matrix.
Before we dive into the Thunder Pro review, let’s set the scene…
It was a hot day, and maybe the beers from the night before weren’t the best idea. Nonetheless, I laced up the Thunder Pro and got to work.
Table of Contents
Li-Ning Thunder Pro review
Right out of the box, the Thunder Pro has a sleek design with stylish shoelaces — Li-Ning does an impressive job with their badminton shoe designs these days.
Fit (sides, upper and heel)
Sliding my feet into the shoes felt like stepping onto a soft cushion. The upper is super comfortable, too comfortable for my liking in fact. I prefer a snug fit around the upper arch of my foot, and the Thunder Pro leans more towards a cozy couch rather than a tight hug.
I noticed that on certain days all that cushion made the shoes feel slightly hot, but not as much as I’ve experienced with other pairs.
One thing that stood out was the shoelaces, though.
They look cool, no doubt, but they have this quirky habit of untying themselves or loosening up during play. Having to retie your shoes mid-game isn’t exactly ideal.
This happened far too often, no matter how tightly I tied them. This sounds small, but it was a major downside for me.
The heel area is plush and offers that comfy, cushioned feel. It’s higher than, say, on the Victor P9200 III, providing a better lock-in and support, which I appreciated. It has what feels like a stiffening plate on the sides of the heel to maintain the shoe’s shape, wrapped in a thick layer of cushioning.
Toe box
The Li-Ning Thunder Pro’s toe box has some cushioning, making those sudden lunges feel less taxing on the toes.
But what really made a difference was Li-Ning’s decision to add 3 millimeters to the length of the shoe. It doesn’t affect the fit or size, in my experience, but it makes the toe box feel slightly more forgiving when you’re late to the shuttle and bumping your toes against the very front of the shoe.
This seems like a smart move to reduce weight. Combined with the superb insole, I didn’t notice any sliding within the shoe (more on that in a minute).
Cushioning + shock absorption (midsole + insole)
The Thunder Pro’s midsole is great – it offers terrific cushioning and shock absorption, so much so that I hardly thought about it during play. There was no significant fatigue under my feet, which is a huge plus.
But I did notice some fatigue under my toes after extended play. This could be due to the shoe’s weight or perhaps just an off day for me.
Even if Li-Ning isn’t the only brand producing an insole of this style, they seem to put it in more of their top-tier badminton shoes than other brands.
With its wavy pattern near the toes, it helps avoid sliding within the shoe and offers a solid grip.
Outsole (grip)
There isn’t much to say about the outsole and grip in this Thunder Pro review. The grip was nicely sticky and gluey like other top Li-Ning and Yonex shoes I’ve come across.
The verdict
POSITIVE
The Thunder Pro is super comfortable all around.
NEGATIVE
Shoelaces tend to untie themselves and I found it hard to tie them tight enough for a snug feeling around the upper area.
Li-Ning Thunder Pro: the verdict
Summary + the beasty score
The Li-Ning Thunder Pro is a solid choice for players who prioritize comfort and cushioning.
While it’s heavier than some of its counterparts, the cushioning in the midsole, heel, and upper area make up for it.
If comfort is your top priority and you don’t mind the extra weight, you’ll like this shoe.
The extra weight compared to other similar shoes wasn’t something that bothered me, so if this is the type of shoe you prefer I doubt it’ll bother you too.
But with all that comfort, you’re getting the opposite of a tight snug fit as those two things tend to go in opposite directions).
I found the fit to fall somewhere around the middle, with some extra give due to the cushioning (if you’ve got narrow feet, this will feel just fine without feeling amazingly snug).
This is a surprisingly simple summary as this is one of the few shoes that goes all in on just one area: comfort.
Who is Li-Ning Thunder Pro best suited for?
- Players who prioritize comfort and cushioning over a snug fit or low weight
- Aging players or those with a bigger body frame who prefer a shoe that goes all in on cushioning
Li-Ning Thunder Pro vs other badminton shoes
Next, let’s look at this shoe compared to other similar models.
Li-Ning Thunder Pro vs Li-Ning Blade Max
- Cushioning: The Thunder Pro feels more cushioned and comfy, while the Blade Max is slightly less cushioned but lighter
- Fit: Blade Max offers a stiffer and snugger fit in the sides and upper, which I prefer. The Thunder Pro is more comfortable but less snug
- Toe Box: Both have a similar toe box, but the Blade Max feels slightly narrower (which may be due to less cushion in the sides of the toe box)
- Heel: The Blade Max provides a more snug fit around the heel and ankle, whereas the Thunder provides a more comfy feel
Li-Ning Thunder Pro vs Li-Ning Saga II SE
- Cushioning: Thunder Pro has more cushioning all around, which gives it a more plush and comfy feel. The Li-Ning Saga 2 SE provides cushioning with better arch support and feels more like a combo between stiffness and comfort (whereas the Thunder is all in on comfort)
- Fit: Saga 2 SE is stiffer with a snugger feel in the sides, upper, and heel area
Li-Ning Thunder Pro vs Victor P9200 III
- Cushioning: Thunder Pro is softer and more cushioned overall, with a better feeling of fit and lock-in. The P9200 III is well cushioned all around, but the cushion itself feels stiffer and less comfy than in the Thunder Pro.
- On the other hand, the 9200 has a more fun and spongy midsole that feels bouncy (the best midsole I’ve come across of any badminton shoe thus far)
- Fit: The P9200 III’s heel is too low for my preference. It reminds me more of a regular everyday sneaker in terms of fit. The Thunder Pro has a taller heel that feels more locked in around your heel
