Walk into any serious badminton club in the UK and count the Yonex 65s. Yonex calls the Power Cushion 65 the most decorated shoe in badminton history, worn to win the Olympic Games, the World Championships and the YONEX All England Open. But titles don't make a shoe good. Here's what actually makes the 65 Z special, and whether it's right for you.
1. Cushioning that gives energy back
At the heart of every 65 Z is Power Cushion+. Yonex's well-known demonstration drops a raw egg from 12 metres onto Power Cushion+: it bounces back to around 6 metres without breaking. On court that means two things:
- Less stress on your joints when you land from a jump smash or lunge deep to the net
- Faster recovery, because landing impact is turned into forward momentum for your next step
Plenty of shoes are soft. The 65 Z is soft and responsive, so it doesn't feel sluggish in fast exchanges.
2. A fit that feels like part of your foot
The 65 Z4 has the closest fit the series has had:
- Seamless, one-piece upper: no internal seams to rub, fewer stress points, and a forefoot that flexes naturally
- Integrated Inner Bootie: the lining and tongue are one piece, so there are no bumps from toe to midfoot and the foot and shoe move together
- Synchro-Fit insole: improves alignment and reduces energy lost inside the shoe
Because the 65 keeps the same familiar shape from generation to generation, existing 65 wearers can usually go straight from the box to a match with no break-in. (For the full story of that shape, read The History of the Yonex Power Cushion 65.)
3. Stability for every direction
Badminton is lunges, split steps and sharp changes of direction. The 65 Z is built to stay stable through all of them:
- Power Graphite Lite in the shank stops the foot twisting and steadies your landings without adding weight
- Lateral Shell cuts power loss on side-to-side movements and controlled stops
- Toe Assist Shape eases pressure around the big toe when you lunge
- Round Sole keeps footwork smooth from the rear court to the net
4. Grip you can trust on a lunge
The 65 Z uses a natural gum rubber outsole with a radial blade pattern, introduced to the 65 on the Z3. On the Z4, Yonex lowered the rubber under the forefoot (the Ergonomic Shaped Outsole), so the shoe bends with your foot for quicker first steps. It's non-marking and made for indoor courts and sports halls.
5. Light for what it does
The 65 Z4 weighs around 325g per shoe at 28cm. That's lighter than the Z3, and impressive for a shoe with this much cushioning and support.
65 Z or 65 X?
The 65 X shares the family shape at a lower price, but the Z adds Power Cushion+, the natural gum sole, Synchro-Fit insoles and the seamless upper. If you play several times a week or compete, the Z is worth the extra. If you play once a week socially, the X is a sensible saving.
Who is the 65 Z for?
- Club, league and competitive players who want one shoe for everything
- All-rounders who value stability and consistent cushioning over the lightest possible weight
- Players with sore knees or ankles who need joint protection over long sessions
- Anyone who has worn a 65 before and wants that fit again
The 65 Z4 comes in four fits (men's, women's, wide and slim), so if you have very wide or narrow feet, choose the matching width.
The 25th Anniversary Edition
For 2026, Yonex has released the 65 Z4 in limited metallic gold, covered in the words of 16 champions who won in the 65. It has the same technology underneath, finished as a collector's edition. Read Introducing the Yonex 65 Z4 25th Anniversary Edition.
Shop the 65 Z at Central Sports: 65 Z4 25th Anniversary (pre-order) | 65 Z4 Men's | 65 Z4 Women's | Which Yonex shoe should I buy?
