Most badminton shoes get reinvented every couple of years. The Yonex Power Cushion 65 hasn't. Since it first appeared in 2001 it has stuck to one idea: a stable, well-cushioned all-round shoe with a fit that players recognise the moment they put it on. What has changed, generation after generation, is the technology inside that shape.
In 2026 the 65 turns 25, and the current model, the Power Cushion 65 Z4, is the 12th generation. Here's how it got there.
The principle that hasn't changed
The 65 was never built to be the lightest shoe, the lowest shoe or the most aggressive shoe. It was built to be the one you can trust in every part of the court: lunging to the net, pushing back off the rear court, and changing direction mid-rally. Three things have stayed constant across the series:
- The all-round brief. Yonex still classes the 65 as an "All Around" shoe, the same job it was built for in 2001.
- Power Cushion in the sole. Every 65 has been built around Yonex's Power Cushion shock absorption, which takes the impact of landing and gives it back as energy for the next step.
- The familiar shape and fit. The 65 keeps its recognisable silhouette and its close, locked-in fit from one generation to the next. Yonex's own launch for the modern 65 Z was titled "Classic Fit, Future Performance", and reviewers of the 65 Z4 noted that existing 65 wearers need no break-in period at all.
That consistency is the reason so many club players simply buy the next 65 when their old pair wears out. They know it will feel like their shoe.
The upgrades, generation by generation
2001: the original 65
The Power Cushion 65 series launched in 2001 as Yonex's all-round performance shoe, pairing Power Cushion shock absorption with a stable, supportive upper. Over the following years it went through several generations, each refining the same template rather than replacing it.
The Z and X split
As the range grew, Yonex split the 65 into two versions that share the same family shape:
- 65 Z: the flagship, with Power Cushion+, a natural gum rubber outsole and Yonex's premium insoles.
- 65 X: the more affordable version, with a standard Power Cushion setup, a dyed rubber sole and simpler insoles.
The Z is the shoe that has been on the feet of Olympic, World and All England champions. The X gives club players the same 65 fit for less.
65 Z2: Power Cushion+ and Toe Assist Shape
The 65 Z2 became one of the most worn shoes on the international tour. It used Power Cushion+, Yonex's upgraded cushioning, along with the Toe Assist Shape, which eases pressure around the big toe and keeps the midfoot and heel stable when you lunge.
65 Z3: a grippier sole and a lighter shoe
The 65 Z3 kept the Z2's fit, toe shape and insoles, and brought in the radial blade outsole, first seen on the Eclipsion Z2, for more confident grip on lunges. It also came in slightly lighter, at around 340g per shoe against roughly 345g for the Z2. The 65 Z3 "White Tiger" was the version Kento Momota wore from the Tokyo Olympics onwards.
2023: 65 Z C-90, the sustainable 65
In September 2023 Yonex released the 65 Z C-90, a one-off limited edition in a natural colourway with an upper made from around 90% recycled polyester. It built on Yonex's work with ECOPET, a soft, recycled material the company first found in 2015. It used the same 65 shape and the same performance, made with more sustainable materials.
2025: 65 Z4, the 12th generation
The 65 Z4 arrived in January 2025, and it's the biggest step forward in years without losing what makes a 65 a 65:
- Seamless, one-piece upper: fewer stress points, more flexibility at the forefoot and no seam bumps inside.
- Integrated Inner Bootie: the lining and tongue are one piece, so the foot and shoe move together.
- Ergonomic Shaped Outsole: the outsole rubber is lowered under the forefoot so the shoe bends with your foot.
- Power Cushion+ and Power Graphite Lite kept for cushioning and midfoot stability, plus the radial blade outsole and Synchro-Fit insoles carried over from the Z3.
- Around 325g per shoe at 28cm, lighter than the Z3.
The Z4 also comes in four fits: men's, women's, wide and slim. The shape is still the 65's, but it now suits more feet.
2026: 25 years of the 65
To mark the anniversary, Yonex has released the Power Cushion 65 Z4 25th Anniversary Design, a limited gold edition covered in the words of the champions who won in the 65. You can read the full story in Introducing the Yonex 65 Z4 25th Anniversary Edition, or find out what makes the 65 Z so special.
Why the 65 has lasted
Twenty-five years is a long time for any shoe. The 65 has lasted because Yonex never threw away the shape players trusted. Each generation kept the fit and the all-round principle and upgraded the technology underneath: better cushioning, better grip, a lighter build and a closer fit. If you wore a 65 ten years ago, the 65 Z4 will still feel familiar, just better.
Pre-order the limited Yonex 65 Z4 25th Anniversary Edition at Central Sports, or shop the current 65 Z4 Men's and 65 Z4 Women's.
