Been playing about 2 years and currently use a Yonex Nanoflare 700 which I like. But I keep eyeing up the Astrox 100ZZ which is nearly double the price. Is there actually a noticeable difference for someone at my level or am I just falling for marketing?

Honest answer from a coach: at intermediate level a premium racket will make maybe a 5 percent difference. Improving your technique will make a 50 percent difference. Spend the money on coaching lessons instead. That said, if you can afford it and it motivates you to play more, go for it. The placebo effect of a new racket is real!

The jump from a 50 quid racket to a 100 quid racket is noticeable. The jump from 100 to 200 is much smaller. Diminishing returns. The Nanoflare 700 is already a great racket.

I have played with rackets at every price point over 30 years. The truth is that the most expensive racket will not fix bad footwork or poor shot selection. But once your technique is solid, a premium racket can give you that extra edge.