How To Choose A Badminton Racket?
tennisnuts.com guide to choosing a badminton racket
This particular excercise is fraught with pitfalls from our point of view because badminton players tend to be generally very knowledgeable anyway , and COST (or price ceiling) and AND BRAND LOYALTY tend to be major issues.
There are also a proliferation of rackets on the market currently , all at different price points , particularly from the big two....Yonex and Carlton...with very small points of differentiation.
It is, however our job to provide some basis or method of selection so here goes :
Generally speaking , the top-of-the-range rackets from each of the manufacturers tend to be extra stiff , and are more suitable for the advanced player , or the person with a fast swing or stroke.
The average club player should go for something with a bit more 'give' in the shaft i.e medium stiff or flexible.
Within that, the weight of the racket is obviously very important, with lighter rackets being 85-89g , and normally weighted ones being 89+g.
Test the string tension of the racket. Powerful, accurate hitters tend to like rackets with high-tension strings, but players with a lighter touch usually use rackets with low tension for more control.
Grip the racket. If you must grip too tightly, try another racket. Remember that you can get a racket regripped to fit your hand. Most players like a big grip because the racket feels more stable in their hand.
However, badminton is a game of angles and touch, and a smaller grip can give the extra flexibility you need to create winning shots.
Find a racket with a balance that suits your style of play. A racket with a heavy head gives your swing more momentum, a quality that is perfect for power hitters. An evenly balanced racket permits play that is faster and more flexible.
Find a suitable weight. Coaches say beginners should start with a heavier racket, as it provides more stability. Players can then graduate to lighter rackets. Lighter rackets are more manageable, allowing for faster play.
Don't be overly economical. The lower priced rackets are usually quite heavy because they are made of cheaper material. You will tend to use more arm movements rather than your wrist to hit the shuttle if your wrist muscle is not strong enough. This will lead you to develop bad habits.
Heavier rackets are mostly preferred by players who have much stronger wrists and can therefore make use of the weight of the racket to extract more power from it. So unless you are in this category, I would suggest you purchase one that is not too heavy.
Choose a grip size that you feel comfortable with. Generally, attacking players prefer bigger grips as they need to hold the racket more tightly to generate power.
Players who like to rally and make use of deception usually prefer a smaller grip so that the racket is easier to turn in their hands.
Use a head cover whenever you are not playing. Remember not to store your racket close to the central heating radiators, or leave it exposed to sunlight inside a car.
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