Badminton is a fast-paced sport played with a racket. There are two types of tennis: singles and doubles. Players try to score points by aiming shuttlecock over the net at the opponent’s court.
Here choosing the right badminton racket is the core. With such a wide variety of rackets available, it is difficult to find a good one. Brands like Yonex, Victor, Apacs and Adidas badminton rackets are famous among expert players. If you are a beginner or an intermediate player and searching for the correct badminton equipment for you, ask yourself the following questions.
The first question you have to ask yourself is what type of player you are? Which mode do you prefer to play?
- Power attacking
- All-rounder
- Fast reactions
- Control or touch
Many players may pick fast attacking mode but for that, you need a sturdy stiff racket that will smash the shuttlecock hard. Do you miss rallies? It is because you may be slow. Are your attacks consistent? How fast are your reactions? When you answer these questions correctly, you will know what type of player you are.
There are three aspects to choosing a badminton racket:
- Balance
- Stiffness/Flexibility of Shaft
- Weight
Other aspects are:
- Grip Size
- Racket Strings Tension
All these together create a big impact on your play. So, it is essential to know them and pick accordingly.
Balance:
All badminton rackets can be categorized as per balance due to major weight location. There are three categories under this: Head-heavy, Even Balance, and Head-Light.
How do badminton racquet balances differ between head-heavy, even balance, and head-light?
Head-heavy:
These are heavier rackets and perfect for power smashes. It is popular among attacking players who prefer a power game. The extra mass in the head increases the depth of smashes. These shots are integral to badminton rallies, hence liked by experts.
Even Balance:
It has distributed weight across the racket and is apt for all-around players. It is the middle ground between heavy and light head balance rackets. It provides you both advantage of control and power. If you are an all-rounder, go for an even balanced racket. It is even suited for advanced or intermediate players.
Head-Light:
These are light bodies and are more maneuverable than heavy-headed rackets. It is suitable for playing via the net. It is more suitable for club players who prefer playing doubles. The advantage of lightweight head balance is that being light provides great swing and players can easily defend themselves from opponents. It is an excellent choice for playing driving, fast, and attacking badminton when playing doubles or singles.
If you are a professional, you can go for heavy-headed rackets as they will strengthen your palms. Beginners or intermediates can choose light-headed or balance rackets.
A chart to describe the player style:
| Balance | Weighted Area | Balance Point | Player Style |
| Head Heavy | Head | Over 300mm | Power attacking, Best for singles or doubles |
| Even Balance | All over | 280-300mm | All round, Provides power play and control. Helps you to speed and react quickly |
| Head Light | Weight in Handle | Less than 280mm | Fast reactions. Great for defensive shots. |
Shaft-Flexibility/ Stiffness:
The shaft flexibility is as crucial as the balance point of the badminton racket. The level is dependent on the wrist speed. Manufacturers have categorized these into three parts: Flexible, Medium, and Stiff, however, there are bit variations to it like a medium-stiff and extra stiff.
A stiffer shaft will benefit you more if your arm is speedy. The slower your wrist speed is, the better you play with a flexible shaft. For beginners, a flexible shaft is preferable, regular players should go for stiff shafts to improve their gameplay. For better technique, advanced players pick stiffer shafts. If you are unsure about your flexibility, go for medium flexibility shafts.
Stiff:
A stiffer shaft bend and unbends quickly providing extra control and maximum power. Slower players will not benefit from a stiff shaft due to its inability to bend or bend quickly.
Flexibility:
A flexible shaft bends and unbends easily. A fast swing player will connect the shuttle with a premature one as it will provide less power and control.
See this chart for crisp details:
| Racket Flexibility/ Stiffness | How it affects shots | Player Style |
| Stiff | Requires high level accuracy for power shots with good technique | Physically strong attacking player |
| Medium | Medium accuracy | All round style |
| Flexible | Poor accuracy | Perfect for beginners |
Racket Weight:
The “U” symbol indicates the racket’s weight. The smaller the number, the heavier the weight. For example, 1U is heavier than 2U, and so on.
We recommend 3U for single players since it provides overall mass for speed and stability.
Similarly, for doubles, we recommend 4U which will enhance the speed of your game. You can react quickly and hit more smashes.
Weight plays a huge role in speed and power. Light rackets will be less powerful, and heavy rackets will make it difficult to move quickly. Here is the grid of how badminton rackets are listed according to their weights:
| Weight Grade | Weight Range |
| 1U | 94grams or above |
| 2U | 90-94g |
| 3U | 85-89g |
| 4U | 84-89g |
| 5U | 75-79g |
| 6U | 70-75g |
| 7U | 60-69g |
| 8U | 59.9g and less |
Other Considerations:
Grip Size:
The grip size is denoted by “G”. The grip size increases with decreasing number. The grip size can be adjusted up and down depending upon the type of grip you fit in. Generally, the UK and European players prefer smaller grip sizes.
Here is the chart for better understanding:
| Grip Size | Racket Grip Size | Size in mm |
| Extra small grip | G5 | 83mm |
| Small grip | G4 | 86mm |
| Medium grip | G3 | 89mm |
| Large Grip | G2 | 92mm |
| Extra Large grip | G1 | 95mm |
Note: While wrapping the racket handle, you should have a finger’s width gap between your thumb and fingers.
Racket Strings and Tension:
Like grip, strings and tension are customizable. These are denoted by “x” to “lb”. Generally, it is advisable to pick low string tension racket for beginners for extra power.
Now you know which badminton racket is apt for you. Once you have picked the best, get the best out of it. Best of luck!
