How To Choose a Badminton Racket
Badminton rackets differ in weight, rigidity, balance and other properties. If you are just starting out with badminton, choose a racket for beginners. Over time, you will refine your own style of play. Then it will be time to choose a racket according to your style of play.
Frequently asked questions when choosing a badminton racket
Which racket is best for a beginner?
If you are just starting out with badminton, we recommend a flexible to medium-flexible racket with a balance in the hand or in the centre. Avoid rackets balanced in the head (above 315 mm). These are designed for advanced players with an offensive style. If you are choosing a racket for a child or a young player, choose lighter rackets weighing up to 90 g.
What material should the racket I buy be made from?
Try to choose graphite, titanium or carbon rackets. These are characterized by high rigidity and low weight. Aluminum rackets are also popular, but they deform easily. Avoid wooden and steel rackets, which are difficult to handle and, because they are heavier, tend to strain the wrist more.
Is a more expensive racket a better racket?
It cannot be said unequivocally that a more expensive racket will be a better choice for every player. Individual models differ from each other mainly in stiffness, balance and weight. Each player has a different style, and a racket that suits an attacking player may not suit a more technical player. In general, however, it can be said that more expensive rackets are usually made of higher quality materials and have a stiffer structure and are less likely to deform.
How do I know which playing style I have?
Simply put, playing styles can be divided into two groups: offensive and technical. The offensive style of play is characterized by sharp blows, most often placed in the back of the court. Rackets suitable for this style are more balanced in the head and have a stiffer construction for faster shots. Conversely, more technical styles of play can be recognized by the tendency to accurately place the ball in places that the opponent does not have covered very well. Rackets for technical playing styles are balanced in the hand and have higher flexibility for better maneuverability.
Head-balanced rackets - increase the speed of your swing, suitable for offensive playing styles (> 315 mm).
Hand-balanced rockets – provide greater control and you are able to be more accurate with your shots. Use these if you have a more technical playing style (< 304 mm).
Center-weighted rackets – a compromise between swing speed and control (305–314 mm).
Important parameters
Weight
This can greatly affect your performance, so it is desirable to avoid models that are too heavy. The normal weight of unstrung rackets is 80-120 grams. If you only play occasionally, a heavier racket, over 100 grams, will suffice. However, if you plan to play often, we recommend lighter rackets. This will prevent excessive strain on your wrist.
The lighter the racket, the better the control:
Balance
The balance of a racket expresses the distribution of its weight. It is measured from the end of the handle towards the head of the rocket. The rocket can be balanced in different ways:
The balance can be partially adjusted with a suitably selected grip.
Flexibility
There are two basic facts about racket flexibility:
- The more flexible the racket, the better is the control – the better you can defend.
- The stiffer the racket, the faster the game, but the racket is harder to control – you can attack better.
For each racket there are up to seven classes of flexibility:
Glossary - badminton
Lob
A shot that is played from the bottom of the net and flies in an arc to the back line of the opponent's court.
Clear shot
A shot that is played from the back of the court and reaches the back line of the court on the opponent's side. A well-played clear is especially effective in singles, because it forces the opponent to move to the back of the court. This will open up the front of their court for you.
Drop
A shot that is played from the back of the court to just behind the opponent's net. Used when you want to force an opponent to go to the net to expose the back of his court. You should hit your next shot there.
Glossary
Material
Rackets are made of graphite, titanium and carbon, which are characterized by high rigidity and low weight. Aluminum rackets are also popular, but they deform more easily.
What material to avoid?
Today, wooden rackets are hardly used anymore. Very rarely do you come across steel rackets - usually only in supermarkets. These rackets deform and are heavier, so they put a greater strain on your wrist. They are also harder to control.