Which badminton racket to buy for a beginner, intermediate & pros

HOW TO CHOOSE A BADMINTON RACKET & TENNIS RACKET

Table of contents

QUICK TIPS TO CHOOSE BADMINTON RACKET
PARTS OF A RACKET
TYPES OF BADMINTON RACKETS
BALANCE POINTS OF A RACKET
RACKET STIFFNESS
DIFFERENT TYPES OF SHAFT (SHAFT LENGTH )
DIFFERENT TYPES OF BADMINTON GRIPS
DIFFERENT GRIP SIZES OF A BADMINTON RACKET
DIFFERENT LENGTH TYPES IN BADMINTON RACKETS
DIFFERENT WEIGHT TYPES
TYPES OF BADMINTON HEAD SHAPES
TYPES OF RACKET BUILD MATERIAL
TYPES OF STRINGS
FOR WHOM YOU WANT A RACKET (For tall, short height, beginners, intermediate, pros, seasonal, professional & injured )
WHAT IS YOUR PLAYING STYLE
BEST BADMINTON RACKET BRANDS
HOW TO CHECK THE QUALITY OF A BADMINTON (CHECK THE NECK AREA IF IT IS SHAKING THEN NOT GOOD)
WHAT TO NOTICE WHILE BUYING A BADMINTON RACKET
HOW TO CHOOSE TENNIS BALL & SHUTTLECOCK FOR RACKET.
HOW TO TAKE CARE OF A BADMINTON

1. QUICK TIPS TO CHOOSE A RACKET

If you want to buy a racket for kids then choose light (weight should be less than 80g) oval-shaped, towel cotton grip.
If you want to buy a racket for beginners and intermediates then choose a racket whose weight is more than 75g & less than 100g.
You should choose an oval headed racket. Hand grip should be towel cotton. Racket should be flexible.
For professionals- all type of rackets are suitable for professionals. But professional mostly choose a heavy weight rackets (more than 300g). Their rackets are mostly isometric & head heavy.
KIDS- HEAD -LIGHT
BEGINNER-HEAD LIGHT
INTERMEDIATES- BALANCED, HEAD HEAVY
PROFESSIONALS-HEAD HEAVY
Carbon fiber is the best material used in a racket. Choose a racket which is made from carbon fiber.
STRUNG RACKET- KIDS, BEGINNERS
UNSTRUNG RACKET- PROS
NYLON SHUTTLECOCK IS BETTER THAN FEATHER SHUTTLECOCK
NATURAL GUT IS CONSIDERED AS BEST MATERIAL FOR RACKET STRING.
ALWAYS GO FOR COMFORTABLE INSTEAD OF BRAND.
IF YOU WANT TO PLAY FOR A LONG TIME THEN CHOOSE SMOOTH HAND GRIP
NECK & CONE OF A RACKET INDICATES ABOUT THE QUALITY OF A RACKET.
For powerful shot use head heavy racket
For speedy movement choose a headlight racket.
YONEX- Best racket brand

2. PARTS OF A BADMINTON RACKET

Starting point & ending point of the string are known as the HEART OF THE BADMINTON RACKET
Head & frame both are different. Head ≠ Frame

3. TYPES OF BADMINTON RACKETS

Single necked/single shafted rackets are for badminton
Double-necked/double shafted rackets are for tennis.
Double-necked rackets are stronger compared to single necked rackets.
Double-necked rackets are heavy and you should avoid double necked if you are a beginner.
Beginners should start from a single-necked racket.
Double-necked rackets are for professionals.

4. BALANCE POINT OF A RACKET

If you consider the balance point then mainly 3 types of Rackets can be found
HEAD-LIGHT:- Head -light rackets are for speedy movements.
BALANCED:- Balanced racket is for both speedy & powerful shots
HEAD-HEAVY:- Head heavy rackets are for powerful shots
If your opponent is sending more powerful smashes then you should use the head-light racket.
Using head-heavy racket for a long time is not good for you.
You have to be extra careful while using the HEAD-HEAVY racket.

BALANCE TYPE	SUITABLE FOR
HEAD-LIGHT (HL)	For kids, beginners, Doubles
EQUALLY BALANCED (EB)	Beginners & Intermediates
HEAD HEAVY (HH)	For pros, Singles

5. STIFFNESS/SOFTNESS (FLEXIBILITY) OF A RACKET

Stiffness or softness of a racket can be measured by applying pressure on the head & grip part
If the racket bends while applying pressure then it is a soft racket.
If it slightly bends while applying pressure then it is a stiff racket.
Stiffness is measured using Babolat RDC scale
RDC scale has range 0-100.
If your racket bending range is more than 50 then it is a soft racket.
Most of the soft racket range fall between 50-90.

When to use a soft racket & when to use a stiff racket:-

If you want to play powerful shots then use stiff rackets.
But stiff rackets are not good for long time usage.
Stiff rackets vibrate more and a player feels more discomfort while using a stiff racket.
If you are a newbie or kid then avoid using stiff rackets
Soft rackets are good for long-term usage and good for beginners.
If you want to use a stiff racket then never forget to choose a comfortable grip (AVOID SYNTHETIC GRIP)

TYPE	GOOD FOR
STIFF RACKET	Pros, not good for long-term
BENDING/FLEXIBLE RACKET	kids, beginners

6. TYPES OF SHAFTS

If your racket is flexible then you should never use it for the game where more power is required. If you are playing doubles then you can use flexible shaft but avoid flexible shafts while playing singles.

There are mainly 2 types of shafts can be found in rackets

1. LONG SHAFT
2. SHORT SHAFT

LONG SHAFT is more flexible compared to the short shaft and good for speed & comfort
SHORT SHAFT is less flexible and stiffer You should use it for powerful shots.

TYPE	GOOD FOR
LONGER SHAFT	for long time usage, for speed, kids, beginners
SHORTER SHAFT	For powerful shots, pros, long time usage can cause discomfort

7.DIFFERENT TYPES OF BADMINTON GRIPS

There are mainly 3 types of grips can be found in badminton rackets.

1.ANTI SKID WEAT ABSORBANT

2.TOWEL COTTON

3.SYNTHETIC

Absorbant grip is good for you if you have a sweaty hand.
Towel cotton is good for you if you are smashing powerful shots. You should avoid sharing your racket with others if your racket grip is towel cotton.
Synthetic grip is good for dry hand. Use this type of grips with a flexible racket.

TYPE	GOOD FOR
ABSORBANT	Good for sweaty hand
SYNTHETIC	Good for the flexible racket
TOWEL COTTON	Good for stiff racket, comfortable, kids, beginners

8 DIFFERENT GRIP SIZES IN RACKETS

CONSIDER YOUR HAND GRIP WHILE CHOOSING A BADMINTON RACKET

Different manufacturing companies provide different types of hand grips.
That is why it is not easy to choose a perfect grip size if you are a beginner.
Avoid online buying if you are a beginner.
Yonex grip sizes come with "G" terms like G3, G4 & G5.
But Li-lang has "S" terms like S2 & S3 for grip sizes.
S3≠G3
G3 is used for bigger grip sizes whereas G5 is used for smaller grip sizes
S2 is used for smaller grip sizes & S3 is used for bigger grip sizes.
Many racket manufacturing companies don't have any grip standard that is why you need to be extra careful while choosing grip size that fits you.

Points to remember:-

Never choose larger grip size
Always choose the tight fitting one
1 INCH=25.3mm (25mm)
Regularly change your racket grip for more comfortable & better performance.

9. DIFFERENT LENGTH TYPES IN BADMINTON RACKET

Currently, the maximum length of a badminton racket is 74 cm.
Badminton rackets heights can be 66cm,68cm,71cm or 74 cm
More length= less control.
If you want speedy movement then always choose the short length.
If you are short then go for a long shaft (lengthy racket)
Lengthy rackets require more care while playing.
Kids should avoid lengthy rackets.

10. DIFFERENT WEIGHT TYPES IN BADMINTON RACKETS

Racket weight varies significantly.
Maximum weight of a racket can be more than 360 gram.
Lightweight rackets are easier to control.
Kids should choose less than 75g rackets.
A beginner should choose less than 100g

11.TYPES OF BADMINTON HEAD SHAPES

There are mainly 2 types of badminton rackets can be found in the market

1. OVAL HEAD TYPE 2. ISOMETRIC HEAD TYPE

Oval head type is good for concentrated power.

The oval type has a smaller sweet spot
The isometric type has a bigger sweet spot.

Isometric type is heavier compared to the oval shape.
Oval type lasts longer compared to isometric type.
The oval shape is good for beginners & kids.
The isometric shape is good for professionals.

12. RACKET BUILD MATERIAL

Rackets are made from graphite, carbon fiber, titanium, kevlar, aluminum, steel & woods.
Wood was used in the 1970s for making racket frame but now players rarely use wooden rackets.
Carbon fiber is the best material for rackets.[For flexible racket]
Aluminum/steel good for a stiff racket.
Nowadays a mix of multiple materials is used to build badminton rackets.

13.RACKET STRINGS

Nylon, Gut synthetic gut, polyester (poly), hybrid & kevlar is used as the string.
Most of the players choose the best string from their own experiences.
If you are a newbie then it will be difficult for you to choose the best string for you.
Always buy a pair of unstrung rackets. Strung rackets are not good for you if you are a pro level player.

14. FOR WHOM YOU WANT A RACKET

If you want to buy a racket for a tall person then choose short length badminton racket.
For an injured person always choose a lightweight racket.
For short height person always choose a head heavy rackets.
Professionals can choose any type of rackets. Because they know very well how to play with a hostile racket.

15.WHAT IS YOUR PLAYING STYLE

Do you use both hands while playing? IF YOU ARE USING BOTH HANDS THEN GIVE MORE IMPORTANCE ON HEAD PART OF YOUR TENNIS RACKET WHILE BUYING A RACKET.
Do play powerful shots most of the time? IF YOU PLAY POWERFUL SHOTS MOST OF THE TIME THEN FOCUS ON SHAFT, HEAD PART & OVER GRIP WHILE BUYING A RACKET.
Are you doing Body movements most of the time while playing badminton/tennis? IF YOU ARE DOING BODY MOVEMENTS MOST OF THE TIMES THEN CHOOSE A SHORT LENGTH TENNIS RACKET

16. BEST BADMINTON RACKET BRANDS

YONEX
LI-LANG
VICTOR
CARLTON
FLEET

17. HOW TO CHECK THE QUALITY OF A BADMINTON RACKET WHILE BUYING?

Most of the low-quality badminton rackets start degrading either from neck area or from cone area of the badminton racket.
While checking a racket test the strength of neck & cone of the racket.
If badminton racket company already provided an overgrip then check its quality.
Most of the ow quality racket over grips show their true color within a month.
If you are choosing an overgrip then always check how it is attached to the grip of the racket.
If the overgrip is attached loosely then avoid that racket.
Try to change the shape of the head of the racket you selected to buy.[apply pressure on the head frame if it changes its shape easily then ignore it.]
If it is quite easy to change the shape of the head of the racket then consider to avoid it.
Plastic grip lasts longer than wooden grip.
Plastic cone is not long lasting.

18. WHAT TO NOTICE WHILE BUYING A BADMINTON RACKET?

First, notice the build quality of the badminton racket.
Then go for the brand
Then check if it is comfortable or not.
If it is not comfortable then you should ignore it.
Checking the price of the racket should be the first thing if your money is on diet.
If a badminton company providing extras like a shuttlecock, vibration controller then it is good.
But you have to cross check while buying extras from the racket brand.
If you can buy a good quality shuttlecock & vibration controller at the same price then no need to buy extras from a bad quality racket manufacturer.

19. HOW TO CHOOSE SHUTTLECOCK & TENNIS BALL FOR YOUR RACKET?

TYPES OF SHUTTLECOCKS AND TENNIS BALL USED IN RACKETS

If you play badminton with tennis racket then your shuttlecock will not last longer
If you play tennis with badminton racket then your badminton racket will not last longer.
The shuttlecock can be made from nylon & feather.
But nylon shuttlecock lasts longer compared to feather shuttlecock.
Feather shuttlecock is used for competition matches whereas nylon is used for practice matches.
But most of the players love nylon due to its cheap price & durability.