Badminton Racquet Selection Guide:
Choosing the correct badminton racquet for yourself can be difficult task. With such a wide range of racquets to choose from, it can be difficult to know where to start. To simplify the process it can be narrowed down to three key factors; balance, shaft flexibility and weight.
Balance:
All Badminton racquets can be categorised based on their balance, or where the weight of the racquet is largely located. The three categories are: Head-Heavy, Even-Balance and Head-Light. Head-Heavy racquets have the mass shifted towards the head, resulting in a heavier head. Head-Light rackets have the mass shifted towards the handle, resulting in a lighter head. Even-Balance racquets, as the name suggests, have the mass distributed evenly throughout the racket.
Balance:
All Badminton racquets can be categorised based on their balance, or where the weight of the racquet is largely located. The three categories are: Head-Heavy, Even-Balance and Head-Light. Head-Heavy racquets have the mass shifted towards the head, resulting in a heavier head. Head-Light rackets have the mass shifted towards the handle, resulting in a lighter head. Even-Balance racquets, as the name suggests, have the mass distributed evenly throughout the racket.
Head-Heavy Balance Badminton Rackets:
Head-Heavy badminton racquets are very popular with players who like to play a powerful game from the back of the court, providing them with extra mass in the head, which can increase the power of their clears and smashes. As these types of shots are integral to badminton rallies, players who are looking to ensure they can consistently produce lengthy clears should consider purchasing a Head-Heavy racquet.
Head-Heavy badminton racquets are very popular with players who like to play a powerful game from the back of the court, providing them with extra mass in the head, which can increase the power of their clears and smashes. As these types of shots are integral to badminton rallies, players who are looking to ensure they can consistently produce lengthy clears should consider purchasing a Head-Heavy racquet.
Head-Light Balance Badminton Rackets:
Head-Light badminton racquets are more suitable for club players who play doubles far more than singles. The advantage of using a head-light racquet is that the head and frame have far less mass and are therefore much easier to manipulate and swing. This is crucial when defending against opposing smashes, as you will need to react as quickly as possible to return the smash. By the same principle, Head-Light racquets are also much more desirable when playing shots at the net, particularly if you look to finish off rallies at the front of the court. If you prefer to play driving, fast and attacking badminton when playing doubles, or are a singles player who has excellent technique and swing speed, you should seriously consider a Head-Light racquet.
Head-Light badminton racquets are more suitable for club players who play doubles far more than singles. The advantage of using a head-light racquet is that the head and frame have far less mass and are therefore much easier to manipulate and swing. This is crucial when defending against opposing smashes, as you will need to react as quickly as possible to return the smash. By the same principle, Head-Light racquets are also much more desirable when playing shots at the net, particularly if you look to finish off rallies at the front of the court. If you prefer to play driving, fast and attacking badminton when playing doubles, or are a singles player who has excellent technique and swing speed, you should seriously consider a Head-Light racquet.
Even Balance Badminton Racquets:
Even-Balance racquets, as you may suspect, are designed to provide a middle ground between Head-Heavy and Head-Light rackets, and attempt to offer the advantages of both, giving you enough power from the back and enough control + manoeuvrability at the front. If you have no preference between playing at the net and playing at the back, or are unsure, then an Even-Balance racquet is the best choice, as the racquet will be suitable for all types of shots. The majority of regular players now carry racquets for different scenarios, so if you are looking to start playing, then an Even-Balance racquet will help you develop an all-round game. Additionally, if you are a more advanced player or play singles and doubles frequently, then you may also consider purchasing an even-balance racquet to give you something that will help in every scenario.
Even-Balance racquets, as you may suspect, are designed to provide a middle ground between Head-Heavy and Head-Light rackets, and attempt to offer the advantages of both, giving you enough power from the back and enough control + manoeuvrability at the front. If you have no preference between playing at the net and playing at the back, or are unsure, then an Even-Balance racquet is the best choice, as the racquet will be suitable for all types of shots. The majority of regular players now carry racquets for different scenarios, so if you are looking to start playing, then an Even-Balance racquet will help you develop an all-round game. Additionally, if you are a more advanced player or play singles and doubles frequently, then you may also consider purchasing an even-balance racquet to give you something that will help in every scenario.
Shaft Flexibility (Flex):
Shaft flexibility is just as crucial as balance when purchasing a badminton racquet, and the correct level for you is dependent on your wrist/arm speed. Manufacturers have generally agreed upon on categorising racquets as 'Flexible', 'Medium' and 'Stiff'. Put simply, the quicker and more explosive your wrist/arm speed (known as swing speed), the more likely you are to benefit from a stiffer shaft. The slower and smoother your wrist/arm speed, the more likely you are to benefit from a more flexible shaft. Beginners are far more likely to benefit from purchasing a racquet with a flexible shaft, whereas more advanced players tend to favour stiffer shafts as advanced players have much better technique. If you are unsure about how much flex you need, then you should purchase a medium or medium-stiff flex badminton racquet.
Stiff:
A stiffer shaft will bend and then unbend very quickly, ensuring the explosive swing-speed player has the maximum power and control possible. By comparison, a slower swing-speed player would not be able to use the advantage of a stiff shaft as the shaft would not bend or unbend enough, resulting in a loss of power.
Flexible:
A more flexible shaft will bend and unbend much more easily, ensuring that players will get the racket to bend and unbend to the required level. A more explosive, fast swing-speed player using a more flexible frame would connect with the shuttle prematurely, before the shaft unbends and is still bent backwards, resulting in a loss of control and power.
Shaft flexibility is just as crucial as balance when purchasing a badminton racquet, and the correct level for you is dependent on your wrist/arm speed. Manufacturers have generally agreed upon on categorising racquets as 'Flexible', 'Medium' and 'Stiff'. Put simply, the quicker and more explosive your wrist/arm speed (known as swing speed), the more likely you are to benefit from a stiffer shaft. The slower and smoother your wrist/arm speed, the more likely you are to benefit from a more flexible shaft. Beginners are far more likely to benefit from purchasing a racquet with a flexible shaft, whereas more advanced players tend to favour stiffer shafts as advanced players have much better technique. If you are unsure about how much flex you need, then you should purchase a medium or medium-stiff flex badminton racquet.
Stiff:
A stiffer shaft will bend and then unbend very quickly, ensuring the explosive swing-speed player has the maximum power and control possible. By comparison, a slower swing-speed player would not be able to use the advantage of a stiff shaft as the shaft would not bend or unbend enough, resulting in a loss of power.
Flexible:
A more flexible shaft will bend and unbend much more easily, ensuring that players will get the racket to bend and unbend to the required level. A more explosive, fast swing-speed player using a more flexible frame would connect with the shuttle prematurely, before the shaft unbends and is still bent backwards, resulting in a loss of control and power.
Racquet Weight:
Racquet weights can be categorized into several categories:
U: 95-99g
2U: 90-94g
3U: 85-89g
4U: 80-84g
5U: 75-79g
6U (F): 70-74g
The weight of a racket can be found on the cone and is often seen together with the grip sizing. (eg.3UG5) The most common weight you will find for most rackets are 3U and 4U. Nowadays, racquets are getting lighter and will come in 5U and 6U as well. U and 2U are less common and are usually found in training racquets meant to workout the wrist and forearm muscles. Some training racquets can even weigh over 100g!
If you are a singles player, then we would recommend choosing the 3U option as this will provide more overall mass (without affecting the balance), ensuring that the racquet offers more stability at the cost of a little speed. The majority of singles players now use 3U racquets as standard.
If you are a doubles player, then we would recommend choosing the 4U option as this will provide more speed to your game, allowing you to react much quicker at the net and against opposing smashes. The majority of doubles players now use 4U racquets as standard.
Racquet weights can be categorized into several categories:
U: 95-99g
2U: 90-94g
3U: 85-89g
4U: 80-84g
5U: 75-79g
6U (F): 70-74g
The weight of a racket can be found on the cone and is often seen together with the grip sizing. (eg.3UG5) The most common weight you will find for most rackets are 3U and 4U. Nowadays, racquets are getting lighter and will come in 5U and 6U as well. U and 2U are less common and are usually found in training racquets meant to workout the wrist and forearm muscles. Some training racquets can even weigh over 100g!
If you are a singles player, then we would recommend choosing the 3U option as this will provide more overall mass (without affecting the balance), ensuring that the racquet offers more stability at the cost of a little speed. The majority of singles players now use 3U racquets as standard.
If you are a doubles player, then we would recommend choosing the 4U option as this will provide more speed to your game, allowing you to react much quicker at the net and against opposing smashes. The majority of doubles players now use 4U racquets as standard.
