Last updated on August 7th, 2024
Choosing the right badminton racket can be difficult. There seems like an abundance of choices on the market for several different companies. How do you know which one is going to suit your playing style and skill level?
In this article, I will provide you with a detailed guide on how to choose a badminton racket that will enhance your performance and improve your overall playing experience.
One of the most asked questions about badminton has to be, what is the best badminton racket for me? or how do I choose the right badminton racket? Let’s try to answer those questions and make it easier for you to choose your next racket.
There seems a fairly simple answer, just choose the one your favourite player uses right? However that be the wrong way to approach this selection. As it turns out this is actually a really tough question to answer, and one everybody has an opinion on.
Whilst there will never be a definitive answer, that doesn’t mean I can’t attempt to bringing a little clarity to the table, or should that be court!
Table of Contents
Key Factors To Consider
In order to this I will break it down into a few points such as skill level, type of player and price.
Have you played badminton before? Your experience level is going to be a key factor with your choice of racket. Are you a regular player who is simply looking to upgrade to help give your game an edge?
Okay let’s take a look in more detail at what factors you should be considering:
How To Choose A Badminton Racket
Consider Your Playing Style
Before looking into the technical aspects of racket selection. I think it’s important to assess your playing style as certain rackets suit particular styles. For instance are you an aggressive player who enjoys to perform powerful smashes and quick swings? May be you’re more of a defensive and controlled player.
By understanding your own style, you can start to narrow down rackets and their specifications that match with your needs.
How Much Should Spend?
What is the best badminton racket for beginners and how much should you spend? A lot of people are introduced to the sport in one of three ways, at school, playing in your back garden or whilst on holiday.
The last two will probably result in the purchase of a cheap set, that includes a couple of rackets and a few shuttlecocks. These will typically cost in the region of £3-5 / $8-9 / €3-6 and are great for a bit of fun.
However these would not be ones you would take down to your local badminton club! They are great for introducing you to the sport but you should ditch them and spend a little bit more on one racket.
Okay, so which badminton rackets are best? Well that depends your budget, but I would suggest you go for something around the £20 / $28 /€25 price point.
If truth be told you can pick up a lot of excellent badminton rackets on sale for a half of their original RRP. In the UK for instance retailers such Argos, Sports Direct, Sweatband, Racquet Depot and Amazon all have great deals on slightly older models of rackets.
The fact that it is no longer the latest racket makes no difference to the player. All you care about is picking a really great piece of sports equipment for as little money as possible.
Another place to shop would be online with Badminton Bay as they ship worldwide and have a great selection. Remember there’s nearly always going to be a selection of good badminton rackets on sale from these retailers. If you have decided on a particular racket time a little time to look at all of these retailers.
This page contains affiliate links from Badminton Bay. By buying through the links we may receive a commission for the sale. This has no effect on the price you pay.
What About The Racket Brand?
Which badminton racket brand? Many people often ask, which is better Victor or Yonex? You should not really think about in those terms. Each company has a range of products some will be better suited to you style of play or budget.
Ultimately it’s for you to decide, but here’s a top tip, if you can go to a local sports retailer to have a look at what’s on offer. Pick them up and take a few practice swings. How do each of the rackets compare in terms of feel, comfort, weight and stiffness.
There may brands to choose from at the entry price point including, Wilson, Carlton, Victor, Dunlop and Yonex to name but a few. Don’t worry too much about brand just find the racket that feels right.
Again you won’t go far wrong with any of these brands and can pretty always find items on sale, meaning you can sometimes get a lot more for your money. You may find an £11 racket is fine for your needs.
A lot of people make the common mistake of buying the best piece of equipment when starting out and think that it will turn them into a great player. If only it was that simple, of course I think we all deep down know the world doesn’t work like that.
The most important thing you need to do, more than having a great racket is to learn the game. Practice the basic badminton skills and techniques, improve your footwork and mobility around the court.
That is how I would choose a badminton racket for a beginner in the sport.
- Avoid Counterfeit Yonex Rackets
- Improve Your Footwork
- How To Minimise Injury
- Which Shuttlecock is Best?
- BWF Top 10 Players
Think About The Following When Choosing Your Next Racket
Grip Size
The grip size of a racket can play a major role in your comfort and control during matches. If you have a grip that is too small, this can lead to a lack of control. However having a grip that is too large can cause strain in your hand, whilst reducing mobility.
In order to ascertain what your grip size is you can perform this test. Simply hold the racket in your dominant hand and check if there is enough space to insert your index finger between your palm and fingertips. It should fit comfortably without feeling cramped.
Racket Weight
The weight of a badminton racket affects your mobility, power and control. Lighter rackets of around (80-85 grams) tend to offer enhanced manoeuvrability and speed, making them suitable for beginners and players who rely on fast reactions.
On the other hand, heavier rackets (85-92 grams), provide more power and stability, which can benefit players with a stronger swing and advanced technique.
I suggest you experiment with different weight rackets until you find the optimal balance for your play style.
Balance Point
The balance point of a racket refers to the distribution of weight along its length. There are three main types of balance points: head-heavy, head-light and even balance.
- Head-heavy rackets will provide far more power in your smashes which makes them ideal for aggressive players.
- Head-light rackets offer increased mobility along with fast reaction times. This makes them an ideal choice for defensive players.
- Even balance rackets strike a balance between power and control, making them a good all-round racket that can suit several different playing styles.
This is another those factors that really depends upon your playing style. What suit one player may not suit the other.
Choice of Head – Pros & Cons
A head heavy badminton racket means you will have more powerful smash and clear shots. You will also be able to achieve a greater distance when clearing.
Heavy Head Suits: Powerful Style
Meanwhile a less heavy head will allow you to be quicker in reacting or to put it another way, achieve increased swing speed.
Light Head Suits: Fast Attacking Style
Which is best for you will depend on your preferred style of play.
Shaft Flexibility
The flexibility of a racket can affects its power and control. Rackets with higher flexibility tend to generate more power but at the cost of reduced control.
On the other hand, stiffer rackets offer improved control but with reduced power. Beginners will generally benefit from a more flexible racket, while advanced players often tend to prefer the stiffer options available.
I think it’s important to note that the right level of flexibility can be a very subjective thing. It really does requires the player to experiment with several different rackets to find the the one that is right for them.
In short, if you have a quicker swing style you will probably benefit from a stiffer shaft.
String Tension
String tension can considerably influence the feel and performance of any racket. Higher string tension provides increased control and precision but can sacrifice power. Lower string tension offers more power but may result in reduced control.
I recommend that beginners opt for a lower string tension, while advanced players go for higher tension based on their skill level and playing style.
What’s Your Budget
All the main manufacturers have ranges of rackets with the different attributes mentioned above in several different price ranges.
How To Choose A Badminton Racket For Intermediate Players
If you are an experienced player you should ask yourself the question “Why am I changing my racket?”
I think many of us think choosing a more expensive racket or one that is perceived to be better will give the edge we have been looking for. That could well be the case but as I’ve already demonstrated nothing is ever that simple.
That said, if you are already a player at this level, you know how to play the game and are probably ready to try something different to up your game.
Of course if your a member of a badminton club you may have access to various different types of rackets. If you can borrow a racket to try then that is what I would recommend, especially if your considering a change in the type of racket.
A note of caution, at this level finding the best racket to suit your game can become challenging in more than one way.
Now I’m are not going to go into too much detail here on every aspect but here are a few things to think about.
Have you tried to re-string your existing racket? String tension can make a big difference to your game. I know it may sound obvious but it’s something many of us overlook.
You will hear people often say you need the a heavier head weight. Maybe the shaft is too flexible or not flexible enough. As I’ve continually said, choosing the perfect badminton racket is far from straightforward as it all comes down to personal preference.
One thing you can do to make things clearer is to make a list of pros and cons of your existing racket. What do you like about it and what frustrates you.
Conclusion: How To Choose The Perfect Badminton Racket
Selecting the right badminton racket is a crucial step in improving your game. By considering factors such as playing style, weight, grip size, balance point, flexibility and string tension, you can find a racket that complements your skills and enhances your performance on the court.
Remember, personal preference and experimentation are key to finding the perfect racket that suits your individual needs. So, go ahead, explore different options, and enjoy the game with the racket that makes you feel confident and in control.
Now this information is all well and good but what is really important is to get a feel of your proposed new purchase. Unfortunately it is unlikely you are going have the opportunity to play before you buy. You are only going to know if it’s the right one for you having played a game or two.
This is especially important when moving to a heavy head racket as you will probably struggle with it to begin with and may decide it’s just not for you.
This could possibly be one of the biggest problems you will encounter. You could always ask to try a friends racket but unless they have the one you looking to purchase it may not be of much help.
Remember the person who is the best player at your school or badminton club doesn’t necessary have a racket that would suit your game. Having the same one that Lin Dan or Carolina Marin use won’t suddenly make you play like them.
Improving your all-round game techniques will see the biggest improvements. That said having better equipment may give you that little extra edge and in sport that can make a difference.
Well hopefully this article has gone some way to answering and addressing some of the main issues you need to consider when looking for the best badminton rackets that suits your style, ability and budget.
The best badminton rackets for beginners don’t need to be expensive.
What Criteria Do You Use When Choosing A New Racket?
Now you know how to choose the perfect badminton racket or at least what are the main considerations before committing to a specific piece of equipment.
Please let us know what criteria you use when purchasing a new racquet. We are always interested in other player’s opinions.
Hopefully I’ve answered the question, what badminton racket should I buy? The next thing to consider is the type of badminton string to use, but I’ll will leave that for future article.
If you liked this buyers guide and want to see more of this sort of content drop me a comment below or over on Facebook.