Choosing a badminton racket is not just black and white. There are many factors to account for, when you are choosing a racket that needs to lead you all the way to the Olympics final. You should look at the flexibility of the handle, weight distribution in the racket and the technology of it. These simple factors each play their big role in your choice of badminton racket.
The flexibility of the handle is classified in one of four categories: Flexible, medium hard, hard handle and extra hard handle. As a rule of thumb, the more experienced the player is, the harder the handle should be. The harder the handle, the more power it will take out of the hit, and in exchange, it will provide more control. A badminton racket with an extra hard handle is for the more experienced badminton players, whose game will not suffer from losing a bit of power in the hit.
When it comes to the weight distribution, there are head light, head heavy and even badminton rackets. As the name suggests, the head heavy badminton rackets are heavier in the head, whereas the head light rackets are heavier in the handle. Head heavy badminton rackets are good for offensive play, since they can generate more speed in the hits than their head light counterpart. The head light rackets are good for defensive play, since they provide the player with more control and are faster and easier to swing. The even weight distribution is neutral. Good feeling, quick reaction and some extra speed in the attack. A neutral weight distribution is especially good for the patient single player who wants to play counter on the opponents’ hits.
The racket’s technology covers everything else. The technology unfortunately doesn’t mean that your badminton racket can make coffee or pick up your kids from kindergarten, but luckily, it means a lot for the racket’s swing, power and general use. Designing a badminton racket is not just about binding some strings to a stick but becomes bigger and bigger science. Aerodynamics, stability, material, the flexibility of the head – all play a big role. Yonex especially are the frontrunners for technology in badminton rackets. Their “CS carbon nanotubs”, for example, allow the sides of the racket to flex inwards, which helps it keep the ball in longer to be able to release it with extra power.
