Badminton is skill game which required lots of skills to win a point.While player individual skill matters a lot at the same time , a good racket always helps in improving players performance. Professional player also changes their racket time to time to check the best suited racket. Checkout the Blog of Badminton Racket of Srikanth Kidambi to see how professional player change the racket as per game need.

Badminton racket should give following key benefits to players:

1. Badminton racket should give flexibility to play as per players game need. I.e. if you are all round type of player then racket should be easy to move and offer better flexibility. If you are a attacking player then racket should provide extra power on shots. If you like to player fast game then racket should provide speedy racket handling.

2. Badminton racket should be equipped with latest material technology so that it provide better performance.

3. Weight of badminton racket should be minimum so that it is easy to maneuver.

4. Racket technology should suit the player playing style.

Different factor which we need to consider before go to select badminton racket:

Point A  Flexibility of Shaft is very Important Point to Check:

Flexibility of shaft is refer as ability to bend. A shaft is considered as flexible if it is easily bend from its extreme ends. A stiffer shaft is difficult to bend. This is a basic difference in flexible and stiff shaft.

Benefits of Flexible Shaft:

Following are the key characteristics of a Flexible shaft racket:

Player will get better repulsion due to better store and release of energy: Flexible shaft stores energy during bending and release it once beding completed.Due to storing and releasing of energy , player gets maximum energy transfer from string bed.With more energy , player can easily clear the 3rd line shots with less effort. Good repulsion always prefeed by those who wants quick response from racket.However , with good repulsion racket , player need to compromised on shuttle placement accuracy.

Player needs to compromised on Shuttle placement accuracy: With Flexible shaft , when shuttle hits the string bend at that time due to shaft flexibility racket frame feel some vibration (Due to shuttle impact). This vibration on racket frame disturb the accuracy of shuttle placement.Overall , due to flexible shaft player may feel some vibration on racket frame however , nowadasy , manufactuere inventing all new technology and material  to control excess material Checkout the Blog on Yonex racket technology 

Flexible shaft Badminton Rackets  are always prefered by stoke player with all round type of playing skills

Name of some Flexible shaft rackets:

Yonex Nanoray D1 Badminton racket for Intermediate Badminton Players

Yonex Nanoray D 1 racket is designed for intermediate badminton players who already tried muscle power series and now wants to upgrade the racket or for those players who just started the badminton game. NR D1 is developed on head light series which gives light weight racket feel with lightening fast repulsion and fast racket swing. Yonex designed this racket with new concept which helps in placing fast and quick drives shots. With the help of quick return shots , player will can force the opponent to go back into defensive position. Player with NR D1 racket will always have upper hand in drive , cut and cross corner shots to surprise the opponents.

YONEX Voltric 6000 Badminton Racket :

This racket is designed for intermediate badminton players with lots of new and innovative technology by YONEX. Racket is developed with Tri Voltage System (New technology by YONEX for improved racket frame design and its Aerodynamic) which gives following key benefits to badminton payers:

•Head heavy Racket configuration: Due to head heavy configuration, players get maximum power on shots which helps player to dominate in the game by powerful third line clear and explosive smashes from 3rd Line.

•Racket Frame cross section is designed with latest Aerodynamic concepts which offers less air resistance and results into fast racket swing speed. With fast racket swing speed player can effectively place the drive shots, half smashes and cross corner shots. It also helps in better drop shots and quick return in critical badminton rallies.

YONEX Nanoray Tour 77 Badminton Racket :

Yonex Nanoray Tour 77 is designed and developed at Yonex Japan. With X- Fullerene material technology , Tour 77 is fast swing racket for those who wants to dominate in the game quick racket reactions. With Aero Frame section at top side gives better swing speed while box type frame at bottom side offers greater stability to racket head and results into effective shot placement.weight of Racket is around 85 gms with G5 Grip. Its flex is medium which gives controlled shuttle lift. It is a unstrung racket and player can re strung the racket with NBG 99 string.

Overall , Tour 77 is solid feel racket for attacking game play type. Players with fast and attacking game type will like this racket most.

Stiff Shaft:

Stiff shaft offer very little of minimum flexible while shuttle hits the string bed.As a results of the same, there will be little or no repulsion offered by racket. Shuttle hits back immediately from string bed.

Following are the key characteristics of a Stiff shaft racket:

Player will get Little Repulsion but Fast racket handling:

With stiff shaft , player need to swing racket faster to generate more power on shots. Shuttle comes in contact with string bed immediately return back to opponent court without holding it. Overall, player who love to play with fast racket handling needs to select the stiff shaft racket.

Player will get better shuttle placement with stiff shaft racket:

Stiff shaft racket does not bend and repulsed immediately as shuttle hits the string bed. As a result of the same, shuttle faces less vibration and moves very accurately from string bed.7bj

Stiff shaft racket is suitable for fast racket attack, Net skills shots and deceptive shots.

Name of some Shaft shaft rackets:

Yonex Gr 303 Badminton Racket:

Yonex Gr 303 is made of durable material steel and Aluminum. Frame head is made of aluminum which gives better durability and better playing characteristics . The single-piece moulding equally distributes weight to add stability to your shots, thereby making your game more consistent. Racket head configuration is head heavy which gives better power on shots with maximum control. Yonex Gr 303 is developed for beginner level badminton players.Click here to see the details

Get all-round performance with Yonex Arc saber 8 Power Badminton Racket:

Yonex Arc saber 8 Power is designed for aggressive player. This Badminton racket is equipped with latest technologies i.e. Nanometric™ and Nanoair Spring. With these technologies, player will get better balance during force and control with more accuracy. This Badminton Rackety head is heavy which will provide you more momentum and extra power for better smashes and third line shots. It comes with graphite and Nanometric with extra stiff shaft which will provide you better opportunities to hit the powerful smash shots. Click here to see the details

YONEX Voltric FB:

Yonex introduces latest Voltric series racket in year 2017. Its Yonex Voltric FB. Earlier FB racket was launched in Arcsaber Series which was lightest rackets (70 gms). Being as Flash boost series racket Yonex developed Voltric FB racket in 73 gm & its series and weight make this racket standout in complete Voltric range. Developed with Tri Voltage system, Yonex Voltric FB is all new featured racket for attacking game. Click here to see the details

Point B, Balance of the Racket:

Balance point of the racket is the point where you can center the racket.Balance point of the racket is different for different type of racket configurations.(Head Heavy , Even Balance or Head Light). In order to check the balance , try to balance the racket on your middle finger. If you find that your finger is close to racket head than balance of the racket would be head heavy, and if you find that finger is close to racket handle then it will be head light balance racket.

Typically following type of the racket balance point are possible:

1. Head Heavy Balance

2. Head Light

3. Even Balance

Head Heavy Balance Badminton Rackets: A Racket is considered as head heavy if the balance of the racket is closer to head side. It means that weight of the racket will be towards head side.Head heavy racket will be provide you powerful racket smashes and shots.

Head Heavy racket will offers better power and suitable for attacking game type at the same time, head heavy rackets are sluggish in nature which means player will get difficulty in moving the racket in air.

Head Light Balance Badminton Rackets:

A racket is considered as headlight if the balance of the racket is close to handle. Head light balanced racket is very easy to move as it provide better maneuverability. Head light racket offer less power. Player with fast and quick game will like head light racket. Most of durables game player who like to play on net area prefered to play with head light racket.

Point C, Weight of the badminton racket:

Arcsaber FB with 76 gms was the lightest racket in the world before Li Ning Windstrom 72. Now with launch of Li Ning Windstrom 72  (72 gms of weight).traditionally it is considered as head heavy racket offers better power while lighter weight racket gives less power but more speedy racket handling. But with latest technology , badminton equipment manufacture nowadays are able to produce lightweight racket with more power and stiffness.

Based on racket weight in gms ,manufacturer classified different categories as follow:

5U: 75-79g  – Ultralight weight

4U: 80-84g –  Lightweight

3U: 85-89g – Medium Weight

2U: 90-94g – Heavy Weight

 Top Selling Ultralight weight Badminton Racket:

Li Ning Windstorm 72 Badminton Racket:

Badminton racket weigh is an important parameter as it will give you flexibility to move the return fast shots in order to perform better shots and returns. Li Ning Windstorm 72 is developed with advance superlight technology in which overall racket design change to reduce the racket weight Windstorm 72 weight is (72Gms 6U) which means it is lightest racket in Li Ning Badminton racket series.

Yonex Voltric FB Badminton Racket:

Yonex introduces latest Voltric series racket in year 2017. Its Yonex Voltric FB. Earlier FB racket was launched in Arcsaber Series which was lightest rackets (70 gms). Being as Flash boost series racket Yonex developed Voltric FB racket in 73 gm & its series and weight make this racket standout in complete Voltric range. Developed with Tri Voltage system, Yonex Voltric FB is all new featured racket for attacking game.

Arcsaber Fb Badminton Racket:

World lightest Badminton Racket YONEX Arcsaber FB is available online now. The weight of the racket is only 73 gms. With 73 gm (F) lightening fast Machine in your hand you can actually surprise your opponent with fast racket swing and accurate shot delivery. Arcsaber FB is developed on new NANOMETRIC material which bound the carbon fibre effectively and gives 60% reduced shaft cross section as compare to traditional racket.

Top Selling Lightweight Badminton Racket:

Li Ning G Force 3500 Badminton Racket:Li Ning G Force lite 3500 Badminton Racket is equipped with all new features which make this racket extremely powerful and destructive for opponent. With innovative technology, G Force 1500 will provide you 2.8% shuttle speed while it will give you 7.8 % less drag force which eventually results into powerful hitting with optimum control over shots.

Yonex Nanoray Light 9i LCW Badminton Racket:

Improve your Smash Skills for Yonex Nanoray Light 9i

This YONEX Badminton is belongs to latest head light series which is designed to give you super fast racket handling by which you can improve your badminton playing skills. With extremely fast drive shots and speedy smashes you can dominate in the game by putting your opponent back into court.

Top Selling Medium Weight Badminton Racket:

Yonex Duora Z Strike Badminton Racket :

Duora Z strike is latest launched by Yonex 2017. It is dual optimum frame base racket (Its means cross section of the racket is different at two sides. At one side it will be Box type and on the other side it will be aero type).

Yonex Duora 55 Badminton Racket: 

Yonex Duora 55 Badminton Racket is designed for aggressive level player. The racquet is equipped with Yonex’s DUAL OPTIMUM SYSTEM—an innovative racquet design that features differing frame shapes on either side of the racquet head. Dual Optimum System and Nanometric DR. With These technologies, player will get more repulsion power and impact strength with racket. Its frame is made from HM Graphite, IC Elastomer and Nanometric DR which will provide you better balance during force and control with more accuracy.

Top Selling Heavy Weight Badminton Racket:

Yonex Muscle Power 29 Light Badminton Racket: 

Point D, Grip  of the badminton racket:

Different equipment manufacturer offer different grip size naming conventions.E.g. Yonex used G for denoting the grip size. Different Grip sizes like G3 , G4  and G5 are used for type of racket.G3 offers large grip size while G5 gives small grip sizes.Similarly Li Ning used S to indicate the grip sizes. There are two grip sizes offered by Li Ning .i.e S2 and S3. S2 is larger grip size.

Point E, String and its Tension:

String type and its tension is very important and affect the overall playing characteristics.

Checkout guide on Badminton Racket string tension 

Playing with higher String Tension:

1. Higher String tension offers better power and quick shuttle release from string bed.

2. Needless to say that higher string tension offers very control stroke making ability as contact of shuttle and string bed is minimum.

3. Higher string tension gives better speed of shots but to generate more power you need to swing racket more.

Summary: Higher String tension rackets are suitable for advance level of player who need better shuttle speed with accurate shuttle placement.

Playing with Lower String Tension:

1. Lower string tension racket gives better repulsion as shuttle contact to string bed is more.Lower string tension rackets offers maximum power in badminton shots.

2. As shuttle contact with string bed is more so player need to put extra efforts to control the shuttle.

Summary: Lower string tension rackets are suitable for intermediate badminton player or player who wants more power on shots.

Point F, Shape of the Racket:

Two types of badminton racket heads are very popular:

Isometric Head:

In this type , shape of the racket head is Isometric which means player will get racket head shape like Square.Isometric head shape if very popular and provide large sweet spot area.

Checkout top selling Isometric head Shape badminton rackets:

Oval shape:

In oval shape ,player will get smaller sweet spot area but power on sweet spot is more as compare to isometric frame. Oval shape area is less as compared to isometric frame.

Checkout top selling Oval head Shape badminton rackets: