GUIDE: HOW TO FIND YOUR NEXT BADMINTON RACKET!

Are you looking for a new badminton racket, but are finding it difficult to choose the right one? In this guide, we will make all the technicalities easy to understand, so that you will hopefully have a much easier time finding your next badminton racket.

When choosing a new badminton racket, start by examining 3 things ! And no... It is not the color and price of the racket that determines whether the racket is right for you - unfortunately...

But it is the badminton racket's:

• Weight distribution
• Flexibility
• Weight

These are the three most important topics to read more about before you settle on one particular racket.

Anders Skaarup plays with Li-Ning AXForce 100 – Find it here .

WEIGHT DISTRIBUTION:

All badminton rackets are divided into 3 weight distributions:

• Head Heavy
• Even Balance
• Head Light

MAIN TIGHT BADMINTON RACKET:

No matter how much you know about badminton rackets, you've probably come across the term "head-heavy badminton racket" - but do you know what it exactly means?

A head-heavy racket means that the racket's balance point, i.e. where our racket's weight is placed , is furthest up towards the head of the racket. The advantage of this weight distribution is very clear - POWER ! All head-heavy badminton rackets are created with the aim of the racket providing the most power possible. You can compare a head-heavy racket to a hammer.

The hammer can hit the nail hard because the weight is furthest away. If the head of the hammer was further in towards the hand, you wouldn't be able to get maximum impact force from the hammer and thus wouldn't hit the nail as hard.

This is exactly the same function as a top-heavy badminton racket!

ADVANTAGES :

You will gain more power in your shots and thus be able to hit longer clears and harder smashes.

DISADVANTAGES :

You compromise on the speed of your racket swing and your control, as it is more difficult to control a top-heavy racket than a racket with the weight distribution further down towards the grip.

If you are interested in a Head-heavy Li-Ning badminton racket, you can see our selection right here.

HEADLIGHT BADMINTON RACKET:

Maybe it goes without saying - but a head-light badminton racket is the exact opposite of a head-heavy racket.

There are several differences as to why, but the main one is of course that the racket's weight is placed in the grip. This helps you get the absolute best control of the ball, as it is much easier to steer the ball. In addition to the control, you also automatically get a faster racket swing - this is really good when we are talking about the flat game that most often happens in doubles.

With these prerequisites, a lightweight badminton racket is also preferable, especially for beginners and doubles players.

ADVANTAGES :

You will get the best conditions to optimize your ball control as well as a significantly increased swing speed which, among other things, gives speed in the fast doubles game.

DISADVANTAGES :

You get minimal help with hitting power from the racket, so if you want a racket that can create power, you shouldn't choose a head-light racket.

We always have a large selection of lightweight badminton rackets from Li-Ning. Find them right here.

EVEN BALANCE BADMINTON RACKET:

If you can't decide whether you want a head-light or head-heavy racket, then an even balance racket is probably just right for you.

Here you get a neutral racket that has a fantastic combination of the functionalities of top-heavy and top-light rackets. That is why, as a rule of thumb, an even balance is also called a control racket. So if you are looking for a racket with good control, reasonable power and swing speed - then the even balance weight distribution is what you should look for.

ADVANTAGES :

An even balance racket is an all-round racket that has a good combination of both worlds with maximum ball control.

DISADVANTAGES :

It is difficult to find disadvantages to these types of rackets, but the basic disadvantage is that an even balance racket has no "specialty" - that is, there is no specific area that it specializes in, as it has to be a bit of both worlds.

We always have a large selection of even balance badminton rackets from Li-Ning. Find them right here.

FLEXIBILITY:

All badminton rackets, regardless of manufacturer, are divided into 3 weight distributions:

There are roughly 3 different types of flexibility - also called stiffness.

• Flexible
• Medium flexible
• Rigid

First of all - Flexibility is one of the most basic and extremely important elements to consider before buying a badminton racket, as it is the flexibility of the blade that determines how much power or precision the racket will provide.

FLEXIBLE BADMINTON RACKET:

"This racket is a chocophant" - if you've heard this phrase before, it's a direct reference to the fact that the racket has a flexible blade. But what does that mean?

Yes! As you have probably guessed, a flexible racket has an incredibly soft racket head. This means that you get more impact power in your strokes, as the racket "bends" more and thus generates more power for your stroke.

There are actually a lot of people who play with a flexible racket - most often it is beginners, youth players or older people who play with a flexible racket to get more distance in their strokes.

ADVANTAGES :

You can achieve more hitting power and thus hit longer clears and harder smashes.

DISADVANTAGES :

Due to the soft shaft, precision is challenged and therefore it can be more difficult to control the ball. However, you need to have a basic good technique before this can be noticed.

Of course, we always have a wide selection of flexible badminton rackets from Li-Ning. Find them now here.

MEDIUM FLEXIBLE BADMINTON RACKET:

Medium flexible?!? What is that?

Well, it's actually very straightforward. A medium flexible racket is the middle ground between a flexible and stiff racket.

Most tournament players - i.e. badminton players who play tournaments, team matches and people who have played badminton for several years and have a basic technique should always choose a medium flexible badminton racket. This way you get all the good things from the flexible and stiff world of badminton rackets.

ADVANTAGES:

You get the best combination that will give you a fine technique and impact power in your strokes.

DISADVANTAGES:

You compromise more on your hitting power than with a flexible racket.

We have a wide selection of badminton rackets with medium flexible shafts. Find them now here.

RIGID BADMINTON RACKET:

There are a lot of players with a stiff badminton racket - but actually very few should play with them. But why?

A stiff racket is, in short, the exact opposite of a flexible racket - "No shit sherlock!" . A stiff racket bends very little in the shaft, which means that the racket provides minimal impact power to your strokes and is therefore "difficult" to play with. On the other hand, a stiff racket provides the absolute best conditions for your technique.

That's why most top players play with badminton rackets with a stiff shaft - however, there are several who also play with medium flexible badminton rackets. So remember that even if your big idol plays with a certain racket, it doesn't mean that it's the racket for you, as it will be too "hard" to play with.

We therefore only recommend stiff badminton rackets for experienced/elite players.

ADVANTAGES :

You will get the best conditions for your technical skills.

DISADVANTAGES :

The racket contributes very little to increasing your hitting power and you must therefore be able to generate your hitting power yourself.

Are you tempted by a stiff badminton racket? Find them right here.

WEIGHT:

All rackets are usually produced and categorized into the following weight classes:

• 3U (85-89g)
• 4U (80-84g)
• 5U (75-79g)
• 6U (70-74g)
• 7U (65-69g)