Badminton is a great activity for your fitness, whether you do it recreationally or competitively. A good badminton racket helps in form and technique to improve your game and prevent injuries. With many options available, picking the ideal badminton racket might be tricky.
The key to finding the right one is understanding the parts of a badminton racket, the materials used, and how they affect your play. To help you, we've created a buying guide fact-checked by fitness coach Michelle Estuar. We've also compiled a top 10 list of badminton rackets available online. For more details, keep reading!
Michelle Estuar is the Head Coach of one of the indoor cycling studios in Metro Manila. She trains individuals interested in becoming cycling coaches. She also designs and develops programs to meet fitness goals. To add to that, she is a former triathlete, running coach, and ultra-marathoner, and has completed long-distance events such as a 102km run and a 10km open water swim. Michelle is addicted to anything related to sports and fitness as well as diet and nutrition. She has tried (and will keep on trying) the latest trends in diets, apps, equipment, gears, and accessories—she will do anything to stay fit and healthy.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
The expert oversees the Buying Guide only, and does not determine the products and services featured.
Table of Contents
Before we get to our first point of the buying guide, which is about the materials, it is essential to understand the core elements of a racket. The following are the basic components of a badminton racket:
Here are some key points to consider:
For more detailed information, read through our buying guide below.
Graphite, aluminum, and steel are the most popular racket frame materials. Since the frame makes up the majority of the racket's weight, picking the right material is vital for your level and type of game. In addition to weight, it also affects the racket's durability. However, not all makers use the same materials for the racket's frame and shaft.
Graphite or carbon fiber makes for a sturdy and long-lasting frame. It is the best option for professional and recreational players. Compared to other materials, graphite is strong yet lightweight. This excellent weight-to-strength ratio allows the racket to move through the air faster.
Aluminum creates a durable and lightweight racket frame, making it a fantastic choice for newbies and pros. This material is suitable for a strategy that puts greater emphasis on smashes. In particular, players who prefer power in their game opt for aluminum rackets.
If affordability is your priority, a steel frame is a good pick. However, remember that this type of frame tends to break quickly over time due to its lower quality. This material is typically heavier than graphite and aluminum, making it ideal for players who prefer a little more weight in their rackets.
There are two kinds of racket heads, namely:
A tighter string tension offers more control, which is excellent for accuracy and precision. On the other hand, looser string tension provides more power, which is advantageous for smashes. Moreover, this has an impact on the sweet spot's size. A higher string tension makes a smaller sweet spot, while a lower string tension produces a bigger one.
If you're still figuring out your playing style and strengths, this racket from Yonex is the ideal pick. This racket has an even weight distribution, so you can mix an approach of smashes and maneuvers. Moreover, this racket's solid feel and lightweight carbon graphite frame have received favorable reviews.
The ArcSaber 10 is also relatively light (4U), allowing you to easily make rapid and swift movements. Additionally, the racket head is isometric, creating a larger sweet spot and improving your accuracy. However, because of its stiff shaft, it works better at delivering control than power. Nevertheless, you should check this out for a user-friendly racket!
Are you a badminton player who favors power over placement? If so, this racket from Dunlop is your best bet. It has a head made of aluminum and a shaft composed of graphite, which gives it a heavy frame. This makes its 93g (2U) weight work great for smashes and offensive play.
The looser string tensions (18 lb) on this head-heavy racket also help to provide more power. For this reason, reviewers recommend the Nitro Star for more experienced players. Give this a try for extra power at an affordable price!
In terms of playing style, do you emphasize placement over power? Then, this racket from Victor is a wise choice. It boasts a head-light balance and an 84g (4U) graphite frame. When hitting shots, this design offers better control and precision.
Its lightweight construction also helps the racket to swing faster. Additionally, its isometric head and tighter string tensions (26-30 lb) enhance the accuracy of the shots. Reviewers gush over this racket's lightness, with buyers loving its suitability for beginners.
If you spend a lot of time defending during a game, then this racket from Babolat is the one for you. Its flexible shaft provides extra power without needing the player to hit the shuttlecock with tremendous force. The head-heavy balance also increases users’ capacity to apply more power in their strokes.
Nevertheless, this badminton racket is still dynamic for smashes and maneuvers due to its average weight of 85g (3U). According to reviews, this is a good option for players who like to play with additional weight to amp up their shots’ firepower.
Want a complete set of badminton gear? With this item, Aktive Sports has you covered. It includes two badminton rackets which come in a bag, and three shuttlecocks. This bundle is excellent for getting you started if you want to make badminton a family pastime.
Even though it is affordable, this racket is of decent value and appropriate for recreational use. Reviewers claimed it is also great for kids because of how light it is for them to hold and swing.
For a playing style focused on attacks, Yonex offers the Astrox 88D Pro. This racket is made of graphite, which makes it lightweight enough for fast attacks. Due to how powerfully the racket smashes downward-angled shots, feedback indicates that it works best with rear court players.
The shaft is formed using Namd technology, which binds resin to the graphite fibers. As a result, the shaft has more flexibility and can deliver shots with greater force. It fits with the heavy-head balance of the racket for power plays. If you enjoy playing badminton in a doubles format, give this racket a go!
Are you concerned that your defensive strategy will cause fatigue to set in quickly? With Yonex's racket, you can play longer on the court. Because of the shaft's flexibility, you can make powerful shots without exerting much strength in your strokes. Furthermore, it is evenly balanced, allowing you to incorporate smashes and maneuvers in your play.
Weighing at just 78g (5U), the Astrox Lite 21i is very light, which helps facilitate quick racket movements. Its frame also consists of graphite, so you know it will last long. Plus, reviewers also affirm its durability and good quality!
Do you prefer maneuverability to smashes when playing? If so, this Li-Ning racket would work well for you. As you play, you will have agility thanks to its featherweight 80g (4U) design. This is enhanced by the carbon fiber frame, which keeps its weight low while maintaining durability.
Customers online commend it for being simple to control. You can even increase the racket string tension up to 30 lb for extra control in your play. Consider this one if you want a racket that's easy to carry and maneuver.
Looking to play with a more power-oriented style? Then this Dunlop racket is a superb alternative. With a frame made of steel and aluminum, it weighs 93g (2U), giving your swings more power thanks to the extra weight.
Moreover, it has a loose string tension of 18–20 lb, which creates a sizable sweet spot. It also comes as a pair, so you can always be prepared to play against a friend or family member. Reviewers also say it gives you value for your money!
This Elite racket is a wonderful option if you like the feel of a steel frame. It is also designed with an anti-slip handle, providing a comfortable grip. It even features an 18 lb low-string tension, which is great for generating more power.
Additionally, this racket comes in a pair, including three nylon shuttlecocks and a carrying case. Many buyers recommend this for beginners as it is reasonably priced yet durable. So if you’re considering taking badminton as a leisure activity, look into this product!
We asked Fitness Coach Michelle Estuar some of the web's most asked questions. Read below to know her answers!
Typically, racket lengths range from 665 mm to a maximum of 680 mm. A longer racket is ideal for offense. It's useful for drop shots and angled shots or smashes.
You should restring your racket if the strings appear frail or shaggy. It's best to regularly check the stringed area because the string tension decreases every time you play, especially if you hit hard or with a spin.
A head-heavy racket is the best for power play like smashes. An example of this is the Dunlop Nitro Star F110 badminton racket.
Looking for more ways to keep yourself active? Check out more articles below!
Our buying guide was carefully researched and crafted by the mybest team of writers and editors, in collaboration with the expert featured in this article. We used the buying guide as a basis for choosing and ranking the product recommendations, and we looked at reviews and ratings from different E-commerce sites like Lazada, Shopee, and more.
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
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