Lightweight / Fast Badminton Rackets
A number of badminton players out there are not necessarily looking for the most expensive badminton racket available but instead the fastest racket that’s available. To be a fast badminton racket you generally need 2 key attributes in it’s setup to help the player.
Firstly, the racket needs to be generally lightweight as a whole racket. Some badminton rackets are now made as light as 60 grams. This translates to a 6U of 2F weight category badminton racket. To be considered a lightweight badminton racket you’re looking at between 60-80 grams. Lightweight rackets are great for fast hand and racket head speed in rallies. The only drawback is due to the lack of weight in them, it can be harder to gain attacking power in your shots.
In addition to this a light head weighted racket will additionally make the racket faster. This is done by aligning the main percentage of the weight at the bottom end of the racket nearer the grip. The benefit to the player is that it allows very fast racket head acceleration and whip action, perfect for fast, short reaction time rallies that you’ll often see in doubles or if you’re the front mixed player.
With lightweight fast badminton rackets you’ll want to keep an eye out for the flexibility of the racket itself. A flexible racket in particular will make it hard to be accurate with shots, however sometimes it’s need to help increase the power off the shots. This is a striking compromise that every player wanting the lightest and fastest badminton rackets has to make.
One particularly popular area amongst players are the lightest and fastest badminton rackets. Lighter rackets are often best for beginner players, weaker strength players, junior players or those that win their rallies through reaction speed and counter attacking in matches.
In particular for Yonex - their light range have become known as the “Flash Boost” or “FB” badminton rackets. These rackets have been designed to be particularly light for players.
One of the drawbacks with super lightweight badminton rackets is that they generally are more limiting in terms of the amount of power you can attain from your shots, particularly from smashes. Some players will buy a superlight racket in the expectation that it's going to improve their speed around court without recognising the drawback of reduced power.
We’d generally recommend for most players a heavier racket will be best suited to them, however if you’re a mixed doubles front court player or really struggle with swing speed, or a beginner wanting to avoid injury, a lightweight racket can be really great.
Finally these rackets are great for excellent defence, with speed counter attacking with a change of pace
Our top 3 of the best lightest and fastest badminton rackets around would be:
Yonex Astrox 22 Badminton Racket - at 68grams, this is the lightest of the Yonex Astrox Racket Series, and being stiff, it’ll enable accurate shot execution.
Yonex Voltric Flashboost FB Badminton Racket - super light at 60grams, this is officially Yonex’s lightest racket. With a slightly head heavy balance, it helps subsidise the lack of weight in the racket, to enable players to attack.
Karakal BN-60 Fast Fibre FF Badminton Racket - At a tiny 60grams, this racket is exceptionally light and good value too! Karakal’s most popular racket.
