Badminton Racket Strings Guide
Why would I need to restring my badminton racket?
Strings are the only point of contact between the shuttle and the racket, and so are key to a players ability to strike the shuttle effectively. If you're a beginner level player then it's more important to just enjoy the game and not worry so much over the details; however, for developing and elite players, string customisation can bring huge benefits.
So how do you choose?
To help you in this decision, there are 3 key questions that need to be answered:
1. What type of string do you want?
String are mainly grouped into 3 categories:
- Power String
- Control String
- Durability String.
Our racket string pages detail what type of play each string is designed for, making this process a little easier for you.
Power Strings:
As the name suggests, their focus is on delivering maximum repulsion. Typically, power strings have a thinner string diameter gauge (0.68 or below). It's particularly suited to rear court doubles players, and attacking singles players.
Popular Power Strings Include:
- Yonex BG80 Power
- Yonex BG66 Ultimax
- Yonex Nanology BG98
- Yonex BG Aerosonic
- Ashaway Zymax 66 Fire Power
- Ashaway Zymax 64 TX
- Babolat I-Feel 66
Control Strings:
Typically designed with more of a textured finish on the string. This helps you get more of a “feel” when hitting the racket. The rough coating also grips the shuttle, giving the player more ability to play controlled spin or slice shots. It's particularly useful to front court doubles players, and control orientated singles players.
Popular Control Strings Include:
- Yonex Nanology BG99
- Yonex BG Aerobite
- Ashaway Zymax 66 Fire
- Ashaway Zymax 68 TX
- Babolat I-Feel 68
- Yonex BG80
Durability Strings:
Generally around 0.7 gauge or more, these strings are perfect for players needing their strings to last a bit longer. Suited to players with hectic training schedules or wanting reliability in their strings for matches.
Popular Durability Strings Include:
- Yonex BG65 (Particularly suited to beginners)
- Yonex BG65Ti Titanium
- Yonex Nanology 95
- Ashaway Zymax 69 Fire
- Babolat I-Feel 70
Typcially we would recommend a beginner player to look at going for a durability type string as they'll be thicker and harder to break when mishitting off the “sweet spot”.
2. What level of tension should I choose when fitting the strings to the badminton racket?
This is based on 4 things:
- Player ability
- Racket tension range
- How long you want the strings to last
- Type of shuttle you're playing with
As a general guide on string tension see the below table:
|
Player Level |
String Tension |
Power Access |
Control & Feel |
Durability |
Rebound |
|
Beginner |
Low (16-22lbs) |
Easy |
Low |
High |
High |
|
Intermediate |
Medium (23-26lbs) |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
Medium |
|
Professional |
High (27lbs+) |
Difficult |
High |
Low |
Low |
Player Ability:
As a general guideline we'd suggest the below tensions based on your level. This is adjusted by skill level because to make effective use of high string tensions you need to be able to hit the “sweet spot” on the racket head when playing, and this area gets smaller the higher the tension.
- Beginner - 17lbs-20lbs
- Intermediate - 20lbs-24lbs
- Advanced - 24lbs-27lbs
- Professional - 27lbs – 30+lbs
Racket Tension Range:
Every racket has a maximum tension and it's important to check this. We list the specific badminton racket stringing tension range, for each racket, on all our badminton racket pages. We don't recommend going above these recommended tensions because it will void manufacturer warranty, can warp the racket frame, or even cause it to crack or break completely.
How long you want the strings to last:
If you're finding replacing your strings too often, you may want to look into getting yourself durable strings. Typically a good set of strings, strung correctly should last a couple months depending upon how often you play and how cleanly you hit the shuttle, plus the tension level.
Type of shuttle you're playing with:
If you're playing with feathers shuttles all of the above applies, however if you're regularly playing with plastic shuttles it's recommended to lower the racket string tension by 2-3lbs. This is because a plastic shuttle is lighter, and generally takes more effort to get the desired power.
Common mistakes:
Players often want to string their racket at too high a tension just because that's what the professionals do, falsely believing it'll mean they will have more power. Remember it's HARDER to generate power with higher tension, this can lead to injury later, particularly in the shoulder and elbow.
