Badminton is easily the most popular racquet sport in India. Many records say that the game may have originated in British India in early 1870. The sport was earlier called as ‘Poona’ after the town of Pune. The first rules were developed in 1873. We have come a long way from there; badminton is now a Summer Olympic sport. This sport is widely popular in the Asian countries with India having a strong say in the sport for quite some time with P.V. Sindhu bagging a silver in the 2016 Olympics.
A proper racquet is essential as it gives you an extra edge to outdo the opposition. A good quality racquet will always help you to sharpen your skills. However, choosing a badminton racquet is not an easy test. Modern badminton racquets are composed of either carbon fibre composite or even aluminium. The shape is largely governed by the rules but one should always look for an isometric design. Moreover, a top quality racquet should not weigh more than 100 grams.
We have a list of the ten badminton racquets that should make your search for the perfect racquet a lot easier. Let us not stand on ceremony and dive right into the list.
Yonex Muscle Power 7
Are you new to the sport? Muscle power 7 is an ideal first badminton racquet. This product from Yonex is the best you can find in the price range. The Muscle Power series has a unique frame construction that has high repulsive power and sharp smashes. Muscle Power design eliminates stress-load and fatigue and allows for a tighter contact.
It may not have a nanometric gr shaft but you get a decent graphite shaft with an aluminium head. The racquet is slightly on the heavy side and weighs around 93 grams. With a medium flex, expect good amounts of stability and control. The shot power is on the lower side but is great for a beginner’s racquet.
You can get the strung version of the Yonex Muscle Power 7 for around 2,000 INR and is perfect for beginners and intermediate badminton players. For string advice, consider strings that offer around 24 lbs of tension.
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Wilson Fierce C1500
The Wilson Fierce C1500 badminton racket is a great option for players that are looking for a competitive racquet at a reasonable price. The frame is made of HM graphite and is highly stable. This construction makes the racquet weigh around 84 grams putting in the lightweight category. The balanced racquet possesses the industry standard isometric design that optimises the sweet spot area and reduces the probability of mistimed shots.
It features Wilson’s BLX technology that reduces vibrations and improves control. This technology makes use of a natural volcanic rock basalt during the production. Basalt fibres in the frame along with graphite sieve out the uninvited frequencies. The feedback offered by the Fierce C1500 is amazing.
The strung version of Wilson Fierce C1500 costs around 9,000 INR and is ideal for intermediate badminton players. If you are looking to replace the strings, consider getting strings that offer 24-26 lbs of tension (we recommend strings from Yonex).
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Yonex Duora 10
The Duora’s cutting-edge technology enables for a powerful forehand and a quicker backhand. The Duora features a revolutionary dual optimum design that combines the box and the aero frame design to increase the repulsion speed by up to 9 percent. Yet again, we see a composite shaft made of H.M. graphite, Nanometric DR, and Ni-Ti Fibre. This puts the Duora 10 in a completely different class.
Coming to the metrics, it not only is 60 percent lighter than the competition but also offers tremendous impact strength. Yonex claims that an experienced badminton player can generate an increase of 30km/h in swing speed.
The Duora 10 is the slimmest racquet ever produced by Yonex; this reduces the air resistance largely. However, the racquet weighs 88-93 grams and is slightly on the heavier side. The improved T-joint increases the stability of the racquet.
The unstrung version of the Duora 10 costs around 12,000 INR and is ideal for senior badminton players. For stringing advice, go for 3U strings with 16-26 lbs of tension.
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Yonex Nanoray 900
The Nanoray 900 is a part of the latest head-light series from Yonex. This racquet provides a fast swing with reduced resistance using the latest aero frame technology. Nanoray 900 is ideal for players who force their opponents into the backcourt and love to play on the offensive. We do not see a single material for the frame; rather we see a combination ofX-fullerene, High Modulus Graphite, and Ultra PEF. The racquet is stiff and weighs 88 grams.
Improved frame design enhances the drop shot along with the overall power of the smash. The graphite shaft is brilliant and is around 60 percent thinner than a conventional shaft. The X-fullerene provides about 15 percent higher stability when compared to the competition. The racquet is less prone to vibrations, thanks to the new improved T-joint. A uniform tension is seen throughout because of the isometric design of the head.
The strung version of the Nanoray 900 costs 12,500 INR and is ideal for senior badminton players. If you ever choose to replace the strings, go for the strings having around 27 lbs of tension.
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Yonex Nanoray Glan-Z
Yonex Nanoray Glan-Z is part of the head-light series from Yonex. It falls in the same category of that of Nanoray 900, only this is much better. Nanometric carbon technology ensures an extra slim shaft that reduces air resistance. The racquet weighs around 83 grams. We see the innovative RELIX fibre that provides mind-blogging shock absorption properties. The X-Fullerene in the shaft increases the stability largely.
A unique grommet pattern allows strings to run vertically creating better flex and an enlarged sweet spot. To add to this, we see the industry standard isometric design. The aero and box frame ensures that your backhands are as venomous as your forehands. We also see Yonex’s standard Solid Feel Core that reduces the vibrations. The racquet is brilliant in the backcourt and is equally good at net play.
Yonex Nanoray Glan-Z costs around 14,000 INR and is the best choice for advanced badminton players. For stringing advice, consider 4U type with 17-22 lbs of tension.
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Yonex Voltric Z-force II
Voltric Z-force II is the perfect racquet for players in the hunt for extraordinary ‘all-round’ performance. Voltric’s tri-voltage system accomplishes the perfect mixture of weighty smashes and quick racquet handling. Like other Yonex racquets on the list, this one too has a composite shaft. H.M. Graphite, Sound Filter, Nanometric GR, and Tungsten make up the shaft and weighs 83-88 grams.
Like the Duora 10, this one also has a very slim shaft. Moreover, the energy transfer with the Z-force is exceptional. Tungsten-infused grommets maximise the contact time between the shuttle and the string that increases the power transferred to the shuttle. Air resistance is minimised, thanks to the aero frame. The sound filter eliminates around 31 percent of vibrations, a huge plus. The nanometric technology along with isometric design provides exceptional control.
The strung version of Yonex Voltric Z-force costs 13,200 INR and is ideal for advanced badminton players. If you are looking to replace the strings, consider the 4U with 20-27 lbs of tension.
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Li Ning N-36
The N-36 is part of the UltraSharp Series and is ideal for an all-round gameplay. The shaft is composed of Ultra-Carbon that has the optimum rigidity to bear the higher tension. The super strong material also reduces the chance of frame deformation. The racquet weighs 82-89 grams. The headlight racquet is flexible and has all the top-class Li Ning technologies.
The shock absorption system dampens the vibrations largely. The Wing stabiliser reduces air resistance and improves accuracy. Many say that this racquet could practically hit any corner of the court. Bio-Inner core technology improves flexibility along with stability. The aero beam system enhances the quick movements while the rigid frame ensures that you deliver a heavy smash. However, the racquet is slightly larger than the regular 26 inches (this being 27 inches).
The unstrung version of Li Ning N-36 costs around 17,000 INR and is ideal for an advanced badminton player. For stringing advice, consider strings with 24-26 lbs of tension.
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Yonex Arcsaber FB
Yonex Arcsaber FB is a perfect racquet for attack-oriented players. We see a composite frame with the Arcsaber FB. Increased durability and improved flexibility of the CS carbon nanotube frame improves elasticity and control. The isometric design enhances the sweet spot area while the nanometric gr design makes the racquet lighter than the competition. The racquet weighs only 73-78 grams.
Not only that, this also improves the swing speed of the racquet. The solid feel core reduces the vibrations greatly while the box plus aero frame allows for a heavy forehand and a quick backhand. The flex is great and is on the stiffer side. The new T-joint improves stability and the performance of the racquet. The grip is wonderful and you should feel at home right away. Overall, this is a very balanced racquet.
The strung version of Yonex Arcsaber FB costs 15,500 INR and is ideal for senior badminton players. If you are looking to replace the strings, go for either F 19-24 lbs or 5U 19-24 lbs.
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Li Ning N90-III S2
Li Ning’s N90-II S2 is also designed for the attacking players. The balanced racquet offers good amounts of flexibility. The carbon fibre frame is top-class and weighs 81-85 grams. This one also belongs to Li Ning’s Mega Power Series. So, expect the patented air-stream technology with this racquet too. It offers minimal air resistance and ultimately shows an increase in power. Like the Airstream N99, we do not feel a huge amount of vibrations when we miss the sweet spot.
The patented Bio-inner-cone technology shifts the bending point of the shaft upwards and improves precision during a smash. The racquet is highly accurate and exceptionally consistent at both the net play and the backcourt.
Trivia: Legendary badminton player Lin Dan also uses the Mega Power Series from Li Ning.
The unstrung version of N90-III S2 costs 19,250 INR and is best suited for an advanced badminton player. Use strings that offer around 24-28 lbs of tension with this badminton racquet.
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Li Ning Airstream N99
The Airstream N99 badminton racquet from Li Ning is part of the Mega Power Series and is best suited for an attack oriented badminton player. We see a military-grade carbon fibre frame and weighs 85-89 grams. It also features a patented air-stream technology that reduces the air resistance by around 8 percent ultimately increasing the venom in your smash by up to 3 percent.
The state-of-the-art shaft improves flexibility and boosts the overall control and feel of the racket; Li Ning calls it as the Bio-inner cone. The racquet is elastic and performs well even if you have missed your sweet spot during all those power smashes. The shaft is well designed and absorbs most of the vibrations and shocks. Not only that, the racquet is accurate and highly consistent.
However, the product does not come cheap. It costs 22,000 INR for the unstrung version. You will have to find your own strings for the racquet. Use strings that offer around 24-28 lbs of tension with this badminton racquet. This racquet is best suited for an advanced badminton player.
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