Choosing the right badminton racket -1

So you’ve decided to get into battle, but do you have the right equipment?

Choosing the right racket is a deceptively simple task. Ask yourself: how do you choose? Do you go for a brand that your favourite star endorses? Do you make up your mind based on a few swings with the racket in a shop? Are you fixated on a particular colour or design?

All these are wrong ways of going about the task. In the first part of this series, Dev S Sukumar asks two professionals – Kumar and Biju Prasad — some basic questions about choosing a racket. While Kumar has been a stringer for long and runs a popular sports store, Biju Prasad is a reputed junior-level coach (Anup Sridhar began playing under him as a junior) and Li Ning dealer. He runs an academy and sports dealership at Gopalan International School.

(Note: The writer and this publication do not recommend or endorse any of the brands mentioned below.)

Kumar: Normally, children begin at 6 or 7. They should go for light rackets. Some coaches prefer to recommend junior rackets, which are about 1-1/2 inches shorter than the normal ones, and between 80-85 gm, so there is no pressure on the shoulders.

I’d say, any graphite racket, with around 22lbs tension, should be fine for a beginner.

As for the brand: every child knows about the big brands, but do watch out for the other brands, which offer the same products at slightly cheaper rates. For example, Dayal makes power cushion shoes that are very good. Dayal also offers a starter kit for beginners. These starter kits cost Rs 2,990 and includes a racket, grip and shoes. Another kit, which includes apparel and kit bag, costs Rs 3,699. This is much cheaper than the top brands, and offers the same quality.

For serious players: The first thing I advise them is, go for graphite rackets, weighing between 80 and 85gm. Doubles players might need strong-framed rackets with higher tension. I basically find out if they are power players or stroke players, and if they are singles/ doubles players, and then recommend rackets.

Biju Prasad: I find out how long a player wants to continue playing. If he’s serious about the game, he should go for an all-graphite racket. Most players go for the cheaper rackets between Rs300 and 800. These are two-piece rackets with a T-joint, so the strength is less and the shape might go with multiple stringing. Usually, they will have to go for a better racket within three months. I recommend a single-piece racket, which will last you for at least a year.

The other major mistake is that people tend to go for light rackets. People feel that if it is light, they can react faster. I haven’t found any connection between your reaction time and the weight of your racket. It you are a stroke player, a light racket is ideal, but if you’re a hitter, with strong shoulders, go for a head-heavy racket. All top players play with head heavy rackets. Rackets these days come with markings on the shaft, so you can make out whether it is head heavy or not.

Of course, there is the comfort factor as well. You need to be comfortable with your racket, and most rackets can take a tension of 22 to 24lbs, which is ideal.

Most players make the mistake of choosing their racket after a few swings at a shop to check its feel. I believe this is wrong, because it’s different when you hit a shuttle. That’s why we’re offering a ‘Try and Buy’ scheme at my academy, where people can hit shuttles with various models and buy the one which seems right.

Keep these points in mind:

# If the string snaps, cut it off and re-string the racket

# Never keep the rackets in the boot of your car. If it gets very hot, the racket will pick up distortions

# String tension of 24lbs is ideal. Only very good players, with excellent control, can manage higher string tension

# The higher the tension, the lower the life of your racket

# If possible, alternate between two or three rackets, to reduce the wear and tear on each