Three Points for the Racket, Seven Points for the Strings! Do You Really Know How to Choose Badminton Strings?

Karry September 7, 2024 1 0

Have you ever bought a racket similar to a friend’s, only to find it doesn’t feel right? Or chosen a racket with seemingly perfect specs, but it felt off once strung? Have you found that a 30-pound string tension sometimes feels less comfortable than a 24-pound one? If so, you might be blaming the racket when it’s actually the strings that are at fault.

Many beginners spend a lot of time choosing attractive badminton shoes and a good racket but often overlook a basic consumable: the badminton strings. The different models, materials, gauge, and characteristics of badminton strings, as well as whether they come in reel or individual packs, and the tension used, all significantly impact the actual feel of the racket.

The saying “Three points for the racket, seven points for the strings” holds true because your choice of strings can affect your performance. Have you chosen the right strings for your badminton?

1.Three-Layer Structure

Most badminton strings feature a multi-core single-layer wrap structure with three layers: the core, the outer wrap, and the coating. Different models of strings use different weaving structures, and these three layers provide different functions: the core’s strength and nylon filament diameter affect elasticity and durability, the middle wrap influences control, elasticity, and durability, and the outer coating affects grip, anti-slip, and sound. In simple terms, the core affects the feel, the wrap affects durability, and the coating affects grip.

String Craftsmanship: Typically, fine nylon filaments are used for the core, and thicker nylon filaments are used for the wrap, tightly woven with some resin materials. Some strings may have an additional layer of special fibers between the core and wrap, such as YONEX BG80’s Vectran.

Advanced Technologies and Craftsmanship:

Hydro Titanium Coating: This composite titanium coating enhances clarity of feel and durability.
Multifilament Construction: Ultra-fine gauge provides comfort and durability.
Nano Technology: Uneven coating allows high-strength nylon fibers to fill every cross-section, providing superior rebound and control while maintaining a firm feel.
Ultimax Coating: Enhances the sharpness of the impact sound, like YONEX BG66U.

The craftsmanship of the string affects its performance: the wrap, core, weaving, and coating all play crucial roles. Generally, thin strings offer high elasticity and loud sound, while thick strings are more durable. It’s challenging to achieve absolute balance between the two.

2.Five Key Performance Attributes

Different brands of badminton strings come with various manufacturing processes, types, and targeted performance attributes for different users. Despite these variations, all badminton strings share five fundamental performance characteristics: durability, control, elasticity, shock absorption, and sound. These attributes are often depicted on the packaging in radar charts or bar graphs to help players understand the string’s performance more intuitively.

Durability: Refers to the lifespan of the string, i.e., how resistant it is to fraying or breaking. Generally, you can gauge durability based on the string’s gauge—the thicker the string, the more durable it is. Conversely, thinner strings tend to be less durable. In practice, observe the string’s fraying or breaking tendencies based on your frequency and intensity of play. Sometimes, strings might break without much fraying, or fraying may occur without immediate breakage.

Common reasons for string breakage include:

Normal wear and tear
High impact from the player’s force
Thin gauge string prone to breakage under heavy strikes
High frequency and intensity of play causing significant wear
Excessive string tension causing tight string bed
Incorrect hitting point on the racket frame
Cold weather
Improper stringing method or outdated stringing machine
Poor racket storage conditions accelerating string aging
Worn protective tubing

Control: Refers to the string’s ability to offer precise control over the shuttlecock. The control of the string is influenced by the outer wrap and coating. For example, YONEX’s NBG99 features a special nylon woven outer layer, with a high-strength nylon multifilament core, and a textured surface for better friction and control over the shuttlecock.

Elasticity: Good elasticity allows the shuttlecock to travel farther and with less effort but may make control more difficult. The elasticity of a string is affected by both its inherent properties and the string tension. Higher tension results in a tighter string bed, leading to less deformation and better control, while lower tension provides more deformation, offering better elasticity and power. Generally, beginners with less foundational strength might benefit more from lower tension.

Shock Absorption: Refers to the string’s ability to reduce vibrations felt in the hand upon impact. Strings with better shock absorption, often finer gauge strings, help minimize vibrations and reduce the risk of hand injuries from excessive vibrations.

Sound: This is the sound produced when the string hits the shuttlecock. Stringers often use the sound of the racket when tapping the string bed to check if the string is properly tensioned. In actual play, strings with the same tension but different models, or the same model with different tensions, can produce varying sounds. Generally, finer gauge strings produce a brighter sound, while specially coated thicker strings can also offer a pleasant sound.

3.Recommended Models

Durable + Balanced Type: YONEX BG65/NBG95, Li-Ning No. 5/7, Victor VBS69NANO/VBS70/VBS70POWER

BG65: Often recommended by stringers when unsure about which string to choose. BG65 is one of the top-selling and well-recognized strings on the market. Suitable for all players, including beginners and those who use high tension.
NBG95: Features a nano-coating that provides a soft hitting feel and comfortable play. With a gauge of 0.69mm, it performs similarly to BG65 but offers improved elasticity and feel, making it a well-rounded choice for most players.
Li-Ning No. 5: Offers a balanced performance with slightly less elasticity compared to the No. 1 but better durability. Compared to No. 7, it has less bounce but is more durable and offers a moderate feel.
Li-Ning No. 7: Focuses on durability with a soft feel, similar to YONEX BG65. Suitable for those who prioritize durability.
N69: A balanced string combining the strengths of Li-Ning No. 1 and No. 5, offering better durability than No. 1 and more elasticity than No. 5. Provides a good feel and tension retention.
VBS69NANO: An upgrade to VBS70 with better elasticity and control, resembling YONEX NBG95 in overall performance.
VBS70: Known for its high durability with a bundle of long fibers as the core, providing excellent durability and a loud hitting sound. Suitable for beginners and regular practice.

High Elasticity + Sound Type: YONEX BG80/80P/66U/98/AS/AB, Li-Ning No. 1/N65/N68, Victor VBS63/66NANO

BG80: Incorporates Vectran fibers for a hard-hitting feel and strong power. Popular among many professional players for its excellent performance.
BG80P: An improved version of BG80 with enhanced durability and clearer hitting feedback. Ideal for aggressive players with high tension setups.
BG66U: Features Ultimax technology for a pleasant hitting sound and high elasticity. Despite its excellent elasticity, its thin gauge makes it prone to breakage, suitable for players with accurate hitting and moderate power.
BGAS: Extremely thin with a 0.61mm gauge, offering bright hitting sound and high elasticity. However, it has lower durability, best for intermediate to advanced players seeking excellent feel and reduced effort.
BGAB: A dual-gauge string (0.67mm for vertical and 0.61mm for horizontal). Provides excellent elasticity and control but has lower durability. Suitable for players who prioritize high bounce and control over durability.
Li-Ning No. 1: The finest string before the N series, known for its high rebound and crisp sound. Offers effortless hitting and speed but has poor tension retention and durability.
N65: An upgraded version of Li-Ning No. 1 with improved tension retention and stability. Provides a crisp feel and good explosive power.
N68: Comparable to YONEX BG80P but with a harder feel. Offers better durability while maintaining elasticity and excellent feedback on powerful shots. Suitable for fast attackers.
VBS63: Features a 0.63mm gauge with high-strength multifilament core, providing a clear hitting sound and excellent rebound. Offers increased durability compared to other thin strings. Suitable for players focused on precision.
VBS66NANO: Compared to YONEX BG66U, it has slightly less rebound and sound but better tension retention. Nano technology enhances control and feel, providing good ball speed.

4.How to Cut the Strings

Reasons for Cutting Strings: Cutting strings typically occurs due to the following reasons: broken strings, frayed strings, loss of tension affecting feel, severe string movement, or aging due to prolonged storage.

The tension of a racket string generally remains stable for about a week. After this period, the tension will gradually decrease. Frequent play causes the tension to drop faster, and idle rackets also experience tension loss over time.

Method for Cutting Strings:

Cross-Cutting Method
- Step 1: Locate the center of the intersecting horizontal and vertical strings and cut the strings in a sequential order according to their position.
- Step 2: Identify the four points corresponding to the center of the racket face and the top, bottom, left, and right of the frame. Cut the horizontal strings at points 2 and 4, and the vertical strings at points 3 and 5.
- Step 3: Continue cutting from the center outwards in a cross pattern until all the strings are cut.

When dealing with broken strings, cut them according to the cross-cutting principle (cut horizontal strings if vertical strings are broken and vice versa) to maintain the balance of tension in the racket. For rackets strung above 24 pounds, cut the broken strings immediately to prevent deformation and potential damage due to prolonged tension imbalance.