Types of Badminton Rackets:
- Offensive Racket: Characterized by a heavier head, allowing for faster smashes.
- Balanced Racket: Combines both defense and offense, with a balance between the weight of the handle and the head.
- Defensive Racket: Focuses on defense, with a generally heavier handle compared to the head, which helps to speed up reaction and swinging.
Balance Point:
- Generally around 285mm.
- A balance point ≤ 285mm is considered a defensive racket.
- A balance point ≥ 285mm is considered an offensive racket.
- A balance point of = 285mm is considered a balanced racket. Beginners are usually recommended to choose balanced rackets.
On the handle or shaft of the racket, there are generally some letters and numbers.
- G + Number: Indicates the thickness of the handle, usually ranging from G2 to G5. A higher number means a thinner handle. Beginners are advised to choose a thinner handle for better power in quick swings. A thicker handle may cause the racket to slip out of the hand.
- Number + U: Indicates the weight of the racket. Common weights are 3U, 4U, with some being 2U, 5U, 6U. A higher number indicates a lighter racket. For example:
- 3U: 85-89 grams
- 4U: 80-84 grams
- 5U: Even lighter Players with good grip and strength can choose 3U to better utilize their advantages. For those with less strength, 4U or 5U is recommended for better swing feel.
- Number + LBS (Pounds): Indicates the maximum tension the racket can withstand. High-quality rackets can handle up to 30 lbs or more, while most are around 28 lbs. Beginners should not focus on high tension, as medium to low tension (below 23 lbs) is sufficient. Higher tension provides better control but less bounce, making it harder for beginners. Professionals often use higher tension, but for beginners, 22/23/24 lbs is advisable. Higher tension results in tighter stringing and less elasticity, making control more difficult for beginners.
Top 10 Recommended Rackets for Beginners
1.Victor Challenger 9500D (Offensive Type)
The Victor Challenger 9500D, a top choice for beginners, is one of the most popular entry-level badminton rackets with a solid reputation. The latest upgrade, the CHA-9500 D/S, offers faster swing and hitting speed, a more attractive design, and a thinner frame with reduced wind resistance.
This racket is made of full carbon material, making it lightweight with excellent strength, durability, and elasticity. Despite its carbon fiber construction, it remains affordable. Carbon fiber comes in three grades: standard, high stiffness, and ultra-high stiffness. The Challenger 9500D provides great value for its price range, making it an ideal recommendation for beginners.
Summary: This racket is lightweight and easy to use. With a relatively soft shaft, it allows for easier play and more power from the racket’s rebound effect. A softer shaft offers greater deformation, aiding in a more effortless hit, whereas a harder shaft provides less deformation and faster shuttlecock speed, suited for players with more power and explosiveness.
2.Yonex NR7000I (Balanced Type)
The Yonex NR7000I is an excellent choice for beginners, known for its lightweight and good stability, along with fast speed. This racket offers high maneuverability and elasticity, despite its relatively stiff shaft. Beginners may initially find it challenging to control the shuttlecock’s direction, but the racket provides a good feel for net shots and quick reactions. Once accustomed, it enhances defensive play due to its structure and lightweight design, allowing for better anticipation of incoming shots and effective net play.
Summary: This racket has a good feel with excellent shaft elasticity. The 3U weight makes it very flexible, making smashes and clears effortless. Although the smash power might be slightly less due to the inability to fully leverage the racket head, the excellent shaft elasticity compensates for this, and it performs well at medium to high string tensions.
3.Victor Hammer TK-HMR-M (Attack Type)
The Victor Hammer TK-HMR-M is an offensive series racket with a length of 675mm, designed for high-tension attack play. It features a box-shaped structure that enhances stability and torsion resistance during hits, and it can handle higher string tensions. The power groove design stores force during the swing and amplifies it upon impact, creating greater destructive power, earning it the nickname “Assault Hammer.” The strengthened layered system improves the frame’s rigidity and supports higher tension, providing increased power.
Summary: This racket is very lightweight, making it an excellent choice for beginners, especially for women. It offers great value for its price, with excellent craftsmanship, a refined feel, and attractive appearance. In terms of performance, the racket’s stiffer shaft and heavier head are suited for offensive play, with minimal vibration upon impact and effective cushioning, making it very easy to use. It is a highly recommended entry-level racket.
4.Li-Ning HC1100 (Balanced Type)
The Li-Ning HC1100 is an excellent choice for beginners. It features rebound elasticity and torsion angles that ensure high elasticity of the racket. Even if the impact point is off-center, the rebound elasticity and torsion technology help produce high-quality returns. The frame is mechanically optimized to increase the sweet spot area and extend its position upward, creating a more efficient defensive system. The optimized frame improves the effective defensive area and enhances the rebound power as the string bed area expands, thus increasing ball speed.
Summary: This racket has balanced performance with a high aesthetic appeal. Its relatively soft shaft allows for easy leverage and effortless swings, making it user-friendly. It is suitable for beginners focusing on control and defense, particularly female players. However, it may not be ideal for those who prefer an aggressive playing style.
5.YONEX CAB8000N (Offensive Type)
The YONEX CARBONEX 8000N features high-elasticity carbon fiber and carbon nanotubes to reduce the racket’s weight. The square frame design creates a stable frame structure, effectively improving the racket’s stability, ensuring precise and powerful shots. The arched string groove system supports the racket on a curved surface, reducing reaction forces at contact points and minimizing string fatigue. Its one-piece construction ensures structural stability, resistance to deformation, and good shock absorption, resulting in accurate control.
Summary: This racket is lightweight and user-friendly, with good craftsmanship, making it a classic choice for beginners.
6.Li-Ning Speed 3000 (Balanced Type)
The Li-Ning Speed 3000 is a balanced offensive and defensive racket with a soft and elastic shaft, a large head, and a low balance point. Its thin shaft makes it extremely comfortable to play with. This racket offers comprehensive performance, suitable for both singles and doubles, and is durable and easy to handle, making it ideal for beginners. Due to its soft shaft, it provides a feeling of reduced force on smashes and is more suited for control rather than aggressive play.
Summary: This racket is great for beginners, with attractive colors that appeal to those who care about aesthetics. It has a large sweet spot and high tolerance, making it easy for newcomers to use.
7.Yonex AEROSMASH AXSM (Offensive Type)
The Yonex AEROSMASH AXSM is made with carbon fiber for a resilient handle, designed as an offensive racket with a heavier head and a soft shaft. It is suitable for players with less power who need help with smashes but may not be ideal for powerful players, as it may not deliver sufficient force for strong smashes. The racket is lightweight, allowing for fast swings and advantageous net play, making it suitable for front-court play in doubles. However, its performance in the back-court is weaker, requiring more effort for high clears.
Summary: The AEROSMASH AXSM is lightweight and easy to handle, making it ideal for beginners, particularly women and players with less power. Its soft shaft makes it user-friendly for newcomers, and it has an appealing design.
8.Kawasaki KD-1 (Balanced Type)
The Kawasaki KD-1 features mainstream carbon material with high strength, offering a balance of offense and defense. The racket uses high-rigidity carbon fiber for the frame and shaft, enhancing the power and explosiveness during shots.
With a frame length of approximately 675mm and a weight ranging from 95 to 200g, the KD-1 is lightweight and portable. It employs a grooved frame to reduce air resistance and protect the strings. The carbon shaft provides a comfortable grip, increasing shot power and smash speed, while the T-joint enhances stability during hits.
The Kawasaki KD-1 features a high-strength carbon material, offering a balanced performance suitable for both offense and defense. The KD-1’s frame and shaft use high-stiffness carbon fiber,
With a frame length of approximately 675mm and a weight ranging from 95-200g, it is lightweight and portable. The racket features a grooved frame to reduce air resistance and protect the strings. The carbon shaft provides a comfortable grip and improves hitting power and smash speed, while the T-joint design enhances stability.
Summary: The Kawasaki KD-1 is a best-selling racket in the market, known for its affordability and comfort. It is ideal for casual play in community or park settings, making it suitable for family entertainment and relaxation.
Here is the summary of the top recommended badminton rackets for beginners. Finally, for newcomers, it is advised to choose rackets made of carbon fiber or carbon composites. These rackets are lightweight, strong, and durable. It is important not to blindly pursue expensive options but to select a racket that meets your personal feel and preferences.
