One of the best ways to stay physically fit and healthy is to play sports like badminton. During this pandemic, badminton is one of the first games allowed to be played because it is a non-contact sport and entails physical distancing. Of course, badminton essentials include a shuttlecock and a handy racket.
Excellent badminton rackets give you both comfort and confidence in playing the game. It also prevents you from forming bad badminton game habits that may cause injury. In this article, we prepared a buying guide and found some of the best badminton rackets available right now.
Our recommendation articles are carefully researched and crafted by the mybest Philippines team of writers and editors. To stay true to our company’s mission and vision to help users’ selection process easier, we also collaborate with experts from various fields to ensure that our content stays factual and useful.
Products or services listed have been independently ranked by the mybest Editorial Team based on the points mentioned in our thoroughly researched buying guide as of 01-16-2023.
At first glance, badminton rackets seemingly look the same. However, when examined closely, they vary in materials and weight. Here are some things to assess before buying purchasing one.
The overall performance of a badminton racket lies in the strength of its materials. Materials vary in prices and service life.
Carbon fiber is the most popular material when it comes to badminton rackets. It's also durable and lightweight. They can be rigid or flexible, depending on the density of the material. Hence, it's often used by professional badminton players.
Cheaper rackets are usually made from stainless steel and aluminum. These rackets can be prone to bending and snapping if not properly maintained.
However, newer ones are mixed with other metals like carbon and iron to make them stronger and long-lasting. They are good enough to use when you just want to play badminton as a hobby but are not recommended for professional use.
A badminton racket is divided into several parts. Each of them can have an effect on your game performance and experience in playing badminton.
The frame is the badminton racket's skeleton. It must be strong to withstand the pressure of every play. Ideally, the frame must be made from high-quality materials like steel.
However, this can mean that the racket will be heavier and harder to play with for beginners. It would be best to find the right balance that will suit your play and style. The frame length is crucial in badminton games too.
As per the Badminton World Federation standards, a badminton frame must not exceed 680 mm long and 230 mm wide. Make sure to read the product description or ask the seller about its measurements, especially if you're competing.
The head shape affects the player's control and precision to hit the shuttlecock, known as the sweet spot. The oval shape is the most commonly used badminton head shape since it gives the player effortless control. It has a smaller surface, resulting in a smaller sweet spot.
Also, oval-shaped rackets deliver more powerful hits, especially if the player gets used to hitting that sweet zone. The player gains more control with the racket in dropping the shuttlecock in any part of the court.
The square head has a larger surface and optimal hitting area, in which the player will more likely hit the ball. However, it is tough to control, which means that you need to exert more effort when swinging. It is recommended only for newbies as a practice racket and not for seasoned players.
The strings are interwoven to serve as the racket's face. For competitive playing, racket strings' dimension must not go over 280 mm in length and 220 mm in width. Strings must be tightly woven together to increase the ball's bounce when it hits the surface area.
Most racket strings are made from nylon. On the other hand, carbon fiber strings are high-quality; hence, they're more expensive and commonly used in professional badminton competitions.
The shaft of the racket will determine its flexibility or rigidness. Seasoned players prefer the stiffer ones to deliver more power smashes with high control. On the other hand, flexible shafts are perfect for beginners.
Meanwhile, some rackets are somewhere in between the pendulum of flexible and rigid. They also work fine! It is just a matter of the player's strength, control, and preference.
The handle is the part that has direct contact with the player’s hand. A good handle must be easy to hold and control during a game rally depending. With this, pick a racket with a handle that works well with your hand.
Of course, a racket must have an excellent grip as well. It refers to the material wrapped around the handle. For sweaty hands, go for the one that is either sweat-absorbent like a towel grip racket, or has an anti-slip feature like an irregular surface one.
Each grip size has distinct dimensions that players can choose from. G1 has 3 inches while G5 has 4 inches - there is a quarter of an inch increase for every grip type. For most professional players, they prefer G2 as it has the right grip tightness for their power moves and swings.
A badminton racket's weight can be categorized into four classes - 2U being the heaviest (90 to 94 grams) up to 5U as the lightest (75 to 79 grams). Lightweight rackets are swift to mobilize and shift strokes, and easy to recover from speedy moves.
In contrast, heavy rackets are more stable and balanced in controlling their impact on the shuttlecock. In other words, lightweight rackets are best for beginners, and heavy ones are for professional players. Hence, as you gain more experience, it is better to upgrade to heavier rackets along the way.
This racket weighs only around 84 grams with a light head balance for fast and controlled swings. The successive grommets positioned at the lower part of the frame provides quick repulsion power. It is also brilliant in defense with its potentially excellent net area performance, such as shaft cut and deep drop shot.
It has a 4-inch grip size but is still very handy, perfect for tournament matches, recommended for advanced and intermediate players. It is also suitable for players who play doubles since it performs well in the medium range. Online buyers gave it high ratings and favorable reviews for undisputed quality.
From ₱1,399
The frame is larger than a usual racket head size because of its flat head frame design so that you'll be able to hit the shuttlecock with ease and control. It has a T-joint connection adding to the power, resilience, and toughness of the racket during drives and smashes easily.
Its anti-slip PVC handle provides a comfortable grip, and a wide cone support cap gives better flexibility when playing near the net. Line or string deformation won't be a problem because of its damping protection system. Grab a pair to practice with your fitness buddy, and enjoy free three shuttlecocks too!
The rackets are durable with a tension-tolerant head and weigh on the heavy side because of their high-tempered metallurgy steel shaft. Nonetheless, these rackets have a long grip, suitable for recreation and physical education classes. Anyone can use them easily!
Aside from this pair of beautifully designed rackets which come in an eye-catching pink color, it comes with 2 pieces of nylon shuttlecocks and a free racket bag. Get the best deal on this set as it has everything you need to play!
What also makes this incredible is its optimum kick point feature that ensures higher accuracy without secondary vibration. It has a light head frame with a medium stiff shaft for precise maneuvering of the shuttlecock, especially when receiving smashes from the opponent.
It highlights an extra-tight grip, an evenly balanced head with blade beam geometry to maintain the good shape, and the power grommets to give stability when playing. It comes with a free string, but keep in mind that it is not yet placed on the racket to customize it according to the player's preference, ideal for seasoned players.
It is made with carbon graphite, allowing the head to tolerate higher string tension with less risk of damage. Its shaft has 0.7.mm combined with elastic material for accurate performance. Also, its stabilized torsion angle and short grip allow better control to perform flawless strikes and effective power shots.
With a heavy head, steel frame, and shaft, it has a balanced weight, ideal for occasional use. It has the standard G4 grip for better handling. It is also very forgiving to players because it has a bigger sweet spot, providing decent tolerance when the player strikes the shuttlecock off-center - perfect for any age.
Smash XP 80-II is perfect and recommended for intermediate players. It weighs only 90 grams, which allows you to play at your best without being easily exhausted. The secret of it being lightweight is the head's rigid carbon fiber material which comes with a high-tension string for easier control.
The whole frame is durable and has wear and tear resistance to protect the racket, which means that it has a long service life. The handle ensures the safety of your grip even when you're sweating. It also comes with a free racket bag for safe storage and is convenient to bring anywhere.
From ₱989
Made with carbon nanotube and sonic metal, the head intensifies the string repulsion and rapid-fire smashes on the shuttlecock - needed for powerful offenses. The tension is neither too high for beginners nor too low for competitive players for easier shot control. As usual, it has a G4 grip type just like other Yonex rackets.
From ₱1,050
Smashing off the top 10 list is this pair of Dunlop’s Neon Badminton Rackets. They are made with aluminum and steel with a light head balance, an internal T-joint, and a full case cover to make your rackets handy to bring anywhere. The rackets' maximum tension is 18-20 lbs, which is good for beginners and recreational use.
Its neon color makes this racket stand out that even kids will love to play the sport. It is equipped with Dunlop's Aerogel technology, using lightweight but heavy-duty materials. It has a long grip and long stiff shaft for increased power and head speed when striking the shuttlecock.
As we protect ourselves and other people by staying at home, we can't deny that we're slowly running out of ideas about what to do when boredom strikes. Working out is one of the best options you could do as it's a fun way to keep you in shape. Here are some times that could help you pursue your new quarantine activity.
Badminton is both a fun and intense sport that can keep us fit and healthy even in the midst of a pandemic. It is an enjoyable game regardless of age and gender, and a refreshing break from online work and classes. With this, quality badminton rackets help you achieve a good game performance.
There is a wide selection of badminton rackets available in online stores, and it is a little challenging to select one. But hopefully, we have helped you choose a badminton racket best suited for you through our buying guide and product recommendations. Stay healthy and keep smashin’!
Author: Roel Pillas Malubay
When you purchase products mentioned in the article, part of the sales may be returned to mybest.
The descriptions of each product is referenced from the content available from the manufacturer, e-commerce sites etc.
Cosmetics and skincare
Health
Household goods
PC and Cameras
Home Appliances and Electronics
Food and drinks
Kitchen supplies
Clothing
Shoes
Accessories
Kids and baby
Interior and furniture
Hobbies
Outdoor
DIY and tools
Sports and fitness
Pets
Books, CDs, DVDs
Games
Cars and motorcycles
Gifts
Housing equipment and renovation
Smartphones and mobile phones
Mobile data
Investment and asset management
Credit cards and loans
Insurance
Music
Smartphone applications