10 Things You Need To Know Before Going Into A Badminton Shop

Going badminton shopping is of course a fun experience, but it can be overwhelming at times too! There are often many different options and types of specifications for each product, so knowing the basics can be really helpful to make sure you choose the best equipment for you.

Now that I’ve been to my fair share of badminton shops and reviewed many types of badminton equipment, here are the 10 things I think you need to know to maximise your experience there!

1. Budget

   
   

First up is knowing your budget! It’s a simple one, but badminton gear can range from budget-friendly to super high-end, professional-quality products. For example, the Yonex Astrox 99 racket has four different models at 4 different price points. The Pro is the top range, followed by the Tour, then Game, then Play, which is designated as the entry-level and most budget-friendly model.

So setting a rough budget in advance helps you make smart decisions and avoid overspending. Just remember, higher price doesn’t always mean better for you though! Know what you’re willing to invest and plan accordingly.

2. Know Your Playing Style

Next is your playing style, which can actually determine which kind of products work best for you. For example, if you jump a lot, it would be wise to look for shoes with good cushioning. Or if you’re a super speedy player, you might want to look for more lightweight shoes. Or, if speed is your weakness and you want to help that with lightweight shoes also, that’s great too! It’s all down to your personal preferences and needs.

3. Know Your Racket Type

And once you know your playing style, you can then know what type of badminton racket you like in terms of it being head-heavy, head-light, or even-balanced. There are so many brands and models of rackets, so if you know this, it can help you narrow down your options to find the racket that’s best suited to you.

Again, it’s ultimately down to how it feels for you when you play, but in general, head-heavy rackets are for more power generation. So if you’re a rear-court player in doubles or an attacking type of player, these can be good for you. Though you do usually need to be physically strong to withstand the demand of head-heavy rackets!

Head-light rackets are for those faster grip changes and fast rallies, so maybe if you’re a front-court player or prefer the fast and flat game, these could be for you. Finally, even-balanced rackets are a combination of the both!

Often, brands will have charts showing where each racket stands on the scale of head-heavy and head-light, so be sure to check those out too when selecting a racket.

4. Racket Weights

   
   

Next, do you know the different racket weights? These are the different numbers that come before ‘U’, for example, you may have heard of 3U, 4U, or 5U rackets as those are the most common ones you see.

Racket models will often come in different sizes for you to choose from, but do know that some badminton shops may have limited options, especially in specific countries, so do check on that one!

In terms of what the numbers mean, the smaller the number, the heavier the racket is overall. And similar to the balance of the racket we discussed just now, heavier rackets generally provide more power but are more physically demanding, whilst lighter rackets enable easier maneuverability.

5. Grips

Now let’s move onto badminton grip sizes! These are the numbers that come after the letter ‘G’ - for example, G4 or G5, which will be the most common grip sizes. The higher the number, the smaller the grip size is, so if you’ve got smaller hands, G5 might be a good option for you!

But as a general tip, if you’re unsure, it’s better to get a smaller size that will be easy to bulk up using more layers of grips if needed, than to get a larger size and be unable to make it thinner.

And speaking of layering grips, there are a few types of racket grips to be aware of - such as overgrips, replacements grips, towel grips, and cushion wrap. You can learn more detailed information about the different badminton racket grips here!

6. String Types

So we know there’s different types of racket balance, racket weight, and grip sizes, but how about strings? Yes, there are in fact different categories of badminton strings too!

The mains ones to know are Power (which is also known as Repulsion), Control, and Durability. Different strings will usually have a scale of where they stand for each of these categories, so there is definitely a wide variety of different badminton strings to choose from. Even though they sit on the scale for each of the categories, there is usually one category that each string is focused on.

For example, repulsion strings are for the more aggressive or rear-court players, but they may be thinner which means they will break more easily. Control strings are often more textured, which allows more grip and therefore control over the shuttlecock. Think of those satisfying spin nets and crisp slices here. And lastly, durability strings will be thicker and therefore suited for longer-lasting performance. So, how much you’re willing to spend on re-stringing rackets will also come into play when choosing your badminton string!

7. String Tension

Speaking of strings, we should also mention string tension. This refers to how tight your strings are and are often referred to in either lbs or kg. Here in the UK, we often use lbs.

The higher the string tension is, the smaller the sweet spot will be, which means the more skilled you need to be to time the shuttle correctly each time you hit it. So whilst professional players do usually go for higher string tensions, it doesn’t mean that’s what’s best for you!

If you’re a beginner and unsure of the tension to use, I recommend starting with something like 24 lbs. Try it out and note how it feels. If it feels too soft, try going up in tension next time, if it feels too stiff, try going down. Then keep going until you find the right tension for you.

I know this might be a lot of technical information so far, so if it feels like a lot, please don’t worry! You definitely don’t have to be an expert on these things, but just being aware of them can make your shopping experience a lot easier and better for you.

8. Ask To Demo Or Test Products Out

Next is to ask to demo or test the products out. Some stores will have demo or test rackets for you to try, which is a great way to get a feel for the different options, especially if you’re new to the world of badminton rackets. That way, you can be more confident in your purchasing decisions.

9. Look to Your Favourite Players

Now if you’re really unsure, you can always have a research for what your favourite players are using too! I’m not saying what works for them will definitely work for you, but if it’s meaningful for you, it’s a pretty cool feeling to be using the same equipment as your favourite players! Otherwise, use it as a guide, but ultimately choose what feels comfortable and helps your game the most.

10. Know Your Shoe Size in CM

And finally, know your shoe size in centimetres! Sizing can often vary across countries and sizing systems, but cm measurements will always be consistent throughout! This is especially important when trying on shoes from different brands, and here are some shoe size charts for Yonex and Li Ning badminton shoes:

• Yonex Badminton Shoe Size Chart

• Li Ning Badminton Shoe Size Chart

  
  

Overall, don’t be afraid to ask questions when you’re there at the store. The shop assistants and especially stringers will (or should!) have a lot of knowledge around specific equipment and they’ll always be happy to help you out.

And as a bonus tip, don’t forget to check the opening times of the store too, especially on weekends and holidays! No one likes turning up to a closed shop. With that said, you can also use my online code 'CKYEW' for extra discounts, happy shopping and I’ll catch you in the next one!