How to Choose a Badminton String (Comprehensive Buyer’s Guide)

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This is a complete guide on how to choose a badminton string.

In this article, you are going to learn:

• What to look for in a badminton string.
• How string tension can impact your game.
• What to get whether you are a beginner or pro.

So if you’re ready to find the string that works for you, this guide is for you.

Key Points When Choosing a Badminton String

1. Every badminton racket’s string bed has a ‘sweet spot’; the area which imparts the most power and speed to your shots.
2. The greater the string tension, the smaller the sweet spot’s area, and vice versa.
3. Beginners, as well as anyone who plays the game casually, would do well to stick with a racket with low string tension — the relatively large area covered by the sweet spot will reduce the likelihood of mis-hits.
4. Professional players usually opt for higher string tension. For, even though a higher string tension will result in a smaller sweet spot, it will also enable the shuttlecock to travel faster and cover more distance.

Stringing Tensions

Every racket comes with a recommended string tension range. If you string your racket out of its stringing range, the warranty will become void. So, check out your racket’s recommended stringing range before increasing or decreasing it.

String tensions fall into one of two categories:

Lower Tension

Here are the benefits of choosing a racket with low string tension:

• A larger sweet spot, making it easier for beginners and casual players to consistently hit the sweet spot during the match.
• Lower risk of mis-hits breaking the strings and/or damaging the frame of the racket.
• Better shock absorption and less transmission of the vibrations from the string bed to your racket holding arm.

Here are the drawbacks of choosing low string tension:

• Less control over your shots, meaning you will have to work harder for more accurate shot placement.

Pro Tip: Low string tension is ideal for players with beginner to mid-level playing technique. That is because a low string tension decreases the likelihood of mis-hits breaking the strings.

Higher Tension

Here are the benefits of choosing a racket with a higher string tension:

• A higher string tension will give you better control over where your shots will land, thereby helping with more accurate shot placement.
• A higher tension will also enable you to generate more power if you consistently hit the sweet spot.

Here are the drawbacks of choosing high string tension:

• Since a higher string tension reduces the area covered by the sweet spot, so the likelihood of mis-hits increases.
• Higher tensions also increase the likelihood of breaking the strings through mis-hits.
• If you cannot consistently hit the sweet spot, you will have to put in more effort to generate power, increasing the chances of an injury.

Pro Tip: High string tension is ideal for players with an advanced playing technique. As well as those who are confident in the ability of their arms to consistently generate more power.

What to Look for in a Badminton String?

Now that you’re aware of what string tension is and the pros and cons of lower and higher string tensions, it’s time we turn our attention to how you can choose a badminton racket string that will take your game to the next level.

Generally, badminton racket strings fall into one of three categories:

Durability

Do you break strings on a regular basis? If so, you need badminton strings that are thicker than 0.70 mm.

In addition to lasting longer, thicker strings also allow for much greater control, making themselves a must-have for beginner/mid-level players.

The YONEX Nanogy-95 is a great option for thicker and durable strings.

Repulsion

Want to strike the sweet spot between durability and control? If so, opt for racket strings that are thinner than 0.70 mm.

Sure, these strings don’t last as long as their thicker counterparts. But they make up for this shortcoming by giving you more control over your shots.

The YONEX BG 66 is a great option for a nice blend of control and durability.

Control

Thinner racket strings provide you with more control over your shots.

However, if your string’s tension is close to 0.60 mm, that means it won’t take many mis-hits to break. So, if you want more control over your shots, ensure your string’s tension isn’t as low.

The YONEX Aerobite is my favorite thinner racket string.

Frequently Asked Questions