 History of Badminton Rackets

Badminton, a game that was played in ancient Greece and Egypt, has seen a great deal of change in the
years since it was officially adopted by the British in the 1860s. The rackets have changed in shape and
composition to help speed up the sport.

Early Badminton Rackets

Modern badminton evolved from a game children played in India called "poona," which came from a sport
called "battledore and shuttlecock." The object of this non-competitive game was to volley the shuttlecock
as long as possible with a paddle called the battledore.

Badminton Racket Frames

The earliest badminton rackets had wooden frames. Players sought to have lighter-weight rackets to
increase their speed on the court, and they switched to aluminum frames, and then later used carbon fiber
composite materials for even lighter rackets.

Badminton Racket Head Shape

The traditional oval shape of the badminton racket has given way to other shape, such as isometric and
diamond, or tear-shaped. The isometric size increases the area of the racket known as the “sweet spot,”
which is the area of the strings where the player can deliver the most powerful hit to the shuttlecock.

Badminton Racket Strings

Originally, badminton strings were made from natural animal gut. To improve string tension and also to
increase the speed of the game, most players use synthetic materials like nylon which are cheaper and
provide the same qualities as the natural strings.

Badminton Racket Grip

The grip on the badminton racket has also moved toward the use of more synthetic materials.
Polyurethane and other kinds of toweling grips help the player from losing his hold on the handle and build
up its diameter so his hand is comfortable.

 PARTS OF A MODERN BADMINTON RACKET

Let’s take a look at the specifications set by the BWF.

The badminton racket has five major parts to it – the stringed area, the head, the throat, the shaft, and the
handle. The racket in its entirety is called a frame.
1. Stringed area

This is quite self-explanatory – the stringed area is the netted part of the badminton racket with which the
player intends to hit the shuttlecock.

The BWF rules stipulate that the stringed area should be flat, and the pattern of cross strings should be
alternatively interlaced where they cross with each other.

The string pattern is advised to be uniform in nature and not dense – more amount of string means lesser
string tension - at any part of the stringed area.

The overall length of the string should not exceed 280mm while the overall width needs to be maintained
within 220mm.

2. The Head

The area which bounds the stringed area is called ‘the head’ of the badminton racket.

Now, the shape of the head is generally oval – which is used by professional players who usually prefer
more power on their shots.

However, there is also another shape called the ‘isometric head’ – which means that the racket is broader
at the top.

The wider nature means that there is a bigger ‘sweet spot’ – the part of the racket which meets the shuttle
best - allowing players more chances of hitting the shuttle better. However, this is generally used by
amateur badminton players and not by pros.

3. The Throat
This is the part of the racket which supports the head by providing a steady base and connects the head to
the shaft.

This is an optional part, as some badminton rackets directly connect the head to the shaft.

In rackets that have no throat, the stringed area can be extended. However, the extended limit can have a
maximum width of 35mm while it should simultaneously ensure that the overall length of the stringed area
does not exceed 330mm.

4. The Shaft

The shaft is the part of the racket which links the handle to the head, or in some cases the throat of the
badminton racket.

There are no specifications stated for the length or width of the shaft.

5. The Handle

The bottom-most part of the racket gripped by the player, the handle is arguably the most important cog.

The ease of grip on the handle for a player often determines how comfortable the player is with the racket
and can decide the performance on the day of professional players.

There are no specifications for the length or width of the handle, with each player customizing it to their
needs.

Apart from these, the BWF laws also state that the racket should not have any attached objects and
protrusions other than to prevent wear and tear of the racket, applying short tape to the stringed area
for example, to distribute weight or to secure the handle by a cord to the player’s hand, provided such
measures are reasonable in size and placement.

The badminton racket should also be of a fixed, elongated shape and should not be attached with any
devices that can materially change the shape of the racket.

 Materials

Traditionally, badminton frames have been made out of wood. Although still available, wood rackets have
largely been abandoned due to the availability of lighter, more durable synthetic materials such as carbon
fiber, lightweight metal alloys and ceramics. These are used in most modern badminton rackets today.
Aluminum and Graphite

The badminton racket frame is normally made from lightweight, man-made metals such as graphite or
aluminum. This is because most players believe that the lighter the racket, the more manageable and
maneuverable it is. Lightweight rackets are also thought to move more quickly through the air and with
more freedom, helping trace and hit fast-moving shuttlecocks. Other players, however, prefer a heavier
racket because it provides more power and reduces shock. These rackets of differing weights are not made
from different materials; the heavier racket is simply made with more graphite fiber. The standard weight
of a badminton racket should be between 2.8oz (80g) and 3.5oz (100g).

Nylon

Nylon is used to make the strings of a badminton racket. The synthetic material is cheap to produce but
strong and long lasting. Nylon string sizes are designated by gauge number. The lower the gauge value, the
thicker the string. Thicker nylon strings give control and durability but sacrifice power. Thinner synthetic
strings provide power to a player's shots but are prone to wear, tear and breaking.

Natural Animal Gut

Interestingly, some badminton players still prefer animal gut strings because they give rackets more feel,
control and power. They also absorb shock and reduce vibration on the user’s playing arm. Natural animal
gut is costly, however, and doesn’t last as long as other synthetic strings.

Cotton and Elastic

Badminton towel grips are made from cotton and elastic. They can be bought to slip over the more
common rubber racket grips and are used by professional players due to their perspiration-absorbing
qualities. The cotton compounds in the grip absorb excess body moisture ensuring that a strong hand grip
remains constant and gives the user more control and confidence in his stroke. Because grips are made
from cotton compounds, the material can be dyed in various colors, allowing players to customize their
rackets.

 BADMINTON RACKET ‘S HEIGHT, WEIGH and BALANCE

badminton rackets have an overall length of 26.18”-26.77”(665-680mm), head with from 8.66-9.60(220-
230), and a handle diameter of 1”(25.4mm). the mass of modern badminton racket is bet ween 2.46-3.35
oz( 70-95 g).
 BALANCE

Balance:

There's general 3 categories – Head Heavy, Even Balance and Head Light. To make it simple this means,
where the weight has been shifted on the racket.

You can simply find out what a racket balance is by balancing the racket shaft on your finger in the middle,
depending upon how it falls will show you it's weighting.

See the chart below to help guide you as a player:

Balance Point on
Balance Weighted Area of Racket Player Style
Racket
Power Attacking, back of the court
style players, increased clear and
Head Heavy Head of the Racket Over 300mm
smash power. Most suited to the
singles or mixed doubles game.
All Round, versatile style for all
types of game. Giving you power at
Even Balance Weight evenly distributed 280-300mm the back and speed at the front of
the court. Helps you to react to any
style of game.
Fast Reactions to Rallies. Great for
defensive shots requiring fast
Head Light Weigh in the handle Less than 288mm
reactions or for the fast, flat style of
game often seen in doubles.

 Shaft Stiffness / Flexibility

There's general 3 categories – Stiff or Medium and Flexible. This relates to the flex in the racket shaft.

See the chart below to help guide you:

Racket
How it affects shots Player Style
Flexibility
Stiff High level of accuracy and Physically strong attacking player who can generate very
control, but power can be quick racket head speeds. A stiff shaft will provide
harder to access without good stability on the shot allowing the power to be wielded in
 technique and timing a controllable fashion.
Medium Accuracy, and some All round style. More forgiving than a stiff racket, but
Medium
extra whip power from racket there is enough rigidity to control power shots.
Poor Accuracy, but extra flex Perfect for players struggling for power in their shots,
Flexible allows extra whip action shot however due to the extra whip action this can affect
power accuracy of shots

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