Badminton racquets are made of three main parts: the head, the shaft and the handle. Depending on your level of play, you may want a lighter or heavier racquet, or one that gives you more control versus more power in your game. The types of available racquets vary depending on their balance, stiffness, weight and size of the grip.
Racquet Balance
Racquets come in three different balance categories: head light, head heavy and even balance. A head light racquet is easier to maneuver and serves as a good beginner's racquet. A head heavy racquet is more challenging to play with, but when handled by a skilled player, will deliver a lot of power. An even balance racquet is a good bet for an intermediate player.
Stiffness
The stiffness factor of a racquet describes its level of flexibility. In general, a racquet with a stiffer shaft allows a player more control, and a racquet with a flexible shaft allows for more power. There are different types of racquet ratings based on stiffness: flexible, stiff, and extra stiff. Flexible racquets are usually appropriate for beginners to mid-level players. Stiff racquets are mainly used by experienced players.
Grip Size
The diameter of a badminton racquet's handle is known as its "grip size." The grip size refers to how large the diameter of the handle is. The type of grip size that a player chooses is either based on personal preference or the size of their hands. Players with large hands may choose a type of racquet with a small grip and players with small hands sometimes pick racquets with bigger grips. While you can't make a grip smaller, you can add to the thickness of your grip by adding "over grips", which are padded pieces of cloth-textured tape.
Disadvantages of Rental Racquets
Rental racquets, or racquets loaned out for free by community centers, can contribute to poor performance on the court and even put you at risk for a possible injury. Because loaner or rental racquets are usually made of less expensive, heavier materials than higher-end racquets, they can place an added strain on your wrist, especially if you're a beginner. Inadequate string tension is often another problem with rental racquets. The lack of tension diminishes the strength output of the racquet as well the control you have over the shuttlecock.
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