My 1st few session with the new tension? I hate it..my play was a mess…everything went wrong. But i keep trying and finally, after the fifth session (3 weeks later)..i’m finally loving it.

I was puzzled that i can handle a 4lbs increase in tension and did not have any sored muscles..just really bad badminton play. Is it because somehow, i was required to smash & stroke harder using my headlight carltons that it somehow increased my forearm strenght that i can now handle higher tension? Does that mean i can increase it further once i get used to the ‘old’ tension?

Many thanks for your comments. I can only echo your thoughts here – all the scenarios have happened to me. I refused to string the racquet at high tensions too which was met with a rather disgruntled look.

We do need to continue to remind players about these simple things. The “yours is bigger than mine” attitude is rife amongst younger players. They’re being lead by the rediculous comments on some forums about string tensions.

One guy wrote to me recently who was a beginner and his coach had recommended 27lbs tension in his racquet. Could you imagine that happening here. It’s worse still if they’re learning with plastics.

I know of too many players who have suffered injuries because of poor technique and high string tensions.

Rich, I’m looking forward to meeting you in September at Lilleshall.

To your success

Paul

Just scanning through your blogs, some good reading and points raised.

The thoughts on stringing tensions, rights and wrongs is one I am often confronted with as I restring rackets for a few local clubs I play in, trying to get players to understand what’s right for one isn’t for another is like trying to get blood from a stone. Playing at a half decent level Div 1, with and against county players I am at a level where I play with 24lbs with nano95, this has taken years and lots of trial and error as you say to find its what works for me. But when I go and play at clubs with players of a lower standard (no offence to anyone) they all ask me to sting their racket the same as mine as if this is the reason I can hit the ‘Big winning smash’ or the ‘how did you do that net shot’.
As a lot of these players play with plastics as a norm they cannot understand why I always say you’ll be much better off with the good old BG65TI as this will last you and don’t consider anything above 22lbs. And as I think you say when I pull out an old racket I have strung with bg65 at 22 to play plastics with the looks I get as if I am trying to show them up or something like I can beat them with ‘any old bat’ just goes to show the serious misunderstanding in this very important part of preparation to play in my opinion any way.

Hope I haven’t rambled on too much I just feel players need to have a better understanding of what they are asking for against what they think they will gain when asking for a restring.

I have only ever turned down a job to restring when a customer asked for 30lbs on a racket when I checked on the frame it stated recommended 18 – 22 lbs I said I wouldn’t risk it.

Rich

Great questions!

As you improve your needs will change. When you’re consistently timing the hit, then a large sweet spot on your racquet isn’t required. Your swing speed may only change a little but your technique will determine whether you’re ready to test another tension.

I’d suggest increase in increments of 1lbs so, depending on how often you play, and your budget, will determine the number of restrings/tests you’ll do in a year.

What you will find is that your technique will improve again as the racquet gives you more control.

If you know what tension is in your racquet now, then that’s your starting point. A decent stringer will ask a lot of questions about you and your wants prior to stringing your racquet. They will also advise you on string choice and tension. Make sure you tell them whether you play with plastic or feather shuttles as this should colour their decision on tension considerably.

Start off low. If you’re playing with feathers and you’ve never had your racquet strung before, then I’d ask for 20lbs tension. Most racquets are strung at a lower tension than this so you should notice the difference.

Eventually you will reach a point where the next tension increase doesn’t give you any more than you already had. It’s then a matter of preference whether you choose the lower tension or higher tension. Most players tend to choose the higher tension on the basis that they don’t want to take a step backwards. However, if you feel the lower tension is more preferable, then go with it.

Hope this helps.

To your success

Paul

Based on what you wrote, can I assume that as I improve as a player, I will then gradually prefer to string at a higher tension? Or is it dependent on some aspects of my improvement, e.g. swing speed and technique?

Is it also better to start low to high when looking for my optimum tension? And if I’m in undecided between 2 number, should I go with the lower one?

Cheers.
Thomas