Racket advice | Beginners General Q&A | Discussion Forum

Hi Paul,

I have recently stumbled across your site and love to read your article and review.

About me:

Male, 163cm, many years playtime exp, had some serious training for sometime. Play 65% double – 35% single. No problem with clear, deceptions, overhead shot and mutiple jump smashes. A bit weak on dropshot and quite weak on backhand (thus overhead shot). I also have quite fast footwork (or so told by coach).

Though I have many years experience I have minuscale hardware knowledge since I always advised to prioritise technique over expensive racket or shoes with exception of strings.  In short word, I was long believer that all those expensive racket are marketing gimmick and replaceable by superior technique over opponent. I tend to use middle end economical racket with careful selection of strings and tension e.g.: cab20 and MP-21 with BG80/BG66 at 28lbs. Weirdly, I love MP-21 over Cab20.

Now, since both my rackets have serious crack. I am looking to replace it and hoping for your advice. I would like something like MP-21 characteristic but better. Hope you can offer some advice.

Cheers,

This might not be the answer you're looking for but you should simply try some rackets and choose the one you feel most comfortable with. When I started playing badminton again, I wasn't happy with my racket so I went for a new one. At a tournament was a yonex vendor and I could try out any racket I wanted. And I simply loved the Voltric 70 so I bought it. 

I would advice you to do the same. Try some rackets, you could borrow a racket from a friend for example, and play with it for a little while. If you feel very comfortable with a particular racket, go for it! 

You won't find your old racket along with the new rackets on the same chart, you will need to search for two charts. Getting hold of a new chart shouldn't be a problem, however, getting one for your old racket may prove challenging. Trying Google and use the images option.

I can understand what you mean about not getting the right feel as the strings won't be what you want and the tension you want, but theses things are always a risk what ever you do so some times it might be worth taking a plunge on something. Some times you can spend ages on choosing and still not be happy with the outcome!

Just my two pence!

Thank you for the reply folks,

Yes, back in old young days I used carbonnex 9 and wilson hammer series that i loved so much I bought 3 for spares lol. We were always emphasized to blame player technique/speed over equipment if lose and taught player lose because insufficient train this implanted player thought of being sceptic toward high end equipment. As long as its low mid end upwards, its usually enough. Mind you, I was trained hard as a kid in Indonesia for 20 hours a week thus explain purchasing power. The thought grows bolder when I was admitted to Univ badminton main team in UK and able to beat my teammate despite competing with a 25-35 quid racket agains their top end 100+quid racket. I dont even have proper bag initially.  

Back to the topic, I guess my options bracket by priority will be AS7, VT7, AS03/02, CAB21, AT900P/LC, NS9900, MP21?

I absolutely agree I should be trying as much as possible before buying a racket but however due to certain situation I cant indulge myself to such condition. Moveover, with so many series in the market my goal is at least to be able to narrow down models similar to MP21 I can focus my test on and not to try Yonex entire line.

Cheers,