Hi there

I've never known BG65 not to produce power. It is usual you will get a different response to a change in strings but nobody can say how this will impact your game. You've got to feel for yourself and then make decisions. You may find BG80 too harsh or alternatively love it.

The only way you learn in this game is to test for yourself. All I ask is that you let us know the results of your testing.

Paul

Bearing in mind you are playing both plastic shuttles and feathers I would suggest you ask for either string at 19lbs tension. As you gain in experience and your technique improves you may find you will test higher string tension. For now concentrate of building your experience through feeling the difference in the strings. You will soon find which you like and which you don’t. It’s the only way.

Good luck

Paul

Alex – many thanks for the questions.

Some stringers do not pre-stretch. Generally I use the machine to pre-stretch 5 % and am currently testing 10%.

For a player who is beginning in this great game or low level intermediate player, they need the strings to work for them. A racket playing at 17lbs is perfect for them because the strings absorbs the shuttles and fires it out. The lower tension means there’s a larger sweet spot which helps considering the player frequently hits off centre.

In Asia there is so much emphasis on high string tension and it doesn’t always mean this is right for the player. A lot of damage to the arm can be done by excessive string tension.

There’s also an element of ego with tensions, a kind of mine is tighter than yours mentality. However that really doesn’t help because it doesn’t mean a player is any better or worse.

As players develop their skill, it’s inevitable tension increase will occur. That’s fine as it meets the players requirements for more control and they frequently hit the center of the string bed.

I hope this helps explain this better.

Paul