Hi Luke

You raised an excellent point – thank you.

There are different aspects about power.

1) genetically what a player is capable of taking into consideration skill/technique

2) what a racket is capable of

3) type of string and tension.

A player can train, to a point to increase power, strength and technique.

Depending on flex, head weight, materials there are varying degress of power available. Also, the specifications have to suit the player.

String is an interesting aspect of power. There are different strings that are deemed powerful. However, as personal taste plays such a major part in string selection this is where the grey areas kick in. Players choose string for many reasons and not always for power. Some prefer control, some consider they get more power from a thin gauge rather than thick gauge. And the variables go on and on.

There are strings with greater repulsion characteristics. However, these can dimish with increased tension and this is why the combination of string choice and tension must be taken into consideration. What I consider a good string with high repulsion may actually work best strung under 25lbs tension. This provides a slightly bigger sweetspot and allows the string to do it's job well. The lower the tension (to a point) may allow this string to really show what it's got.

By all means listen to what other players say about a string. But, the most important part is to test. If a string feels livelier and the shuttle appears to fly faster, then maybe this string suits you best.

I hope this helps.

Paul

Luke

If you use a light headed racket and then immediately change to a head heavy racket, your muscles are not accustomed to working hard to generate more swing speed. Hence, the feeling of a slow swing, and yet the heavier head produced the desired effect.

Consequently, when you use a head heavy racket and chance to a head light racket, you can immediately swing the racket much quicker and gain more power. This eventually wears off unless you constantly top up the use of a head heavy racket. The effect is similar to completing my armchair exercises, however you will gain more benefit through the exercises than this change of racket.

If you complete these exercises using a head heavy racket, then this is turn will feel considerably lighter.

Paul

Luke

Power is generally referred to as a meaure of racket head speed and force squarely applied. A player who is genetically built for power will hit incredibly hard with any racket, as they have the ability to generate terrific speed of the racket head over short distance.

The extra weight in a racket head provides additional force.

If we take another example of hitting a nail into a piece of wood that is resting on the floor. You pick up a heavy hammer and you can hit the nail into the wood through the combination of slower swing but greater force. By switching to a much lighter hammer, you can easily generate more speed but it may take more attempts before the nail is driven into the wood to the same depth because the overall force is less.

Therefore, for some players, to find their most consistent power shot, they may need a combination of correct weight to go with their natural swing speed. By using a heavy racket prior to changing to a light racket, your muscles remember the work required previously, hence for a short period provide an improvement prior to returning to their natural swing speed.

I hope this metaphor helps you to understand better.  

Paul

Luke

It's so easy to improve your play with a head heavy racket. Just follow my armchair exercises.

Paul