Choosing Good Badminton Equipment
Badminton is a game that is often played competitively, although many people may only be familiar with the recreational version of the game. While playing with a standard racket and standard equipment is okay for those who play recreationally, playing competitively requires top notch equipment. There are several different items that fall within the badminton equipment category. Each is examined in further depth below.
Shoes
While you may not think that shoes plays an important role in the game of badminton, the fact is that the game is a very intense one. Once the game begins, players are consistently running around the court and twisting, lunging and turning at incredible paces and with intensity. Good shoes are necessary to provide the level of support that your ankles need. Being in motion all the time subjects you to a higher risk of injuring your feet in several ways. Good shoes that keep your feet level to the ground - never higher - with low soles that offer good support is what you need. Picking out a pair of badminton shoes that fit your feet well as those that feel comfortable is important.
Badminton Racket
Picking out a good racket is more than just choosing one that catches your eye.
- Shape - There are two shapes that badminton rackets typically come in - square and oval. Oval is by far the most popular type of racket out of the two shapes. In addition, they are primarily made up of one of two materials - graphite or carbon fiber. While many manufacturers have been known to add other materials into the rackets such as titanium or nanocarbon, the fact is the racket is still mostly made out of graphite. The additional two materials are not likely to have a major impact.
- Weight - The weight of a racket is the determining factor in how fast a player can swing it. The lighter the racket is, the faster the player is able to swing. However, choosing a lighter racket may not always be the best option. Since lighter rackets are less stable, it often takes more force behind a player's swing in order to keep the bird's momentum during game play.
- Balance - Balance is important too, and there are two different ways that badminton rackets are balanced. They are either even balanced or head balanced. A head balanced racket, for example, is known to have more mass at the head of the racket and are known to be more stable. They also offer better angular momentum on a swing.
- String and Grip - String and grip are probably the two least talked about aspects of the badminton racket but they are equally important. The string's tension is important to pay attention to because it can affect the way the racket performs. The general rule of thumb when it comes to tension is that the harder a player can hit, the harder the tension of the string can be. There are two different types of grip that a player can choose - a towel grip or a synthetic grip. This largely depends on the players preference. A towel grip, for example, is more prone to germ accumulation than a synthetic grip and must be changed more frequently as a result. The towel grip is also softer than a synthetic grip and offers more sweat absorption as well.