The Importance of Choosing the Right Badminton Grip Sizes

Ever felt like your badminton racket handle is a bit too slippery or just not quite right in your hand? You could be using the wrong grip size! Just like a perfectly fitted shoe, the right grip size on your badminton racket can make a huge difference to your performance on the court.

That’s why I have dedicated this article specifically to badminton grip sizes. You will learn what they are, how they vary, and which one could be right for you. Whether you are a beginner who wants to know which badminton racket they should buy or an experienced player who wants to upgrade your badminton gear, you’ll find answers to all your grip size-related questions here.

What are Grip Sizes?

Grip size is the circumference of the handle on a badminton racket. It’s essentially the measurement of how thick the handle is. This measurement directly affects how thick or thin the grip feels in your hand when you hold the racket.

Grip size is denoted by the letter ‘G’ followed by a number. Grip sizes typically range from G1 to G6. Here, G1 is the thickest grip, and G6 is the thinnest. All the grip sizes in between are in descending order from G1 to G6.

Note: Grip sizes are not universal. That means they could be different from different brands.

Yonex G5 grip dimensions are not essentially the same as a Victor G5 grip. The next section will give you a better idea of that.

Badminton Grips Size Chart

I have done some research and compiled a table of the most standard grip sizes used in the badminton industry. These sizes are from some popular brands that are used by professional players at the international level.

The table below shows the standard grip sizes of various brands.

Brand Name	Yonex		Victor		Li-Ning
Grip Size	Size (in mm)	Size (in inches)	Size (in mm)	Size (in inches)	Size (in mm)	Size (in inches)
G6	–	–	79	3.10	79	3.125
G5	83	3.25	81	3.20	83	3.25
G4	89	3.50	85	3.30	86	3.375
G3	95	3.75	–	–	89	3.50
G2	102	4	–	–	92	3.625
G1	–	–	–	–	95	3.75

Note: The sizes stated in the above table are the ones that I could verify from reputable sources. If I can verify more grip sizes in the future, I will update them in the table.

You will notice from the above table that grip sizes change according to the brand. There’s no single universal grip size chart. So, I suggest you check the brand-specific grip size chart before you buy because you don’t want to end up with a grip that feels wrong in your hand.

If it’s thinner than your usual size, you can always add an extra grip above the original one. But if it’s thicker, you are going to have some real trouble while playing.

Differences Between Various Grip Sizes

You now know that there are significant differences between various grip sizes, In fact, the same grip sizes of different brands could be different. But did you know that Li-Ning had its own grip size chart that didn’t follow the conventional G series system?

Yes, the Li-Ning size chart was made of the alphabet ‘S’ followed by a number. The sizes in this chart ranged from S1 to S4. I said ‘ranged’ like in the past tense because Li-Ning has now discarded that size chart. A few years ago, they modified their sizing system to the G series to fit in with the rest of the brands.

For your reference, here’s a size chart of the S series. I have also compared it to the current G series size chart.

Grip Size (S series)	Size (in mm)	Size (in inches)	Grip Size (G series)
S1	79	3.125	G6
S2	83	3.25	G5
S3	86	3.375	G4
S4	89	3.5	G3

You will notice that the G6 vs S1 grip size in badminton is exactly the same. There is no difference between the two.

In the previous sizing system of Li-Ning, the grip sizes were in ascending order from S1 to S4. However, in the new system, the sizes are in descending order from G1 to G6. So, don’t get confused between grip size S1 vs G6.

Badminton – What Racket Grip Diameter Should I Use?

The major factors that influence your decision for the ideal badminton racket grip size are

• Size of the hand
• Playing style
• Comfort level

Let’s discuss all these one by one.

Size of the Hand

What racket grip diameter you should use depends majorly on how big your hand is.

• Players with larger hands will need thicker grips of G1 or G2 sizes.
• Children playing badminton will need thinner grips of G6 or G5 sizes.
• The G3 and G4 sizes are ideal for average-sized badminton players.

There’s a trick to determine the ideal badminton grip size –

Step 1: Curl the three middle fingers of your dominant hand inwards to touch your plan.

Step 2: Measure the inner circumference of the curled fingers. Or measure the diameter of the formed circle.

You can compare the measurements to the following chart.

Brand Name	Yonex		Victor		Li-Ning
Grip Sizes	Diameter (in mm)	Diameter (in mm)	Diameter (in mm)	Diameter (in mm)	Diameter (in mm)	Diameter (in mm)
G1	–	–	–	–	30.24	1.19
G2	32.47	1.27	–	–	29.28	1.15
G3	30.24	1.19	–	–	28.33	1.11
G4	28.33	1.11	27.05	1.05	27.37	1.07
G5	26.42	1.03	25.78	1.01	26.42	1.03
G6	–	–	25.14	0.98	25.14	0.99

Remember to match your measurements to the brand of the racket that you are buying.

Playing Style

Your choice of racket influences your entire game. If we talk specifically about the grip, then there are two options to consider.

1. Do you want more power to your shots?
2. Do you want more finesse and speed to your shots?

If you are inclined towards power, thicker grips will be perfect for you. You can hold the thick grip with both your hands and play an excellent two-handed backhand. If you want more smashes and drives, you should consider a thicker grip racket.

But if you want to focus more on where your shot lies, you should use a medium or thin grip racket. You will have room to grab the racket in your entire hand and twist and swish it at just the right angles. You could achieve precise shots this way.

Comfort Level

This is the aspect that most badminton players make the mistake of ignoring. They go by the book and get a thin or thick grip only based on the kind of shots they prefer. But a racket is of no use if it doesn’t feel comfortable in your hands.

You should be able to easily hold your badminton racket in your dominant hand. It should put a strain on your wrists. You should feel comfortable playing all kinds of shots with it. And most importantly it should be suitable for your body type. If you think you sweat a lot, then get a racket with a thin grip and wrap it with a towel grip. This will absorb the sweat and achieve the desired grip size.

Must Read: What Badminton String Tension Should I Use?

Conclusion

Finding the right racket grip size is very important in badminton. You don’t want to hold a very thick handle that barely fits in your hand or an extremely thin handle that doesn’t give you the power you would desire in a shot.

You have several options from various brands. If sizes from one brand don’t bode well with you, try a different brand. Most players go from grips G3 and G4 as they are average-sized. You can experiment with a few different sizes before settling down on one.

I always recommend that players get a thinner grip instead of a thicker one if they have to choose. You can add an extra layer of grip on your thin handle if you need to make it thicker, but you can’t make a thick handle thinner.

I hope I have solved all your badminton grip size queries. If you have any more questions, feel free to leave them in the comments, and I will get back to you at the earliest.

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