When you start learning badminton or want to play it just for fun, there’s no point in investing in a high-performance racket. What you need is an all-rounder and beginner-friendly badminton racket.
Even if you are planning to play professionally in the future, you need to start with a generalized racket called a starter badminton racket. You still have a lot to figure out in terms of playing style.
Maybe you will prefer a head heavy racket or have a defensive playing style. It’s all very uncertain at this moment. After continuous learning and playing you will eventually figure it out. But till then, use a racket for beginners.
What Should I Look for in Badminton Rackets for Beginners?
Professional badminton players know their style, so they can easily pick a racket that works for them. But you, as a beginner, are yet to discover that. So, it’s better to start off with a racket that has a blend of qualities. This gives you an opportunity to explore your style.
Whenever a beginner asks me for starter racket suggestions, I always say get the one that’s
- Even-Balanced
- Flexible or Medium Flexible
- Has an appropriate Grip Size for your hand
Let me explain what these mean.
Even-Balanced Badminton Racket for Beginners
There are three types of balanced rackets for badminton.
- Head heavy: The head portion (where the strings are) is heavier than the shaft. These rackets give more power in the shots but are difficult to handle.
- Head light: The head portion is lighter than the shaft. These rackets offer better control and precision over the shots, but they lack power.
- Even-Balanced: This is what you want. The weight is evenly distributed throughout the racket, so it’s easy to handle. Plus, you get enough power and control to not feel the lack of any particular quality.
Flexible or Medium Badminton Racket for Beginners
Here we are talking about the flexibility of the shaft. There are five types of flexibility in badminton rackets.
- Extra Flexible
- Flexible
- Medium
- Stiff
- Extra Stiff
You should get a flexible or medium racket. These will enable you to learn how to land precise shots. This will build your confidence. In the future if you decide to switch to a different flexibility level, you can tailor your shots accordingly.
Starter Badminton Rackets with Appropriate Grip Size
This actually isn’t directly related to you being a beginner but it’s an important aspect to consider while buying your rackets. Grip size is the size of the handle.
It shouldn’t be too big or too small for your hands. You should be able to hold it comfortably in your hand. Grip sizes are usually denoted from G1 to G5, with G5 being the smallest and G1 being the largest size.
Best Badminton Rackets for Beginners
Here are my top recommendations for badminton rackets for beginners:
- Yonex Astrox 77 Play
- Yonex Astrox 99 Play
- Karakal Black Zone 30
- Karakal Black Zone 50
- Yonex NanoFlare 800 Play
- Yonex Nanoflare Drive 4
- Yonex GR 303
- Carlton Aeroblade 2000
- Yonex Aluminium Z-Force II
- Yonex Arcsaber 11 Play
Yonex Astrox 77 Play
The following table shows the specifications of the Yonex Astrox 77 Play.
| Length | 10 mm longer |
| Weight | 4U (Avg: 83 g) |
| Grip | G5, G6 |
| String Advice | 4U: 20 – 28 lbs |
| Flexibility | High |
| Frame Material | Graphite |
| Shaft Material | Graphite |
| Color | High Orange |
The Yonex Astrox 77 Play racket has an isometric head shape. The thing with isometric rackets is that they have a larger sweet spot. In fact, this has a 7% larger sweet spot than traditional oval Yonex rackets. So, the larger sweet spot allows beginners to take better shots as it’s more forgiving.
Yonex Astrox 99 Play
The following table shows the specifications of the Yonex Astrox 99 Play.
| Weight | 4U (Avg: 83 g) |
| Grip | G5, G6 |
| String Advice | 4U: 20 – 28 lbs |
| Flexibility | Medium |
| Frame Material | Graphite |
| Shaft Material | Graphite |
| Color | White Tiger, Cherry Sunburst |
The Yonex Astrox 99 Play is very similar to the 77 Play. But this one comes with a power assist bumper. A tungsten-infused nylon bumper is attached to the racket so players can take more powerful shots. If you feel your shots lack power, this is a great choice for you.
Karakal Black Zone 30
The following table shows the specifications of the Karakal Black Zone 30.
| Weight | 4U (Avg: 82 g) |
| Grip | G4 |
| String Advice | 4U: 16 – 24 lbs |
| Flexibility | Medium |
| Frame Material | Graphite/Titanium |
| Shaft Material | Graphite/Titanium |
| Color | Yellow Black |
The Karakal Black Zone 30 is designed in such a way that it cuts down air resistance. This allows you to take faster and more swift shots. This is specially useful for beginners as they still are not used to swiftly changing positions on the court to take the shot.
Karakal Black Zone 50
The following table shows the specifications of the Karakal Black Zone 50.
| Weight | 4U (Avg: 83 g) |
| Grip | G4 |
| String Advice | 4U: 16 – 24 lbs |
| Flexibility | High |
| Frame Material | FastFibre Ti Gel |
| Shaft Material | FastFibre Ti Gel |
| Color | Blue Black |
The Karakal Black Zone 50 is an upgrade to the Black Zone 30 as this uses a FastFibre Ti Gel. This new material allows the frame to return to its shape after the shot at a 10% faster rate. So, you can be more ready for the next shot. Plus, it’s notably an all-rounder racket which is ideal for beginners.
Yonex NanoFlare 800 Play
The following table shows the specifications of the Yonex NanoFlare 800 Play.
| Length | 10 mm longer |
| Weight | 4U (Avg: 83 g) |
| Grip | G5, G6 |
| String Advice | 4U: 20 – 28 lbs |
| Flexibility | Medium |
| Frame Material | Graphite |
| Shaft Material | Graphite |
| Color | Deep Green |
The Yonex NanoFlare 800 Play has a special Sonic Flare System. Some high modulus graphite pieces are strategically placed across the bottom of the frame. These pieces provide more stability to the entire frame. As a result, the shuttlecock experiences maximum acceleration and high power impact.
Yonex Nanoflare Drive 4
The following table shows the specifications of the Yonex Nanoflare Drive 4.
| Weight | 4U (Avg: 83 g) |
| Grip | G5 |
| String Advice | 4U: 20 – 28 lbs |
| Flexibility | High |
| Frame Material | Heavy MS Graphite and Nanocell Neo |
| Shaft Material | Heavy MS Graphite and Nanocell Neo |
| Color | Purple Black |
The Yonex Nanoflare Drive 4 is specially designed for beginners who are looking for easy maneuverability in rackets. The new Nanocell Neo material gives the racket extra flexibility. So, the movement required from your side is minimized.
Yonex GR 303
The following table shows the specifications of the Yonex GR 303.
| Weight | 4U (Avg: 80 g) |
| Grip | G3 |
| String Advice | 4U: 17 – 18 lbs |
| Flexibility | High |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Shaft Material | Low Torsion Steel |
| Color | White |
The Yonex GR 303 is durable, affordable, and user-friendly. That’s why it’s a popular choice among beginners. It is a bit heavy due to the metal frame as opposed to graphite frames of most rackets on this list. So, it might be a bit heavy for children but adults can handle it well.
Carlton Aeroblade 2000
The following table shows the specifications of the Carlton Aeroblade 2000.
| Weight | 2U (Avg: 90 g) |
| Grip | G3 |
| String Advice | 2U: 18 – 20 lbs |
| Flexibility | Medium |
| Frame Material | Alloy Steel |
| Shaft Material | Alloy Steel |
| Color | Green Black |
The Carlton Aeroblade 2000 has a robust build. It has everything you would want in a decent racket. Its shaft has medium flexibility, and it delivers good power. The frame material is durable and attainable string tension is enough for entry-level tournaments. It has a G3 grip size, which is more suitable for players with big hands.
Yonex Aluminium Z-Force II
The following table shows the specifications of the Yonex Aluminium Z-Force II.
| Length | 10 mm longer |
| Weight | 4U (Avg: 83 g) |
| Grip | G4 |
| String Advice | 4U: 20 – 27 lbs |
| Flexibility | Stiff |
| Frame Material | HM Graphite, Sound Filter, Nanometric, Tungsten |
| Shaft Material | HM Graphite, EX-HMG, Nanometric |
| Joint | New Built-in T-Joint |
| Color | Black |
Now, I know the Yonex Aluminium Z-Force II is a head heavy racket. But it still deserves a mention here because it’s an excellent choice for your first professional badminton racket. The use of advanced technologies like Nanometric material, grommet pattern, sound Filter, and Tri-Voltage System makes it a pretty advanced racket. You could probably use it for intermediate play. If you have the budget, I highly recommend the Voltric Z-Force II.
Yonex Arcsaber 11 Play
The following table shows the specifications of the Yonex Arcsaber 11 Play.
| Length | 10 mm longer |
| Weight | 4U (Avg: 83 g) |
| Grip | G5, G6 |
| String Advice | 4U: 19 – 27 lbs |
| Flexibility | Medium |
| Frame Material | Graphite |
| Shaft Material | Graphite |
| Color | Grayish Pearl |
The most unique thing about the Yonex Arcsaber 11 Play is the Control Assist Bumper. These are pieces fitted into the racket frame so that the vertical strings of the racket are locked in. This locked effect allows players to achieve better accuracy in their shots. This combined with the enlarged sweet spot can achieve really accurate shots.
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FAQs
How to know a good badminton racket?
A good badminton racket is made of good quality materials. It must be sturdy and satisfy the specifications that are listed.
How do I buy my first badminton racket?
I have created a complete buying guide for badminton rackets. Just go through it once and you will get an idea of what your racket should be like. If not, don’t hesitate to drop your questions in the comments.
Which badminton rackets are fully recessed?
There are several badminton rackets that feature a fully recessed frame. This allows for better aerodynamics and swing speeds. Some notable models include:
– Yonex 88 D Pro: This racket has a fully receded frame profile that enhances maneuverability and handling compared to the predecessors
– Yonex Astrox 88 S Pro: This model is similar to the 88 D Pro in that it also has a fully recessed chassis, which contributes to its fast handling characteristics
– Victor rackets: According to reports, some models, like the 90K and 100X, have frames that are fully recessed, which helps with their speed and responsiveness when playing
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