Everything you need to know about Badminton String Tension: 

Any player whether, you are new to badminton and are getting into the sport for the first time due to the pandemic or a veteran player who has been playing badminton for a decade, needs to understand how their racket’s string tension affects their play. Beginners might use a racket with a high string tension and not only play poorly, but also damage their racket because of it. Similarly a veteran of the professional circuit might drop a return or not be able to put the shuttle right where they want it because their strings of their racket are too loose.
So the question then becomes what is the right string tension for your skill level? Well stick around and we are going to talk about that and much more! 

For beginners:

For people beginning to get into badminton for the first time, much like in life, it is better to have less tension in their strings. A lower string tension makes the shuttlecock bounce off the strings which results in more power but for less effort on your part. A common rookie mistake is believing that a higher string tension will result in more power but rest assured, this is a one-way ticket to breaking your racket at this stage in your development as a player.

Now this lower string tension does come at a cost of control. Because there's so much give in the strings, the shuttle often won't go exactly where you want it to. But be honest: when you start Badminton, do you really worry about landing the shuttle precisely? If you do I would recommend you start smaller and worry about developing good technique first so that it shines when you use a higher string tension. 

Another factor worth considering is the string thickness you are going to use. While all strings vary between 0.6mm and 0.7mm, all strings are not created equal. Thicker strings offer greater durability and can be strung tight due to their high tensile strength but at a slight cost to performance and feel. Similarly while thinner strings offer better performance, they break more easily and cannot be strung tighter. 

At Badminton Warehouse, we recommend beginners use a string tension of 22 lbs or lower with either the factory strings for their racket or, for the more performance conscious, we recommend using the Ashaway Zymax 66 fire power Which is a little thinner than most factory strings on beginner rackets but is not thin enough that you worry about breaking them frequently. 

For Advanced players: 

Now when you have been playing badminton for several years, and you know how you like to play, string tension becomes a little bit more subjective as some players prefer the extra power the lower string tensions provide and find ways to compensate for the lack of control while others love to use high precision the higher string tension provides to outsmart their opponents during tense rallies.  But typically most professionals use a string tension of anywhere between 28 and 30 lbs because when you do hit that sweet spot, it gives you the power but with a great amount of feedback and control. However most intermediate players are happy with string tension between 24 and 27 Lbs.

But remember, just as all string is not created equal, neither is every racket, and so should you choose a higher string tension you want to choose a racket that's capable of withstanding the strain on the racket frame.

Our personal recommendation is the Yonex Astrox 22 for intermediate players and for the more advanced, offense-loving player the Thruster Ryuga is an excellent choice. Of course, Feel free to peruse and choose from our incredible lineup of Badminton rackets to find the right one for you.