# How to Choose a Badminton Racket: Complete Buying Guide Weight (U), grip (G), material, string and tension, head shape, and length: everything you need to know to pick the right badminton racket. Updated on 2026-10-07 Choosing a badminton racket really comes down to getting five choices right: the weight class (the "U"), the grip size (the "G"), the frame material, the string with the right tension, and the head shape. Balance and shaft flex complete the picture and define the racket's style. If those pieces match your level, almost any serious brand will serve you well. This buying guide explains each item using the numbers you see on spec sheets and labels, so you know exactly what you are buying. If you already know what you want and just want to see models, skip to the lists of [rackets for beginners](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/best-badminton-rackets-for-beginners/), [for intermediate players](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/best-badminton-rackets-for-intermediate-players/), or the ranking of the [best badminton rackets of 2026](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/best-badminton-rackets/). ## How to choose a badminton racket in 5 steps - **Define the weight (U)** based on your level and your style of play. - **Get the grip (G) right** for your hand size, remembering that an overgrip makes it thicker. - **Pick the material**: graphite for training and improving, aluminum only for casual play. - **Decide on string and tension** according to the speed of your swing. - **Check head shape and length**, which change the usable hitting area and your reach. After that, balance and shaft determine whether the racket leans toward attack, defense, or control. Let's take it one piece at a time. ## Weight: what 2U, 3U, 4U, and 5U mean The number before the U indicates the racket's weight range without string and without an extra grip. The higher the number, the lighter the racket. The convention is used by Yonex, Li-Ning, Victor, and most other brands: | Class | Weight without string | Who it's for | | --- | --- | --- | | 2U | 90 to 94.9 g | Rare today; some aluminum rackets and older models | | 3U | 85 to 89.9 g | Strong players, offensive singles players, anyone looking for stability | | 4U | 80 to 84.9 g | Today's standard for most players, from intermediate to advanced | | 5U | 75 to 79.9 g | Beginners, net players, anyone with little arm strength | | 6U | 70 to 74.9 g | Ultralight rackets, such as the Victor DriveX 1L in 6U | On court, the difference between classes shows up more in **recovery** than in a single stroke. A 3U racket adds weight to the smash and twists less on off-center hits, but it takes a toll in a sequence of defensive shots and late in a long match. A 5U reacts quickly, but it can "wobble" when your opponent hits hard at your body. Also note that the class is the weight without string. The string, the original grip, and an overgrip add a few grams, and the overgrip, since it sits on the handle, makes the racket feel slightly lighter in the head. ## Grip: G4, G5, and G6 The "G" indicates the thickness of the handle. Contrary to what many people assume, **the higher the number, the thinner the handle**. G5 is by far the most common size among the rackets in our catalog; G4 is a little thicker and shows up on entry-level and aluminum rackets; G6 is thinner still and is common on Li-Ning models and on 5U versions. How to choose: - **A thinner handle** makes it easier to rotate the racket between forehand and backhand and gives you more finger feel, which helps at the net and in quick defense. - **A thicker handle** gives more firmness to players who grip hard, but gets in the way of quick grip changes. The practical recommendation is to buy the thinnest size you find comfortable and build it up with an overgrip if you need to. Building up is easy and cheap; thinning down a thick handle is not. A standard overgrip adds a little thickness, and a towel grip builds it up much more and absorbs sweat, which some players prefer in hot gyms. Tip Grip sizes are not identical across brands. A Yonex G5 and a Li-Ning G5 can feel different, and Li-Ning sometimes uses different naming in its charts. If you can, hold the racket before buying, or keep an extra overgrip in your bag to adjust. ## Material: graphite (carbon) or aluminum In badminton rackets, **graphite and carbon fiber are the same thing**: carbon fibers bonded with resin. Spec sheets say "HM graphite" or "high modulus" when the fiber is stiffer per gram, which allows lighter, firmer frames. Names such as Namd, Nanomesh Neo, Pyrofil, or T1100 are variations of fiber and resin that each manufacturer uses to tune stiffness and rebound. | | Aluminum with steel shaft | Entry-level graphite | High-modulus graphite | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | Typical weight | Around 90 to 99 g | 4U or 5U | 3U, 4U, or 5U | | Maximum tension | Low, around 16 to 20 lbs | Up to 28 to 30 lbs on many models | Usually up to 28 to 32 lbs | | Durability | Handles knocks and drops | Good, but cracks on hard impacts | Good, but cracks on hard impacts | | Who it's for | Casual play, school, family | Players who train and want to improve | Intermediate and advanced players | On aluminum rackets, the head is joined to the shaft by a separate, visible piece, the T-joint. It adds weight and unwanted flex. On graphite rackets, that connection is built into the frame (Yonex calls it a built-in T-joint), which makes the whole racket lighter and firmer. There are also hybrid models, with an aluminum frame and a graphite shaft, such as the Yonex Astrox E13 and Nanoflare E13. They are more durable than full-graphite rackets and lighter than aluminum-and-steel ones, but they are still limited to low tensions. ### Aluminum, entry-level graphite, and intermediate graphite in the same family | Racquet | Astrox E13 Yonex RR Score 57 out of 100, RR Score | Astrox 01 Feel Yonex RR Score 53 out of 100, RR Score | | --- | --- | --- | | Best price | See price at Yumo Pro Shop | See price at Amazon | | RR Score | 57 | 53 | | Weight class | 3U | 4U | | Balance point | More head weight | More head weight | | Length | – | 675 mm | | Flexibility | – | Flexible | | Frame material | Aluminum | Graphite | | Shaft material | Graphite | – | | Grip | G5 | G5 | Highlighted: what differs between the racquets. In bold: the best value in the row. ## String and tension The string is the part of the racket you will replace most often, and tension changes your game as much as the racket itself. **Low tension** (looser strings) lets the stringbed work like a trampoline. The shuttlecock leaves with less effort and the area that responds well is larger. **High tension** reduces that effect: the shuttlecock comes off "drier," with more control and direction, but only if you hit the center and have a fast swing. | Level | Suggested tension | | --- | --- | | Beginner | 18 to 22 lbs | | Intermediate | 22 to 26 lbs | | Advanced | 26 to 30 lbs, within the racket's limit | Entry-level rackets usually come strung from the factory at a moderate tension. Advanced models are usually sold unstrung, and then you choose the string and tension with your stringer. Three precautions: - **Respect the maximum tension on the spec sheet.** Going over the limit can deform or crack the frame, and the warranty may not cover the damage. - **String thickness matters.** Thicker strings, around 0.70 mm, like the Yonex BG65, last longer. Thinner strings give more repulsion and a crisper sound, but break sooner. - **String loses tension over time.** If you play every week and the shuttlecock has started to "get away" from you, it may be time to restring, even if the string has not broken. ## Head shape: isometric or oval Badminton rackets used to have an oval head, narrower at the upper corners. Yonex popularized the **ISOMETRIC** shape, more "square" at the top, in which the horizontal and vertical strings have closer lengths. The effect is a larger usable area, especially in the upper corners, where the shuttlecock lands when you arrive late. Today almost all modern rackets use an isometric head or a similar shape. Li-Ning, for example, describes its Dynamic Optimum frame as designed to enlarge the usable string area. For beginners and intermediate players, that larger area is a clear advantage. Beyond the outline, the **frame profile** also changes the racket. Box-shaped frames are more stable and feel powerful. Aerodynamic frames cut through the air and speed up the swing. Many rackets mix the two, and Yonex's Duora line even used a different profile on each side of the frame. ## Length: 665 or 675 mm The standard length of a badminton racket is 665 mm, but a good share of current rackets measure 675 mm. The extra 10 mm gives a bit more reach and more leverage on the smash, at the cost of a racket that is slightly slower to maneuver. There are middle grounds, such as the Astrox 88S, at 670 mm to be more agile at the net. The rules of the BWF, badminton's world federation, limit the frame to 680 mm in length and 230 mm in width, and the strung area to 280 mm by 220 mm. You can find the official text in the [BWF Laws of Badminton](https://corporate.bwfbadminton.com/statutes/). Any racket from the established brands already respects these limits. ## Balance and flex, in brief After getting weight, grip, material, and tension right, what's left is deciding on the racket's style: - **Head-heavy** adds weight to the smash and the clear, but recovers more slowly. Lines such as Yonex Astrox, Li-Ning Axforce, and Victor Thruster. - **Even balance** works for everything and is the safest choice. Yonex Arcsaber, Li-Ning Halbertec, Victor Jetspeed, and DriveX. - **Head-light** reacts quickly in defense and in drives. Yonex Nanoflare, Li-Ning Bladex, Victor Auraspeed. - **A flexible shaft** helps players with a slow swing; **a stiff shaft** gives precision to players with a fast swing. This topic has its own guide, with a table of combinations and real examples: [badminton racket balance and flex](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/badminton-racket-balance-and-flex/). ## Checklist before you buy - Does the weight class match your level and position on court? - Is the grip comfortable, or can it be adjusted with an overgrip? - Is the material right for how you will use it, training or casual play? - Is the tension you plan to use within the racket's limit? - Does it come strung, or will you need to pay for stringing? - Is it a Play, Game, Tour, or Pro version? They differ a lot within the same family. To compare models using these criteria, use the [badminton racket comparison tool](https://racquetrank.com/ca/compare/badminton/) or browse the [badminton racket catalog](https://racquetrank.com/ca/badminton/). If you already have a favorite brand, you can go straight to [Yonex](https://racquetrank.com/ca/badminton/yonex/), [Li-Ning](https://racquetrank.com/ca/badminton/li-ning/), or [Victor](https://racquetrank.com/ca/badminton/victor/). And if you would rather answer a few questions and get suggestions, try [find your racket](https://racquetrank.com/ca/racquet-finder/). How we calculate each model's score is explained in our [methodology](https://racquetrank.com/ca/methodology/). What does 4U G5 mean on a badminton racket? 4U is the weight class: the racket weighs between 80 and 84.9 g without string. G5 is the handle size, and in badminton the higher the number, the thinner the handle. 4U G5 is the most common combination among badminton rackets. What is the best grip size for badminton? For most people, G5. It is thin enough to change grips quickly and can be built up with an overgrip. Players with large hands or a tight grip may prefer G4. When in doubt, choose the thinnest and adjust with an overgrip. Are graphite and carbon fiber the same thing in a racket? Yes. In badminton, graphite is the commercial name for carbon fiber with resin. Terms such as high modulus, HM, Namd, or T1100 indicate stiffer or lighter types of fiber and resin, used in high-end rackets. What string tension should I use on my badminton racket? Beginners usually do well between 18 and 22 lbs, intermediate players between 22 and 26 lbs, and advanced players between 26 and 30 lbs. Never exceed the maximum tension indicated by the manufacturer, which appears on the spec sheet or on the frame itself. Is a 675 mm racket better than a 665 mm one? It is neither better nor worse. The 675 mm racket gives a bit more reach and leverage on the smash, and it is the most common today. The 665 mm racket is slightly faster to maneuver. The difference is small and is usually only noticed by experienced players. Do I need a different racket for singles and doubles? Not necessarily, but each format favors a different profile. In singles, control and the ability to attack from the back of the court count for more. In doubles, reaction speed matters a lot. A racket with even balance works well for both. Are aluminum rackets bad? Not for casual play. They are durable, cheap to maintain, and good for school and family use. For players who want to train and improve, they are heavy and accept little tension, so a graphite racket is the more suitable choice. ## Where to buy the racquets in this guide - [Astrox E13 Yonex](https://racquetrank.com/ca/badminton/yonex/astrox-e13/)3U · More head weight [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M45XH8DCC56TDSFTM1GRRANZ)Yumo Pro Shop - [Astrox 01 Feel Yonex](https://racquetrank.com/ca/badminton/yonex/astrox-01-feel/)4U · More head weight · Flexible [See price](https://racquetrank.com/go/01M49QVSGPSCCHAHJYZDDD3J45)Amazon The prices above are checked automatically at each store and may have changed since the last check. The price that counts is the one shown on the store's website at checkout. We may earn a commission on purchases made through store links, at no extra cost to you. ## More badminton guides - [Best Badminton Rackets 2026: Ranked by Playing Style](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/best-badminton-rackets/) - [10 Best Badminton Rackets for Beginners in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/best-badminton-rackets-for-beginners/) - [10 Best Badminton Rackets for Intermediate Players in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/best-badminton-rackets-for-intermediate-players/) - [Badminton Racket Balance and Flex: Complete Guide](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/badminton-racket-balance-and-flex/) - [10 attacking badminton rackets for a heavier smash](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/10-attacking-badminton-rackets/) - [7 lightweight badminton rackets for doubles: net, defense and drive](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/7-lightweight-badminton-rackets-for-doubles/) - [Badminton racket weight and grip: 3U, 4U, 5U and G4, G5, G6](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/badminton-racket-weight-and-grip-3u-4u-5u/) - [10 best badminton rackets for advanced players in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/best-badminton-rackets-for-advanced-players/) - [10 best badminton rackets for competition in 2026](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/best-badminton-rackets-for-competition/) [All badminton guides →](https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/badminton/) --- Fonte: https://racquetrank.com/ca/guides/how-to-choose-a-badminton-racket/