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Introduction
The racket is arguably the most essential piece of equipment for a badminton player. While the court, shuttles and playing conditions are shared by all players involved in a badminton match, the racket is fully within the control of the player. The racket is commonly viewed as an extension of a player’s arm. As such, it should complement a player’s style and level.
Whether you gravitate towards pummeling your opponents with a flurry of powerful smashes or outpacing your foes with speedy exchanges of control and precision, a racket should work for you and not the other way around. When chosen properly, a racket can be your greatest ally on court, while carelessly settling for a racket can turn it into your biggest enemy. Learn about the different properties of badminton rackets below to discover which racket is best suited for you!
| Category | Recommended Product(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Author’s Pick | Voltric Z-Force II | Learn More |
| Best Value | Voltric GlanZ | Learn More |
| Best for Beginner Players | Voltric Ace | Learn More |
| Best for Intermediate Players | Voltric GlanZ | Learn More |
| Best for Advanced Players | Voltric Z-Force II | Learn More |
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Racket Series
| Racket Series | Brand | Signature Trait | Post |
| Astrox | Yonex | Steep Attack | Link |
| Duora | Yonex | Dual Impact | Link |
| Nanoflare | Yonex | Rapid Fire | Link |
| Nanoray | Yonex | Lightning Speed | Link |
| Voltric | Yonex | Crushing Power | Link |
| Auraspeed | Victor | Speed | Link |
| Thruster | Victor | Power | Link |
| DriveX | Victor | Versatility | Link |
| Light Fighter | Victor | Light-Weight | Link |
If you’re interested in other badminton products, I highly recommend checking out our Badminton Equipment page where we gathered all of our product posts in one easy place for you to access so that you can make an informed decision before any purchase.
Racket Properties
Balance
The balance of a racket is determined by finding the position on the shaft in which the racket remains stable and completely parallel to the ground. The distance between the base of the handle to this position on the shaft is called the balance point. The balance point is used to categorize the balance of a racket. Understanding the traits of different balances will allow you to select a racket that boosts your gameplay.
| Balance Point | Balance |
| > 295mm | Head-Heavy |
| 285 – 295mm | Even Balanced |
| < 285mm | Head-Light |
Head-Heavy
A head-heavy racket has a balance point that is over 295mm. They are suitable for players who favor an attacking style of play. Players who are smash-happy, enjoy powerful shots or prefer the back-court can benefit from choosing head-heavy rackets, as it adds extra force behind their shots. However, with great power comes decreased racket movement. Since the weight is concentrated at the head of the racket, it becomes more difficult for the player to swing the racket head quickly. Therefore, those who use head-heavy rackets may find it difficult to react to fast shots or play a solid defensive game.
As the control of head-heavy rackets takes more effort and practice to master, these rackets are recommended for experienced players vs. beginners. Beginners who lack the experience to manage head-heavy rackets can suffer shoulder injuries from misusage or apply stress to the wrist from attempting quick drives or defensive shots.
Pros: Generates powerful shots
Cons: Decreased racket handling, Increased risk of injury if misused
Recommended for: Attacking players, Back-court play
Head-Light
Head-light rackets observe a balance point typically below 285mm. With head-light rackets, speed is the name of the game. The lighter frame gives players the ability to steer the racket to their will with more ease. These rackets are characterized as being superior at executing shots at the net, blocking smashes, controlling the shuttle and enabling players to have quicker reaction times.
Players who enjoy games filled with fast drive exchanges and speedy rallies should look into playing with a head-light racket. Head-light rackets are suggested for doubles games, defensive game play and front-court players. While head-light rackets enable players with great speed of the racket, they give up power in exchange for it. With less mass at the frame, head-light rackets have less momentum transferred from the swing to the shuttle, making it more difficult to produce explosive shots.
Pros: Greater control of the racket, Improves reaction speed
Cons: Decreased explosive power
Recommended for: Defensive and doubles players, Front-court and fast-paced play
Even Balanced
Even balanced rackets can be viewed as Jack of all Trades, as they are able to adequately execute all of the different shots. The balance point for even balanced rackets have a length between the range of 285-295mm. An even balanced racket allows you to blend the benefits of head-heavy/-light rackets while masking the drawbacks. It allows you to achieve precision in your shots while also giving you a degree of power.
If you are a player who does not have a strong preference towards any particular play style, an even balanced racket would be a solid choice to support you in any situation you find yourself in on the court. Additionally, for beginners starting to play badminton, an even balanced racket can help you uncover your badminton play style. When you make the discovery on whether you are inclined to power-plays or speed-plays, you can switch to head-heavy or head-light rackets, respectively. The even balanced racket is sub-optimal for players looking for specialization, such as playing remarkably fast shots or supremely powerful smashes.
Pros: Capable of executing each shot well (though not exceptionally)
Cons: No specialization towards either defensive or offensive extremes
Recommended for: All around players, Beginners
Author’s note: Instead of purchasing or borrowing a racket with a different balance point to try it out, there are home remedies that a player can take to modifying the balance of point of the racket. To make a racket more head-heavy, a player can add lead tape to the head of the racket. Whereas to make a racket more head-light, a player can experiment with adding different types of grips to the handle.
Weight
Per Badminton World Federation (BWF) guidelines, the weight of a badminton racket should not exceed 100g. Yonex’s breakdown is as follows:
| Unit | Weight |
| 1U | 95g – 99.9g |
| 2U | 90g – 94.9g |
| 3U | 85g – 89.9g |
| 4U | 80g – 84.9g |
| 5U | 75g – 79.9g |
| F | 70g – 74.9g |
Lighter weight rackets are easier to control and are more accommodating towards improper form or technique. They allow for quicker recovery from shots and fluid execution of a variety of shots. As such, lighter rackets are recommended for beginners.
Heavier rackets are able to generate bigger force at the cost of racket handling. As it takes more strength to move the racket, it can be an injury risk for players who are not equipped to use it properly. Beginners are not recommended to use heavy rackets when starting their badminton journey.
Grip
The grip of a racket is measured by the circumference of the handle. Typically rackets are made in G4 or G5 grip sizes. The table below details the grips and their respective sizes.
| Unit | Grip Size |
| G1 | 4 in / 10.2 cm |
| G2 | 3.75 in / 9.5 cm |
| G3 | 3.5 in / 8.9 cm |
| G4 | 3.25 in / 8.3 cm |
| G5 | 3 in / 7.6 cm |
| G6 | 2.75 in / 7 cm |
Smaller grips are recommended for players who enjoy keeping their opponents on their toes. They allow for a greater amount of racket manipulation and make it easier to make last second deceptions.
Bigger grips allow players to deliver power by using more of their arm rather than their finger and wrist strength. Power players tend to grip the handle tighter, making a bigger grip the more suitable choice.
If you are uncertain about the grip you should select, air on the side of a smaller grip. There is always the option to add overgrips to increase the size of your current grip. Read the following post we wrote to determine the right grip to complement your play style: The Complete Guide to Yonex Badminton Grips.
Flex
The flex (short for flexibility) of a racket refers to how stiff the shaft is. The stiffness of a racket’s shaft influences the racket stroke and recovery time of a player and thus is an important point of consideration when choosing a racket. By definition, when a racket is stiff, it does not bend as far back as a flexible racket would during a swing. This property makes it so a stiffer racket will return faster to its base position than a less stiff racket would (with all else being equal), giving the player a smaller time period to exert force onto the shuttlecock.
There is an excellent explanation of it in this forum post. While a stiffer racket recovers faster than a more flexible racket because of the decreased vibrations after a hit, it is more difficult to time shots. Flexible rackets are more lenient towards slower shuttle strikes but increases recovery time. This means that a player should use a stiffer racket if he/she can generate sufficient power very quickly and a more flexible racket if he/she takes more time to generate power.
Yonex categorizes its rackets into 4 levels of stiffness: extra stiff, stiff, medium, and hi-flex. As a beginner, we would recommend medium or hi-flex rackets since it is difficult for beginners to take advantage of the extra stiff or stiff properties. Seasoned players tend to use stiff and extra stiff rackets but there are certainly exceptions where they still prefer flexible rackets.
Voltric Products
Yonex’s Voltric series is renown for its ability to deliver crushing power, the signature of being an entirely head-heavy line of rackets. The driving force behind this quality is the innovative TRI-VOLTAGE SYSTEM. This system combines calculated weight distribution in the head of the racket, flexing in the frame, and the science of aerodynamics.
These 3 traits work together to create immense power without sacrificing speed and racket handling. The design of the frame creates a phenomenon in which shuttles are held on the string bed for a longer duration, allowing power to transfer from the strings to the shuttle. The racket head contains areas with a thinner frame along its top and sides, designed at reducing air resistance. Voltric rackets put your opponents’ defense to the test by pressuring them with exceptionally fast shots. Give Voltric a try and see how this series of rackets can take your smashes to the next level.
| Category | Recommended Product(s) | |
|---|---|---|
| Author’s Pick | Voltric Z-Force II | Learn More |
| Best Value | Voltric GlanZ | Learn More |
| Best for Beginner Players | Voltric Ace | Learn More |
| Best for Intermediate Players | Voltric GlanZ | Learn More |
| Best for Advanced Players | Voltric Z-Force II | Learn More |
Voltric 0F
The Voltric 0F is an all around racket that is suitable for players who are relatively new to badminton or are looking for a racket that gives good value for the price. It is quite light at 83g which makes it good for players who are looking for a fast attacking style of play. Great as a starting racket.
| Level Recommendation | Beginner |
| Balance | Head-Heavy |
| Flex | HI-FLEX |
| Weight/Grip | 4U (83g) G4 |
| Cost | $ |
| Amazon | Black |
Voltric Ace
The Voltric Ace is one of the most budget-friendly rackets that is ideal for beginners who gravitate towards an offensive style of play.
At the 4U (83g) weight, this racket will aid beginners to produce heavier shots at their opponents in cases where the players may not have the technique or arm strength to generate the power themselves. Paired with its isometric frame shape, the Voltric Ace should be an offensive beginner’s choice of racket.
| Level Recommendation | Beginner |
| Balance | Head Heavy |
| Flex | HI-FLEX |
| Weight/Grip | 4U (83g) G4 |
| Cost | $ |
| Amazon | Ice Blue | Royal Blue |
Voltric Lite
The Voltric Lite is pretty similar to the Voltric 0F we described above. Yonex created this racket with beginners in mind and provided it with a large sweet spot so that off-centered shots can still be controlled. Also excellent for players looking for a starting racket.
| Level Recommendation | Beginner |
| Balance | Head-Heavy |
| Flex | HI-FLEX |
| Weight/Grip | 4U (83g) G4,5 |
| Cost | $ |
| Amazon | White/Black | Blue | Yellow/Black |
Voltric 1DG
The Voltric 1DG is on the lower end of the head-heavy spectrum and is also a heavier racket than the other 2 beginner rackets described above, coming in at 88g. The balance of the racket allows the player to move it around easier for defense and the additional weight allows the player to retain power. However, the additional weight will require the player to use more energy and have more endurance to use it than other beginner rackets.
| Level Recommendation | Beginner |
| Balance | Head-Heavy |
| Flex | Medium |
| Weight/Grip | 3U (88g) G5 |
| Cost | $ |
| Amazon | Blue |
Voltric 2DG Slim
The Voltric 2DG Slim is able to combine both power and racket handling to give players a variety of shots to challenge their opponents with. The Voltric 2DG Slim has a thinner shaft than its Voltric 2DG predecessor.
| Level Recommendation | Beginner |
| Balance | Head-Heavy |
| Flex | HI-FLEX |
| Weight/Grip | 3U (88g) G4,5 |
| Cost | $ |
| Amazon | Orange |
Voltric 8DG Slim
The Voltric 8DG Slim employs a slim shaft which allows for reduced air resistance in the racket swing. This results in more powerful shots without the added difficulty of controlling the racket’s mobility.
Voltric Glanz
Best value. The Voltric GlanZ is a racket that is designed for recreational players who like a balance between quick racket speed and hard smashes. It is quite light at 83g and has a fairly large sweet spot which makes it more forgiving to inaccurately hit shots.
| Level Recommendation | Intermediate |
| Balance | Head-Heavy |
| Flex | Medium |
| Weight/Grip | 4U (83g) G4,5,6 |
| Cost | $$$ |
| Amazon | Sapphire Navy |
| Badminton Bay | Sapphire Navy |
Voltric FB
The Voltric FB is on the lower end of the head-heavy balance range and is a very light racket at 73g. It can be used for very quick movements for fast drives and steep smashes. A player will need to have good wrist control and reflexes in order to handle this racket well.
| Level Recommendation | Intermediate |
| Balance | Head-Heavy |
| Flex | Stiff |
| Weight/Grip | F (73g) G5 |
| Cost | $$$ |
| Amazon | Black/Blue | Black/Green | Navy/Orange |
Voltric 10DG
The Voltric 10DG is part of the Durable Grade series of rackets that is known for durability and agility. It is a good and steady mid-range racket that can deliver solid drop shots, clears and drives. While it suffers on the defense front, it has a large sweet spot that players can benefit from. This racket can produce heavy smashes and is praised for retaining swing speed and racket handling. However, due to its stiffness and head-heaviness, beginners are cautioned against using the Voltric 10DG.
| Level Recommendation | Advanced |
| Balance | Head-Heavy |
| Flex | Stiff |
| Weight/Grip | 3U (83g) G5 |
| Cost | $$$ |
| Amazon | Black/Purple |
| Badminton Bay | Black/Purple |
Voltric 11DG Slim
The Voltric 11DG Slim is significant in its head heaviness. While marketed as medium flex, players have observed it to be rather stiff in the flex category. Without proper timing and practice, the Voltric 11DG Slim can be tiring to handle and may cause discomfort in the arm. However, with proper technique and physique, the Voltric 11DG Slim can deliver overwhelming smashes and deep clears. This racket is positioned towards advanced players for this precise reason.
| Level Recommendation | Advanced |
| Balance | Head-Heavy |
| Flex | Medium |
| Weight/Grip | 3U (88g) G4,5 |
| Cost | $$ |
| Amazon | Spark Gold |
| Badminton Bay | Spark Gold |
Voltric 21DG Slim
The Voltric 21DG Slim generates power behind each stroke of the racket. While the racket is rather head heavy, it is arguably the easiest racket to use out of the Durable Grade series as the swing is fast through the air. The Voltric 21DG Slim has a solid and stable feel and control. This racket does not have the most explosive power out of the DG series, but makes up for it with its more forgiving racket handling. With a smaller frame, similar to the Voltric Z-Force II, head-heaviness and stiff flex, the Voltric 21DG Slim is recommended for advanced players.
Voltric Z-Force II
Author’s pick. The Voltric Z-Force II is the top of the line racket in the Voltric series, replacing its predecessor, the Voltric Z-Force. This racket sports the thinnest shaft, smaller head, and Tungsten infused grommets, all of which translate to explosive smashes, speed and improved racket handling. Contrary to the drawbacks of head-heavy rackets, the distribution of weight in the head and aerodynamics of the racket allows the Z-Force II to deliver crisp drives and perform well in net play. Highly recommended for advanced players.
Summary
| Racket | Level Recommendation | Balance | Flex | Weight/Grip | Cost |
| Voltric 0F | Beginner | Head-Heavy | HI-FLEX | 4U (83g) G4 | $ |
| Voltric Ace | Beginner | Head-Heavy | HI-FLEX | 4U (83g) G5 | $ |
| Voltric Lite | Beginner | Head-Heavy | HI-FLEX | 4U (83g) G4,5 | $ |
| Voltric 1DG | Beginner | Head-Heavy | Medium | 3U (88g) G5 | $ |
| Voltric 2DG Slim | Beginner | Head-Heavy | HI-FLEX | 3U (88g) G4,5 | $ |
| Voltric 8DG Slim | Intermediate | Head-Heavy | HI-FLEX | 3U (88g) G4,5 | $$ |
| Voltric GlanZ | Intermediate | Head-Heavy | Medium | 4U (83g) G4,5,6 | $$$ |
| Voltric FB | Intermediate | Head-Heavy | Stiff | F (73g) G5 | $$$ |
| Voltric 10DG | Advanced | Head-Heavy | Stiff | 3U (88g) G5 | $$$ |
| Voltric 11DG Slim | Advanced | Head-Heavy | Medium | 3U (88g) G4,5 | $$ |
| Voltric 21DG Slim | Advanced | Head-Heavy | Medium | 3U (88g) G4,5 | $$ |
| Voltric Z-Force II | Advanced | Head-Heavy | Extra Stiff | 3U (88g) G4,5 4U (83g) G4,5 | $$$ |
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This racket can produce heavy smashes and is praised for retaining swing speed and racket handling.
you dont have all the rackets from the voltric series…plss try to put em all….!!!
Thanks for the information about my favourite sport Badminton