Overview
While its earliest roots can be traced back to Ancient Greece, badminton, in its modern form, first gained popularity in England during the 1870s. The sport, featuring competitors batting a shuttlecock back and forth over a net, gets its name from the Duke of Beaufort, who enjoyed the game at Badminton House in Gloucestershire. The Badminton World Federation is the sport’s governing body and establishes all rules and regulations, including the standard specifications for badminton rackets.
Identification
A badminton racket consists of a handle, shaft and stringed head. The handle is the portion held by the player. The shaft connects the handle to the racket head, which is the area used to hit the shuttlecock. A throat, or added support, is sometimes present to connect the shaft to the head. Most badminton rackets are constructed from sturdy, lightweight materials such as aluminum, carbon fiber or ceramic.
Sizes
According to the Badminton World Federation, badminton rackets must not exceed 680 mm in length. The racket’s overall width must not exceed 230 mm. There is no rule governing a racket’s weight. But most badminton rackets weigh less than 100 g to maximize swing speed.
Considerations
A standard badminton racket head is oval or egg shaped, although diamond, isometric and teardrop heads have also gained popularity. Regardless of shape, the racket’s stringed area may not exceed 280 mm in length or 220 mm in width. Rackets are prohibited from having any extra attached objects or protrusions that can be used to play the shuttlecock.
Features
The amount of flex in the racket’s shaft will greatly affect overall performance. Longer shafts are more flexible and provide additional power. Shorter shafts are typically more rigid and allow for increased shot accuracy. The same rule applies to strings. If the racket strings are tighter, the shot will be more precise. If the racket strings are looser, allowing for greater give, the shot will have more power.
Types
Badminton racket manufacturers indicate a racket’s weight with a grading system of 1U, 2U, 3U, or 4U, with 1U being the heaviest rackets and 4U the lightest. Quality rackets typically weigh 83 to 100 g. Manufacturers also provide four main grip sizes, G2, G3, G4, and G5, with G2 grips being the largest and G5 the smallest. Racket strings also come in a variety of materials, although the two most common are nylon and natural gut.
