Imagine the scene. A young player talks to an experienced player in your club about rockets. Invariably at some point the discussion turns to the topic of string tension. "My rackets are strung on 30 pounds," said an experienced player, "the more stringent a line you need."
Now this scenario has been played thousands of times in the club’s badminton and league, and it will continue. The question is, does it do any harm?
Over the past few years, a huge number of Batminton rocket voltages have been written. The forums are full of players quoting all kinds of high heights. For those who are familiar with this great game or have limited knowledge of this critical element, it is very easy to accept the confident belief that “the harder the string, the better” or “the harder the string, the more you get.”
Is it true, or have we been told that this is a big lie all these years?
If you need a simple answer, then the above statements are incorrect. However, it is not so simple. So let's separate fact from fiction so that you can then make more informed decisions about your string tensions.
The stress in your badminton racket plays an important role in your ability to play well in shots. If the lines are too weak, then they can not work at an optimal level. At the moment I assume that you have passed the level of beginners and play in the club, and you are older (over 18).
Before discussing what I consider to be a “safe” voltage in lines, it is sometimes worth getting some facts about the line in the open.
• All strings are stretched like elastic, and therefore from the day your racket is stretched, the strings start to lose tension (known as crawling in the trade).
• Each racket has a “sweet spot.” This is the area on the strings that gives the best results when it comes into contact with the shuttle.
• The lower the voltage, the bigger the sweet spot. Therefore, beginners need to play with lower intensity, since they are more likely to make mistakes in the shuttle. Thus, a large “optimal recreation area” is essential for their development in sports.
• As the player becomes more consistent, they do not require such huge sweet spots. Their needs are changing, and now they require a faster “response” from the lines and more power.
• As tensions increase, the sweet spot decreases. A highly integrated player who constantly hits the connecting rod will generate more energy and enjoy the benefits of a shuttle that moves faster along the strings. Stiffer strings give them more control.
Ok, so we moved from a novice to a highly professional player. I'm not talking about your first team player, because it will vary between leagues or clubs. What I mean by a highly professional player is who represents the area, plays countless badminton or even international badminton. They can be tournaments that play in local and national tournaments. They play at a consistently high level.
Increasing the tension of the string is not equivalent to increased power.
Whenever you increase the string tension, a point occurs when you do not get the same return in terms of power. So what's the point of "reducing returns"? It will depend on the person. A highly professional player may find that their tensions must be 24 pounds before they notice the leveling of power. A lower player may find it too high, and 20/21 pounds - max. Although this may not seem like a big difference in numbers, I assure you that you are so massive in terms of how the racket plays and feels.
Regardless of the range, please keep your ego at bay here, as it is so common for players to show off with ultra-high tension, and yet their performance will suffer.
Once you find your maximum voltage for power, you need to decide whether you want to sacrifice some in order to improve the pushing characteristics of the string, which basically gives you more control over the shuttle. Let me explain ...
As the strings become denser and the sweet spot diminishes, the strings do not absorb the shuttle and then move it forward so much (from where the force in the string comes). Instead, the shuttle moves faster along the strings, instantly reacting to the movement of the racket. This creates control.
Lower repulsion and higher benchmarks are what the best players are looking for to give them the greatest opportunity to exploit the weaknesses of the opposition. They already have the power to create discoveries, and recognize that this, combined with touch and speed, is the basis for a comprehensive game of height.
So where is the danger?
Each racket manufacturer provides information on what they consider a safe voltage for their missiles. Many players prefer to ignore these "early warnings" and significantly increase their missiles.
As you can imagine, exceeding the recommended limits is potentially dangerous in two ways. First, the rocket can break or collapse due to significant pressure on it. Secondly, when you increase tension, you also increase vibration through a racket.
The loss of repulsion characteristics means that the player may have to put more into the shot to get the same power. This can lead to injuries in the area of tennis, shoulder or neck, which are now becoming more common due to the higher voltage requirements of the players.
And this is when this knowledge can be dangerous. These injuries are serious and can take a reasonable time to heal. You may need physiotherapy treatment, which is expensive. What worries me is that young players are given the wrong information backed up by overly zealous players in the far east who contribute to the badminton forums. Before you know it, our young beginners suffer from serious injuries and can easily miss the season.
In general, league clubs suffer a fall. Losing a player for weeks or months through injury can be a serious blow to the club. Encouragement, departure or even winning in the league may depend on how you go on landing from all sides after a week. It would be tragic to lose a key player through injury at a critical moment.
How tightly tightened - stress guide
I have been building badminton rackets for over 20 years. This includes a string for beginners for international players. Having seen changes in technology from two pieces of a rocket, to single composite frames, nanotechnologies and isometric heads, I have seen this for a long time. The development of racket technology has brought us lighter and, nevertheless, strong frames.
This development has also triggered a significant amount of testing by international players, seeking competitive advantages. Tensions have been raised higher and are now included in those that are commonly found in squash rockets. Keep in mind that squash rockets are much thicker and heavier than badminton rackets, and therefore are designed to withstand these stresses.
So here is my racket voltage guide. As with all guides, there are players who do not want to be classified as a novice or low-level player (there is an ego again), and before retiring, my recommended voltage. Moreover, the tension is so personal. We all play a different game, some of them are players of power, some of them are great tactics, some of them have a very wide range of shots, others have limited shots, but have mastered them. In fact, we are all different. You need to experiment to find the optimal voltage for your style of play.
Beginner - 16 pounds - 18 pounds - especially if you play with plastic shuttles
Beginner - 17 pounds-19 pounds if playing with feathers
Intermediate - 18 pounds -20 pounds
Advanced - 20lbs-22lbs
County / International - 23lbs - 25lbs
As I said earlier, this is a guide. I know county players who are happy to play with 22lbs, and I also know who plays with 27lbs or more.
While stringers will expose your racket beyond the stresses recommended by the manufacturers, expect them to be responsible if the frame breaks.
A quick word on how to play with plastic brown hair
While playing with plastic shuttles is extremely economical compared to feather shuttles, please keep in mind that the loss of these shuttles is the main cause of tennis elbow. Plastic shuttles do not fly like a feather. Usually you need to put more effort into cleaning the shuttle to the rear of the craft than with a feather.
As the saying goes, you "stroke the pen and hit the plastic."
Since there are significant time differences between the plastic and feather shuttles, it is recommended to lower the string tension in order to get more repulsive properties from your string and less vibration. If you play with a plastic shuttle and run a racket with, say, 24 pounds, you can also play with the board.
As in all sports, modest common sense prevails. I know players who play with both plastic and feather shuttles. Fortunately, they are fully aware of the heightened danger of playing with plastics compared to feather shuttles and use another racket that is stretched 2-3 pounds less than their feather racket to compensate for it.
What about row differences?
This article is not written to make direct comparisons with strings, but there are a few things worth mentioning.
As a rule, the best players choose thinner calibration lines, such as the Yonex BG80. This is an excellent line that can be stretched to high tension and players, such as “feeling,” and control, which they get with a combination of their preferred tension and that line. Since it is thinner, the string will not have the same durability as a thick gauge string, and therefore the racket will have to be pulled more often.
Again, the row selection is personal. Beginners need a line with durability, not feeling and control, because their attention to this game standard is connected with the return of the shuttle and the holding of rallies.
With the development of the player and advanced training the need for durability decreases. Control and feeling become more important. There are lines that bridge the gap between these two opposing needs, namely Yonex BG65Ti, Ashaway Rally 21, and many others.
To find what works for you, you need to talk to your stringer and ask them to write down your voltages and the selected string so that you can find the right combination for yourself. If you change the rockets, you may have to tweak again, but usually you only make small adjustments.
Let it turn out
I hope you now understand that a higher voltage is not necessarily equivalent to more power, and usually this is actually the opposite. Please do not be deceived by those who reflect on extremely high tensions, they may already feel pain from this and still do not want to tell you about it!
There are, of course, hazards in case the racket manufacturer recommended tension. Be wary, you might soon cut off your love affair with your favorite racket if you decide to exceed the recommended voltage. Regularly check the frame on the voltage line, or you may be shocked.
Test to find the optimal voltage and string selection. Remember, this is personal to you and you. What suits you may be detrimental to your club college or partner.
Please do not lead others and some silly comments on the badminton forums. Check for any changes in small increments of 1 pound. Keep in mind that each thread is individually stretched when applying a racket, so increasing 1 pound is enough to notice the difference.
When you find the right tension for you and the right string, you can focus on enjoying and improving your game without having this little trick in the depths of your mind that you missed something.
Enjoy your testing and feel free to e-mail me if you want additional clarification on any of the points I’ve picked up - it’s always good to hear from you.
