Top 20 Best Badminton Rackets 2023

With the aggressive performance of players from various countries on the badminton court, more and more people are starting to follow and participate in the sport of badminton.

Having a good quality badminton racket suited to a player’s playing style is crucial to play well in badminton. There are various brands of badminton rackets that you can find in the market.

While most people are familiar with the leading brand, YONEX, there are still many other brands of racket that are of great quality. The available features may well suit your requirements and help you to improve your playing skills.

Other brands of badminton rackets are included Victor, Carlton, Wilson, and Li-Ning. They vary in price and performance. People who dabble in this sport might find it hard to pick the best one for them to play badminton. Some of them may wonder which is the best racket for badminton that they should get.

To assist in this issue, I list the top 20 badminton rackets from different brands, which I think are the best and can suit most players.

1. YONEX Voltric Z Force II

Specification:

Flex: Extra Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 315mm
Shaft: H.M. Graphite, EX-HMG, NANOMETRIC
Length: 675mm
Weight: 87g

This is a very popular racket from YONEX. You may find many different paintworks available for this model, but they are actually the same type.

This is a head-heavy racket. It is head heavy at the top with a compact frame, slightly smaller than the standard frame.

Having an isometric head shape, the racket has become more aerodynamic. It featured a very thin shaft, but the built of the shaft was very stiff.

This Voltric Z Force II is the high-end model for the Voltric series. Therefore, it is not suitable for everyone but is catered for advanced and professional badminton players.

It is a great racket to play in either singles or doubles.

Suppose you got strong arms and great playing techniques. This racket can be the one you should consider using as it can offer you powerful smashes and power play.

There are various grommet strips around the frame, which make the stringing to be easier.

The downside is if you break a grommet around the string, you will need to replace the entire string.
This means that the stringer needs to be replaced for all the grommets.

Pros:

You can do faster and heavier shots.
All the power that you generated in your shots will be transferred directly to the shuttle.
It allows players to get the racket into place quicker to return the shot.

Cons:

The entire string needs to be replaced if one of the grommets is broken.
It is hard to control.

2. Yonex Astrox 99

Specification:

Flex: Very Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 310mm
Shaft: H.M. GRAPHITE + NAMD
Length: 672mm
Weight: 85-89g

This racket is designed with new graphite NMD, tungsten, and nanometric technology. The new technology makes the racket to be a bit stronger and the graphite a bit lighter.

The racket is featured with a combination of striking colors. Such paintwork makes the racket look very sleek and beautiful.

The shaft is made from high modulus graphite and NAMD, which give you a very stiff feel when you first hold the racket.

The stiff shaft can give you more control since you can have a better feel when gripping the racket in your hand.

This is a power racket that is not for the beginner but is designed for skillful players. It can offer players a relentless attack.

You can string it up to 20 to 28 pounds, and you will feel very fast when you play with the racket. Besides, the power that you can have is also great enough.

If you take this Yonex Astrox 99 racket and play some games, you will find it powerful from the back and significantly steeper than many other rackets.

You can get the rhythm of the ability to defend.

Pros:

The power and sound are amazing.
It is a very light racket.

Cons:

It can be hard to use when you start to play with it.

3. Wilson BLX Recon P3500

Specification:

Flex: Medium
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 290mm
Shaft: High Modulus Carbon Graphite + Power Skin
Length: 675mm
Weight: 82g

The Wilson BLX Recon P3500 badminton racket is built with the new Wilson Racket Technology engineered with basalt fibers combining proprietary known as BLX.

BL = Basalt + X = Proprietary Technologies combined.

Basalt is volcanic rock. It can give the racket high stability, shock absorption, and sturdy performance.
The racket material and the racket structure are simultaneously upgraded. The two-pronged approach makes the racket to be more performant.

The watermark texture and details are excellent, and the coating details can compete with YONEX’s top rackets. The watermark has high adhesion and is not prone to appearance damage caused by paint peeling and slight bumps.

The recommended string tension for Wilson BLX Recon P3500 is 20-25 pounds.

If you can’t afford the high prices rackets from YONEX, you can try this racket instead. It may give you unexpected results.

Pros:

It can let the player do fast attacks and fast defense.
Available at affordable prices.

Cons:

The ability for steep smash is average, which is not suitable for players who like to do heavy smash.
The accuracy of the landing point is average.
The BLX shock absorption effect is relatively obvious, which may not suit players who like a hard-hitting feel.

4. Carlton Vapour Trail 10.3

Specification:

Flex: Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 295mm
Shaft: HM Graphite
Length: 675mm
Weight: 87g

This racket is constructed with graphite. Such material can provide superior resistance and high durability for the racket. The grip is soft but can be a solid hold on the racket.

The shape of the racket head is isometric. There is an extended sweet spot on the head that can offer players a powerful shot.

The racket is built with a heavy head, and the shaft is very stiff. The long shaft ensures good front serve and frontcourt control.

The grip size of the racket is G4. It can give you a soft but excellent hold on the racket. These rackets are meant for intermediates or more advanced players. You can use the racket to practice or use it to play in regular matches.

This racket is great for power, but only if you use it right and generate it from your own techniques. Besides, it can help you do clearing effortlessly with the very low power you need to exert.

The recommended string tension for Carlton Vapour Trail 10.3 is 22-30 pounds.

Pros:

The racket can make very powerful shots.
It can use the racket for practice or playing regular matches.

Cons:

It may take some time for you to get used to the racket when you first play with it.

5. YONEX DUORA 10

Specification:

Flex: Medium
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 293mm
Shaft: H.M. Graphite, NANOMETRIC
Length: 675mm
Weight: 87g

YONEX always makes some changes when they release a new racket. The DUORA 10 is no different. But this time, YONEX obviously made a change that is quite surprising.

To match the unique double-sided frame of DOURA 10, YONEX designed it with a set of extremely creative appearances.

For most people who are already used to the stereotypes formed by badminton racket painting for many years. In most people’s minds, the evaluation of racket painting is almost only left with “good-looking” or “bad-looking.”

UORA 10 made people feel for the first time that the badminton racket can actually have a very creative look.

The top-selling point of this racket is the hybrid frame design. For modern badminton players, they need to be dominant on both their forehands and backhands. Therefore, YONEX released this racket to help players be on the offense will their shots and play good defense for their backhands.

YONEX takes the 2 different frame shapes and combines them into one single racket design. Such design provides a perfect blend of both speed and power.

The racket can make quite a powerfully shot. It can hold the ball for a longer time, and the reverse side can rebounds faster, reducing the lag when hitting back the shot.

The recommended string tension for YONEX DUORA 10 is 16-27 pounds.

Pros:

It is a balanced racket for offensive and defensive play.
It featured a larger sweet spot.
It can provide additional power for the backhand shot.

Cons:

The shaft is quite short, only with a length of 21 cm.
It cannot be quite smooth when doing a lob or clear.

6. Li-Ning 3D Caliber 900i

Specification:

Flex: Medium
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 312mm
Shaft: Carbon Fiber + Polyurethane + Non-woven
Length: 670mm
Weight: 79g

Li Ning’s racket has great accomplishments on lacquer. The rackets released by Li Ning featured perfect details and had more and more delicate lacquers. Such accomplishments have made more and more people buying badminton in this brand.

This is a heavier head with a balance point of 312mm, which is significantly toward the racket’s head.
The shaft of the 3D Caliber 900I’s is soft but with strong elasticity. You can have a speedy recovery to your position by using this racket. It has a little whipping sensation but no sticky feel. It is a configuration that does not require special adaptation.

Although it won’t offer you killer power, the racket can definitely offer you with reasonable smash power that you need.

You can play a deceiving trick easily with the maneuver of this racket as you can exert less power because the shaft of this racket is very flexible.

The recommended string tension for Li-Ning 3D Caliber 900i is 26-32 pounds.

Pros:

Since the head is heavy, it is excellent to be used for backcourt defense.
It can generate very powerful and offensive shots.
The racket has good coherence.

Cons:

It is not as flexible as the ultra-light rackets. It requires a lot of reaction speed and shooting control. This is probably the negative effect of the weight concentrated in the frame.

7. Li-Ning Aeronaut 7000

Specification:

Flex: Medium
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 306mm
Shaft: Carbon Fiber + Polyurethane + Non-woven
Length: 670mm
Weight: 87g

The coating and painting technology of Li Ning’s rackets has always been at the top level in the industry. The paint of Li Ning Aeronaut 7000 is also very delicate and of high quality. Most people are relished with the lacquer and painting of the racket. The color is bright, the layers are clear, and the touch is very smooth.

The Li Ning Aeronaut 7000 is featured with an advanced stabilized torsion angle. With such technology, It can effectively improve the anti-torsional performance of the shaft of the racket. The accuracy of the shot attacks to become more targeted.

This is a head-heavy racket. It can perform well in defense and drive.

This racket won’t give you a similar feel to other Li-Ning’s rackets, but it will give you a similar performance as others do.

The air-stream channel design makes it fast for you to react, return to your position, and be accurate in landing.
The recommended string tension for Li-Ning Aeronaut 7000 is 26-32 pounds.

Pros:

Due to its center of gravity, being close to the racket’s frame can help the player generate a more powerful smash with less effort.
The racket has a larger sweet spot.

Cons:

Although this is a stable racket, it won’t get you very far as other tops of the range rackets.
It may not have the specific skill set that you are looking for.

8. YONEX Duora Z-Strike

Specification:

Flex: Extra Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 300mm
Shaft: H.M. Graphite + NANOMETRIC + EX-HMG
Length: 675mm
Weight: 85-89g

YONEX Duora Z-Strike is quite different from other YONEX rackets. For example, the studs under the frame were previously black in color with an arch in the middle. They make it like this to increase the life of the thread and reduce wear.

It has a slightly bigger grip and a compact head. It is built with an extra slim and extra stiff shaft, which means that you get a lighter racket with insane power for your shot while retaining your control.

For the frame construction, one side of the head is the box head shape, while the other is the aerodynamic shape. Box head is for your forehand, while aerodynamic is for your backhand. The nanometric remain the same stiffness as a conventional racket, and it is specially built for power.

You will get more power and more direct energy transfer when you make your shot. You can also get very quick backhand responses with such a design.

But for the Duora Z-Strike, it was changed to transparent, and there is no arch. The material can give you more elasticity. It can also offer players better shock absorption and reduce air resistance.

The recommended string tension for YONEX Duora Z-Strike is 20-29 pounds.

Pros:

It increases the direct energy transfer, and so you will get more power when doing your shot.
The racket has a new grommet pattern, and you can get a large sweet spot.
It can deliver a very fast punch clear.

Cons:

When you first play with it, you may feel one side is lighter than the other. You will need to take some time to get used to this unequal weight from 2 sides.
You can’t use the racket to play with the plastic shuttlecock. You just can’t have good control over it.

9. Victor Jetspeed S10

Specification:

Flex: Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 293mm
Shaft: Ultra High Modulus Graphite + PYROFIL by Mitsubishi + 6.8 SHAFT
Length: 675mm
Weight: 87g

This racket has a very stiff frame, and you may feel a little heavy in the head. The frame is quite large. It is a fast frame and is very sturdy. It is great for overhead, and you can use it to play a quick game.

The explosive high-resilient Mitsubishi Belo shaft, compact and reasonable frame area distribution, highly comprehensive performance frame, and perfect feel while gripping the racket make the Jetspeed S10 into the range of speed rackets.

However, the characteristics of this racket are not only fast but also the stability of making the shot. The generated power when smashing is better than the ordinary speed racket.

The 6.8mm ultra-hard Mitsubishi Belo shaft is the biggest selling point of the Jetspeed S10. When hitting the shuttle with a small force, the shaft is full of rigidity without obvious vibrating, which can clearly transmit the power to the player. This will make the player have good control in front of the net.

The midfield flat drive is the advantage of this racket. The lightweight parameters ensure the flexibility of playing in the midfield. The extremely low wind resistance frame further ensures the shooting speed. The sweet spot of the frame is extremely explosive.

The recommended string tension for Victor Jetspeed S10 is 23-28 pounds.

Pros:

It is a lightweight racket.
It featured a slim shaft with a width of just 6.8 mm.
The swing is pretty great.

Cons:

The racket is meant for advanced players and is not suitable for the beginner.

10. Li-Ning Turbo Charging 75

Specification:

Flex: Medium
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 295mm
Shaft: TB-Nano Shaft + Bio-Inner Cone + Aerotec Beam System
Length: 675mm
Weight: 87g

This is a very good-looking badminton racket. The painting style is very low-profile. The combination of bronze and matte black is slightly mature and stable. Combining with the high weighting parameters, it can’t help but pass a sense of stability.

The large area of the bronzing frame showing a slight halo under the light when gripping the racket. Although the color is quite low-profile, overall, it is not dull, and the coating design is very coordinated.

It feels a little lighter than the N9. The bounce points are a little bit closer towards the grip compared to the N9. But it is stiffer.

The Turbo Charging 75 is like retaining the speed of the N9, but it can give you more power than N9. A very consistent racket can help you play well at the net and in the backcourt. You don’t have to worry that your shot will not be consistent with this racket.

If you first grip this racket, you no need to spend a lot of time getting used to it as it is a very easy racket for you to play with.

It has the same characteristic as a lot of other Li-Ning rackets. It has a good combination and well balance point where it tries to retain the speed and feel while having slightly harder hitting power.

The recommended string tension for Li-Ning Turbo Charging 75 is 26-32 pounds.

Pros:

It can offer you a very smooth attack.
It is a very well-designed racket.

Cons:

This racket is meant for intermediate or advanced players. It is not for the beginner.
There is a certain degree of exhaustion if you hold the racket for a long time since it is a heavy and stiff racket.
Even it can give you more power, but it is a little bit slower and less flexible.

11. YONEX Astrox 88S

Specification:

Flex: Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 295mm
Shaft: H.M. Graphite + NAMD
Length: 670mm
Weight: 3U (85-89g) / 4U (80-84g)

YONEX Astrox 88S is the first racket that YONEX has independently optimized the different technical styles of the front and backcourt players in doubles. It has been specially adapted from the feel of the racket, the weight, and even the cone cap and the length.

The frame of the racket uses the most classic ISO square head of YONEX. This design has been used by YONEX for many years and has been widely adopted. The ISO square head has a larger sweet spot, so the hitting point is larger as well. You can get faster speed and better fault tolerance with it.

This racket is very light, and you can use it to play a quick game. It is not like the Nano series, which is very fast but not very powerful. They literally made the YONEX Astrox 88S very powerful.

The smash with this racket is incredible. As long as you hit the sweet spot, It can give you more control and repulsion. Especially when you are trying to do some drop shots, it can give your very good control.

When I try to use this racket to do some shots, I can quickly do the shots with a solid hit. I have a really nice touch with it as it gives me a very crisp hitting experience. When doing hard-hitting, it can hit very quickly as well.

The recommended string tension for YONEX Astrox 88S is 20-28 pounds.

Pros:

It is an ideal racket for doubles.
It can do very quick shots especially playing in front of the net.
It is very easy to control, and the drop point is very precise.

Cons:

The recommended string tension of 28 pounds is quite low. It is better if you can set the tension to 30 pounds.

12. YONEX Nanoray 900

Specification:

Flex: Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 290mm
Shaft: H.M. Graphite, X-FULLERENE, Ultra PEF
Length: 674mm
Weight: 88g

The Nanoray 900 does not have gorgeous paintwork but has this low-key, atmospheric appearance. The silver-toned body shows its elegance.

The black frame and the silver sticker complement each other. With a touch of emerald green in the main theme of black and silver, it seems that you want to gently remove the mysterious veil and carefully look at the beautiful design of this racket.

This is a head-light racket. It is built with the latest nanotechnology that uses dense nano-carbon to make the frame lighter and to have sharp rebound performance. The racket uses X-chain fullerene nano-carbon to increase repulsion and stability. Thereby improving the overall flexibility of the racket.

New materials create more ways to hit the shuttle, creating more chances to do the smashes and drives at larger angles. You can use it to generate a steeper smash with the design of the suppressed shaft.

The racket is suitable for active players. Balanced offensive and defensive performance will significantly improve player performance!

This racket is meant for more advanced players who are looking to have more attacking power.

The recommended string tension for YONEX Nanoray 900 is 19-24 pounds.

Pros:

It is an ideal racket for doubles.
It is a great racket for attacking.
You can do easy clear with it.

Cons:

This racket is not suitable for the beginner.
It gives you minimal flex when swinging.
The recommended string tension is quite low, which may not give you enough power when doing the shots.

13. Victor Auraspeed 90S

Specification:

Flex: Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 283mm
Shaft: High Resilient Modulus Graphite + PYROFIL + 6.8 SHAFT
Length: 675mm
Weight: 3U/G5 (approx. 91g), 4U/G5 (approx. 83g)

The Auraspeed is a series similar to the Brave Sword and Jetspeed series designed for speed. These rackets are known for their fast handling and resilience, which provides a balance of both speed and power.

The frame of the Victor Auraspeed 90S is configured with blade-like structures to increase the aerodynamics of the racket swing, making each stroke swift and sharp.

Since the racket is head-light and the shaft is stiff, it can move very well through the air. Therefore, it can generate lots of head speed.

The most direct feeling the Victor Auraspeed 90S gives me is that it repulse quickly, and the metal sound is strong, but it does not give the wrist any additional vibration. Compared to the BRS, the 90S frame is not only more crisp and bright, but the shaft also has its own characteristic.

The Auraspeed 90S is a speed-type racket that is very easy to use. It has a low counterweight and balance point. It featured with larger sweet spot and a shaft with less stiffness.

The fast speed of the Auraspeed 90S can make it an absolute advantage when you are attacking in front of the net, but the lower balance point also makes it unable to make a very powerful smash.

The recommended string tension for Victor Auraspeed 90S is 20-29 pounds.

Pros:

It is a beginner-friendly racket.
It is an ideal racket for players who are looking for speed.
When doing a clear, the shaft is full of toughness and flex. Hitting with the racket can give you indescribable pleasure.

Cons:

You will need some time to get used to this racket.

14. YONEX Astrox 88D

Specification:

Flex: Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 300mm
Shaft: H.M. Graphite + NAMD
Length: 672mm
Weight: 83g (4U-G5)

The YONEX Astrox 88D is made of NAMD carbon. This carbon adheres the nanomaterial to the carbon fiber uniformly to improve the degree of bonding between the carbon fiber and the resin. Such construction makes the racket achieve different strengths under different hardness.

The racket is made for skilled players and frontcourt domination for doubles. With this racket, you can do a very accurate and steep drop shot easily.

If you get this racket and play for a while, you will feel so satisfied as there is a large sweet spot for this racket, so it is easier for you to hit the shuttle with the available hitting area on the racket.

You can also do excellent drives with the racket. It is easy for you to tell where the shot is going. The rotational generator system can help you to get a more accurate shot.

You may struggle with this racket at first when you start to use it since you may not be yet familiar with the energy boost tap incorporated in this racket.

The flex point of the 88D is in the middle of the frame. When the shuttle is struck vigorously, the head can provide a stronger downward pressure and give you a better offensive effect.

The recommended string tension for YONEX Astrox 88D is 20-29 pounds.

Pros:

The racket is perfect for you to doing clear at the backcourt.
It can be very powerful when you are doing a net shot close to the net. You can have very good control at the same time.

Cons:

You will need some time to handle and get used to it.
It is not a racket for the beginner or amateur player.

15. Li-Ning 3D Caliber 600C

Specification:

Flex: Medium
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 300mm
Shaft: TB Nano + UHB Shaft
Length: 675mm
Weight: 86g

This is a head-heavy racket that can hold a maximum string tension of 30 pounds. The racket Is made of carbon fiber. It has a better and uniform resin distribution. This is deemed as a premium badminton racket in Asia.

Li-Ning 3D Caliber 600C badminton racket uses a 70% three-dimensional wind blade frame to reduce wind resistance. The swing power is concentrated quickly, and the speed is faster.

The S2 grip design makes it very comfortable when you grip the racket in your hand.

Making use of carbon derived from hot melt graphite, which has better and uniform resin distribution. This improves the strength of the racket and makes the hitting feel to be more consistent. Besides, this racket is easy to use. Overall the weight is light, and the shaft is stiff but flexible.

You can do good smashes if you control the timing right. You can get decent tight control for the control as well.
The larger sweet spot you have with the racket makes it easy to hit the shuttle. You can do a crisp clear easily.

The greatest feature of the racket is the precise dropping point and fast speed. The power that transfers to the shot is obvious because the head is heavy, and the shaft is stiff when you smash.

The stability of the racket is excellent, and it is easy to control the lob and net shot. The swing speed is fast, and the push is easier to accelerate.

The recommended string tension for Li-Ning 3D Caliber 600C is 24-30 pounds.

Pros:

It can give the player very good repulsion.
You can swing very fast when doing a flat drive.
You can play a very good defense since you can quickly return the racket to the ready position.

Cons:

It doesn’t have a fascinating design as the painting of the racket can be quite dull.
Since it is a lightweight racket, it limits the power for making killing shots.

16. Victor Thruster Falcon (Victor TKF)

Specification:

Flex: Stiff
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 300mm
Shaft: High Resilient Modulus Graphite + PYROFIL + 6.4 SHAFT
Length: 675mm
Weight: 4U (83 grams)

It has quite abnormal shape for the head. It looks a little bit more elongated and is squarer at the top. It is a combination of 3 different frame systems. There are using the sword, aerodynamics, and power box.

The top of the racket is a bit thicker, wider, and heavier. Such a design can give you extra oomph when you want to perform drive, clear, and smash.

The bottom of the frame uses a thicker material for anti-torsion. Anti-torsion means when you are trying to move the racket physically, it is very hard for you to do so.

The painting work is quite nice. There is a beautiful blue with nice decals. It got beautiful graphics on the shaft as well.

This is a head-heavy racket. So it is very maneuverable, and it is very fast at speed. It is very powerful when you are trying to make some attacks with this racket.

The shaft is very thin and is pretty stiff. You can feel right in the comb that it is very flexible, jumpy, and jittery. Cutting through the air very quickly with the new technology they are using to it.

There are using the new technology and powerful material to give the racket extra enhanced structural integrity. With this, it can hold up to 31 pounds of tension.

The maximum string tension for Victor Thruster Falcon is 31 pounds.

Pros:

This is a very fast and powerful racket.
It is easy to string.
It is good in defense.

Cons:

It is not user-friendly as you can find it is a little bit harder to use when you first play with it.

17. YONEX Nanoray Glanz

Specification:

Flex: Flexible
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 290mm
Shaft: H.M. Graphite, NANOMETRIC, X-FULLERENE
Length: 673mm
Weight: 83g

The racket is constructed with Rexil Fiber material which increases repulsion and reduces vibration. There is a slightly larger head for the racket head, and it is built with Vertical-A-Concept.

There is a special geometrical shape of the head with an aerodynamic design in the Frame Top. With such design, it can give you a larger sweet spot and more forgives outliers.

This racket is meant for beginner and intermediate players as it can give sufficient speed and power for players playing badminton on the court.

The racket is strong enough to exert less power for you to hit the shuttle for a farther distance. The rapid repulsion performance of the Rexil Fiber can help to produce great power for you.

Another special feature of this Nanoray Glanz is the slim shaft. It supports flexibility since it is a head-light racket, and you will get lesser air resistance.

The racket has two different areas: the slim frame bottom for optimal torsion and the thick frame top for more power.

The racket feels super light in hand, but it can still offer the player great power, especially when clearing the backcourt.

You can do a high clear effortlessly. However, you will need to exert the right power so that the shuttle will easily go out of bounds when hitting from the backcourt.

You can play a very good flat drive and net shot since it is a 4U racket that is good at such playing techniques.

The recommended string tension for YONEX Nanoray Glanz is 17-22 pounds.

Pros:

The enlarged sweet spot is clearly noticeable and forgives many errors.
Doing clear from the backhand is very easy. You can even just yield small forces to do the clear, and it can return to a far distance to the opponent’s court.
It can give you a precise dropping point.

Cons:

Due to head-light and lower string tension, you may not be able to get the power that you want when smashing.
The speed is slower in comparison with other similar range rackets.

18. YONEX Nanoflare 700

Specification:

Flex: Medium
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: 285mm
Shaft: H.M. Graphite
Length: 675mm
Weight: 4U (Ave.83g) G5,6 5U (Ave.78g) G5, 6

The YONEX Nanoflare 700 got a very thin frame and shaft. It is head-light with a flat aerodynamic design to keep them going through the air very quickly. It is quite stiff as compare to other YONEX rackets.

Such a design can make your shot easier to penetrate especially when you are doing a jumping smash.

The new graphite helps to push out the shuttle a lot. The first impression I have for swinging this racket is that it can quickly go through the air.

The shock absorbance features built with it make it good in shock absorption and sustains tension efficiently.

It can give you a good feeling when you smash, drops, clears, flat drive, and lob. When I tried to do some shots with it, I could have quite a good slice, good power, and a nice hard feeling.

The YONEX Nanoflare 700 is all about getting extra power out of a head-light racket. Therefore, you can get both the speed and power that you want with this racket.

For players who aren’t all about maximum aggression and looking to outmaneuver their opponent in singles and doubles.

If you are doing a lot of drops and smashes from the baseline with lots of efficiencies, this racket is really suitable for you to do so.

The recommended string tension for YONEX Nanoflare 700 is 19-28 pounds.

Pros:

It is very good to use for overhead clear. You can hit the overhead head clear from back to the back without a problem.
It is super-efficient and very effortless for you to play with.
You can achieve a great swing speed with the racket since the racket is featured with dexterous and ultra-low wind resistance.

Cons:

It may not give you a great angle when you are doing a drop shot. The shot is just not as steep when compared to YONEX Astrox 88S.
The control in front of the net is not as expected.

19. Carlton Optimax XP

Specification:

Flex: Medium
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: Even Balance
Shaft: Hot Melt Graphite
Length: 675mm
Weight: 4U (84g)

This is Carlton’s highest-end model in their badminton racket lineup. It is an even balanced racket and is head heavy.

The racket Is built with MRP and chrome finish. The combination of platinum and black chrome color the racket to look sleek and very attractive. Not many other rackets have an amazing look like this one.

The extra-wide frame offers players with 20% larger sweet spot for better and stronger shots. This makes the racket to be very easy to use as it has better fault tolerance.

There is a substantial feel for this racket. With just a little additional weight, I can do a lot of punch. The force of my smashes is significantly improved with the use of this racket.

It is very easy for you to use this racket to control the shuttlecock. The racket is light, even balanced, and can help to generate a lot of power when doing the shots.

The recommended string tension for Carlton Optimax XP is 22-30 pounds.

Pros:

It is a very powerful racket if you can master it.
It can swing very fast and can give you very solid smashes.
It has a larger sweet spot which is more forgiving and fault-tolerant.

Cons:

It is not suitable for beginners and amateur players.
The asking price is quite high.

20. Victor Hypernano X 800LTD Power

Specification:

Flex: Medium
Head Shape: Isometric
Balance Point: Even Balance
Shaft: Ultra High Modulus Graphite + PYROFIL by Mitsubishi + 6.8 SHAFT
Length: 675mm
Weight: 3U(85-89.9gm), 4U(80-84.9gm)

This racket has a completely different feel from other Victor badminton rackets. Some said it gave them quite a little bit of a hollow feel. Generally, this racket is still considered a high-end racket that Victor released.

It has a very good print quality, and some nice detailing around the head is executed very well across the racket.
The higher-end PYROFIL carbon fiber material is used to increase the torsional resistance of the shaft by 9%, which makes the control even more accurate.

When you play with this racket, you will be surprised by how quickly it can move to the air.

When doing clear, you will feel that the shaft is very stiff. If your racket has a string tension of 28 pounds, you need to yield certain strength to make the shuttle drop to the desired spot when doing clear.

What surprises me is when doing the flat drive. I thought that the head heavy racket would increase the difficulty of performing the flat drive. But to my surprise, it is not consumed too much of my energy when I was doing a flat drive during practicing.

The recommended string tension for Victor Hypernano X 800LTD Power is 25-28 pounds.

Pros:

It is a very quick and solid racket that you can have.
It allows weight and power transfer to the racket very easily.
It can get a response very quickly when playing defensive.

Cons:

Doing backhand shots can be relatively difficult.
You may have a weird feeling with the stringbed due to the sweet spot is quite small. You will need some time to get used to it.

Some Things You Should Know About Badminton Rackets

Here is some information about them which you might not know.

Material

Several materials are used in the production of rackets. The material determines how much it will cost. The cheap badminton rackets are made using metals, usually steel.

Wooden rackets have been commonly used since the start but have faded out of popularity due to their cost. Carbon fiber is another material that is frequently used in the manufacturing of rackets. Modern nanomaterials are also being used in production.

Weight

The weight of a badminton racket is usually between 70 to 100 grams, making them fairly lightweight. When a racket is weighted, the frame’s weight is considered and excludes the strings and grip.

Design

The design of badminton rackets is oval-shaped. This has been embedded in the rules of badminton. However, some innovations have been made to the traditional design to make the game easier.

Strings

Badminton racket strings are maybe the most important part of the racket because they contact the shuttlecock. There are variations in the size of racket strings, but players generally use thinner strings.

Tips for Selecting a Badminton Racket

Whether you are an amateur or professional badminton player, you will have to buy a badminton racket for yourself to play. There is no set definition for which one is the right racket.

Choosing a badminton racket is a tricky business, as you never know. The racket you buy might not be the right one for you, and your money will go down the drain.

Here are a few tips that will help when you are choosing a racket for playing badminton.

Shape

Badminton rackets are available in two main shapes.

Square

A square-shaped racket has more surface area between the neck and the head. The square-shaped is ideal for beginners who have just started playing badminton. You can hone your skills using a square-shaped racket initially.

Oval

The oval-shaped rackets have a smaller surface area that allows more power. Power comes into play when you have learned the basic skills needed to play badminton, and you should buy an oval-shaped racket once you have started playing well.

Grip

Choosing the right racket grip size for you is very important. Unless you choose it right for yourself, there is a danger of dropping the racket while playing. You can hold the badminton rackets when you are looking for one for yourself.

The badminton racket grip determines how thick or thin the handle is. It is the preference of the player whether he wants a thicker handle or a thinner one, as racket grip is available for both these options. A grip is made of two materials. One is the toweling grip, and the other is PU synthetic grip.

Also read: How do you grip a badminton racket

Weight

The weight of the racket will depend upon the strength of your wrist. You should choose a lightweight one because it is easier to handle. Once you have developed your game, you can go for a heavy racket.

There are other things like material and flexibility, but they are secondary to the three mentioned above. Once you have played the game for a while, you will get to know about it more and more, and then choosing a badminton racket will become easier for you.