The racket is an essential element of the sport. In the game of badminton, the racket becomes an extension of the player’s body, of the badminton player’s soul. It is his or her tool to success, and nothing else. The badminton racket is as essential as the ninth ball in a game of billiards, as crucial as the final two minutes of a championship game of basketball, and is what makes or breaks a player’s dreams.
A badminton racket is simple hitting equipment used to hit the shuttlecock within a game of badminton. It resembles the tennis racket but is lightweight and much more flexible in construction. Top quality badminton rackets (without strings) weigh about 70 to 100 grams. They are usually composed of graphite reinforced plastic (carbon fiber composite) which is further improved using a variety of other materials.
More On Badminton Rackets
Carbon fiber, the material used to make badminton rackets, has an excellent blend of strength to weight ratio. It is stiff and it gives superb transfer of kinetic energy from the racket to the shuttlecock during hitting action. However, before carbon fiber composite material was even used, most rackets were crafted out of light metals like aluminum. Wooden rackets were prevalent before the time of these light metals.
Currently there is a wide range of racket designs available, although racket shapes and sizes allowed in tournaments are limited by official badminton laws. Different rackets offer different playing characteristics. The classic oval head shape is still in production, although the isometric head shape is quickly gaining popularity these days.