Which racquet do I choose?
Here at the Badminton Geelong pro shop we are often asked: “What is a good racquet?”
Now this is a very open ended question, and there is no simple answer.
It depends on several factors, relevant to the person asking the question. A “good” racquet
for one person might not suit another.
Because badminton is growing in popularity, there are more people trying it out. As their play improves, so does their need for an appropriate racquet.
Often they will be using a borrowed – or perhaps even a hired – racquet, which is total pot luck in terms of suitability.
One of the issues for us as staff in answering this question is that often the person asking is relatively new to the sport of badminton. What they are actually asking for (whether they realise it or not) is more information about the sport’s key piece of equipment.
The difficulty in answering such an open ended question is that the questioner usually has not played enough to determine what type of player they are. Are they a power hitter? Do they prefer control shots? Do they need a racquet that helps overcome a shortfall in their game?
It is the answers to these questions that will help determine an appropriate racquet for their type of play.
Because players might be new to the game, budget also becomes a factor. They are not sure if they will become regular players and tend to hedge their bets when it comes to spending top dollar on a racquet that might end up gathering dust.
The Badminton Geelong pro shop offers a range of racquets by two different brands, Yonex and Protech. Yonex is recognised as one of the world’s leading badminton brands, so you can be sure of getting a quality product, but you also pay a premium for the brand. Protech is a relative newcomer to the sport, so offers more budget friendly equipment.
It’s useful to have a chat to other more experienced players – most people are only too happy to share the thinking behind their choice of racquet. You can see how they play and why the racquet might suit them.
Feel free to have a chat with the friendly staff at the Badminton Geelong pro shop as well. All staff have wide experience in the game and can explain the pros and cons of any of the racquets in stock.
After gathering that information, you will be able to confidently answer your own question.
