Most non-professional players like me have a fascination with lightweight rackets. But is it the right weight of a badminton racket to give you good results? Are you missing something to end your game on a happy note?
Let’s have a look at this article to get detailed information on the racket weight selection guide.
Importance of the Weight of Racket in Badminton
The weight of a badminton racket is one of the key influential selection factors. It gives you the first impression, i.e. the feel of the racket. The right kind of weight depends upon your level of play and the type of game, you want to participate i.e. singles or doubles. To make it easier, the weight category of a racket has been segmented into several groups which are represented by a weight chart. This weight chart depends on the manufacturer’s own perception, it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer.
Badminton Racket Weight Chart
For Yonex and most other brands, a unique number “U” represents the weight category. The higher the “U” number, the lower the weight of the racket. Li-Ning, the China-based famous brand specifies the weight category by “W”.
Yonex Badminton Racket Weight Chart
| Group | Weight Range(Grams) |
| F | 70 – 74.9 |
| 5U | 75 – 79.9 |
| 4U | 80 – 84.9 |
| 3U | 85 – 89.9 |
| 2U | 90 – 94.9 |
| U | 95 – 99.9 |
Li-Ning Racket Weight Chart
| Group | Weight Range(Grams) |
| W1 | 72 – 80 |
| W2 | 81 – 84 |
| W3 | 85 – 89 |
What is Your Ideal Racket Weight?
Two factors influence the consideration of an ideal badminton racket weight.
- Your playing level (Beginner, intermediate, or advanced)
- Type of game (Singles or doubles)
A lightweight racket of the 4U or 5U category is easy to maneuver, so you can get more speed from these rackets. As lighter rackets are easier to control, you can recover quickly from one shot to another. Beginners should choose lighter rackets to keep them away from wrist and shoulder injuries. Yonex Nanoray Light 18i and ZR 100 Light are two good examples of beginner-friendly racquets.
Heavier rackets of the 3U or 2U category give you more power due to more momentum to the shuttlecock (Momentum = Mass x Velocity) but you need to be an expert to handle these rackets for quick recovery.
If you consider another aspect of the game, the heavy rackets are good for singles to impart more punch in your smash shots, whereas light rackets are ideal for doubles to capitalize on the quick exchange of rallies.
Conclusion
The weight of a racket is one of the influential factors along with other factors like the balance point, flexibility, or string tension which I have mentioned in my article, “How to Choose a Badminton Racket”. The collective weightage of all these factors determines the suitability of a racket for any type of player.
Related Topic: “Everything About Badminton Racket Length and Size“
