The recent success of Indians in the Olympics, World Championships, and many superseries tournaments encourages more participation in the game of badminton. To complement the demand, a huge variety of rackets from many brands are available in the market. And in the lower price segment under ₹1500, which is ideal for beginners to develop the right skills, it’s more confusing to pick the best one from too many choices. To ease your selection for the best badminton racket under 1500, I have tried hard to list the top quality rackets, available in the market that are crafted for superior performance through the use of innovative technologies. You may also check the pros and cons for a proper comparison among the rackets.
So, let’s dive into the details.
Best Badminton Racket Under 1500: Top Picks
YONEX Astrox 01 Ability/ Best Badminton Racket Under 1500
Specifications
| Weight | 80 gms – 84.9 gms (4U) |
| Frame Material | Graphite |
| Shaft Material | Graphite |
| Balance | Head Heavy |
| Flexibility | Hi-Flex |
| String Tension | 20 – 28 lbs |
| Grip | G4 (3.25”) |
| Playing Style | Offensive/ Defensive |
| Playing Level | Beginner/ Intermediate |
The Astrox 01 Ability badminton racket is a new model from Yonex that has a full graphite body and weighs around 83 grams (average). The head-heavy balance (305 mm) and slim shaft improved by Nanomesh Neo technology make this racket good for easy powerful smashes. The effect of Astrox’s unique Rotational Generator System with an effective distribution of weight in the grip, T-joint, and upper frame enhances the transmission of energy to the shuttlecock with good control at a steeper angle.
With a beginner-friendly approach for hearty smashes with more control, the Astrox 01 Ability is the best Yonex badminton racket under 1500. There are two more options in terms of head-heavy balance, Astrox 01 Clear (more head-heavy than Astrox 01 Ability), and Astrox 01 Feel (The most head-heavy racket of the Astrox 01 series).
Pros
- Steep speedy smashes
- Good control
- Good for drop shots
- Easy to handle
- Great for beginners
Cons
- Not for advanced players
Yonex Voltric Lite 25i
Specifications
| Weight | 78 gms (5U) |
| Frame Material | Graphite |
| Shaft Material | Graphite |
| Balance | Head Heavy |
| Flexibility | Hi-Flex |
| String Tension | 20 – 30 lbs |
| Grip | G4 (3.25”) |
| Playing Style | Offensive |
| Playing Level | Beginner |
The Voltric Lite 25i is a recently (2021) launched racket by Yonex, specifically aimed at beginners. It is a good quality starting racket that gives you the advantage of delivering smashes at high speed. While the head-heavy balance is good for more power, the high recovery time of the highly flexible graphite racket helps for the easy execution of powerful shots. Also, the isometric head is more forgiving for hitting the shuttlecock over a larger sweet spot.
Yonex Voltric Lite 25i, the 2nd best badminton racket under 1500 is an excellent option for beginners/ intermediates who have a higher percentage of attacking shots.
Pros
- Powerful smashes
- Lightweight
- Easy to handle
- One-piece racket
- Comfortable grip
Cons
- Not for advanced players
YONEX Astrox Lite 21i
Specifications
| Weight | 78 gms (5U) |
| Frame Material | Graphite |
| Shaft Material | Graphite |
| Balance | Head Heavy |
| Flexibility | Hi-Flex |
| String Tension | 20 – 30 lbs |
| Grip | G4 (3.25”) |
| Playing Style | Allrounder |
| Playing Level | Beginner/ Intermediate |
Yonex Astrox Lite 21i is quite similar to Voltric Lite, but the use of the Rotational Generator System in the Astrox Lite makes the angle of attack steeper. The application of innovative nanomesh Neo technology increases the shuttle speed in longer strokes due to the larger flexibility while in slower shots, its stiffness helps players to control shots close to the net.
This newly released (2021) graphite racket is for those players who like the easy handling of a lightweight racquet to destroy their opponents with powerful sharp smashes.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Great for powerful smashes
- Easy to maneuver
- Good in net drops
- It comes with a nice full-size racket cover
Cons
- Not for advanced players
Li-Ning Turbo X 70
Specifications
| Weight | 87 gms (W2) |
| Frame Material | Carbon Graphite |
| Shaft Material | Carbon Graphite |
| Balance | Head Heavy |
| Flexibility | High |
| String Tension | ≦ 30 lbs |
| Grip | S1 (3.125”) |
| Playing Style | Offensive |
| Playing Level | Beginners/ Intermediates |
The Li-Ning Turbo X 70 is made with Military Grade Carbon Graphite Fiber which has a high strength to provide rigidity and stability for more accuracy. The head-heavy balance is good for offense and high flexibility helps to get back to the initial position quickly so that you can be prepared for the next shot in quick succession. The racket is made with a dynamic frame that extends the sweet spot further to the upper string area. For this, players can utilize more string areas to defend their opponent’s shots. Also, the Aerotec Beam concept minimizes the air resistance for the quick swing of the racket for easy execution of powerful smashes. The Turbo X 70, the best badminton racket under 1500 from Li-Ning, is a very good option for beginners and Intermediate players within a reasonable price range.
Pros
- Good for smash
- Strong and durable
- Jointless racket
- Value for money
- Full-size racket cover included
Cons
- The demo string quality is not good
Yonex Nanoray 7000I/ Best Badminton Racket Under 1500 for Doubles
Specifications
| Weight | 90 gms – 95 gms (2U) |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Shaft Material | Graphite |
| Balance | Head Light |
| Flexibility | Medium |
| String Tension | 16 – 20 lbs |
| Grip | G4 (3.25”) |
| Playing Style | Defensive |
| Playing Level | Beginner/ Intermediate |
Yonex Nanoray 7000I has an average weight of 93 grams with a frame made of aluminum and a graphite shaft. The head shape is Isometric which helps beginners to hit the shuttle over a larger sweet spot. The head-light balance and medium flexibility not only are good for beginners but also are suitable for doubles play. The nanoscience technology increases the stiffness of the carbon-graphite shaft and the repulsion power to exert more momentum on the shuttlecock.
Pros
- Easy to maneuver
- Jointless racket
- Good for drive shots
- Good for defensive
- Beginner-friendly
- Good quality full racket cover
Cons
- Not for advanced players
Head Inferno 70
Specifications
| Weight | 90 gms (2U) |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Shaft Material | H.M. Graphite |
| Balance | Head Light |
| Flexibility | Medium |
| String Tension | 19 – 24 lbs |
| Grip | G4 (3.25”) |
| Playing Style | Defensive |
| Playing Level | Beginner/ Intermediate |
Head Inferno 70, a mid-weight badminton racket is made with a stable aluminum frame and strong graphite shaft. The combination of head-light and medium flexibility of the Inferno 70 is not only good for beginners for easy execution of shots in their early stages but also amateurs will certainly enjoy this racket in doubles play. The isometric head is also beneficial for beginners to hit the shuttlecock with a square-shaped string bed with good control and a lower margin of error.
Pros
- Good for beginners
- Good for doubles
- Value for money
- Jointless racket
- It comes with a full racket cover
Cons
- Not a full graphite racket
Li-Ning Super Series SS 900
Specifications
| Weight | 84 gms |
| Frame Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Shaft Material | Carbon Fiber |
| Balance | Head Heavy |
| Flexibility | Ultra Flexible |
| String Tension | ≤ 30 lbs |
| Grip | S1 (3.125”) |
| Playing Style | Offensive/ Defensive |
| Playing Level | Intermediate |
The Super Series 900 from the famous Li-Ning aims for super strength, super durability, and high precision. This racket is designed with Li-Ning’s trademark dynamic optimum frame technology and compressed groove technology for effectively using the head-heavy racket with an easy swing (less air drag coefficient). It is a very flexible racket incorporated with a high tensile slim shaft (7mm). The SS 900 is designed with MPCF REINFORCING TECHNOLOGY to make it durable. Though this head-heavy racket suits offensive gameplay, the ultra flexibility is also very supportive for defensive play.
Pros
- Good for smash
- Quick defensive play
- Durable
- Good for attack & defense
- Great for intermediates
Cons
- It is better to replace the demo string after a month’s play
Yonex ZR 100 Light (Set of 2)/ Best Badminton Racket Set Under 1500
Specifications
| Weight | 95 – 99.9 grams (U) |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Shaft Material | Steel |
| Balance | Head Heavy |
| Flexibility | Stiff |
| String Tension | 19 – 26 lbs |
| Grip | G3 (3.5”) |
| Playing Style | Defensive |
| Playing Level | Beginner |
The ZR 100 Light is the first Yonex racket that is made in India. This budget-friendly racquet mainly aims at beginners and amateurs with the isometric head and low string tension to bring more consistency during play. The shaft is made with steel to prevent twisting from mishandling. The use of an aluminum frame which is an improvement from the previous ZR 100 model, makes the racket relatively lighter.
The set of two rackets is available at a very price-worthy rate of ₹1049.00 on Amazon India.
Pros
- Strong and durable
- Isometric head
- Very affordable
- Good for beginners
- Options for many colors
- It comes with a full racket cover
Cons
- Not for experienced players
- Not a jointless racket
Yonex GR 303 (Set of 2)
Specifications
| Weight | 95 – 99.9 grams (U) |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Shaft Material | Steel |
| Balance | Head Heavy |
| Flexibility | Stiff |
| String Tension | 17 – 18 lbs |
| Grip | G3 (3.5”) |
| Playing Style | Defensive |
| Playing Level | Beginner |
Yonex GR 303 is very similar to the ZR 100 light, except in GR 303, you will find an oval-shaped head and lower string tension. Though an isometric head is always advantageous for beginners with a more effective hitting area, an oval-shaped head gives you more power and control over a concentrated area of the string bed. To compensate for the oval-shaped head, the string tension is kept lower which increases the sweet spot area for a higher margin of errors.
The set of 2 GR 303 rackets is now available on Amazon India at a price of ₹1225.
Pros
- Good control
- Strong enough to resist deformation
- Budget-friendly
- Options for many colors
- Full-size racket cover for protection
Cons
- Not a jointless racket
Also read: “Yonex GR 303 Vs ZR 100: Which Racket is Better?“
Li-Ning XP-80-IV (Set of 2)
Specifications
| Weight | 90 – 95 grams (2U) |
| Frame Material | Aluminum |
| Shaft Material | Aluminum Composite |
| Balance | Head Heavy |
| Flexibility | Flexible |
| String Tension | 18-20 lbs |
| Grip | S2 (3.25”) |
| Playing Style | Defensive |
| Playing Level | Beginner |
Li-Ning XP-IV, a good quality starting racket, makes use of duralumin technology with an aluminum alloy frame and aluminum composite shaft. All the features, head heavy balance, flexible shaft, and low spring tension point that this lightweight racket is designed for beginners. Also, the design of the frame increases the effective hitting area which enables it to hit a shuttlecock with a higher margin of error. With a very lucrative price of ₹899 (set of 2) on Amazon, the XP-IV is one of the best badminton racquets under 1500 in India.
Pros
- Lightweight
- Easy to handle
- Great for beginners
- Very affordable
- Value for money
Cons
- Only suitable for beginners
Buying Guide of a Badminton Racket Under 1500 Rupees
The following factors influence the right selection according to your playing level.
Weight: The weight of a badminton racket starts from 60 grams and may be as heavy as 100 grams. The heavier rackets can provide more force but are difficult to handle. These rackets are not recommended to Beginners or Intermediate players as there is always a probability of shoulder or wrist injury.
Flexibility: The flexibility of a racket refers to shaft stiffness. A stiff racket recovers faster than a flexible racket. Players who need little time to generate sufficient power should use stiff rackets while the reverse is true for flexible rackets. For beginners and intermediate players, flexible or medium flexible rackets bring good results.
Balance: The balance of a racket refers to the center of gravity of the racket from the base of the handle. The balance of a badminton racket is three types, head heavy, head light, and even balanced.
- Head Heavy: > 295 mm
- Head Light: 285 – 295 mm
- Evan Balanced: ＜285 mm
Head-heavy rackets have more weight on the head. These rackets can generate more power. The head-light rackets have more weight towards the handle which gives the advantage of easy maneuverability. For beginners, it is always better to start with an even-balanced racket, while doubles players enjoy playing with head-light rackets.
String Tension: The ranges of string tensions that a racket can sustain also influence the selection of a badminton racket. While high string tension is good for control and feels, rackets with low string tension have easy access to more power with less control.
For more information, you may check my article “How to choose a badminton racket?”.
Related Topic:
- “Top 10 Best Badminton Racket Under 1000 In India“
- “Top 12 Best Badminton Racket Under 2000 In India“
- “The 7 Best Badminton Rackets Under 2500 in 2023 (Compared)“
Last update on 2024-04-26 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API
