How to select the best Badminton strings to suit your game

How to choose the best badminton strings to get the most out of your game?

There is an overt emphasis amongst players to get the best racquet but they neglect an important aspect of the racquets, the strings.
Mostly players use the badminton strings that come with the pre-strung racquet. Racquets are normally strung with factory strings that are quite durable and thicker than high performance strings. Normal thickness of factory strings varies from 0.78 to 0.90mm.

Mostly players do not bother changing racquet strings until the string breaks!When passing on the racquet for restringing players are often clueless regarding which string would suit them best. So they leave making the choice to the stringer.
The purpose of this article is to point out the different qualities of strings so you can make a better selection when the time comes to restring your racquet.

Types of strings:

Strings can be very broadly classified into thin strings and thick strings.

Thick strings are more durable and give more control but not as powerful. Thinner strings will give you more power but they don’t last long.

Parts of badminton strings:

The badminton string consists of 3 parts:

1.Inner/Centre Core 2.Outer core or Jacket 3.Outer Coat

1. The inner core is the central load-bearing member of the string. It provides strength and determines the majority of the string's response characteristics: how much it will stretch when strung in the racquet, how much more it stretches when hitting the shuttle, and how quickly it rebounds. Multifilament cores are made from thousands of very thin fibres twisted and/or braided together, but not chemically bonded. They're free to stretch somewhat independently from one another. As a result, multifilament cores are less stiff, or more resilient, than monofilament cores of the same material. This translates into sustained string performance and more gripping action for better shuttle control.
2. Outer core or jacket: Most monofilament jackets are twisted over the core, while multifilament jackets may be either twisted or braided. Twisting provides a smoother surface, making it easier to string the racquet. Braiding the multifilament jacket over the core produces a more textured surface than twisting does, for more bite.
3. Outer coating: Multifilament strings normally have a resin coating on the outside to provide some degree of durability. Other materials used in coating strings include Titanium hydride, Kevlar , Vectran and Zyex.

String tension and power-control:

A lot of players are under the impression that higher the tension better the power and harder your smashes. The opposite in fact is true. Lower tensions give your string a trampoline like effect and hence harder smashes can be achieved with a lower tension.

Higher tension gives more control.

Advanced players, who can generate a lot of power, prefer stringing at higher tensions of 24-26lbs to get more control from their smashes.
For club level players the ideal tension should be between 18 and 22 lbs depending on the nature of play.
Test it yourself before you settle on some strings that are good for you.
Try at least 5 different strings to find one that suits your game!

Smash hard and happy hunting!