String tension is considered an important factor that not only affects the badminton racket, but can also affect your ability to play. Therefore, using a racket with the right string tension will support and help you play better.
In this article, we provide all the information related to badminton string tension to help you make the most correct decision for your badminton racket.
Effect of badminton string tension on badminton performance
If you are planning to string your racquet in a way that suits your experience and goals, you need to first understand how string tension affects your badminton performance. In addition, you should also understand the risks you can face if you string badminton rackets the wrong way.
#1. Trampoline effect
The trampoline effect refers to the force generated by the string of the racquet when it hits the shuttlecock. This ability will allow the rope to be as elastic as an elastic band or a trampoline.
When the tension is low, the ropes are able to move more when the shuttlecock arrives. The more the string moves, the stronger the recoil and helps create more force on the ball.
Conversely, if you string the racquet tighter, the range of motion of the string will decrease, so the trampoline effect will also decrease and thereby create less force on the ball. The smaller the trampoline effect, the more power you’ll have to manually power your shuttlecocks.
However, if it is too loose, the string will lose its inherent elasticity and trampoline effect, thereby no longer providing enough power for shots. Not only that, slack rope can also affect your ability to control shuttlecock.
This shows that the relationship between string tension and power is not simply that less tension will give more power. The tension of the string will increase the force acting on the ball up to a certain limit.
At this time, the more slack the string is, the power will not only not increase, but may also decrease. Your task is to determine that limit and avoid letting the rope so loose.
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#2. Looking for the optimal touching area (sweet spot)
Any sports item that requires hitting another object has a sweet spot. This area is where your items most effectively make contact with the object they need to collide with.
With badminton racquets, the optimal shuttle touching area is the position on the racquet surface where the force acting on the shuttlecock is greatest. This is also the area where the string is most elastic or the area where the trampoline effect is greatest.
As the string tension increases, the optimal shuttlecock touching area will be narrowed. If you are new to badminton, your hitting technique may not be good. Therefore, you need to play racquets with a wide optimal touching area to increase the effectiveness of your shots.
At this point, low tension racquets are the perfect choice for you. As you gain more experience, you can use racquets with a higher string tension because the width of the optimal ball touching area won’t have much of an impact on the outcome of your match.
However, similar to the trampoline effect, the string also has a point where the optimal shuttle touching area is too small, causing the force supplied to the shuttle to not increase or even decrease drastically. At this point, most of the force supplying shuttlecock comes from your technique.
#3. The ability to control shuttlecock
As tension increases, the strings are straightened and thus the trampoline effect is gradually lost. However, this helps you feel the needs better and control them easier.
Advanced players are often able to create their own force on the shuttlecock as well as make the most of the optimal width of the shuttlecock touching area no matter how small they are. Therefore, instead of racquets with low string tension, they often choose racquets with high string tension to increase control of the shuttle.
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The right badminton string tension for each individual
Now that you know how badminton string tension can affect your play, what tension should you use? Here are the string tension suitable for each person’s ability and experience:
- Beginner: 16 lbs – 21 lbs
- Intermediate players: 18 lbs – 24 lbs
- Advanced players: 23 lbs – 27 lbs
- Professional players: 26 lbs – 32 lbs
If you’ve only recently started playing the sport, you should start with low-string, 16 lbs badminton rackets. As you get used to playing and have experience, you can gradually increase the number of lbs each time.
You should practice regularly to master more hitting techniques as well as to help increase your wrist strength. When string tension is low, the trampoline effect and the width of the optimal ball contact area are generally greater, which in turn provides more power to your shot and makes it easier to hit the shuttle.
Knitting the strings not too tight will also help prolong the durability as well as the life of the string. Conversely, high string tension makes it easier to control your demand curve.
The tension of badminton racquet strings can greatly affect your ability to play badminton, so you should not ignore them. Depending on your level and goals, you can choose badminton rackets with the right tension.
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The dangers that can be encountered with the wrong badminton string tension
Since the optimal string tension depends on the experience of certain players, using a racquet with the wrong string tension can lead to some disadvantages. High tension only benefits those skilled enough to take advantage of it.
Therefore, if you are a beginner, using a badminton racket with too high string tension can damage the racket as well as adversely affect your own playing ability. Knitting the strings too tightly before you can take full advantage of them will cause you a few problems:
#1. Damaged racket frame
This can happen for 2 reasons. The first cause is because the rope is too tight. Each badminton racket manufacturer has certain string tension regulations. If you exceed this specified string tension, the string can put a lot of pressure on the racquet and cause the frame to deform.
The second cause comes from your missed shots. Strings that are too tight will make your shots not good. If the shuttle contact is near the frame, your shots have the potential to break or crack the frame.
#2. Serious injuries
As mentioned earlier, the higher the string tension, the smaller the optimal ball contact area will be and their ability to deliver power will also be significantly reduced. If you are not experienced enough to use high tension racquets, you will have to add more power to your shots.
This can lead to elbow, shoulder or neck injuries. Sometimes these injuries can cause you to stop playing badminton for long periods of time.
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Frequently Asked Questions:
#1. Is higher badminton string tension better?
The higher the badminton string tension is, the more advantageous the player is. However, this stretch also has certain disadvantages. Ideally, players should stretch the racket according to their tactics as well as their wrist strength.
Whether the racquet is stretched too high or too low, you have to use more force every time you practice. Therefore, if you feel you need to develop stronger, stronger hitting tactics, and overwhelm the opponent on all courts with powerful, powerful smashes, you can choose high tension.
#2. How is badminton string tension determined?
You should determine your level, playing style, and wrist strength right from the time you choose a badminton racket. Only then can the appropriate tension be determined. Badminton racket tension is determined through each person’s hand or wrist force.
Therefore, please note whether your wrist strength is strong or not, thereby determining the weight when knitting a racquet. The stronger the wrist force, the more likely you are to master racquets with high string tension.
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Conclusion
To conclude, currently, you know the importance of badminton string tension? Please consider carefully to own the most suitable badminton racket for yourselves.