Four simple tests will determine whether or not a racquet might be right for you.[/caption]Here at Racquet Network, our customers test drive more than 1000 racquets every year. This is not surprising. We have a large selection of badminton racquets to choose from. We also allow customers an entire month to test drive them. So players have ample opportunity to find a racquet that is perfectly suited to their game style.
What customers do during their month long trial period is entirely up to them. Most players simply take out two racquets and go play with them for a week. Then they return them and take out two more. Eventually, they find something they really like and go with that one.
Unfortunately, this is not the best way to test drive a demo racquet. Simply playing a few games with a racquet does not usually give a player enough information to make an informed decision. This is because all too often the player’s perception of the racquet hinges on the outcome of the game. When a player wins with a racquet, he likes it. When he loses, he dislikes it.
Playing is important, but it is not the only thing players should be considering. More important are the following four simple tests, which will help players eliminate racquets with shafts that are not flexible enough for their individual strength.
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Tests 1 & 2 – Baseline to Baseline Forehand/Backhand Tests
To begin the first test, two players take up positions in the center of the court along the baselines on opposite sides. They hit the shuttle back and forth, baseline to baseline. If the player who is test driving a racquet is able to stand on one baseline and hit the shuttle out the back of the opposite court three out of four times consistently, that racquet passes the Baseline to Baseline Forehand Test.
The Baseline to Baseline Backhand Test is the same thing, but on the backhand side. If the player who is test driving the racquet is able to stand on one baseline and hit the shuttle out the back of the opposite court three out of four times consistently, that racquet passes this test as well. If the player cannot do this, the racquet is not flexible enough for the player’s needs.
Tests 3 & 4 – Corner to Corner Forehand/Backhand Tests
The next two tests are more difficult, but they are extremely important. Players start the test by taking up positions near the corners of opposing baselines diagonally from each other. They try to hit the shuttle diagonally from corner to corer first on the forehand side, then on the backhand side. If they can hit the shuttles out of the court three out of four times consistently, the racquet passes. If not, it fails.
Speaking frankly, virtually all of the racquets that players test drive will fail the Corner to Corner Backhand Test because most players are not adept enough at this stroke to get the shuttle that deep on the diagonal backhand. So this test becomes a matter of good/better/best. In other words, the best racquet for each player is the racquet that allows them to hit the shuttle the deepest on the Corner to Corner Forehand/Backhand Test.
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For a full list of racquets in this category, please check out our ONLINE RACQUET SELECTOR. You can sort by sport, gender, brand, size, weight, balance and more. |
Tracking the Results
Since the trial period lasts a month or more and since most players will test drive eight or more racquets during this period, it is important to keep notes. The simplest way to do this is with your smartphone’s camera app. Just figure out the average depth the shuttle is reaching on the final test (Corner to Corner Backhand Test). Place the head of the demo racquet on that spot with the handle pointing at the corner you were hitting from and take a picture. If you have two racquets out that are reaching different spots, but them both on the court in their appropriate spots and include them in the same photo.
Why These Tests Matter
While playing matches with a racquet gives players a lot of subjective data about that racquet, these fours simple distance tests provide some important objective data. Because let’s face it, an inability to hit the shuttle from baseline-to-baseline and corner-to-corner will result in failure during matches. In order to win consistently, a player must be able to hit the shuttle deep enough to prevent opponents from going on the attack.
All too often, players want a particular racquet because Lin Dan or Lee Chong Wei use it or because it has certain offensive features that they believe will help them hit harder or faster. But the single most important question that every player should ask about any racquet they are considering is this: can I hit the shuttle deep enough to reset when I (or my team) gets into trouble defensively? If the answer to this question is yes, then that particular racquet should go on the Maybe Right for Me List. If the answer is no, then the racquet should go on the Not Right for Me Right Now List.
Building the Maybe List
As players test drive badminton racquets, they will be putting each racquet onto one of two lists. The first list is the Not Right for Me Right Now List. This is the list of racquets that have failed the four distance tests above. The second list, the list of racquets that have passed the test, is the Maybe Right for Me List. For shorthand purposes, we call these the Maybe List and the No List.
Once a player has a selection of racquets on their Maybe List, they can start comparing them by playing with them. At this point, it makes sense to start judging racquets by more subjective criteria. And if two racquets are judged to be equal in every other way, then it’s fine to make a determination based on a favorite player’s endorsement. In fact, at this point, players can even make a final determination based on colour if that is important to them.
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For a full list of racquets in this category, please check out our ONLINE RACQUET SELECTOR. You can sort by sport, gender, brand, size, weight, balance and more. |
What to do When they All Fail
So what should a player do when all racquets fail the four distance tests we have been discussing? This is not an uncommon situation. Teens, women and even some adult male recreational players often encounter this situation. This is because they are unable to hit the shuttle to full depth when hitting corner to corner on the backhand side.
In this situation the best option is the racquet that produces the best results. Remember the pictures we recommended taking with your smart phone during the distance tests? This is where these become important. The best racquet in this case is the racquet that produces the best result.
Once the best option is determined, our racquet technicians can help the player tweak the racquet to give it additional power. This will help get the shuttle a little deeper and make the best option even better.
