Badminton
Racket Finder
731 rackets · 16 brands · 157 in stock in the UK

Find the badminton racket that suits your game

Answer a few questions about how you play and we'll rank 731 badminton rackets (or racquets, if you prefer) from 16 brands for you, with today's UK prices and string, tension and grip advice. Nobody pays for a place.

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Below is an example: Club player, men's / ladies' doubles, plays at the back, smashing.

Example player type

Smash Specialist

A fast, trained swing that needs a stiff, head-heavy frame to turn speed into steep, accurate smashes.

Your ideal racket

125 rackets checked

Balance ≈305mm Head heavy
Flex Medium stiff 65 on our 0-100 scale
Weight 4U80-84 g Before strings and grip
Show rackets in
1 2 3 HEAD HEAVY HEAD LIGHT FLEXIBLE STIFF

Hover or tap any dot to see that racket.

Your idealYour top 3Every other racket
  • You play at the back, so a head-heavy frame adds weight behind your smash.
  • You win points with your smash, so we favour head-heavy, attacking frames.
  • You already reach the baseline, so a firmer shaft trades a little free power for more accuracy.
  • 4U (80-84 g), the weight almost every club and county player uses.
Preferred brands Showing every brand. Tap the ones you like to hide the rest. The number is how many suit you.

Your top 3

Closest match first. Orange marks your ideal.

#1

Li-Ning Axforce 90 Dragon Max

2022 · From £150.95 at Badminton HQ RRP £190100% match
Full details
Balance 309mm Head heavy · you want 305 mm
Flex Medium-Stiff You want medium stiff
Weight 82g · 4U You want 4U (80-84 g)
Best featureStiffer Axforce 90Player styleAttacking Model seriesLi-Ning Axforce
HEAD HEAVY HEAD LIGHT FLEXIBLE STIFF

Hover or tap any dot to see that racket.

This racketYour idealEvery other racket
309 mm
BalanceHead heavy
69%
FlexMedium stiff
82 g
Weight4U 82 g

The stiffer of the two Axforce 90 Max rackets (Dragon, with Tiger as the softer sibling). Head-heavy with a 6.2 mm shaft, aimed at advanced attackers who want a firm, fast-recovering shaft.

  • Firm shaft with quick snap-back for continuous smashing
  • Strong head weight for singles and rear-court doubles
  • Well-damped feel from the HDF system
  • Needs good timing; less forgiving than the Tiger Max
  • Tiring for lighter or slower swingers

Where to buy

Badminton HQ £150.95 £250 In stock

Price tracked daily since 23 Oct 2026.

Retailer prices checked 24 Oct 2026. RRP £190.

Weights3U 85-89g · 307mm
4U 80-84g · 309mm
BalanceHead Heavy
ShaftMedium-Stiff · 6.2mm
Max tension30 lbs
GripsG5
Released2022
RRP£190

Balance from a quoted balance point; flex placed from the brand label. Brands rate stiffness differently, so treat flex as approximate.

Spec sources: 1 · 2 · 3

#2

Victor Thruster F C Ultra X (TK-F C Ultra X)

2025 · From £199.99 at Badminton HQ96% match
Full details
Balance ≈303mm Head heavy · you want 305 mm
Flex Medium Stiff You want medium stiff
Weight 83g · 4U You want 4U (80-84 g)
Best featureTuned by weight classPlayer styleAttacking Model seriesVictor Thruster
HEAD HEAVY HEAD LIGHT FLEXIBLE STIFF

Hover or tap any dot to see that racket.

This racketYour idealEvery other racket
303 mm
BalanceHead heavy
67%
FlexMedium stiff
83 g
Weight4U 83 g

The 2025 flagship F-series racket: Aerogel frame, metallic-carbon shaft and a shaft diameter that changes with weight class (6.0 mm in 3U, 5.8 in 4U, 5.6 in 5U). Head heavy and stiff, built for rear-court attackers.

  • Shaft thickness and flex are tuned per weight class
  • Aerogel and 46T carbon give a firm, precise hit
  • Available down to 5U for lighter attackers
  • Top-end price
  • Stiff and head heavy, so punishing for slow swings

Where to buy

Badminton HQ £199.99 £240 In stock

Price tracked daily since 23 Oct 2026.

Retailer prices checked 24 Oct 2026. RRP £200.

Weights3U 88g
4U 83g
5U 78g
BalanceHead Heavy
ShaftMedium Stiff · 5.8mm
Max tension31 lbs
GripsG5
Released2025
RRP£200

Balance estimated from the brand label; flex placed from the brand label. Brands rate stiffness differently, so treat flex as approximate.

Spec sources: 1 · 2 · 3

#3

Victor Thruster F Ultra C (TK-F Ultra C)

2024 · From £189.99 at Racketworld96% match
Full details
Balance ≈303mm Head heavy · you want 305 mm
Flex Medium Stiff You want medium stiff
Weight 83g · 4U You want 4U (80-84 g)
Best featureSlim-shaft powerPlayer styleAttacking Model seriesVictor Thruster
HEAD HEAVY HEAD LIGHT FLEXIBLE STIFF

Hover or tap any dot to see that racket.

This racketYour idealEvery other racket
303 mm
BalanceHead heavy
67%
FlexMedium stiff
83 g
Weight4U 83 g

Launched mid-2024 with an unusually thin 5.8 mm metallic-carbon shaft to cut air resistance while keeping the head-heavy Thruster punch. It sits at the control end of Victor's power chart rather than the bounce end.

  • 5.8 mm shaft cuts through the air and speeds up the swing
  • Metallic carbon shaft keeps a firm, direct response
  • Premium price
  • Demands solid technique to get full benefit

Where to buy

Racketworld £189.99 £240 In stock

Price tracked daily since 23 Oct 2026.

Retailer prices checked 24 Oct 2026. RRP £175.

Weights3U 88g
4U 83g
BalanceHead Heavy
ShaftMedium Stiff · 5.8mm
Max tension31 lbs
GripsG5
Released2024
RRP£175

Balance estimated from the brand label; flex placed from the brand label. Brands rate stiffness differently, so treat flex as approximate.

Spec sources: 1 · 2 · 3

Strings and grip

Tension

25-27 lbs

Never string above the racket's maximum.

Strings

  • Yonex BG66 Ultimax · 0.65mm
    Thin, lively and crisp: top-of-scale repulsion, control and hitting sound, but life is only average. The classic choice for intermediate and advanced club players who want a quick, precise string bed.£6.99 set at Sweatband
  • Yonex BG66 Force · 0.65mm
    A close cousin of the Ultimax with a coated, textured surface: same top repulsion and control ratings, slightly more cushioning, and a similarly short life. Suits attacking club players who like a slightly softer-feeling thin string.£7.00 set at Sweatband
  • Yonex BG80 · 0.68mm
    A stiff, loud, hard-feeling string with good repulsion and a Vectran core that holds tension. Favours big hitters who like a firm, direct bed; life is ordinary and it can feel harsh on the arm.£6.48 set at Badminton HQ

Grip

G5 plus one overgrip

A dry-feel PU overgrip handles a bit of sweat without going slippery. Yonex, Victor and Li-Ning G sizes are close to each other; old Li-Ning S sizes run the other way.

Before you buy

  • Higher tension adds control, not power, and shrinks the sweet spot. Never go above the frame's maximum.
  • Between two grip sizes? Choose the smaller and build it up with an overgrip.
  • Strings lose tension even when they do not break. Restring at least every few months if you play weekly.

Everything else that suits you

44 more at 60% or better

Find your shoesAnkle support, grip, lightness and cushioning, rated and comparedWhat's in your bag?Keep your rackets, strings, grips and shoes in one place and share themGuidesBalance, weight, flex, strings, tension, grip and shoes, in plain English
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