Choosing a badminton string
Thin or thick, repulsion or durability, set or reel: how strings change the feel of a racket.
Strings cost little next to a racket, and changing them is the easiest way to change how a racket feels.
Thin or thick
Badminton strings range from under 0.6 mm to just over 0.7 mm thick.
- Thinner (around 0.61-0.66 mm): more bite on the shuttle, more repulsion and a sharper sound, but they break sooner.
- Thicker (around 0.68-0.70 mm): last longer and hold their tension better, with a slightly duller feel.
What brands sort strings by
- Repulsion: fast off the strings, easy power.
- Control: a firmer, more precise feel.
- Durability: thicker, tougher strings for players who break a lot.
- Hitting sound: the sharp, loud ping some players love.
Most club players do well with an all-round string that balances all four.
Coated versions
Some strings come in a coated version, such as Yonex BG65 Titanium. It usually feels a little crisper and sounds louder than the plain string.
If you break strings often
Choose a thicker, more durable string, or drop the tension a little. Breaking often near the edge of the frame can also mean off-centre hits, which a slightly lower tension forgives.
Set or reel
A 10 m set strings one racket. A 200 m reel strings around 18-20 rackets and costs far less per racket, if you, a friend or your club strings your own.
The quiz recommends strings for how you play, with today's UK prices. Your bag keeps the string and tension for each of your rackets.