Singles, doubles and mixed: does it change your racket?

What each discipline asks of a racket, from the back of the court to the net.

Where you play on court changes which shots you hit most, and that changes the racket that suits you.

Singles

You cover the whole court alone and clear to the back line again and again. A slightly head-heavy racket with a medium or firm shaft gives depth on clears without wearing you out, and is solid enough to defend with. Some strong singles players like a heavier 3U for extra stability.

Men's and ladies' doubles: at the back

The back player smashes and drops most. A head-heavy racket adds power and a steeper angle to smashes, and stays stable in fast exchanges. The trade-off is slower defence when the shuttle comes back quickly.

Men's and ladies' doubles: at the front

The front player intercepts, kills at the net and drives flat and fast. A head-light racket gets back into position quickest and lets you react to shots at the net. Here speed matters more than power.

If you rotate

Most club pairs rotate between front and back. An even or slightly head-heavy racket copes with both: see the best rackets for doubles.

Mixed doubles

In mixed, partners usually keep to the front and the back more strictly than in men's or ladies' doubles. Choose for the position you usually play: head-light at the front, head-heavy at the back. See the best rackets for mixed doubles.

You don't need two rackets

Unless you play two disciplines seriously, choose for the one you play most. The quiz asks what you play and where you stand on court. To see what top players in your event use, look at what the pros use.