When to restring your badminton racket
Strings lose tension long before they break. The signs it's time, and a rule of thumb for how often.
Most players restring only when a string breaks. By then it may have been playing well below its tension for weeks.
Strings lose tension from day one
Every string stretches and relaxes after stringing: a little within the first day, then more slowly with play and time. A racket strung at 25 lbs plays noticeably softer after a few months, even if no string breaks.
Signs it's time
- The sound has gone from a sharp crack to a dull thud.
- Shots fly further, or less predictably, than they used to.
- The strings slide out of line and you keep straightening them.
- You can see fraying or flat spots in the middle of the strings.
How often
A rule of thumb borrowed from tennis: restring at least as many times a year as you play each week. If you play twice a week, restring at least twice a year. Many keen club players restring every two to three months.
When a string breaks
Don't keep playing with a broken string: the rest of the strings take the load unevenly, which can bend the frame. Cut the remaining strings out, starting from the centre, to release the tension evenly.
Keep a note
Write down the string, tension and date each time, and change one thing at a time so you know what made the difference. Your bag keeps the string and tension for each racket, and string tension covers how tight to go.