Buying a badminton racket for a child

A racket that is too long or too heavy makes the game harder for a child, and an adult racket cut down is not the answer. Tell us about them and we'll suggest a size and rackets sold in the UK.

• Size by height, not birthday. Children of the same age can differ a lot in height, so the racket should be matched to how tall the child is; age bands are only a starting point. source
• The floor test. Have the child stand with the arm hanging straight down holding the racket at their side. The head should stay a few centimetres off the floor; if it touches, the racket is too long. source
• Don't buy one to grow into. A racket that is too long or heavy makes a child muscle the shuttle and pick up bad habits. Buy the size that fits now and move up when the current one starts to feel short. source
• Full length at about 13 (Badminton England). Badminton England's Racket Pack moves children onto a full-length racket from age 13, with 25-inch rackets up to 12. source
• Light adult frame from 10-12 (retailer view). Central Sports suggests a lightweight adult racket from roughly 10-12 depending on height and strength, earlier than Badminton England's programme does; a tall, strong 10-year-old may be ready first. source
• Older juniors: 5U adult rackets. On the U scale a higher number means lighter (4U = 80-84 g, 5U = 75-79 g). For juniors moving to adult frames, Central Sports recommends 5U and says juniors usually suit one weight band lighter than an equivalent male player. source
• Aluminium heads survive knocks. Small children hit the floor and walls a lot; an aluminium head copes with those knocks better than an all-carbon frame, which is why most first rackets use aluminium or steel. source
• Graphite once they're keen. A cheap aluminium racket is fine for the first few weeks, but a light graphite junior frame helps technique once a child plays regularly. source
• Short is not the same as light. Steel junior rackets can be heavy for their size: the all-steel 21-inch Sure Shot Athens weighs 99 g, more than a 4U adult graphite racket. Check the grams, not just the length. source
• Thin grip for small hands. Junior rackets have slimmer handles to suit small hands. If the grip is too thick, the child cannot hold the racket correctly. source
• Even or head-light, with a flexible shaft. For a developing player the most forgiving set-up is an even or head-light balance with a flexible shaft, rather than a stiff, head-heavy attacking frame. source
• Holding it short is part of learning. BWF's Shuttle Time schools manual has beginners hold the racket right up near the T-joint and slide the hand down gradually, so a child choking up on the handle is normal and not by itself a sign the racket is too long. source
• Factory strung at low tension. Junior rackets come pre-strung at low tension; Direct Badminton's string advice for the Yonex Muscle Power 2 Junior is 14-18 lb. If it needs restringing, ask for a low tension, not the 24 lb+ that adult club players use. source
• Badminton England's Racket Pack. Badminton England runs The Racket Pack for children aged 5-11 in schools, clubs and leisure centres, with Sure Shot rackets sized by age. source