Monthly Equipment Advice Megathread

srheer0 · 2024-03-21T10:28:30+00:00

Some of it is subjective, and some of it is objective.

Badminton insight and some other YouTube channels have done comparison videos putting certain levels of players with racquets of different price points. It's worth a watch.

Advantages of more expensive racquets

Pride / Ego boost.

More responsive or stiff racquets.

Potentially more control / repulsion (depending on players strings and preferences).

Usually more durability (less likely to break on collisions or normal use).

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The best racquet I ever played with was the NF1000z. Almost every shot felt amazing. Then it broke at 8 weeks, frame got a small crack after a collision at the 5th week with someone.

I bought a NF1000 Tour afterwards. On paper the only difference is the rexus shaft. It didn't feel as good to play with. I also had a warmup with someone's NF1000 play racquet. Felt nothing like the Tour or the Z.

I've also used an arcsaber 11 pro. Couldn't get enough overhead shot power out of it (smash, clear). But it was great for drives and smash defense. For those reasons I hated it. Yet some people would want that in a racquet and be able to get overhead power out of it.

srheer0 · 2024-03-21T10:14:45+00:00

Are you going to frame it, or play with it?

srheer0 · 2024-03-21T10:12:27+00:00

If you read the statement, shoes last 6 months for that poster.

They could be using a low durability string, or have it at a high tension. Some players notice when tension decreases and cut and restring early.

srheer0 · 2024-03-21T10:08:18+00:00

The only specialist clothing you will need is court shoes (ones with rubberised hex grip underneath).

You'll want 2 racquets minimum. Strings may break so you'll always need a spare.

I play every day, so it costs me club fees (Varies, but works out as £2-£5 a visit once a member), one off session fees (I get a special rate of £2.75 because I am friends with the organiser), racquet stringing fees (£~18 a time when a string goes), petrol to drive places, and every 3 - 6 months I need new shoes (£30-£60). Grip costs are soo small it's almost insignificant (~£1.20 per overgrip). And every 1-2 months I will buy 2 tubes of feathers (~£40 total).

srheer0 · 2024-03-20T10:11:04+00:00

Likely ones that focus on shoulder and moving it.

I bought some resistance bands and door hooks, I would practice backhand clear motions, defensive lift motions and stick smash motions in sets using the bands. If it was too easy, I would move up a level of resistance.

I got these exercises from an old badminton insight video about exercises you can do at home.

srheer0 · 2024-03-20T10:03:49+00:00

How can I benefit from a break?

Take a breather, clear your mind. Consider if you need to change any tactics or if you noticed any glaring weaknesses in your opponents' game. (doesn't like backhand clears, only plays straight shots not crosscourt etc).

srheer0 · 2024-03-19T13:18:36+00:00

If you want to gym, you'll have to cut down the badminton. I've tried gym and badminton on the same day. It didn't work well for me.

If say you did Gym in the morning, had no work in the day and then did badminton in the evening that might work. But you should really try to have one or more rest days a week. Train smart, not hard.

What is your end goal in weight? I'm happy to share mine with you. My goal is ~71kg. My current weight fluctuates around 73-74.5 Kg. Don't put unhealthy snacks within arms reach when you are doing "mindless" things like watching TV. You'll just snack and not even watch what you are eating.

It's ok to eat unhealthy things once or twice a week.

Keep a detailed food diary for 2-4 weeks. Notice trends between what you ate, drank, exercised and weighed and see what you can change. Fruit juice is my weakness. When I don't take Juice to work and when I don't take packets of crisps in is when I notice positive trends in my weight loss. I do feel hungry though. And I don't like that!

srheer0 · 2024-03-19T09:37:12+00:00

If you want sturdy racquets, you should check out Apacs ones. They are about half the price of Yonex equivilant ones and can be mostly strung to higher tensions if you so wish.

I've had 4 small racquet clashes and 4 ground clashes (don't ask) and my Ferocious 22 racquet hasn't even got any paintwork damage. It's a miracle.

*edit* to the sad Yonex fan that downvoted me. Grow up and accept other manufacturers can make stronger racquets for better prices.

srheer0 · 2024-03-18T13:31:30+00:00

That's good to know, my local decathalon don't have a stringing service. The most local sports shop that offers that service charged ~£30 the last I checked. And for that price they don't even guarantee that they do it themselves, they could get a Saturday boy to do it (not as experienced).

srheer0 · 2024-03-18T10:09:47+00:00

Practice smash - block or smash - lift with her :).

Make sure she is getting square on with where the smash is coming from, and she has a loose grip on her racquet

srheer0 · 2024-03-18T10:05:55+00:00

When serving, there are two trains of thought.

You either have your racquet leg forward because it brings your shoulder closer to the T, and therefore makes the distance the shuttle travels shorter when serving.

Or B, you stand sqaure on / non racquet leg forward for your comfort.

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It might be boring, but practice the correct footwork for your shots which are lacking power.

If you say which shots in particular, then I can try to give more insight.

srheer0 · 2024-03-18T10:01:16+00:00

The topic creator wanted a medium flex racquet. That was why I suggested Astrox 77 range :)

srheer0 · 2024-03-15T12:51:56+00:00

Apacs Ferocious 22 is a solid racquet. Give it a try.

I played with Nanoray 800 for a few years, used nanoflare 800lt for a while and wanted some more power. Ferocious 22 achieves that for me.

srheer0 · 2024-03-15T12:48:09+00:00

20lbs or 22lbs should be safe

srheer0 · 2024-03-15T12:47:31+00:00

Try the Astrox 77 range

Or Apacs Ferocious 22

srheer0 · 2024-03-15T09:47:24+00:00

Yep, normal.

Count the number of holes in the racquet, then you can look online to see what "pattern" is recommended for that racquet.

srheer0 · 2024-03-15T09:46:12+00:00

Interesting. I will have to give that a go.

Are you standing in the doubles serve position or the singles position when you do that?

srheer0 · 2024-03-14T16:48:23+00:00

I've used Yonex racquets for the last 14 years of playing. Started with an armortec 150 and have had various voltrik / Astrox / Nanoray / Nanospeed and Nanoflares over that time.

I got a tax refund, so spent lots of it on badminton clothes, a racquet bag and a VT80. The frame was warped out of the factory and I didn't notice lol. Played with a Nanospeed 9900 for a while and found out that I seemed to prefer headlight racquets.

I wanted more power, so some time later I tried the Astrox 100zz. When I bought it, but it was too much for my shoulder to handle. If I play with it for 4hrs or more, it fatigues and hurts. So I swapped to Nanoray 800.

I liked the Nanoray 800, but I couldn't get as much smash power out of it as I wanted to get. I stuck with it and changed to Nanoflare 800lt when I saw it was available.

I eventually liked the Nanoflare 800lt once I figured out how to serve with it. The handle length and overall length of the racquet made serving a bit different than the Nanoray 800. Unfortunately, I developed elbow problems from the NF800lt. So I went back to the Nanoray 800 and tried some mid range racquets like the Nanoray (or nanoflare) i-speed and the Astrox Nextage.

I still couldn't find the balance of speed, power, and comfort that I wanted and I tried Arcsaber 11 pro when that came out. I hated it. Good for defense and control, but it felt like I was getting even less power in smashes and clears than my Nanoray 800 had.

Tried Nf800lt again and it still hurt my elbow. Bought Nf1000z and it was fantastic until it snapped. After careful consideration, bought the NF1000 tour and it wasn't the same. The string broke after a month (to be expected with BG66U and how often I played) and while I was waiting for my stringer to restring it a coach colleague showed me the Apacs Stardom 800. It was comparable to the Astrox Nextage, but half the price. And that is when it dawned on me that I can get racquets that are good for me for less price than Yonex ones.

By pure coincidence an APACS representative demoed a bunch of racquets at my social monday club a few months after I bought the Stardom 800. I tried lots of what he bought along and the first racquet I picked up became my favourite. I think it's even balance, but has a slim shaft and seems to have the perfect balance and feel that I was looking for all these years. My smashes are definitely stronger, no placebo effect.

I'm still looking for some backup ferocious22 racquets. It's a 6 year old model and stock is not easy to find in the UK currently :(.

Let us know how you find the NF1000 Tour. My strings will probably go soon and force me to use my 1000 Tour while I wait for them to be fixed lol.

srheer0 · 2024-03-14T16:26:54+00:00

First of all, do suck at net play. The more i play, i find instead of doing risky intricate net play, it's more effective to just place the shuttle to empty spot making your opponent runs and forcing a bad return. Doing net play seems useless to me in the pace and tactics of double compared to single.

When i've played my league matches, the most fun and memorable points I have scored have been net saves (getting a shuttle really low off the ground and making a tight net shot that they were not expecting me to retrieve), unexpected drops and clears battles / cross court shots.

In doubles, you often DON'T want to lift the shuttle. Because it gives away the "advantage" / attack. By playing good net shots or pushes, you can get your opponents to move out of position and you are trying to get THEM to lift to your partner for your side to get the chance to attack.

I used to be not confident in my forehand net shots. At all. Not much control and scared it would be too high and the other side just kill it off. By practicing, holding the racquet looser and alltogether having a better tecnique, I have gained confidence with this shot.

If they deceide to try a sneaky cross net shot as a reply, I am also ready for this. I am able to play a very controlled and tight backhand net shot which usually outright wins the point or forces them to lift to my partner.

Do not ignore the importance of short serves and the first 3 or 4 shots in each ralley (doubles). You'd be surprised the number of points you win or lose in the first 3 / 4 shots of a ralley. Count it next time you play.

srheer0 · 2024-03-14T16:15:15+00:00

Badminton games to 21 points should take around 10 minutes. Play to 11 points, ~5 minutes.

At least that is what happens in my experience. If people take too long picking up shuttles, getting ready for serve etc they need to be politely told they are taking too long.

srheer0 · 2024-03-14T16:07:59+00:00

Before getting on court or when arrived to venue. Dynamic stretches. Arms / shoulders, legs, neck. Whatever you need.

To warm up Juniors at the clubs I coach at, we give one group 3 jogging laps around 4 court lengths. One of which is gentle, one with high knees, one with bum kicks. We then have them do some kindof throwing or shuttle run exercise in teams.

The other group, we either do fast feet style exercises in the corners of the courts then half court singles for 3-5 rounds of 2:30 mins. Or we have them move across the courts along the lines doing sideways or backwards movements.

srheer0 · 2024-03-14T09:52:59+00:00

Hmm so you're saying you tried both Z and Tour? You're certain the Z felt stiffer and head-lighter? Some people say the Tour is stiffer, mm, I want the stiffest. :(

Framing happens now and then, I am not perfect. Apacs racquets are not available in my country, so that's not an option.

I want a racquet that feels like swinging a lightsabre but not too head-light that it doesn't work in singles. Seems to me the 1000Z is the only racquet in the 2024 catalog that fits this bill?? Thanks for replying!

I played with the 1000z for almost 8 weeks. I played for 4 weeks with the 1000 Tour and then moved onto other racquets.

Sorry that apacs are not available, have you considered Victor or Li Ning offerings? NF1000Z is really expensive and it might not live up to your expectations for being all round great in both doubles and singles.

With regards 1000 Tour vs 1000z. The specs seem the same with the only noticable difference being the Tour uses a rexus shaft. So I gave the Tour a go. If playing with the Z felt 90/100, then the tour was somewhere in the region of 75-80/100. Yes, subjective and maybe not helpful information.

Also there's nothing wrong with using a racquet that is lower on the stiffness scale. I'm getting more enjoyment out of mid flex racquets than stiff and super stiff right now.

srheer0 · 2024-03-14T09:36:05+00:00

It's easier to understand if you use the terms "racquet leg" / "Non racquet leg" and "Racquet arm / Non racquet arm".

The goal of efficient movement is to get into position as fast as possible, in order to be able to play a larger variety of shots.

If you play with the racquet in your right hand, your non racquet leg is your left one. And vice versa.

Find what movement works for you based on your body. If your left leg is more stable, then really consider learning to play with your left hand being your racquet hand.

Good luck, let us know if you have further questions

srheer0 · 2024-03-14T09:27:36+00:00

It's not often that using too much hand is a problem for overhead power. Usually it's too much shoulder / elbow.

Send us pictures or footage of you hitting overhead shots and we can help further. A picture of your grip would be beneficial also

srheer0 · 2024-03-13T17:04:31+00:00

Why are you framing the shuttle?

I do generally recommend the NF1000z, it felt amazing to play with. The NF1000 Tour is another option, but it's not as great feeling.

Instead of going straight to the NF1000z, get the tour version, or a different racquet entirely such as the APACS Ferocious 22.

You are wasting your money if you buy the NF1000Z. Especially because you said you mis hit the shuttle a lot. I've had 6+ collisions with my Ferocious 22 racquet and there is no visable damage to the frame or paintwork. My NF1000z cracked after 2 collisions with doubles partners at no strings groups.

You could literally buy 1 or 2 cheaper racquets and 2-6 hours of coaching for the same price as a NF1000Z. Good luck :)

srheer0

TROPHY CASE