Racket for female beginner

[sorin]

Hi All,
My girlfriend has just started playing badminton.
I have let her try some of my old rackets, but
she seems to struggle with them.
Yonex MP 77 - too head heavy
Pro Kennex Boron 808 - dislikes
Yonex Cab 8 - does not like but uses.

I think that a racket with a flexible shaft and a light head would
suit her best.
Any Ideas ?

Regards
Sorin
Happy New Year All.

[jim]

hi
my girlfriend is also a beginner, i let her use my SP SA and she seems to be doing well with it.

It's got a very flexible shaft and head lighted. It weights only 81 g. So i think it's a suitable racket for girls with relatively weaker arms.

Jim

[Josh]

If she's a beginner, I'd suggest getting her to use a Black Knight Aero Pro or Isometric 96 VF. She doesn't have to have a top of the line racquet to play good. The two racquets I have mentioned would be perfectly suitable for her level of play.

[trapped-never]

Isn't a heavier racket better for begginer? It seems to me that lighter racket requires better technique and bigger strength to hit well. At least that's how I feel it...

[Jason]

i agree~

[paul]

Hi:

good news to you. I know Winex has new Lady series this month, specailly made for lady who love badminton sport. All weight 4U (81-84 g) with top quality. Total 3 models--
1. MY FAIR LADY MM70 (muscle frame, with slim 7.0mm H.M. shaft)
2. PINK LADY AR-11 (Slim aerodynamic frame with slim 7.0mm H.M. shaft)
3. VENUS Ti-15 (Ti mesh frame with slim 7.0mm shaft)

Your girlfriend will love it.

[Winex West Can]

Probably a 4U racquet would be better. As for head heavy or head light, that's depends on what your GF would like to work on. Goals should be set within a period to improve on a technique or a component of her game. If she is just starting and needed to improve on her overall techniques (i.e. learn how to play the game), then probably one that is even balanced until she is proficient in her strokes and power and control will be next goals, etc.

As for the model of her racquet, you guys have to decide what budget you would like to spend (would you want to spend $200 for a racquet that she might outgrow or $50, etc). Check out the other brands and various models (each have different characteristics that may appeal to your GF's playing style).

[Phil]

Just pick up a racquet and play... most of badminton is technique and not equipement... i don't know about u guys, but i've been smoked by old guys playing w/ cheapo racquets... like canadian tire ones... not because i'm a really bad player, but just because they have more experience. If she doesn't know what sort of racquet (head heavy-ness, balance point, etc), then she probably shouldn't be buying an expensive racquet.

[kwun]

that is actually a very true argument in most cases, and one that most of us more experience players should always keep at the back of our heads.

however, one should not generalize too much. as the skills and development of a beginner is very fragile. using an inappropriate racket will hamper the learning of the beginner. eg. an weak beginner using a exceedingly heavy racket will only cause problem for him/her to swing the racket properly and ultimately frustration.

imho, of course...

[Mag]

Yikes! I know that Forza had a "lady" series too a couple of years ago... with pink paint jobs and what not. It didn't sell too well, and they have abandoned it since, which I guess is a sign that the European market is relatively healthy one...

I know that my girlfriend would consider it nothing less than an insult if I gave her a pink "Venus" or "Pink Lady" racquet!

[mtakako]

Sorin, I totally agree with you that I think a flexible shaft for sure is suitable for a beginner to start with... As for light head, I am not really sure about that.. I recommend find here one that is not too light since it will be really hard for her to generate power since light racket do required a good technique to generate power... I think I would recommend Airblade 1000... It is a fairly light racket, and pretty flexible, if my memory haven't fail me...Play with it for 2-3 weeks... And, also this racket she can also used later on, since it is a excellent rackets...

[badrad]

The word beginner should give you some idea of the type of racquet to suggest. A light but inexpensive racquet is best. (I think someone mentioned the 97 VF).

You have to make a determination as to whether she is going to stay with playing badminton and progress or is it just a 'fad' because she is hanging out with you. If she is just hanging out with you, either buy the cheapest racquet so that you will not be upset with throwing it away later. Or buy a very nice one that YOU will use, since you might wind up inheriting it when she quits.

Of course I am being facetious here, since if she does continue playing more, just like yourself, she will wind up buying more and different racquets to suit her style and moods of play. At this point in time there is no real way to determine what she may want to do, but in general ladies do prefer a lighter racquet.