SIMPLE 101 "basics" on badminton strings & racquets for Newbies & "Oldies"

[maxout]

I am sharing this here because I find this information to be GREAT and answer almost all the newbies and "blur" oldies (like me ) questions.

BTW, I don't use Ashaway strings or affiliated with them, I prefer Yonex strings but Ashaway provides great information and education for new players (see below).

TQ Ashaway !!

The website link:

http://www.ashawayusa.com/BadmintonTips.php


Key points/tables:

Stringing Choices	Power	Control	Durability
Thin gauge/Loose Tension	High	Low	Medium
Thin gauge/Tight Tension	Medium	Medium	Low
Thick gauge/Loose Tension	Medium	Medium	High
Thick gauge/Tight Tension	Low	High	Medium

Racket And String Choices - Based On Skill Level

SKILL LEVEL	EQUIPMENTREQUIREMENT	RACKET TYPE	STRING GAUGE	STRING CONSTRUCTION	STRING TENSION
Novice	Power and Durability	Flexible	20–21	multifilament	12–18 lb.
Intermediate	Power and Control	Stiffer	21–21 micro	multifilament	18–20 lb.
Advanced	Control	Very Stiff	21 micro	microfilament	20–25 lb.

Note: The mods may have to help tidy up this post as I don't know how to make the tables smaller and neater !!

[visor]

That's an excellent website I've come across in the past too.
This one in partcular mentions string tension relative to environment/temperature and shuttle type.

http://www.ashawayusa.com/BadmintonTip4.php

[gundamzaku]

ashaway strings are awesome as well, just saying.

[maxout]

ashaway strings are awesome as well, just saying.

I heard so too BUT finding them in the area I live in is like looking for a needle in a haystack .... Yonex strings flood the market here ...

[maxout]

BTW, looking at those tables and cross referencing against other threads, I just noticed that Lin Dan who prefers SOFT-FEELING BG65 (thick gauge) or nowadays the Li-Ning equivalent of BG-65 but strung at high tension - around 33 lbs (from some threads I have read), will theoretically give him HIGH CONTROL ... well, he doesn't have to worry about power since he is a brute force player anyway ... interesting to note ....

This is in contrast to other players who are aiming for thinner gauge strings (MEDIUM & HARD FEELING) that gives CONTROL or REPLUSION ... seems like LD has a different approach towards achieving control, or is there something that he knows that we don't ?


I also noticed from reading a number of threads in the forum that Lin Dan is quite a creature of habit .... in his playing career ... only used 2 (or "3") racquets ... (MP99, AT700 (1st gen) and now N90 (AT700 1st gen in "different colours" ) and BG65 at 32-33 lbs for years ....

Contrast this with LCW or TH, who changes racquets and strings almost each time when Yonex releases a new type .... hmmmmm .... "CONSISTENCY" factor ?????

[Borbor]

one tells the company what he wants to do

the other two has the company telling them what to do

quite the difference

[gundamzaku]

BTW, looking at those tables and cross referencing against other threads, I just noticed that Lin Dan who prefers SOFT-FEELING BG65 (thick gauge) or nowadays the Li-Ning equivalent of BG-65 but strung at high tension - around 33 lbs (from some threads I have read), will theoretically give him HIGH CONTROL ... well, he doesn't have to worry about power since he is a brute force player anyway ... interesting to note ....

This is in contrast to other players who are aiming for thinner gauge strings (MEDIUM & HARD FEELING) that gives CONTROL or REPLUSION ... seems like LD has a different approach towards achieving control, or is there something that he knows that we don't ?


I also noticed from reading a number of threads in the forum that Lin Dan is quite a creature of habit .... in his playing career ... only used 2 (or "3") racquets ... (MP99, AT700 (1st gen) and now N90 (AT700 1st gen in "different colours" ) and BG65 at 32-33 lbs for years ....

Contrast this with LCW or TH, who changes racquets and strings almost each time when Yonex releases a new type .... hmmmmm .... "CONSISTENCY" factor ?????

i guess LD feels the setup right now is working for him, so if it ain't broke, don't fix it?

thank you for sharing of the string setup of LD, it's a logical concept and maybe that's the way to gain control without sacrificing too much of power?

[dbswansea]

So what setup would people suggest for my Arc8DX? I have no issues with physical strength and generating power being an ex powerlifter. I'd like more control and durability. I'm currently using BG80 at 25lb

[Shinichi]

Seem like you have the right setup.

[dbswansea]

Seem like you have the right setup.

Good news