can any kind souls please tell me how does the stiffness of a racket affect your performance during matches ? Thanks !
Notice all pros use extra stiff rackets, they give maximum accuracy since the racket doesnt bend as much when you strike it. However, if your not a pro and use a extra stiff racket (e.g. Armortec 800 offensive) you'll cause great strain on your arm after long matches and your shots will not be as powerful. I own both Armortec 800, off and def. I find its much easier to use the defensive version cos of the medium flex. You get more of a kick when you strike the shuttle. With a extra stiff racket, its like hitting it with a baseball bat. Pros use extra stiff rackets because they have overcome their strengths and no longer require their racket to give them power, they now only look for control. Extra stiff = control but loss of power flex = more power, easier to use but slightly less control
not all pros Peter Gade uses a Mp88 which is pretty flexy compared to the rest of the higher end rackets
This is probably not true.. A pro have greater strength, and better technique thus genereting higher speed at the raquet head.. So most probably they get More power from stiffness (as they do with using higher tension stringning).. You can compare to golf where most men pro's prefer steel shaft on their irons ( adn flex-for drivers are often choosed based on swing-speed "Take a look at the distance you hit your driver. This is a good, but very general, indicator. If you carry you driver 250 yards or more, go with Stiff; 230-250 yards, Regular; 200-230 yards, Senior; less than 200 yards, Ladies. Only the biggest of the big hitters is going to need Extra Stiff. For most of us, Extra Stiff isn't even in the picture." ´) Cheers, Twobeer
basically a stiffer shafts does not allow the shaft to bend when you change from the backswing to the through swing. A flexi shaft is whipier and so is easier to hit for players with a slower swing. Therefor most pros will use a stiff shaft as they have spent years increasing the speed of their "swing". Its easier to imagine as a golf club, when you reach the top of your swing it will bend less the slower your are going, so people with a fast swing require a stiff shaft for more control so the club stays under coontrol and doesn't bend I hope this explains it a little better Scott
