What is the best budget racquet? I'm looking for something extremely cheap and full graphite. It's for a couple of family members who are starting to take an interest in badminton and would like a pair of racquets for themselves.
Yonex Isometric 65 Light or carb 8600 if you're looking for yonex. These have graphite frames and shaft
You can get full graphite Carltons at Canadian Tire for as cheap as $30. The best value Carlton IMHO would be the $50 Powerblade Superlight.
Fishmilk If you're just starting to play, I suggest clones. I get them for $12.85. They have a lot of models, from prince, wilson to yonex. Most of them are decent enough to be played competitively. However, you need to have somebody with you who knows about rackets to choose the rackets that have very few defects. As for the strings, there are also $1.00 strings which are decent enough to be played also competitively. Since you're just beginners, these strings are really suited for your needs. Actually, in the past 5 years, since my original mp 100 broke, I have been playing with these clones and cheap strings. I have been playing confidently since then. I have joined several tournaments and used them. I never worry about breaking my strings or rackets. They're very inexpensive. I have still one right now which I bought 4 years ago. It has a silght crack on the head. I just taped it firm with a grip tape and strung it 20 lbs and I still play with it. I bought it only for $13.25 then. I couldn't find any racket which is equivalent to it nowadays. It's a 3U clone, and even lighter (75 gms.). The clones sold lately are 2U (95 gms.). I prefer lighter rackets. For your needs, I suggest the latest clones since most of them are head heavy, and, they're only $12.85, plus $1.00 string.
Where do you get these clones? The big auction site? Or locally? As for strings, I string myself so it's not a big concern.
fishmilk Most of the clones come from China and Taiwan. From where you are, it may take some time to find clones. The only recourse is to let somebody who is going to your country coming from asia to buy you the rackets and hand carry them.
