Just got a racket with 23 lb string tension. Too much?

Discussion in 'Badminton Rackets / Equipment' started by Kevin17, Jul 30, 2010.

  1. Kevin17

    Kevin17 New Member

    Joined:
    Jul 30, 2010
    Messages:
    6
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Earth
    Before, I was using a low end Yonex racket I got at Costco, so it was pre-stringed. The racket had a sticker that said 16-20 on it.

    I just bought a Apacs 900 with 23 lb string tension after hearing several positive reviews on this site.
    Is that too big of a jump?

    Also, what differences will I be noticing with this racket compared to my low end one?
     
  2. justsomekid

    justsomekid Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 26, 2010
    Messages:
    33
    Likes Received:
    0
    Occupation:
    school
    Location:
    canada
    omg 23lb! the string is so going to break! na im kidding, 23 lb is a good inbetween tension for a well controlled and balenced power type. itll take a bit for you to get used to the timing of the new racket, once thats done go on and take out the would champ :) ps. if you feel 23lb is no good for you, u can always -/+ an lb on stringing once it breaks or u can just cut it off
     
  3. thejym

    thejym Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 8, 2008
    Messages:
    389
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    San Diego
    23 lbs should be fine for you. No one should be playing with anything under 20 lbs anyway.. You'll notice that your shots sound a lot better, and you might find that your shots have more power (again just speculation since I've never seen you play).
     
  4. KYW917

    KYW917 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jul 27, 2010
    Messages:
    62
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    NY
    :confused: I keep reading that low tension = more power. I'm getting so many different answers from different people, I don't know what to think anymore
     
  5. Danstevens

    Danstevens Regular Member

    Joined:
    Oct 17, 2008
    Messages:
    1,197
    Likes Received:
    6
    Occupation:
    Student
    Location:
    Nottingham, UK
    If we're going to use very crude physics then yes, lower tensions have more power because there is more "trampoline effect" and the strings bend more. In the real world though, this is too simplistic to be 100% true. Higher tension stringbeds snap back faster so if you can bend a stiff strinngbed the same or a similar amount to a lower tension one you should get more power. To summarise, lower tensions are generally more powerful for beginners who can't generate enough racket speed to effectively use higher tensions. High tensions are more powerful in the hands of players who generate a lot of racket head speed because they can make the stiffer stringbeds flex and so reap the energy return rewards of the strings returning to position faster.
     
  6. pjcorreia

    pjcorreia Regular Member

    Joined:
    Aug 10, 2007
    Messages:
    16
    Likes Received:
    2
    Occupation:
    dj
    Location:
    portugal
    I think lower tension = more power. But pro players don't need the help of the racquet, but need absolute control, for half smash, drop shot that look a smash. This kind of shot are not «available» for most peolpe. Then use much more tension, for pin point acuracy of the shots. The error is to try to copy the pros, if you are a intermediate player. The best to do is not to supercharge the racquet with higher tension, if you can't use the best of that.
     
  7. ck1981

    ck1981 Regular Member

    Joined:
    Mar 26, 2006
    Messages:
    336
    Likes Received:
    0
    Location:
    Earth
    Lower tension = slow shuttle speed.
    Imagine you hit the shuttle with a pillow compared to a wood stick.
     
  8. Yoppy

    Yoppy Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2009
    Messages:
    2,678
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Sydney
    Spot on explaination!!
     
  9. Yoppy

    Yoppy Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2009
    Messages:
    2,678
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Sydney
    Not entirely true. A pro will still generate less power with a say 22lbs compare to 32lbs, the reason is the speed of racket swing by a pro is faster than the string movement (streching and snapping) of 22lbs. Whereas at 32lbs, the string will move a lot faster and more consistent with the racket speed.

    So Danstevens is right. In my case, my smash is best at 28lbs and it will reduce in speed if i adjust the tension either way. For example, at 30lbs i feel that i must put extra power to hit the bird right, whereas at 25lbs i feel like no matter how hard i hit the bird it will fly the same.
     
    #9 Yoppy, Aug 8, 2010
    Last edited: Aug 8, 2010
  10. Yoppy

    Yoppy Regular Member

    Joined:
    Jun 17, 2009
    Messages:
    2,678
    Likes Received:
    2
    Location:
    Sydney
    This is also true
     
  11. weeyeh

    weeyeh Regular Member

    Joined:
    Nov 20, 2005
    Messages:
    1,646
    Likes Received:
    4
    Location:
    Singapore
    This has come up so many times... Another shameless plug.

    Simple contradiction like ck1981 said... a butterfly net will not make me the perfect smasher.
     

Share This Page