Strings and Reels

Badminton strings by the set and by the reel.

String changes how a racket plays more than most players expect - often more than moving to a different frame in the same family. Thinner gauge (0.61-0.66mm) gives sharper repulsion and a crisper feel but breaks sooner; thicker gauge (0.68-0.70mm) lasts longer and suits players who mishit or play several times a week.

Tension is the other half. Lower tension (19-22 lb) gives a larger sweet spot and more power for less effort; higher tension (26-28 lb) gives control and a flatter response, but only repays a swing fast enough to load it. Every frame has a manufacturer maximum printed on the shaft - going past it risks the frame, not just the string.

Buying a full reel is materially cheaper per restring if you play often or string for a club.