When strings are *looser,* more of the power comes from the stretching-contraction (bounciness) of the strings, and less from the racket itself. In contrast, when the strings are *tighter,* more of the power comes through the shaft / bending of the racket, with greater transfer of energy through the strings. The better your technique, and the more efficient your strokes are, the more a higher tension will benefit you. By virtue of having less elasticity / bounciness, the *tighter* strings are also going to provide more accuracy (The quality of the shots will depend more closely on the quality of your swing, with a closer correlation. Good swing = good shot, bad swing = bad shot). When the strings are looser however, there is more potential for the shuttle's trajectory to differ from the intended trajectory. For these reasons, I believe it's better for people to lean more towards higher tensions on their strings. If you're a beginner, it will be easier to see the effects that your swing and technique have on the shuttle, and it will also be easier to get feedback and make corrections. It will also force you to hit the sweet spot and be more precise with your shots compared to having looser strings. Your performance may suffer a bit in the beginning, but it'll be much more beneficial in the long run. If you're a pro, and your technique is already great, you get all the benefits from higher tension in your strings anyway. Win-Win across the board.
type of string makes a fairly big difference as well - "hard" feeling string vs "soft" feeling string both at the same tension will feel quite different. i also find that it matters a lot more to me if i play feather - with nylon i don't care as much; i can still tell, but because nylon feels much more similar across string types, i'm less apt to care. currently i string two racquets for feather, and two for nylon: - nanospeed 6000; 24lb bg65ti (the "i feel lazy and just want to play whatever rec" choice) - arcsaber 7 OG; 26lb exbolt 68 (the "i kind of want to try for locals" choice) - two victor thruster k falcon claws, both at 28lb vbs68 (the "we're playing with feathers" choice) these racquets cover a pretty wide range in terms of flexibility (although aside from the nanospeed, they're mostly balanced feel racquets), but it's my collection and setup that i've found has worked for me over the years.
U have such a comprehensive perspective. As u said, the technique and timing to hit the sweet spot are the keys while the power of player is just a small part of generating power
Above 28 pounds, the repulsion in gauge makes exponentially less difference. High tension and thin strings are not very budget friendly. Personally I use 29ibs bg65ti with 5% pre stretch on racket with big frames like the auraspeed 100x, then 1 Ibs lower with small frame example hs plus . They consistently last 5 to 6 weeks for me. If the tension is too high, clearing from base line to base line becomes more difficult than usual, also the hand feels too much vibration. If your technique is very correct, anything under 32 pounds shouldn't give immediate shoulder pain from my experience (I haven't tried above 32, had been playing 2+sessions every week from grade school to now college, so I think my technique is decent enough to use as a benchmark).
its quite rare to hear people use BG65ti for games. you must really like the feeling. and it is probably the most affordable string because its so thick. haha.
i switched to a stiffer racquet (TKF Ultra) and higher tension string 25lbs from 23lbs. i noticed some aching in my shoulder between tricep and bicep. its getting less now as i am getting used to the stiffness and higher tension.
i feel that too. but i really wonder how much is placebo, or self fulfilling prophecy. Since my supplier told me that could happen, i may have been manifesting it. its so tough to tell.
im a 32 lbs user... my pov exactly the same once u try a >30 lbs u'll never go back at lower tension the crispynest, accuracy, and powerr was superb just try it guys especially u're using a thick string or exbolt (forget 63)❤
@@muhammadbudiadiputra7912 i wouldnt agree to it. Tension is not something to be competing with others. Higher tension not always better or lower tension not always bad. Each player had their own physical strength & level of technique thus each had different string tension setup which optimaly support their play. Ofcourse once every few times you might want to add 1 or 2 lbs tension to adjusting with your own growth in skill & strength, but never jump off like from 24 to 35.
from what I experience, it wasnt very true. When i used 28lbs, i needed less effort to hit the same distance as compared to the 25lbs. however, it was with the condition that i hit at the sweet spot. I used "lifting" as a comparison, and given the slow speed, it was easier to get the sweet spot more consistently. When i changed to smashing, although it felt "nice", my arms ached the next WEEK! I supposed my technique and strength can be better. haha. bottom line, find a tension that is suitable!
28 lbs is the sweet tension for a hobbyist I like to have higher tension on a thicker string 30 lbs for Exbolt 68 (0,68mm) 28 lbs for VBS-66 nano (0,66mm) 27 lbs for Exbolt 65 (0,65mm)
Personally it would be a balance of the racket balance and weight of the racket thats comes to play with string tension. For instance head heavy and 3u heavier racket usually require more strength and technique for the same speed and power in game. Let’s say you have the racket that you feel comfortable and confident to play with all the shot you wants. Next find your tension that you are more comfortable and has confident in your game. Just for suggestion you could increase or decrease 1 -2 pounds once every month until you found the right tension that suit your strength and technique. Personally i try tension from 23 pounds with balance head racket with soft >>shaft then to stiffer shaft>>head heavier racket and stiffer shaft. Until now bg 80 power at 31 pounds, voltric z force ii 3u and axforce100 3u For professional i think little fine tunes of string tension and feeling of string soft or hard , and racket weight and balance could means big difference in precision and intense matches. Enjoy Badminton everyone😄
You fell into my algorithms, so I will reply... Correct, go as high tension as you can manage, however, the risks are not only mis-hitting, it is also injury - tennis elbow, shoulder socket or blade pains, wrist pains. This is due to improper technique, when your technique is better/correct you have ability to go higher tension without injury. You can feel it within 1-2 sessions whether or not it is suitable. If not, cut and restring, or not use power while you're on that string. It will go down eventually, unfortunately you will also lose the "spring" in that string as it ages. Lastly, plastic shuttles, never go over 26lbs, ideally 24lbs is enough due to lack of weight. If you hit that hard you may aswell switch to feathers as feathers last just as long at that point.
@@MoreThanASwing Feeling wise would be fatigue on the day/day after, tender joints, specifically not muscles. People may hit progressively less hard throughout the night, or compromise on form to throw the shot forward, weaker cores and/or technique attribute to that. The output of that will look like more mis-hits, later recovery because over-reaching on the shots for the racket to perform.
@@JRP3 if you request for string tension of some tension, it's likely you have standards in the flight of a plastic, ie you don't like a plastic spinning, slowing down and/or recovering worse because of frayed ends. Meaning a plastic shuttle would last a game or game and a half (Mavis 300/2000s). A Yonex AS30 feather is about the same when you hit it properly. Anyway, the point of the tension restriction for plastics is partly the "feel" of the plastic, partly saving you from injury.
If you are asking me a general question, the speed of the smash is determined by many different factors. The technique, the strength, the string, the racket, the shuttle, and even the condition in the court. but if you are asking in the context of my video, I find that 28lbs gave the best output. with the condition that i hit the sweetspot.
your analysis is accurate as far as it goes, but racket head velocity is also a factor in choosing string tension. at higher velocities, looser strings stay in contact with the shuttle long enough to produce sloppy trajectories. club players rarely have fast enough swings to encounter this problem but advanced players generate racket head velocities high enough to require additional string tension. although your 'test' did not seem to include these higher racket head velocities, i am not sure your feeling of additional power in higher tension strings is anything more than an impression that comes from better control because of a more focussed shuttle response. there is not usually more power from higher tension until your racket head velocity reaches the limit of responsiveness in lower tensioned strings. that is why you'll find female professional players using overall lower tensions than their male counterparts. professional girls are hitting just as accurately as the men, but they are generating lower racket head velocities and so gain no advantage from the couple pounds of additional tension the men are using
to answer your question, i asked my coaches to throw 10 shuttles near the net while i lifted the shuttle to the back court. While trying to maintain the same strength and effort, I realise the racket with 28lbs landed significantly further. well, admittedly, it could be human error. but i tried to mitigate the error by performing multiple sets and my explanation in the video was my conclusion from multiple tests.
At first, im using 26lbs, it feels great but after a while i find it become loose and try 28 lbs, at here i find myself hitting too hard to obtain long range and make myself injured. But then i try 24-26lbs, i find it not as accurate as 28lbs. Sometime the shuttlecock flew away very high and long but the direction is off. Either too high, or to the right or left. For me the 26lbs still the best for me, or maybe i will try 26 - 28 lbs next 😁
you can also try one tension up or down. you can also consider how often you play and restring. if you dont play often, you can tie a higher tension because it may drop one or two pounds over time. not the best advice for good output. but an advice that favours practicality and affordability.
All strings will loose their tension after a while, some more than others. If you pre-stretch, it will affect durability. I assume your 24-26 is 24 main x 26 cross, which averages out 25 lbs. The 26x28 will average out to 27 lbs. I've tried 28, 26, 26x28, 25x27 and just 25 on differently rackets. Currently, I'm on (25 or 26 lbs, can't remember ) with my 58 g (9u) racket, play doubles game only, don't have a strong smash, and finds this setup is just right for my game (better control, faster reaction). I started with 3u, 4u rackets, then moved to 5u, 7u and now 9u. Most of my rackets are head-heavy. I don't play well with even-balanced rackets. My 2nd choice is head-light rackets. My go to is now the 9u, but depending on my opponents, I will switch to the 4u/5u for some games. I've improved my grip/wrist techniques and finds that the 9u (I have 4 of the same), head-heavy at 25 or 26 lbs to be the most suitable.
Hi hope you are well, I have been watching your videos for a while and really appreciate your knowledge and expertise on the badminton. I have been out of the game for a number of years and am getting back into the game and bought the nanoflare 1000z, I find the overall it's great for me in every way, but after smashing for a while I start to get pains in my arm, I tried the 88d pro the other day but found that it wasn't great at the net and smashing was ok. I am thinking of getting the astrox 100zz, I would really appreciate your opinion on this, I know you used to use it and have said you now use the 1000z. I used to very hard smashing guy, but seems not getting the power again from the 88d pro and the 1000z bit to head light maybe. Thank you Ajay
Hey, thank you for your kind words! NF1000Z and 88D Pro are very VERY different racket. the Astrox 100ZZ is quite in the middle of the 2. with a slight slight inclination towards NF1000Z. If you think NF1000Z is too light and 88D Pro is too heavy, the 100ZZ might be a good fit for you. is you have a slight preference for 88D Pro, I may suggest the 88S Pro. especially since you seem to prefer an offensive play style. (But i prefer the 1st gen 88s. haha) Cheers!
@MoreThanASwing Hi again, I tried the 100zz, I found it quicker around the net and drops shots felt nice, but could not get a good smash out of it. I had it strung with bg80 at 27lbs. Really confused now any advice? Thanks again
It also depends on your string.. thicker strings like bg 65ti that having softer feeling, you want to strung it at 28++ lb for better repulsion and feel.. even at 31 lb (i tried my coach racquet), the feel is same as bg 66 ux strung at 27lb imo
yes. if you go to every detail, of course the racket and the grip will matter too. but in every video, we focus on just one or two aspects. in this case, just the tension.
I find it surprising how people say "hi tensions will tire you out" or "vibrations" or "low tensions more power" etc when I find tensions 30 and above MORE repulsive and smoother to play. anything below 28 feels a little dull or even slow and I can very clearly tell with just my lifts and clears. maybe I just grew up around a lot of 30lb only rackets lol
What string are you using and racket balance? I'm sure those would make a difference. Interested to know as I use head light so I believe it will be more taxing on producing same power at high tension
@@nfreddyyy I've used heavy 3u rackets and right now an almost even balanced 5u. all 30lbs or more. it's extremely easy to produce power and "pop" especially with my 5u racket cuz the fact is, it's the rack "sudden speed", high tension and thin gauge that produces that power.
@@ryanreviews8566 wow. Which racket is that? I've only ever seen 5u head light. Never considered a 5u balanced. That would be a great combo. However 30 tension? :0 and such a low gauge, will break very often!
@@nfreddyyyI haven't broken it at all. most modern strings won't break so easily unless you're a high level pro with a bomb smash and playing against other bomb players. or you play everyday. It's not really even balanced. it's a head heavy 5u Dunlop racket with 2 layer grips on it which makes it more balanced so I get the best of both worlds of speed plus power.
of course every factor will affect the output. in this video, we kept all other variables the same so that we can look at how the tension affects the outcome.
I'm currently playing a Carbonex 20 with BG65 which are on this racket for almost 30 years. Don't know the tension they originally had and how much is left, but it doesn't matter as I often hit the shuttle with the rim anyway. (New racket is ordered, as I learned a lot during the last weeks.)
@@MoreThanASwing I got it from my dad in my youth when he stopped playing. That's why I'm not really sure when it got the last strings. I surely never did it, but I will now. I like this racket a lot.
i use 24lbs with exbolt 63 and i find its perfect for my skill level. any higher sweet spot is too small for me and i find i have to put more effort in hitting the shuttle. by the end of the night my forearm, wrist and fingers are so fatigue
nice. i secretly feel happy when people are aware of themselves and enjoy the game. Some people compare themselves with others and mindless increase their tension to "fit in".
Agreed. Some ppl try and copy pros and string it at 30 31 and struggle to play. I bought a used 88D pro gen 3 recently and the seller had BG68 strung at 26lbs. I was able to play but still felt like I had to put extra effort than usual each hit. Felt more tired than usual.
I recently switched from 25. 26. To 27-28 feels much easier to hit clear But i noticed its hardder to time drop shots . Also, I found that one day I was in perfect control and my level(intermediate) increased but other days I struggled with ruming and wasn’t hitting the sweet spot I wonder what the issue is
having a higher tension means the margin of error decreases. the game is also less forgiving because hitting just slightly off centre will have a greater impact. being human, we all have good days and bad days. so on bad days, we may not be in the best condition because of stress, diet, or fatigue. and because of that, it affects our judgement, timing and execution. on days like that, we may not hit the sweet spot as consistently.
I think the racket and tension both matters I was using an 88d pro with 27 lbs tension and hit the sweet spot consistently, after quite a while I got a 100zz and used the same string and tension 27lbs and found having shoulder pain often after playing with it. must be because the 100zz has extra stiff shaft and already small sweet spot to begin with. the only upside is the supreme power in the smash shots to date no one has successfully returned a smash from this racket with this tension.
The problem, tension & power is not linear. At certain range of power output the bending of stringbed & the repulsion is optimally transfered to the shuttlecock. Add more power output, the shuttlecok would sunk far deeper end up absorbing the power. Or reduce the power output, the shuttle dont have enough force to bend the string thus less repulsion. {Similar logic when changing string tension) So, as each player had different swing speed & strength, each of us had different optimal tension setup. As for the test, as the parameter changed is the string only, it only picture your condition, not accurately apply to other.
@@budisaputra6453 yes totally … @morethana swing u can test this by going low like 19-21 or lower and u will find that even if you swing harder n faster the shuttle will not go faster to travel as far but if you slow down it will go further n faster… however the max limit of the shuttle speed will increase if your tension increases eg: 24 provided you can input the higher swing speeds required but after a certain Swing speed Limit you will find the same behaviour with 19/21 … the higher the tension will provide more power provided your swing speed can keep up
@@MoreThanASwing adding 1 more parameter which is the player. Look for totally beginner player with totally bad swing, an ok player with correct swing but not physically strong, & last a well trained player that trained both technique & physical strength. Let each 3 player to play with those 3 different tension racket. That would do the test.
The other important parameter is the shaft stiffness. Hi-flex vs stiff shafts will change the behavior of various tensions at various swing speeds, and optimal string tension value for a player will change.
I know people who insist on playing with nylon shuttles unless you pay for feather shuttles. They buy a new high-end racket after the launch date. Then they complain nylon shuttles snap their strings too often & they have tennis elbow. They string between 28-30 lbs.
The main reason for amateur players getting elbow or shoulder pain is poor technique IMHO. The type of shuttle should not make a difference to strings breaking, it's more about hitting the bird off-center when you have a high tension.
Surprisingly, this is happening to strong players who have good technique. The issue is that they do not test the shuttle speed. So they hit it harder when the shuttle is too slow. When I am forced to play with nylon shuttles, I just play lifts & drops. At the club meetups, I go to 95% play with feather shuttles. 3 of 4 players on court want to play a doubles game with feather shuttlecocks. 1 person says she/he has more rights to play with nylon shuttles than everyone else after we took a vote. 🤦♀️🤦♂️ There are some players who will cheat, argue, & take shortcuts rather than work on improving their skills. 2 players recently had their racket broken at the net. Opponent obstruct their follow through. Players immediately stick up & wave their racket before the shuttle goes over the net. Then they mock you when they think they win the rally after obstructing you. Then it is a "you problem" that your racket is cracked, but if you break theirs on a clash when partnered with them, you must buy them a racket. 🤦♂️🤦♀️ My friend embarrasses himself. He leaps towards the net as if he is blocking a 3-point jump shot.
I switched from a low end, flexible racket at tension 23 to a Nanoflare 1000z at 28lbs. And my first week of playing it was a pain. Thankfully, it was just an adjustment process and now I'm hitting solid clears and smashes with better control over the net.
You should know better as a coach. You generalised too much and only tested from your own point of view, making this video very biased. For a start, your consistency will likely be much better than your students. Also, I've seen pros actually say that they use higher tension to produce a louder hitting sound which makes it sound like they are hitting harder than they really are. It's their high consistency and strength training that allows them to wield higher tensions, which they use for *control*. You report that you are able to send the shuttle further at higher tension, but you fail to consider that you are playing regularly at your own tension, so muscle memory is trained to play optimally for that. In contrast, you only played with lower tension during your "review" and never played consistently with the lower tension at least a few weeks. Therefore, you gave no chance to adjust your hitting technique/action for the lower tension, resulting in your skewed view of the lower tensions. You look at Akane Yamaguchi, she uses 24x26lbs and sends the shuttle without any problems. Also, you will notice pro players reduce their string tension as they get older, as higher tensions require more muscle strength and endurance to use.
@@MoreThanASwing Honestly, it would be better to repeat this exercise with your own students. You guys run an Badminton Academy and your channel should be about not just promoting your Academy but helping learners improve their game and knowledge about all things badminton. Therefore, if you are providing information that is relevant to yourself, who is the coach and likely at a much higher level than your students and other learners, I feel it makes the information much less relevant and relatable. As a plus, it would make it much more fun to involve your students in your videos if they are willing to participate. You could sort your students into groups of varying ability, from beginner to more intermediate levels. Then repeat the same exercise you did personally, but gauge how your students perform with different string tension levels and also listen to their feedback on their preferences.
I have both high and low tension of the same kind of racquet… when I am lazy and lacks focus or not in a good physical form I’ll use low tension and hit safer shots and generally take it easy… when I am on point there’s no replacing high tension for precision, power and control …. Btw I string my own racquets… 34lbs vs 27lbs
@@MoreThanASwing with the higher tension one yes I would need to be more focused to hit and adjust to the sweet spot… 29-32lbs with the lower one 25-27 … it’s a lot easier…. With the lower tension generally go for harder shots and safer placements….. rather then aiming for the line maybe just roughly in the general direction if things get too fast… with higher tension there’s a certain satisfaction to aim for the line exactly especially on flick serves 😝
You find the 28lbs more repulsive and less effort because you are a trained athlete and coach. You have the experience, technique and timing to utilize that tension to get the high repulsion. I bet the result would be different if you gave that 28lbs to a beginner or even intermediate player. So, in my opinion, I think repulsion is highest at lower tension for beginners, and this will change as the player improves technique and timing. But that begs the question, how low is too low and how high is too high?
yes indeed. that question (how high or how low) is really difficult to answer. and i was hoping someone could suggest observable signs when the tension is too high.
Playing at very low tension with a flexible racket shaft is one of the dumbest beginner traps in badminton. It makes sense for someone just starting out, but given a player has played a while and has enough power to clear baseline, they should never be playing at low tension and they should ideally get a racket with a stiff shaft. A lot of badminton players don't have the best interest of other players at heart when they tell others they are beginners and should therefore use worse gear. Gear choices should be made on a personal bases, not because of what anyone else tells you.
I started playing badminton a year ago I started with 25lbs and currently strung at 27X29 lbs. The birds go faster when you smash . Easy to control. Regarding the shoulder pain I don’t experience at all when I increase the tension.
When strings are *looser,* more of the power comes from the stretching-contraction (bounciness) of the strings, and less from the racket itself.
In contrast, when the strings are *tighter,* more of the power comes through the shaft / bending of the racket, with greater transfer of energy through the strings.
The better your technique, and the more efficient your strokes are, the more a higher tension will benefit you.
By virtue of having less elasticity / bounciness, the *tighter* strings are also going to provide more accuracy (The quality of the shots will depend more closely on the quality of your swing, with a closer correlation. Good swing = good shot, bad swing = bad shot). When the strings are looser however, there is more potential for the shuttle's trajectory to differ from the intended trajectory.
For these reasons, I believe it's better for people to lean more towards higher tensions on their strings. If you're a beginner, it will be easier to see the effects that your swing and technique have on the shuttle, and it will also be easier to get feedback and make corrections. It will also force you to hit the sweet spot and be more precise with your shots compared to having looser strings. Your performance may suffer a bit in the beginning, but it'll be much more beneficial in the long run.
If you're a pro, and your technique is already great, you get all the benefits from higher tension in your strings anyway.
Win-Win across the board.
you made an interesting point, that when there's a higher tension, we get to test the characteristics of the racket more. :)
type of string makes a fairly big difference as well - "hard" feeling string vs "soft" feeling string both at the same tension will feel quite different.
i also find that it matters a lot more to me if i play feather - with nylon i don't care as much; i can still tell, but because nylon feels much more similar across string types, i'm less apt to care. currently i string two racquets for feather, and two for nylon:
- nanospeed 6000; 24lb bg65ti (the "i feel lazy and just want to play whatever rec" choice)
- arcsaber 7 OG; 26lb exbolt 68 (the "i kind of want to try for locals" choice)
- two victor thruster k falcon claws, both at 28lb vbs68 (the "we're playing with feathers" choice)
these racquets cover a pretty wide range in terms of flexibility (although aside from the nanospeed, they're mostly balanced feel racquets), but it's my collection and setup that i've found has worked for me over the years.
yes. type of strings, racket, shuttle. they all matter.
U have such a comprehensive perspective. As u said, the technique and timing to hit the sweet spot are the keys while the power of player is just a small part of generating power
yep it is. i think i want to make a part two soon.
I have 25 lbs, for me that's the sweet spot between accuracy and durability.
nice. Whats your favourite stings?
Above 28 pounds, the repulsion in gauge makes exponentially less difference. High tension and thin strings are not very budget friendly. Personally I use 29ibs bg65ti with 5% pre stretch on racket with big frames like the auraspeed 100x, then 1 Ibs lower with small frame example hs plus . They consistently last 5 to 6 weeks for me.
If the tension is too high, clearing from base line to base line becomes more difficult than usual, also the hand feels too much vibration. If your technique is very correct, anything under 32 pounds shouldn't give immediate shoulder pain from my experience (I haven't tried above 32, had been playing 2+sessions every week from grade school to now college, so I think my technique is decent enough to use as a benchmark).
its quite rare to hear people use BG65ti for games. you must really like the feeling. and it is probably the most affordable string because its so thick. haha.
i switched to a stiffer racquet (TKF Ultra) and higher tension string 25lbs from 23lbs. i noticed some aching in my shoulder between tricep and bicep. its getting less now as i am getting used to the stiffness and higher tension.
i feel that too. but i really wonder how much is placebo, or self fulfilling prophecy. Since my supplier told me that could happen, i may have been manifesting it.
its so tough to tell.
im a 32 lbs user...
my pov exactly the same
once u try a >30 lbs u'll never go back at lower tension
the crispynest, accuracy, and powerr was superb
just try it guys
especially u're using a thick string or exbolt (forget 63)❤
ooooo... one day i will try....... 40 lbs!!! lol.
@@muhammadbudiadiputra7912 slingshot feel on proper swing n impact
@@muhammadbudiadiputra7912 i wouldnt agree to it. Tension is not something to be competing with others. Higher tension not always better or lower tension not always bad. Each player had their own physical strength & level of technique thus each had different string tension setup which optimaly support their play.
Ofcourse once every few times you might want to add 1 or 2 lbs tension to adjusting with your own growth in skill & strength, but never jump off like from 24 to 35.
Is it correct that higher tge tension the shuttle travel less with same power.
from what I experience, it wasnt very true.
When i used 28lbs, i needed less effort to hit the same distance as compared to the 25lbs. however, it was with the condition that i hit at the sweet spot.
I used "lifting" as a comparison, and given the slow speed, it was easier to get the sweet spot more consistently.
When i changed to smashing, although it felt "nice", my arms ached the next WEEK!
I supposed my technique and strength can be better. haha.
bottom line, find a tension that is suitable!
28 lbs is the sweet tension for a hobbyist
I like to have higher tension on a thicker string
30 lbs for Exbolt 68 (0,68mm)
28 lbs for VBS-66 nano (0,66mm)
27 lbs for Exbolt 65 (0,65mm)
There is no way I'd go that high. 26 lbs is high enough for me, otherwise it starts to feel like a frying pan.
wow. you even have a tension for every string model. such dedication. haaha
Personally it would be a balance of the racket balance and weight of the racket thats comes to play with string tension. For instance head heavy and 3u heavier racket usually require more strength and technique for the same speed and power in game.
Let’s say you have the racket that you feel comfortable and confident to play with all the shot you wants. Next find your tension that you are more comfortable and has confident in your game. Just for suggestion you could increase or decrease 1 -2 pounds once every month until you found the right tension that suit your strength and technique.
Personally i try tension from 23 pounds with balance head racket with soft >>shaft then to stiffer shaft>>head heavier racket and stiffer shaft.
Until now bg 80 power at 31 pounds, voltric z force ii 3u and axforce100 3u
For professional i think little fine tunes of string tension and feeling of string soft or hard , and racket weight and balance could means big difference in precision and intense matches.
Enjoy Badminton everyone😄
thank you for your contribution!
You fell into my algorithms, so I will reply...
Correct, go as high tension as you can manage, however, the risks are not only mis-hitting, it is also injury - tennis elbow, shoulder socket or blade pains, wrist pains.
This is due to improper technique, when your technique is better/correct you have ability to go higher tension without injury.
You can feel it within 1-2 sessions whether or not it is suitable. If not, cut and restring, or not use power while you're on that string. It will go down eventually, unfortunately you will also lose the "spring" in that string as it ages.
Lastly, plastic shuttles, never go over 26lbs, ideally 24lbs is enough due to lack of weight. If you hit that hard you may aswell switch to feathers as feathers last just as long at that point.
when you say "you can feel it within 1-2 sessions". can you describe what one will feel?
@@MoreThanASwing
Feeling wise would be fatigue on the day/day after, tender joints, specifically not muscles.
People may hit progressively less hard throughout the night, or compromise on form to throw the shot forward, weaker cores and/or technique attribute to that.
The output of that will look like more mis-hits, later recovery because over-reaching on the shots for the racket to perform.
I've never seen any feather last anywhere near as long as a plastic no matter the string tension.
@@JRP3 if you request for string tension of some tension, it's likely you have standards in the flight of a plastic, ie you don't like a plastic spinning, slowing down and/or recovering worse because of frayed ends. Meaning a plastic shuttle would last a game or game and a half (Mavis 300/2000s).
A Yonex AS30 feather is about the same when you hit it properly.
Anyway, the point of the tension restriction for plastics is partly the "feel" of the plastic, partly saving you from injury.
For smashes, was the difference in speed on the shuttle based on tension?
If you are asking me a general question, the speed of the smash is determined by many different factors. The technique, the strength, the string, the racket, the shuttle, and even the condition in the court.
but if you are asking in the context of my video, I find that 28lbs gave the best output. with the condition that i hit the sweetspot.
@@MoreThanASwing Yes sorry I meant based on the different tensions, which one you felt had most power 😁. Thanks for letting me know!
your analysis is accurate as far as it goes, but racket head velocity is also a factor in choosing string tension. at higher velocities, looser strings stay in contact with the shuttle long enough to produce sloppy trajectories. club players rarely have fast enough swings to encounter this problem but advanced players generate racket head velocities high enough to require additional string tension. although your 'test' did not seem to include these higher racket head velocities, i am not sure your feeling of additional power in higher tension strings is anything more than an impression that comes from better control because of a more focussed shuttle response. there is not usually more power from higher tension until your racket head velocity reaches the limit of responsiveness in lower tensioned strings. that is why you'll find female professional players using overall lower tensions than their male counterparts. professional girls are hitting just as accurately as the men, but they are generating lower racket head velocities and so gain no advantage from the couple pounds of additional tension the men are using
to answer your question, i asked my coaches to throw 10 shuttles near the net while i lifted the shuttle to the back court.
While trying to maintain the same strength and effort, I realise the racket with 28lbs landed significantly further.
well, admittedly, it could be human error. but i tried to mitigate the error by performing multiple sets and my explanation in the video was my conclusion from multiple tests.
At first, im using 26lbs, it feels great but after a while i find it become loose and try 28 lbs, at here i find myself hitting too hard to obtain long range and make myself injured. But then i try 24-26lbs, i find it not as accurate as 28lbs. Sometime the shuttlecock flew away very high and long but the direction is off. Either too high, or to the right or left.
For me the 26lbs still the best for me, or maybe i will try 26 - 28 lbs next 😁
you can also try one tension up or down.
you can also consider how often you play and restring. if you dont play often, you can tie a higher tension because it may drop one or two pounds over time. not the best advice for good output. but an advice that favours practicality and affordability.
Can try 26lbs with 10% pre stretch
All strings will loose their tension after a while, some more than others. If you pre-stretch, it will affect durability.
I assume your 24-26 is 24 main x 26 cross, which averages out 25 lbs. The 26x28 will average out to 27 lbs.
I've tried 28, 26, 26x28, 25x27 and just 25 on differently rackets.
Currently, I'm on (25 or 26 lbs, can't remember ) with my 58 g (9u) racket, play doubles game only, don't have a strong smash, and finds this setup is just right for my game (better control, faster reaction). I started with 3u, 4u rackets, then moved to 5u, 7u and now 9u.
Most of my rackets are head-heavy. I don't play well with even-balanced rackets. My 2nd choice is head-light rackets.
My go to is now the 9u, but depending on my opponents, I will switch to the 4u/5u for some games.
I've improved my grip/wrist techniques and finds that the 9u (I have 4 of the same), head-heavy at 25 or 26 lbs to be the most suitable.
Hi hope you are well, I have been watching your videos for a while and really appreciate your knowledge and expertise on the badminton. I have been out of the game for a number of years and am getting back into the game and bought the nanoflare 1000z, I find the overall it's great for me in every way, but after smashing for a while I start to get pains in my arm, I tried the 88d pro the other day but found that it wasn't great at the net and smashing was ok. I am thinking of getting the astrox 100zz, I would really appreciate your opinion on this, I know you used to use it and have said you now use the 1000z. I used to very hard smashing guy, but seems not getting the power again from the 88d pro and the 1000z bit to head light maybe. Thank you Ajay
Hey, thank you for your kind words!
NF1000Z and 88D Pro are very VERY different racket. the Astrox 100ZZ is quite in the middle of the 2. with a slight slight inclination towards NF1000Z.
If you think NF1000Z is too light and 88D Pro is too heavy, the 100ZZ might be a good fit for you.
is you have a slight preference for 88D Pro, I may suggest the 88S Pro. especially since you seem to prefer an offensive play style.
(But i prefer the 1st gen 88s. haha)
Cheers!
@MoreThanASwing thank you so much for your advise, much appreciated 🙏🏽
@MoreThanASwing Hi again, I tried the 100zz, I found it quicker around the net and drops shots felt nice, but could not get a good smash out of it. I had it strung with bg80 at 27lbs. Really confused now any advice? Thanks again
Bg 65 24lbs seems good for nylon shuttles. However, I haven't gone above that yet and I was thinking I might want to try
i find it fascinating that people play with nylon shuttles. It is very uncommon in my country. :)
@@MoreThanASwing very common here in india to use yonex nylon shuttle
It also depends on your string.. thicker strings like bg 65ti that having softer feeling, you want to strung it at 28++ lb for better repulsion and feel.. even at 31 lb (i tried my coach racquet), the feel is same as bg 66 ux strung at 27lb imo
yes. if you go to every detail, of course the racket and the grip will matter too.
but in every video, we focus on just one or two aspects. in this case, just the tension.
I find it surprising how people say "hi tensions will tire you out" or "vibrations" or "low tensions more power" etc when I find tensions 30 and above MORE repulsive and smoother to play. anything below 28 feels a little dull or even slow and I can very clearly tell with just my lifts and clears. maybe I just grew up around a lot of 30lb only rackets lol
What string are you using and racket balance? I'm sure those would make a difference. Interested to know as I use head light so I believe it will be more taxing on producing same power at high tension
@@nfreddyyy I've used heavy 3u rackets and right now an almost even balanced 5u. all 30lbs or more. it's extremely easy to produce power and "pop" especially with my 5u racket cuz the fact is, it's the rack "sudden speed", high tension and thin gauge that produces that power.
@@ryanreviews8566 wow. Which racket is that? I've only ever seen 5u head light. Never considered a 5u balanced. That would be a great combo. However 30 tension? :0 and such a low gauge, will break very often!
@@nfreddyyyI haven't broken it at all. most modern strings won't break so easily unless you're a high level pro with a bomb smash and playing against other bomb players. or you play everyday.
It's not really even balanced. it's a head heavy 5u Dunlop racket with 2 layer grips on it which makes it more balanced so I get the best of both worlds of speed plus power.
of course every factor will affect the output. in this video, we kept all other variables the same so that we can look at how the tension affects the outcome.
what is the white racket you use ah? looks so good the plain white one
nanoflare nextage.
yes it looks good. hehe.
I'm currently playing a Carbonex 20 with BG65 which are on this racket for almost 30 years. Don't know the tension they originally had and how much is left, but it doesn't matter as I often hit the shuttle with the rim anyway.
(New racket is ordered, as I learned a lot during the last weeks.)
Carbonex 20. That’s a legendary racket. I think half my viewers might not have seen one in person before. Hahaha.
So what racket did you buy?
@@MoreThanASwing I got it from my dad in my youth when he stopped playing. That's why I'm not really sure when it got the last strings. I surely never did it, but I will now. I like this racket a lot.
@@MoreThanASwing I bought a Nanoflare 800 Pro with Aerobite strings. I hope it will fit my playing style.
@@drstefankranknice..... more defensive and/or control play... i suppose?
i use 24lbs with exbolt 63 and i find its perfect for my skill level. any higher sweet spot is too small for me and i find i have to put more effort in hitting the shuttle. by the end of the night my forearm, wrist and fingers are so fatigue
nice. i secretly feel happy when people are aware of themselves and enjoy the game. Some people compare themselves with others and mindless increase their tension to "fit in".
Agreed. Some ppl try and copy pros and string it at 30 31 and struggle to play. I bought a used 88D pro gen 3 recently and the seller had BG68 strung at 26lbs. I was able to play but still felt like I had to put extra effort than usual each hit. Felt more tired than usual.
I recently switched from 25. 26. To 27-28 feels much easier to hit clear
But i noticed its hardder to time drop shots . Also, I found that one day I was in perfect control and my level(intermediate) increased but other days I struggled with ruming and wasn’t hitting the sweet spot
I wonder what the issue is
having a higher tension means the margin of error decreases. the game is also less forgiving because hitting just slightly off centre will have a greater impact.
being human, we all have good days and bad days. so on bad days, we may not be in the best condition because of stress, diet, or fatigue. and because of that, it affects our judgement, timing and execution. on days like that, we may not hit the sweet spot as consistently.
just curious, what racket are you doing the test with ? =)
nanoflare nextage!
I think the racket and tension both matters I was using an 88d pro with 27 lbs tension and hit the sweet spot consistently, after quite a while I got a 100zz and used the same string and tension 27lbs and found having shoulder pain often after playing with it. must be because the 100zz has extra stiff shaft and already small sweet spot to begin with. the only upside is the supreme power in the smash shots to date no one has successfully returned a smash from this racket with this tension.
Yes Sir. tbh, everything plays a part.
Racket, string model, strong tension, stringing method, humidity, shuttle, fitness condition, technique, etc.
The problem, tension & power is not linear.
At certain range of power output the bending of stringbed & the repulsion is optimally transfered to the shuttlecock.
Add more power output, the shuttlecok would sunk far deeper end up absorbing the power.
Or reduce the power output, the shuttle dont have enough force to bend the string thus less repulsion.
{Similar logic when changing string tension)
So, as each player had different swing speed & strength, each of us had different optimal tension setup.
As for the test, as the parameter changed is the string only, it only picture your condition, not accurately apply to other.
Hey, i like your explanation.
can you suggest a few ways i can test this theory?
or can you suggest how does one find the optimal tension then?
🤔🤔🤔👍👍👍👏👏👏
@@budisaputra6453 yes totally … @morethana swing u can test this by going low like 19-21 or lower and u will find that even if you swing harder n faster the shuttle will not go faster to travel as far but if you slow down it will go further n faster… however the max limit of the shuttle speed will increase if your tension increases eg: 24 provided you can input the higher swing speeds required but after a certain Swing speed Limit you will find the same behaviour with 19/21 … the higher the tension will provide more power provided your swing speed can keep up
@@MoreThanASwing adding 1 more parameter which is the player. Look for totally beginner player with totally bad swing, an ok player with correct swing but not physically strong, & last a well trained player that trained both technique & physical strength.
Let each 3 player to play with those 3 different tension racket. That would do the test.
The other important parameter is the shaft stiffness. Hi-flex vs stiff shafts will change the behavior of various tensions at various swing speeds, and optimal string tension value for a player will change.
I play my easier games with low tension and tougher opponents with high tension. Keeps my shoulder in place
Wise choice Veejay!
45lbs 🎾
thats not a number that badminton players are familiar with.
Can you review newly launched victor thruster f ultra?
ooooo.... i would gladly do it if they send me a racket. :)
Tqvm coach for the info ❤
Happy to help. What was helpful for you?
Me seeing how can he keep his hall so minamalistic? Or is it really his house hall?
This is my studio/office. hehe.
I know people who insist on playing with nylon shuttles unless you pay for feather shuttles. They buy a new high-end racket after the launch date. Then they complain nylon shuttles snap their strings too often & they have tennis elbow. They string between 28-30 lbs.
For nylons 22 is about it
Are they Indians?
😅
The main reason for amateur players getting elbow or shoulder pain is poor technique IMHO. The type of shuttle should not make a difference to strings breaking, it's more about hitting the bird off-center when you have a high tension.
Definitely. I think i should invite my physiotherapist to talk about this.
Surprisingly, this is happening to strong players who have good technique. The issue is that they do not test the shuttle speed. So they hit it harder when the shuttle is too slow. When I am forced to play with nylon shuttles, I just play lifts & drops. At the club meetups, I go to 95% play with feather shuttles. 3 of 4 players on court want to play a doubles game with feather shuttlecocks. 1 person says she/he has more rights to play with nylon shuttles than everyone else after we took a vote. 🤦♀️🤦♂️ There are some players who will cheat, argue, & take shortcuts rather than work on improving their skills. 2 players recently had their racket broken at the net. Opponent obstruct their follow through. Players immediately stick up & wave their racket before the shuttle goes over the net. Then they mock you when they think they win the rally after obstructing you. Then it is a "you problem" that your racket is cracked, but if you break theirs on a clash when partnered with them, you must buy them a racket. 🤦♂️🤦♀️ My friend embarrasses himself. He leaps towards the net as if he is blocking a 3-point jump shot.
I switched from a low end, flexible racket at tension 23 to a Nanoflare 1000z at 28lbs. And my first week of playing it was a pain.
Thankfully, it was just an adjustment process and now I'm hitting solid clears and smashes with better control over the net.
thats a really big jump. and glad you could adjust to that.
For plastic shttles?
Plastic shuttles are not a popular choice in Singapore. I dont feel like i have enough knowledge and experience to comment on that.
You should know better as a coach. You generalised too much and only tested from your own point of view, making this video very biased. For a start, your consistency will likely be much better than your students. Also, I've seen pros actually say that they use higher tension to produce a louder hitting sound which makes it sound like they are hitting harder than they really are. It's their high consistency and strength training that allows them to wield higher tensions, which they use for *control*.
You report that you are able to send the shuttle further at higher tension, but you fail to consider that you are playing regularly at your own tension, so muscle memory is trained to play optimally for that. In contrast, you only played with lower tension during your "review" and never played consistently with the lower tension at least a few weeks. Therefore, you gave no chance to adjust your hitting technique/action for the lower tension, resulting in your skewed view of the lower tensions.
You look at Akane Yamaguchi, she uses 24x26lbs and sends the shuttle without any problems. Also, you will notice pro players reduce their string tension as they get older, as higher tensions require more muscle strength and endurance to use.
hi, please share how you would do it. :)
Yeah, I too like it when it sounds like an explosion ;)
@@MoreThanASwing Honestly, it would be better to repeat this exercise with your own students. You guys run an Badminton Academy and your channel should be about not just promoting your Academy but helping learners improve their game and knowledge about all things badminton.
Therefore, if you are providing information that is relevant to yourself, who is the coach and likely at a much higher level than your students and other learners, I feel it makes the information much less relevant and relatable. As a plus, it would make it much more fun to involve your students in your videos if they are willing to participate.
You could sort your students into groups of varying ability, from beginner to more intermediate levels. Then repeat the same exercise you did personally, but gauge how your students perform with different string tension levels and also listen to their feedback on their preferences.
🤔🤔🤔👍👍👍👏👏👏
@@evokaiyo isn’t it also misinformation if it’s reported the other way around where lower tension sends shuttle further? 🙈🤔
High tension, hurt my elbow 😅
i hope you've recovered. haha. but its also the first time i heard this affects the elbow. more commonly, i've heard how it affects the shoulder.
I have both high and low tension of the same kind of racquet… when I am lazy and lacks focus or not in a good physical form I’ll use low tension and hit safer shots and generally take it easy… when I am on point there’s no replacing high tension for precision, power and control …. Btw I string my own racquets… 34lbs vs 27lbs
oooooo.... it sounds nice to have options.
but would this affect your timing and your technique?
@@MoreThanASwing with the higher tension one yes I would need to be more focused to hit and adjust to the sweet spot… 29-32lbs with the lower one 25-27 … it’s a lot easier…. With the lower tension generally go for harder shots and safer placements….. rather then aiming for the line maybe just roughly in the general direction if things get too fast… with higher tension there’s a certain satisfaction to aim for the line exactly especially on flick serves 😝
You find the 28lbs more repulsive and less effort because you are a trained athlete and coach. You have the experience, technique and timing to utilize that tension to get the high repulsion. I bet the result would be different if you gave that 28lbs to a beginner or even intermediate player. So, in my opinion, I think repulsion is highest at lower tension for beginners, and this will change as the player improves technique and timing. But that begs the question, how low is too low and how high is too high?
yes indeed. that question (how high or how low) is really difficult to answer.
and i was hoping someone could suggest observable signs when the tension is too high.
Playing at very low tension with a flexible racket shaft is one of the dumbest beginner traps in badminton. It makes sense for someone just starting out, but given a player has played a while and has enough power to clear baseline, they should never be playing at low tension and they should ideally get a racket with a stiff shaft. A lot of badminton players don't have the best interest of other players at heart when they tell others they are beginners and should therefore use worse gear. Gear choices should be made on a personal bases, not because of what anyone else tells you.
wow. you sound like you've seen some injustice there.
I started playing badminton a year ago I started with 25lbs and currently strung at 27X29 lbs. The birds go faster when you smash . Easy to control.
Regarding the shoulder pain I don’t experience at all when I increase the tension.
looks like you can handle the high tension.
why not go higher then ?
Tension is too high if it doesn't last me at least a month 😂
what do you mean by it doesnt last?
does it snap? does it loosen?
If one is not a pro, the higher the lbs, the more is the tension. no matter you are a sixteen or sixty. 😂😂
hahahaha. i dont know how to respond to this without being rude.
ok yes. you are correct, the higher the lbs, the higher the tension.
My mentality is get a high tension racquet if you are an intermediate player and if you don't level up your skill set - lose your racquet!
brutal bruh.
@@MoreThanASwing gotta do what a man's gotta do