Top 15 Badminton Rackets in 2018 Review

Are you looking for the perfect badminton racket?

Everyone knows how important it is to have the right racket.

If you are serious about badminton, then you need to get the best racket for you after learning how to play badminton, so you can keep an edge over your competitors.

Each player is different, but in this page you will find the top 15 badminton rackets the market has to offer, and we will explain you why on each review. Because it’s critical to choose it well, because it’s the most important element from essential badminton equipment.

Now we would like to help you experience the difference.

Come with us and find out which one is the perfect match for you.

This is where things get interesting. Come with us and check these incredible rackets which can bring you a real difference in your game.

Top 15 Badminton Rackets Reviews

Yonex Arcsaber 10

This racket is a favorite choice by several professional players, and it must due to a good reason. Well, actually many of them. Let’s check a quick summary on the pros vs. cons:

Pros: Excellent control and solid feeling, superior maneuverability, super accurate.

Cons: The smashing power is not so strong, not recommended for beginners.

Are you beginning to see why so many professional prefer this racket in 2016 and 2017? The price may be a bit expensive but it’s totally worth it.

The unique con is that the smashing power is not so strong, but you can greatly improve it by adding lead tapes to the head, so you can make it heavier and achieve higher power.

Yonex Arcsaber 11

The Arcsaber 11 is an improvement of the Arcsaber 10 in many aspects: It’s far easier to use and comes with an improved repulsion. These features make it perfect for intermediate players and even newcomers. Let’s check its pros and cons:

Pros: Well-rounded in all aspects, superb control and solid feeling, excels in midcourt

Cons: Smash power is not its strongest feature

It shares many things in common with the Arcsaber 10, but it is superior in ease of use and provides more control. Moreover, it provides you plenty of comfort, so your arms and forearms don’t get tired quickly.

It excels when it comes to playing in the midcourt, because its strongest features are the defense and attack. It’s great in the frontcourt, because it provides you enough power and speed for excellent netshots.

In summary, this racket is an excellent choice. It’s well-rounded, is perfect for the midcourt and provides you a superior control.

Yonex Voltric Z Force 2

The great successor of a great racket, the Voltric Z-Force. This new version is slimmer in the head and the shaft. Moreover, the head is notably narrower. Let’s check its pros vs. cons:

Pros: Great smashing power, excellent maneuverability, fast and smooth swing

Cons: Control is easily reduced when playing fast

This super slim racket cuts through the air with no problem at all.

It excels in all ranges. It’s excellent in the backcourt, because its fast and smooth swing allows you to smash with plenty of power.

It has a great performance in the midcourt, because its design allows you to have very fast reactions. Moreover, thanks to its incredible power it enables you to shoot powerful smashes from this range without problems.

And finally it’s a great performer in the frontcourt. Again, as it’s super slim and light, it allows you to react fast.

In conclusion this is an excellent racket with plenty of power, a fast swing, a slim construction which enables very fast reactions and has an amazing performance in all sides of the badminton court.

Yonex Voltric 80

Probably one of the most powerful rackets ever created in 2016. This heavy-head racket comes loaded with plenty of powerful and other useful features. Let’s review its pros and cons:

Pros: Gigantic power, superior control, excellent maneuverability, great defense

Cons: Can tire your wrists in long games, it’s not recommended for newcomers

If you are looking for a racket that brings you plenty of power and control along with excellent maneuverability, then the Voltric 80 is perfect for you.

Thanks to its heavy-head and solid construction you get more power than other rackets, which brings you powerful and sharp smashes. And what to say about clears, with this racket you will make them with no effort at all.

And despite being a heavy-head racket, it is excellent when it comes to defense, which makes it a great choice for midcourt game.

It’s not recommended for beginners because it can tire your wrists quickly if you are not well-seasoned.

But if you are an experienced player looking for extra power and plenty of control, then the Voltric 80 is perfect for you.

Yonex Voltric 70

At a more affordable price, an excellent performance in defense and some serious power, the Voltric 70 is one of the best badminton rackets in the market. Let’s check why it’s such a great choice by reviewing its pros and cons:

Pros: Excellent defense, great power, doesn’t tire your wrists

Cons: Control is just above average

This heavy-head racket, similar to the Voltric 80, comes with a great smashing power. Even though the Voltric 80 is superior in terms of power, you can get a very similar performance with the Voltric 70 at a more affordable price.

One of the features that stand out is how well it performs in terms of defense. Usually heavy-head rackets are weak in terms of defense, but the Voltric 70 does an excellent job especially when receiving smashing shots.

Its shaft is slim and its construction is very light, which allows you to have very fast reactions.

Yonex Voltric 5

It’s the most affordable from the Voltric club. Nonetheless, it comes packed with incredible features and an excellent performance. Let’s check its pros and cons:

Pros: Powerful shots, great balance, pretty fast, perfect for defensive players

Cons: The head could be a bit too light for some players

This is the budget-friendly option from all the Voltric rackets created by Yonex in 2015. In all honesty it’s an excellent choice, because it brings you powerful shots, great balance and is light-enough for very fast reactions.

It plays well in the frontcourt, due to its design and light-weight. And it also brings you enough power for excellent responses.

And an important aspect to note is that this racket is highly suitable for defensive players. It doesn’t tire your wrists and is sturdy enough for solid responses.

Yonex Voltric 7

Can you imagine delivering super smooth and powerful clears? This is exactly what you can get with the Yonex Voltric 7. As you read every word of this short review you will understand why it’s an excellent racket.

Pros: Plenty of power, fast swings, pretty fast

Cons: The stringing could be better, as it’s a bit low in tension

It’s very similar to the Voltric 5, but the main detail to notice is that its head is a little bit heavier, which brings you an edge in terms of power.

Even though the stringing is low in tension, it still delivers plenty of power, and you can feel that when you deliver clears: they feel powerful and easy.

It’s very light-weight and provides you the possibility of super-fast reactions, making it ideal for frontcourt game and for defensive players.

The power delivered by this racket cannot be compared to the Voltric 80, but let’s be fair, because it’s 50% cheaper.

Yonex Voltric 1DG

If you like affordable rackets which happen to have plenty of repulsion, then you are going to love the Voltric 1DG. It’s been fabricated with Super High Elasticity High Modulus Graphite and here you have its pros and cons:

Pros: Superb tension and repulsion, decent smashing power, very fast

Cons: It can lack of power for some players, as it’s an all-rounder racket

This is one of the best budget-friendly Yonex badminton rackets in 2016 which is well-rounded in all aspects.

The most important thing to highlight here is that includes a Tri-voltage system, which allows you to have more power for excellent smashes but a very fast handling at the same time for accurate and rapid replies.

Another feature to mention is the superb tension. This racket comes with an excellent isometric frame, which keeps the vertical strings at a very similar length and does the same with horizontal strings. This allows you to find the sweet spot in all directions.

Yonex Nanospeed 9900

Sexy, fast and lethal. If you want a super-fast and beautiful racket, then Nanospeed 9900 is exactly what you are looking for. Let’s check its pros and cons.

Pros: Incredibly fast head speed, decent power, superb maneuverability

Cons: Not suitable for beginners

This light-head racket is, as its own name suggest, a top-performer in terms of speed.

Thanks to its super-fast head speed you will get the smoothest and most lethal swings you have ever experience.

It has shown an incredible performance in drives and smashes. Drives are one of the best replies to smashes, therefore the Nanospeed 9900 is an excellent choice for defensive-style players. It excels when we talk about backhand defense.

Regarding other shots like lifts, net shots, clears and smashes it has shown an incredible performance.

If you want an incredible fast, powerful and beautiful racket, then you need to go for the Nanospeed 9900, especially if you use a defensive style.

Yonex Duora 10

The aspect that stands out from this racket is that it comes with a box frame and an aero frame. The first is for delivering powerful shots and smashes, while the other is for fast replies with minimal air resistance.

Pros: Phenomenal clears, great in defense, fast responses

Cons: Expensive, not recommended for beginners

Even though the Duora 10 isn’t one of the fastest racket out there, especially when compared to the ultra-fast Nanospeed 9900, it defends very well.

If it’s not the one of the fastest rackets in the market during 2015, then how can it deliver fast responses? It’s slightly above average in terms of speed, and to obtain those fast replies, you need to have a very good technique, that’s why it’s not suitable for beginners.

This two-side racket is a phenomenal choice, because with the box frame you can deliver super powerful shots, while the aero frame allows you to deliver fast and accurate replies.

Yonex Nanoray 900

 

It’s important to make this clear right off the bat: The Nanoray 900 and the Nanospeed 9900 are not the same. This racket is heavier in the head and stiffer, yet it has got interesting features:

Pros: Increased power, perfect for defensive players, smooth swings

Cons: It can lack of proper control for beginners

As a flexible shaft racket, it’s normal that it doesn’t offer much control for beginners. Although, if you are a well-seasoned player, then after some time you will get used to it.

Its heavier head brings it more power for stronger smashes. This feature also makes it better in the backcourt game, and worry not, because it’s equally good in the midcourt and frontcourt.

Its smooth swing and great speed make it an ideal choice for experienced defensive-style players.

Yonex Nanoray Z Speed

The Nanoray Z Speed is a controversial racket, because it has a heavy head, but it doesn’t deliver the same power as other rackets like the Voltric 80 (it’s far from that) or any other Voltric in fact. But it performs perfectly in terms of defense.

Pros: Great for defenders, drop shots are perfect, reduced fatigue

Cons: Smashes are not so good

Many persons believed that this racket would perform better, but when it comes to delivering smashes it doesn’t cut it. But when we talk about defensive shots like lifts and drives it’s an excellent choice.

But in all honesty it’s very expensive. Yet, if you are looking for one of the best rackets for defenders, then this one is going to leave you satisfied.

Maybe the manufacturer stringing is what originates the lack of power with smashes, but that’s just an idea.

Yonex Nanoray 10

Affordable, super light-weight and powerful. This is the best racket for beginners, and again, it’s delivered by a big brand like Yonex. If you don’t know how to play badminton very well yet, then it’s an excellent choice for you.

Pros: Decent power, fast enough, great maneuverability

Cons: It’s just for beginners players

Although you cannot expect it to deliver the same powerful shots as a Voltric 80, this option is going to leave you very satisfied if you are a beginner and have a tight budget. It can be used as a recreational racquet as well.

It provides you enough power for great smashes, and if your technique is great, then the smashes will be powerful and the clears easy.

It plays well in the front, mid and back. Just take into account that for backhand shots it may not be a good choice, but again, it’s not intended for advanced players.

Yonex Nanoray 20

The Nanoray 20 just like the Nanoray 10 is perfect for beginners or casual players, as it comes with the necessary features for a good performance. Let’s check the pros and cons for this graphite racquet:

Pros: Good power, excellent tension, very fast, light-weight

Cons: Not recommended for players with experience

If you are looking for something cheap that offers a very decent performance, then the Nanoray 20 is exactly what you need.

It plays great in terms of defense because it’s light and fast enough to enable fast reactions, especially in the front court.

The tension is quite good, which makes it have an excellent repulsion. The smashes are decent, the clears go smooth, lifts feel great and net shots are quite good for the price.

Yonex Arcsaber Z Slash

Powerful, fast and solid. These are words that better define the Arcsaber Z Slash. Let’s check the pros and cons of this incredible racket:

Pros: Great power, solid control, superior maneuverability, excellent swing.

Cons: Defense is a bit weak

What stands out from this racket is the shaft, which is very slim, with the objective of reducing air resistance to its minimum expression. And this is the feature that grants it its superior maneuverability.

Are you looking for great power and the smoothest and fastest wing? Then you will find it in the Z Slash, because thanks to its design it offers you an excellent swing.

How to Choose the Perfect Badminton Racket for You

You probably know how important it is to choose the right racket. If you don’t know how to do it, then don’t worry, because this guide is going to explain you how.

Here’s a warning: Never choose a racquet because your favorite top badminton player uses it. For example, choosing the Arcsaber 10 just because it’s due by many professional players or recommended by US badminton magazines in 2015 and 2016, would be a mistake. Because you need to choose a racket that works for YOU.

The first question you need to ask yourself is what you prefer: Control or power.

Having both things in the same measure is impossible, although, you can have what is known as a well-rounded racket, which provides a good balance between both elements.

Are you a total beginner?

If you are just getting started, then it doesn’t make sense to choose a determined style if you don’t know what your abilities are yet.

That’s why it’s better to start with a low-cost and beginner friendly racket like the Yonex Nanoray 10 or Nanoray 20. They are very affordable and well-rounded, therefore, they are a great way to get started and find out what your style is.

The 4 Factors to Take into Account

There are four critical factors to take into account at the hour of choosing your own racket:

 

Balance point

Weight

Frame shape

Shaft stiffness

The Balance Point:

It’s critical depending on your style.

If you want more power, then the balance point of the racquet should lean towards the head.

If you want more control, then the balance point should lean towards handle.

If you had a Voltric 80 and put your finger in the center of the shaft, then it would lean towards the head.

But let’s say you are a beginner who has bought the Nanoray 10 and you have found out that you prefer power over control. Then, instead of buying a new racket, you could do the following:

1.   Buy a good light badminton grip

2.   Wrap it in the head of your racket

As a result you will get a heavier head and hence more power.

But what happens if you prefer control over power? Then you can use this trick: add more weight to the handle. There are many ways by which you can do this:

1.   Change the stringing of your racket for a lighter one

2.   Wrap a heavy badminton grip in the handle

3.   Wrap 2-3 light badminton grips in the handle

This way you can balance things according to your own preference.

The Weight Factor:

The weight plays a very important role.

Rackets come in different weight categories:

1.   2U: 90-94 grams

2.   3U: 85-89 grams

3.   4U: 80-84 grams

4.   5U: 75-79 grams

The heavier your racquet the more power it will deliver.

For example, the Voltric 80 comes in two versions: The 3U and the 4U. But you could make it heavier by following the tips given in the balance point section. The 3U is more suitable for singles while the 4U, which is lighter, performs better in doubles.

The disadvantage of heavy rackets is that it’s much harder to control. You are basically sacrificing control in favor of power, and unless you are very skilled, this can be a problem.

The Shape of the Frame:

It’s important to choose the right shape of the frame. The market offers you two options: The traditional oval shape and the isometric frames.

There are key difference between each, and we will review them here. But what you need to know before is that the difference resides in the sweet spot.

Oval Shape:

This conventional shape has a trickier sweet spot, but if you manage to make the shuttle land on it, then you will get an excellent-quality shot.

Therefore, in order to make the most out of the oval shape, you need to be highly skilled so you can score a high success rate landing the shuttle in the sweet spot.

Isometric or Square Shape:

In comparison to the oval shape, it has a higher success rate landing the shuttle in the sweet spot. A great example of this is the Voltric 1DG, which has an excellent isometric frame shape and an excellent tension, which makes it easier for you to achieve high-quality shots.

Due to this characteristic many rackets in the market opt for using a square frame shape, while the oval shape is getting less popular.

Therefore, in our opinion especially if you are a beginner, you should go for a racket that uses an isometric frame shape. Moreover, oval shape rackets are harder to find these days.

The Shaft: Flexible or Stiff?

There are key differences between each other. Each one of them has its own advantages and disadvantages, but worry not, because here you will find the answers you are looking for.

The Stiff Shaft:

It has less repulsion, which will have to be compensated with more powerful swings.

It’s not recommended for beginners, therefore, it’s better suited to advanced and intermediate-level players

Why?

Because a beginner will focus to generating more strength while sacrificing technique. If you are trying to get more advanced skills, then this may be a good option for you.

It’s much faster than a flexible shaft racket. Although, the power output will be lesser. If you want fast attacks and replies, then this is a perfect choice for you. It allows you to return the shuttle much faster, which can bring you an edge over your competitors.

The shuttle placement is top-notch. If you want total accuracy with the placement of the shuttlecock, then this shaft will bring you so.

The Flexible Shaft: