As an intermediate badminton player, it’s all about maintaining your skills and improving your game. If you are not entirely new to the world of badminton, but you are not yet ready to define your skill set as advanced, then you are left with the happy medium of intermediate.
Being stuck in the middle may sound like you’re not going anywhere, but you certainly can. By finding the right badminton racket for an intermediate player, you can increase your chances of honing those skills, and improving your expertise whilst increasing your enjoyment of the sport.
In order to do this you need to find the right badminton racket for you. One that can help you practice those great smash shots, but also build upon your defence. Not to worry we’ve picked the best badminton racket for intermediate players.
In A Hurry? Our Top Pick
If you’re in a hurry to get back on the court, we will hit you with our best shot and give you the best badminton racket first. Yonex is a strong brand that saturates the market with its extensive range of rackets for intermediate players.
Our best pick is the Yonex Muscle Power Badminton Racket.
It is the perfect all-rounder for everything you need as an intermediate player. It is lightweight and balanced, durable, and comes already pre-strung. The Yonex Muscle Power Racket has a string tension of 24lbs and is capable of helping you sharpen your power shots and enhance your defence skills.
It has an excellent grip, with an isometric head shape to ensure that you’re focused on your game plan rather than your comfort when playing. This racket is a great option for flexing up your intermediate playing level and practising those power shots.
OUR TOP PICK
If it’s the racket with the most balanced weight and great flexibility, you just got served. The Yonex Badminton Racket Muscle Power gives you the ideal racket for intermediate players.
It is made from graphite and aluminium so it is durable but also lightweight and flexible for your needs. The Yonex Muscle Power racket features an isometric shape to make it easy practise and learn how to up your game.
It is powerful and strong, able to withstand clashes from other players and comes in many different colors, so is bound to suit every intermediate player.
PROS:
- String tension of 24lbs
- Durable
- Composed of graphite & aluminum
- Many colors to choose from
- Flexible
- Powerful and easy to control
- Isometric shape
- Weight: 3U
CONS:
- No carry bag/cover
EDITORS CHOICE
A close competitor that is also highly useful for intermediate badminton players is the Senston N80 YT Badminton Racket.
This racket is made from strong carbon fiber that is incredibly lightweight. The Senston N80-YT features improved stability for high precision playing, and has an isometric design that makes it easier to increase your hit rate and skill.
It is available in 9 different colors and comes with its own cover for portability and protection!
PROS:
- String tension of 24-26 lbs
- Designed for intermediate
- Very durable
- Lightweight: 72 grams
- Made from carbon fiber
- Comes with free cover
CONS:
- Grip is not good quality
BEST VALUE
For an intermediate player with a little more skill to their gameplay, try Dynamic Shuttle Sports’ Professional Badminton Racket.
This is a great racket for both offensive and defensive players and can be utilised by all levels of expertise. The Dynamic Shuttle racket is pre-strung at 24lbs tension, made of graphite and carbon fiber, it is durable and a lightweight competitor with a 4 ⅝ grip size. It even comes with its own cover and 2 free overgrips.
This is the perfect racket for taking control of the court, with speedy defense and powerful hard-hitting attacks. This is one of the lightest rackets in the game, and sure to improve your performance.
PROS:
- Extremely lightweight
- String tension of 24 lbs
- Free cover and 2 overgrips
- Medium flexibility for intermediate practice
- Comes pre-strung
- Made from carbon fiber
- Isometric shape
CONS:
- Prone to breakage
RUNNER UP
The Yonex Nanoray is a firm favorite among all types of badminton players. It features a balanced head, with even weight distribution so that you can really hit those smashes, but also be quick enough with your defence to win every time.
This racket comes pre-strung and features an isometric shape that works perfectly for an intermediate player.
The Nanoray equips the player with a fast and controlled swing, with an aerodynamic design for maximum repulsion.
PROS:
- Semi-stiff flexibility
- Weight: 4U
- Aerodynamic
- Isometric shape
- Balanced
- Pre-strung
CONS:
- Heavier than competitors
- Not as durable
RUNNER UP
The YANG-YANG Professional series Gen-Y30 is specifically designed for the purposes of intermediate players.
It is constructed of high quality graphite which allows the racket to be strung between 28-32 lbs without breaking the frame. It has a weight of 4U with a lot of balance and a little more head weight for those power shots.
The Gen-Y racket is purposefully created as a highly controlled all-rounder racket. It even comes with its own carry bag to keep it safe and damage free!
PROS:
- String tension between 28-32 lbs
- Pre-strung
- Weight: 4U
- High control
- Made from Graphite and Carbon Fiber
CONS:
- Strong head weight (may be harder to practice defence)
- Heavier than similar models
Best Badminton Racket for Intermediate Player Buying Guide
What to look for in a badminton racket
The key elements you should look out for when purchasing a badminton racket are as follows:
- Flexibility
- Weight
- String Tension
- Balance
- Shape
Flexibility
The flexibility of the shaft of the racket is a vital component of what makes a great badminton racket. The more flexible the shaft, the easier it will be to use. If you are an advanced player then a stiffer shaft will be beneficial to your technique.
A more intermediate player would benefit from a racket that lies somewhere between flexible and stiff so that you still have the freedom of movement, whilst further improving your skill.
String Tension
String tension may affect your gameplay strongly. Typically, if you press against your racket’s strings, they should not sink lower than 1mm. If they do, then it is a good indicator that the strings are not strong enough.
Additionally, if you are located within an area with low temperatures, rackets with lower tensions are fine to use as the heat will not stretch them. On the other hand, players in high temperatures should consider the highest tension.
Weight
Generally, the weight of a racket will determine how much power is given when you hit the shuttlecock. Heavier rackets are naturally more powerful, but can be difficult to use and can make your arms ache.
The weight of a racket is usually determined by its U-value. When purchasing, it is important to remember that the larger the U, the lighter the racket. Keep that in mind when looking for the right racket for your skillset.
Balance
Similarly, rackets can differ depending on their balance. Badminton rackets can either be head heavy, light or perfectly balanced. Head light rackets are better for quick reactions and defensive shots, as it is easy to use and will not weigh your arm down.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, head heavy rackets provide you with the ability to land powerful shots. A racket that is evenly balanced may be better for an intermediate player as it evens the playing field. These rackets can help you land a great smash, but are also lightweight enough for you to defend your side.
Shape
You can choose from two shaped badminton rackets; oval and isometric. An isometric racket is better for beginner or intermediate players as it has a larger ‘sweet spot’ that will ensure that you hit the shuttlecock. Whereas an oval racket can sometimes be trickier to use or harder to maneuver.
What type of racket suits an intermediate badminton player
When purchasing the right type of badminton racket for an intermediate player, it is important that you consider what factors will suit your playing style and capabilities.
It is best to go for the perfect all-rounder racket. You want something that has flexibility and balance so that you can practice your tactics better. It is also advisable to purchase an isometric shaped racket head as it is easier to use and you can really sharpen those skillful shots.
It is also notable that you consider different types of rackets within your budget and price range. Although higher end brand rackets may come recommended, a lower priced one may be more suited to your requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an intermediate badminton player?
There is a lot of gray area when defining yourself as a skilled badminton player. One of the easiest ways to do this is to decide whether you have little to no experience playing, or whether you have faith in your abilities as a badminton sportsperson.
If you feel like you have confidence as a player, but would like to hone your skills and define them even further for competitive playing, then you are most likely an intermediate player. This way you already have your own style of playing and preferences, but can also benefit from practicing some more.
To put it lightly, if you’ve already mastered all the basics and are ready to move onto some more tactical moves, then you are an intermediate badminton player.
What material is best for badminton rackets?
Rackets are made from a multitude of materials. This again, comes down to your playing style. Some prefer rackets made of aluminum or steel, whilst professionals may prefer strong carbon-fiber rackets.
Which is the best badminton racket grip?
When choosing the right grip for your racket, you should think about the size and type you need. There are synthetic and towel grips on badminton rackets. Synthetic grips are a little more slippery as they do not absorb sweat or moisture as you play like towel grips do.
However, towel grips can absorb germs and bacteria so will need to be replaced more frequently than synthetic grips.
The best grip size depends on your own preferencing whilst playing. A larger grip can help you make those powerful shots, but it is all down to what size fits your hand and comfort best.
How long do badminton rackets last?
This depends on the material and durability of your racket. A carbon-graphite racket will be sure to last longer than other materials.
You should also make sure that you are using the correct string tension for your location, and always keep your racket safe in a case or bag.
Badminton rackets can break easily if often used in doubles matches as you run the risk of clashing rackets with your partner.
