53 Visit Sports Trader’s website for more product knowledge: www.sportstrader.co.za Recommending the right squash or badminton racket ecommending a racket to a squash added. or badminton player is not always Our cut-out-and-keep series to • In general a lighter racket (and a racket an easy task as each individual has assist retailers with product with a head light balance) requires the play- his own style of play and level of knowledge er to add their own strength to put power experience. There are, however, a into a shot, because the lighter racket gen- Compiled with the help of Steve Gal- Rnumber of features that could greatly enhance erates less momentum. lienne of Super-Brands, distributor of — or detract from — a player’s playing abil- • A heavier racket (and head heavy balance) Dunlop and Slazenger rackets, John ity or experience. Interestingly enough, many adds momentum to the shot and therefore Abrahams of Shuttle Sports, distributor of the racket qualities that affects a players’ generates more power. A compromise is of Yonex badminton, Andrew Wentzel squash game affects a badminton players’ made when choosing a heavy racket for pow- of WET Sports Importers, distributor of game as well. er as a lighter racket is more manoeuvrable, RoxPro, Frik van Rensburg of Kloppers in Finding the right combination of weight, allowing the player to really feel the ball. A Bloemfontein and Ronel Louw of Base- balance, shape and stiffness is key to recom- good level of technique and skill, however, is line Runners and the websites www.scot- required for a light racket. mending the right racket, whether for squash tishsport.co.uk and www.prospeed.com or badminton. Below are some of the key fea- • “Experienced players can play with lighter tures to look out for. frames as they are able to utilize this to get a faster head speed and better manoeuvra- Material bility. In this way they get more control and Modern technology has allowed considerably touch with a lightweight frame. Social play- lighter materials, such as carbon fibre and var- ers, however, need more weight to generate ious composites, to be used to achieve speed more power,” explains Ronel Louw of Base- and strength, without sacrificing weight or bal- line Runners. ance. The material used will to a large extent • Hard hitters, of any experience level, would influence the price of the racket. want a heavier frame (which will compro- • Many entry level rackets are made of alu- mise on manoeuvrability) and touch play- minium or steel. Because beginners are ers require a lighter frame (which will not more likely to hit their rackets against a generate as much power). Some players wall, aluminium rackets will be more robust would prefer a balanced racket that has just than graphite — and are also less expensive enough weight in the head to deliver power- to replace when they do break. ful shots and is manoeuvrable enough to pro- • Higher-end rackets are made of graphite vide better control, it is therefore often a fine balancing act in finding the right racket or carbon, which can be mixed with ma- for the player. terials like fibreglass, titanium mesh, na- • Experts advise a racket made from heavier noprene, ceramics, boron, kevlar etc. The materials, such as aluminium or composite, composition of the materials in the shaft and for a beginner player who has not developed frame will influence the stiffness and power their own style of play yet. The heavier or feel of the racket. material, such as aluminium, will provide • “There are also different resin flow proc- create better products with different materi- power but may cause unnecessary vibration. esses — some are hot and others are cold. als, which will provide high strength and high According to prospeed.com a heavier weight Depending on the expected level of perform- repulsion. badminton racket would transmit less shock ance, the manufacturer will pay more for Weight and less vibration when sending off a shuttle. consistent hot resin flow,” says Steve Galli- enne of Super-Brands, distributor of Dunlop It is often difficult to compare the weight of Balance and Slazenger rackets. one racket to the next as weight specs are • The balance point of a racket (measured The above materials and manufacturing often inconsistent — the bare frame, the un- in millimetres) affects the whole feel and processes can increase control, power, anti- strung frame or the strung weight is quoted play of the racket. It is measured from the from one brand to the next. The weight and torque, weight distribution, shock absorption, base of the handle to the point on the shaft balance of a racket will be affected once the durability etc. Companies are continually ex- where the racket stays in bal- Top54 perimenting with these types of materials to racket is strung and a replacement grip is 2012 February/March :: Sports Trader p54 :: Sport decreased sweet spot positioned further Recommending a racket cont from p53 away from the hand, higher on the racket head. Even though the sweet spot is smaller it will help with control, says Louw. An open ance on a finger. tion is sometimes experienced with very throat squash racket has a larger string bed, • A racket with a high balance point (fur- stiff frames. Frame shock is the unnecessary which is more forgiving on off-centre shots ther away from the handle and thus a higher force felt at the moment of impact when a as the racket will have a larger sweet spot. number) will be heavier towards the racket stroke is delivered and frame vibration is • “Removing the bridge at the throat of a head (head heavy) and a racket with a bal- the vibrated feeling when the shuttle speeds squash racket lengthens the allowance of ance point closer to the handle (lower bal- away from the strings. the main strings, allowing you to put less ance point number) will feel head light. • Flexibility of a racket could be determined strings, in number, across the face of the • In the same way that weight would affect by factors like the number of strings in the frame and therefore providing a larger, less the shots played, a head light balance would string bed. “Certain frames add more strings stiff and more powerful string bed,” ex- make the racket more manoeuvrable and a and therefore compensate on the flexibility plains Gallienne. head heavy racket would give a player more of the racket. For example a 500cm2 frame • Badminton rackets are generally closed power. “A well balanced racket feels light and with a 16x19 stringing pattern will be harder throat, but open-throat rackets are not un- nimble and normally helps players with self- to play (with less flexibility) than a 500cm2 common either. confidence as it provides both control and 14x18 stringing pattern. The fewer strings • “Weak throat pieces could affect the lon- power,” says Frik van Rensburg of Kloppers. there are, the more they will be able to gevity of your racket. A reinforced throat • According to scottishsport.co.uk small strips provide a trampoline effect, which in turn piece is more popular with power hitters,” of lead tape can be used to adjust the bal- would generate more power,” explains Gal- says Andrew Wentzel of WET Sports Import- ance of the frame. In the same way that lienne. ers, distributors of RoxPro squash rackets. adding an extra grip will effectively make the racket feel more head heavy, adding Head size and racket shape String bed bumper tape to the head will make the • Larger head sizes (500cm2 and larger) are If the frame of a racket could be compared to racket play slightly more head heavy. more forgiving on shots that haven’t come the body of a car, the string bed would be the • It is important to advise customers that the right out of the middle of the racket as it engine of a racket. And just like car engines all balance of a racket can be adjusted after boasts the benefit of having an enlarged string beds are not created equally: purchase, but the stiffness/flexibility of a sweet spot. It therefore makes it easier Type of strings racket not. to play a powerful shot with a larger head • Natural gut has traditionally been seen as and many experts advise a start-up player Flexibility vs. stiffness the strings that provide the best feel, but choose the bigger sized head. A larger head these days multi-filament strings (aka syn- • In theory, the more flexible the racket, the will, however, reduce the control a player thetic gut) mimic the effect of a more ex- easier it is to control and manoeuvre as it has during the game. pensive natural string. Monofilament strings allows for more margin of error when hitting • Whilst a smaller racket head has a smaller are very tough and are usually advised for the ball. Experts thus advise start-up players sweet spot it could be described as a bet- players who often break their strings. But to opt for a more flexible frame. ter quality sweet spot as it offers the best there is less feel in these. Monofilament is • A stiffer racket, however, helps with shot control combined with the best power — in often used in combination with synthetic gut making and to generate power, if it can be the hands of the right player. It is, however, strung across the racket. controlled by a strong player. A stiff shaft al- much trickier to play powerful shots on a • “Synthetic helps with power and touch, lows significant power to be generated, and racket with a small head size.