Parts of a Badminton Racket

The object of the game of badminton is to hit a small device that resembles a rubber ball with a ring of feathers attached to it, called a shuttle, back and forth across a raised net using a racket. The badminton racket is lightweight yet strong. Once made of wood, these rackets are now made of high-tech materials. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) defines the laws that determine the parts, form, shape and weight of badminton rackets for competition use.

Materials

Traditionally, badminton frames have been made out of wood. Although still available, wood rackets have largely been abandoned due to the availability of lighter, more durable synthetic materials such as carbon fiber, lightweight metal alloys and ceramics. These are used in most modern badminton rackets today.

Frame

The body of the racket itself is called the frame. It consists of the head, the stringed area, the throat, the shaft and the handle. According to BWF laws, the length of the frame should be no longer than 680 millimeters or wider than 230 millimeters. The weight of a fully strung frame should be within 80 and 100 grams. Frames can come in different shapes, with larger or smaller sweet spots, and can be more or less flexible, depending on the materials used and the construction.

Head

The head of the racket is the ring of material that holds the strings in place. It can be oval or more rounded, and has holes in its perimeter though which the strings are laced.

Stringed Area

The stringed area is made up of nylon or carbon fiber string that is interwoven to form the face of the racket. Its dimensions, according to BWF rules, must not exceed 280 millimeters in length or 220 millimeters in width.

Throat

The throat connects the head to the shaft. It may be a separate triangular piece at the base of the head, or may actually be integrated into the head itself.

Shaft

The shaft is the long rod between the throat and handle. Often made of a composite material such as graphite, the shaft can be stiffer or more flexible based on the needs of the player.

Handle

The handle connects to the shaft and is used to hold the racket. The handle is covered with a material called the grip. There are two types of grips: towel grips are good for absorbing moisture, but may need to be changed frequently; synthetic grips are less absorbent but more durable.

Handles and Heads

Racket head frames are typically either the classic oval or an isometric shape. The string bed is usually woven with 20 to 22 gauge strings with a tension between 20 and 30 pounds. While some designs have a throat section connecting the head's frame to the shaft, others have the shaft directly attached to the frame. The shaft connects the head, or throat, to the handle.

Racket Rules

The overall length of the racket, which is measured from the tip of the head to the bottom of the handle, cannot exceed 680 millimeters or 26.5 inches. Regardless of the head's shape, the frame must not be wider than 230 millimeters or about 9 inches. The string bed must have a flat, uniform pattern and cannot be longer than 280 millimeters, or about 11 inches, and wider than 220 millimeters, or slightly larger than 8.5 inches.