Specs to Consider when choosing your racket
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All HL rackets are designed on a simple mass x acceleration formula. In terms of a badminton racket, we are talking about racket weight x head speed. The largest contributor to hitting a powerful smash is head speed. Racket weight only plays a factor once your racket head speed has been physically limited by body mechanics. Stronger players who can accelerate 87 grams to 180mph will hit much harder than others who might only be able to accelerate 77 grams to 180mph.
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About the Rackets
All advanced and intermediate rackets come in 3 different weight categories. 3U, 4U, and 5U. 1 “U” refers to 5 grams under 100g. So a 4U racket would be, 4×5g = 20g under 100g. This is an 80g racket. Because the next step up is a 3U, we define a 4U racket as any racket between 80-85g.
Choosing the Right Weight for You
Choosing a racket in the correct weight class is a very personal decision. In some cases it can be decided by your play style(refer to defensive / attacking / hybrid chart) but it is often determined by finding the racket you’ll hit the hardest with. Assuming good technique, a stronger player will be better suited with a 3U racket while a weaker player is better off with a 5U racket. You'll want to use the heaviest racket you can still accelerate to maximum head speed.
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Every HL racket is tuned to the same balance point(278mm to 283mm). This is just slightly head lighter than an “even balance” badminton racket. We’ve done all the testing for you and have determined that this is the easiest balance point to accelerate without sacrificing power. More powerful HL rackets are in the 3U category as there is more mass behind every shot. Remember, you’ll still need to accelerate it to maximum head speed to enjoy the benefits!
CONSIDERATIONs BASED ON Skill Level & PLAY STYLE
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Your physical strength and overall technique are what will determine the perfect racket for you. Here is a simplified breakdown based on 3 players with great technique.
Weaker = 5U Rackets
a great choice for beginners or kids who want a light weight racket.
Average = 4U Rackets
A great overall choice for most players.
Strong = 3U Rackets
Great for stronger players or players with fantastic technique.
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Our defensive line of rackets(5U weight) are designed to be lightning fast allowing you to get your racket in front of the shuttle as quickly as possible. The rackets excel in rapid back and forth drives, and support a deceptive, redirection style of play.
some players may be able to use a 4U racket as defensive depending on strength and technique.
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Our attacking line(3U weight) is designed to deliver maximum power. With significant mass and impressive head speed contacting the shuttle, the racket is able to produce incredibly fast smashes. These rackets are perfect for hard hitters and players with an aggressive style of play.
some players may need to step down to a 4U racket if the 3U is too heavy to accelerate.
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This is the perfect balance between defensive and attacking rackets(4U weight). While not the fastest or the most powerful, a hybrid racket allows the player to quickly adapt to the opponent’s play style. Ideal for control players or those looking for an all-around racket.
hybrid could be a 5U or a 3U racket depending on player strength and skill. This is a generalization for the average badminton player.
WHY THE obsession with head light rackets?
To maintain our goal of delivering the best value in badminton, we knew our product line would need to be limited to only a few racket models. After countless hours of testing sample frames from our factories in Taiwan and making continuous refinements to each racket, we reached the conclusion that head-light rackets outshine the rest. Why? Head-light rackets naturally enable players to generate maximum head speed with ease. In any power generation comparison, head speed outweighs mass, but when you combine that head speed with the right amount of mass, you achieve the optimal balance. Stronger players who can handle a 3U racket benefit from the combination of 87g of racket weight and maximum head speed, while players with less power may opt for a 5U racket to generate the maximum amount of power based on their physical strength and technique.
