Li-Ning String Guide
Your string will experience wear and tear with time but it is the high-quality strings with top class raw material and design that stand the test of time. Also, the string’s thickness or the ‘gauge’ contribute to the durability of the string and the thickness is directly proportional to the durability. For an analogy, just picture it, which string would be hard to cut with a blade, a thick one, or a thin one? However, this does not mean that thin strings are not durable, in fact, thin strings are bouncier and give more repulsion power. The case for thicker strings is that they have a comparative advantage in durability.
The Badminton strings are elastic and they stretch and restore their original position while hitting a shuttle and this is how they generate power. The idea is similar to that of a bow and arrow, where the strings move from their original position and blast off the arrow with the help of repulsion. Similarly, in the case of a badminton string, the shuttle bounces off the surface of the string and it repulses the shuttle in the direction of swing.
Different texture and design of the string and different tension levels can produce different sounds. However, most of the players desire that crisp sound one hears when you hit the shuttle with force. It is a very important psychological component of the sport and is aesthetically pleasing.
How to choose the right tension?
It depends on the type of players you are but the general guidelines are:
- Beginners: 20-23 lbs
- Intermediate players: 24-27 lbs
- Professionals: 28-34 lbs
Tension factor, Control, and Power- If you are not a fan of academic physics, tension is basically how tightly or loosely the string is woven into the racket frame. The usual indicator is lbs(pounds) which is the force exerted per unit length of the string. The idea behind a loose and a tight string is extremely easy to understand.
- A string that is woven loosely (low tension) has a larger sweet spot and even if you mishit the shuttle, this larger sweet spot will save you and you will be able to generate power without damaging your frame. It is an ideal setting for beginners who are more likely to mishit. However, this comes at the cost of control.
- On the other, hand, if a string that is woven tightly( High tension), has a much smaller sweet spot but if you hit the sweet spot then both the control and power of the shot would be perfect but if you mishit, then it is possible that it might damage your frame but would definitely result in a poor shot. Therefore, high tension is more suited to professional players.