What size grip should a junior player use?
My advice for a junior player is to use as small a grip as possible. This will enable them to master the art of grip changing from forehand to backhand, as well as making the racket easier to handle.
The smallest size available is generally a G7 which can be found on something like Yonex’s Nanoflare Junior racket. Then, as the player grows, they can start transitioning to a bigger grip, but still maintain the good technique they have learnt.
What size racket should a junior use?
I generally try and encourage juniors to start using an adult racket as soon as possible. However, there are a few caveats to this rule.
Juniors who are very young, between the ages of 4-6 and just starting out would benefit from a much shorter racket. This will enable them to control the head of the racket much more easily. This sort of racket also features a smaller grip for easy handling. This is the Yonex Muscle Power 2 which measures 21 inches in length and is very lightweight and is perfect for youngsters.
For juniors aged 7-12 I would recommend something like the Yonex Nanoflare Junior, and here’s why. The length of the racket is near identical to a full-sized adults racket, however, this racket features a very small G7 grip size which will help juniors master their grip change more easily – something that can be more challenging with a larger grip. This racket also only weighs 83 grams so is easy to handle.
This can, of course, vary depending on the physicality of the junior and for some, it may be suitable to transition to an adult racket from a younger age.
Can my child use an adult’s racket?
There is no harm in a junior using an adult’s racket. However, I would recommend trying to get the grip feeling as thin as possible as a grip that is too thick can have a negative effect on the junior player’s ability to learn the correct grip technique.
Below is a video I put together on how to make an adult grip feel thinner.
Will my child find it difficult to transition from a junior racket to an adult’s racket?
On most occasions, junior players do not have any issues with transitioning from a junior badminton racket to an adult racket, as long as it's done at a time that is right for the transition. In fact, some juniors may benefit from the extra weight that adult rackets can provide to enhance power. I would stress again to try and find an adult racket with a smaller G5 grip size to help with their technique.
When should a child transition to an adult’s badminton racket?
There is no hard and fast rule about when a junior should transition to an adults racket, and this is generally down to an individual child's physical development. The best advice I can give is either speak with your coach, or try and get hold of some demo rackets to give them a test.
I would steer clear of giving a child a very demanding racket too soon as this can cause injuries. Things to avoid:
An extra stiff flex
A very heavy racket
A very head heavy balance - +315MM
Strings that are too tight
Something like the YONEX Voltric Flashboost is quite a good transition racket as the overall weight of the frame is light, yet it has a lot of weight in the head to help generate power.
Can you recommend an affordable junior racket (£30-£40)
My personal recommendation would be the Yonex Nanoflare Junior. This is the racket my youngest daughter uses and it has really helped develop her technique.
The combination of the smaller grip and lightweight frame really is a massive benefit. And this racket also has the added advantage of being full length which will make the transition to a full adult racket even easier.
Depending on the standard of the player I would suggest a restring though as the factory strings are very loose.
Does it need to be a single piece/graphite racket, or can I just use a metal racket we use on the beach.
If a junior is just starting out with a hit at a leisure centre or the garden, then a metal racket is fine to encourage them to play. However, if they join a club or coaching sessions, then it would be worth investing in a one-piece racket.
For starters metal rackets can be very heavy which can put strain on the wrists of a junior, but the feeling is totally different. Racket manufacturers spend millions of pounds on R&D to fine-tune their equipment and the results are very noticeable.
You’ll also find the strings on a cheaper racket are not very good and having them restrung will put a lot of duress on the frame.
My child is too short to serve high with an adult racket because the racket hits the ground. What can I do?
Firstly it would be a worthwhile investment to take a lesson with a badminton coach. They will be able to spot areas for improvement within the serving technique and recommend ways on how to get the best serve possible depending on the player's height and skill level.
If it is a case that a full-size racket is too big for the player in question, it is possible to get a racket with a shorter shaft which would give junior players more control when swinging the racket. Depending on how tall the player is you could opt for something like The Yonex Muscle Power Junior which has really short shaft. The next option up would be something like the VICTOR GJ-7500 or the Adidas Spieler E05-J. These rackets have a slightly longer shaft, but are not full length.