One of the quickest racquet sports in the world, badminton requires you to throw your arm at the shuttle with great speed. Injuries to the shoulders are frequently sustained by players as a result of these aggressive actions. There is a higher likelihood of developing persistent shoulder issues the more you play. Sports injuries are the devil; they can cause anguish and frustration while slowly reducing your enjoyment. So I made the decision to research the possibility of injury from a badminton racquet.
I have carefully read the literature on racquet science, and a few key concepts seem to be connected to the way that playing with specific badminton racquets might cause injuries.
Work was the first concept that came to mind. Work is the amount of energy needed to generate a particular shuttle speed. It gauges the badminton racquet’s effectiveness. Less effort is required the more effective your badminton racket is. Hence, a low work racket is advantageous for you. A high work racquet is problematic because it requires more effort to shuttle at the same pace. Consider the power of labour as the racket.
Shock, or the loading of the racquet from a quick change in kinetic energy, is another important concept. It has to do with how slowly the racket slows down when the shuttlecock hits it. Some of the impact energy is transferred to the shuttle after it has been lost, and the remaining energy is used to bend the frame. If the frame is too rigid, it won’t be able to absorb this energy; instead, your arm will be struck by it. High shock is harmful to wounds.
According to research, a heavy racquet with a head light balance is the optimum kind to utilize to generate the most power. It is simpler to swing when there is more mass near to the handle. It becomes more challenging to swing when there is more mass at the tip. Consider how challenging it would be to swing a sledgehammer with all that weight on one end. Now, it is much simpler to swing the sledgehammer if you hold it with the weight in your hands.
When it comes to weight, there are two schools of thinking. Some claim that a light racket will enable you to swing more quickly and, as a result, generate more impact velocity, leading in a faster shuttle speed. On the other hand, a heavy racket will impact with more mass while having a slower swing speed, and this additional mass will generate the required shuttle speed. However, in a collision, momentum is what matters.
Because the lightweight racket slows down so quickly after impact, your shoulder will be under more strain. With light racquets, you have to put forth more effort to achieve shuttle speed. Less control results from faster swing speeds. Compared to a heavier one, this lightweight racket will eventually break your arm. Less effort is required of you because the hefty racket will not slow down significantly after impact.
All racket sports today follow the modern trend of using light rackets with a head-heavy balance. This seems like a fantastic combo to generate power at first glance. The racket will be able to smash through the shuttle on impact if it has more mass at the top. However, it is more challenging to swing when the tip has more mass. Recall the sledgehammer illustration? To obtain the same shuttle speed as a heavy, head-light racquet, you have to exert more effort on your part. Furthermore, head-heavy rackets have a sluggish, lethargic feel.
The lowdown is as follows… The optimal head weight for performance and injury prevention is light and heavy.
I examined the balance and weight requirements for Yonex, the most well-known badminton maker, as an illustration. There isn’t a single Yonex model with a head-light balance; several of them, such the muscle power series, are head heavy, while the nanospeed series seems to be slightly head heavy. The fact that many of these rackets have strong frames, which increase vibration, makes them much more dangerous for injuries.
What can you do, therefore, to turn your racket into a potent weapon that can stop injuries?
The handle should be heavier. By including more grip tape, you can achieve this. If you’re the type of player who purchases a racket and then overgrips it heavily on the handle, you’ve probably altered the balance point without even realizing it. Another tiny trick is lead tape, which is supposed to be applied to the racket head. A head-heavy balance will result from this. Many athletes use this tape because they think it will increase their strength. We now know that the only thing this lead tape will do is make it harder for you to swing the bat and endanger your shoulder the most. I’d get some of this tape, put it on the handle, and then place the overgrip on top of it.
Make sure you are aware of all the specifications, including weight and balance, the next time you purchase a new badminton racket. Indicate the desired weight and balancing point. Your playing career may be extended, and you may stay injury-free.