How to Restring a Badminton Racket: A Guide for India
When to restring, what string and tension to pick, and whether to DIY or use a stringer — a practical India guide to restringing your racket.
How to restring a badminton racket: a guide for India
Restringing a badminton racket is one of the most overlooked parts of the game, yet it has a bigger effect on how you play than almost any other tweak. Strings lose tension and break with use, and a freshly strung racket feels sharper, more responsive and more controlled. This guide explains when to restring a badminton racket, how to choose string and tension, and what it costs in India — whether you do it yourself or hand it to a stringer.
When should you restring?
The simple rule: restring as many times per year as you play per week. A twice-a-week club player should restring at least twice a year, even if the string has not snapped. Strings lose tension steadily, so a racket can feel dead and mushy long before anything breaks. Obvious triggers are a snapped string, a noticeably softer feel, visible fraying, or a duller sound on contact. If you have not restrung in over a year, your racket is almost certainly underperforming.
Choosing badminton string
String is where you tune feel. Thinner strings (around 0.66–0.70 mm) like the Yonex Exbolt 68 String at ₹969 give more repulsion and crisper feel but break sooner; thicker strings (0.70 mm and up) last longer and suit hard hitters and beginners. A reliable all-rounder such as the Li-Ning No. 7 Badminton String at ₹399 is a sensible, value choice for club players who want durability without overthinking it. Decide what matters most to you — power and feel, or durability — and pick accordingly. Most players settle on one string they trust and stick with it.
What tension should you string at?
Tension is measured in pounds (lbs). Beginners are best at lower tensions — around 20–23 lbs — which give a larger sweet spot and more power for less effort. Intermediate players often move to 24–26 lbs for more control, while advanced players who generate their own power go higher. Higher tension means more control but a smaller sweet spot and faster string breakage, and it transmits more shock to the arm. If you are unsure, start lower; you can always go up a couple of pounds next time.
DIY vs a professional stringer
Restringing well requires a proper stringing machine that holds the frame and maintains constant tension — hand-stringing or makeshift methods can warp the frame. Unless you string often and own a machine, the smarter option in India is to take the racket to a trusted stringer or pro shop, where a restring typically costs a few hundred rupees plus the string. Keep the racket in a cover and bring your preferred string and tension written down so you get a consistent result every time.
Should you repair or replace?
If a single string snaps, you must replace the whole string bed, not knot a repair — uneven tension damages the frame. If the racket itself is a basic starter model, compare the restring cost with a new racket. Affordable options like the Cosco CB 86 Twin Badminton Racket at ₹702 (a twin pack) or the Transform Hydra Super Power Badminton Racket at ₹1374 can make replacement the better value for a casual player. For a mid-range or premium frame you love, restringing is almost always worth it.
The bottom line
Restring as often as you play per week, choose a string that matches your priority of feel versus durability, and start at a sensible 20–23 lbs if you are a beginner. Use a proper stringer or machine for a consistent, frame-safe job. A well-strung racket is the cheapest performance upgrade in badminton — and the one most players ignore for far too long.
Shop the gear
- Li-Ning No. 7 Badminton String — ₹399
- Yonex Exbolt 68 String — ₹969
- Cosco CB 86 Twin Badminton Racket — ₹702
- Transform Hydra Super Power Badminton Racket — ₹1374
Related reading
- Badminton String Tension Explained: A Buying Guide for India
- How to Choose a Badminton Racket: Weight, Balance and Flex Explained
- Badminton Grips and Overgrips: A Buying Guide for India
Frequently asked questions
How often should I restring my badminton racket?
A good rule is to restring as many times per year as you play per week. A twice-a-week player should restring at least twice a year. Strings lose tension over time, so restring when the racket feels soft or dead even if nothing has snapped — not just when a string breaks.
What string tension is best for a beginner?
Beginners should start around 20–23 lbs. Lower tension gives a larger sweet spot and more effortless power, which suits developing players. As your technique improves you can move up to 24–26 lbs for more control, accepting a smaller sweet spot and slightly faster string wear.
Can I restring a badminton racket myself at home?
Doing it well needs a proper stringing machine that grips the frame and holds constant tension; hand-stringing risks warping the frame and gives uneven tension. Unless you string often and own a machine, it is cheaper and safer to use a trusted stringer or pro shop in India.