Badminton is a racket sport played in singles or doubles by hitting a shuttlecock across a net. The modern game of badminton has become so popular as it can be played formally indoors in rectangular courts or as a casual outdoor sport in a yard or on the beaches.
More people continue to get started in badminton, and, like any other sport, the first key thing you will be anxious to learn first is how to play the game. But few take a step back to think about important considerations such as the rules of the game, the outfit, appropriate footwear, the choice of racket, shuttlecock, among others.
Badminton is an awesome aerobic game that when you get into it with everything considered, you will enjoy it and even go pro if things pick up well. That said, every seasoned badminton player will tell you that the most important tip to factor in playing badminton is the choice of the racket. The chances of you playing better and enjoying the game depend on whether you get the right racket. Fortunately for you, we have scoured top-notch and trusted best badminton rackets for intermediate players. If you are a person who loves to smash and control we have shown you the best badminton racket for smash and control.
Table of Contents
Here are the best badminton rackets for intermediate players.
Yonex Astrox 77
This is a high-performance racket that is ideal for attack-minded intermediate players. The Yonex Astrox 77 is an attack-oriented model that can deliver powerful and steep smashes in a high-speed game. Considered one of the flagship rackets in the game, it has a range of new tech that guarantees an above average performance every time you step on the court.
With its mass range of 80g to 84g, it lies in the lightweight category. This means that it is easy to control this racket and with minimum effort. And because of its powerful smashes, it is a great choice for intermediate players who rely on power and control in attacking to stun opponents.
Features
- Has a grip size of G5.
- Falls in the 4U weight category.
- Has medium flexibility.
- Has a heavy head balance, which makes it great for attack-minded players in advanced or intermediate to the professional level.
- Has a custom string tension from 20 to 28 lbs.
- The shaft is made of high modulus graphite material.
- It is available in both square and isometric head.
Pros
- The racket is lightweight and requires minimum effort to control.
- It can produce powerful and steep smashes that allow the player to dominate the court.
- It is head light and therefore offers faster reaction and swing speed.
Cons
- The racket is considerably short.
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Yonex Nanoray 750
The Yonex Nanoray 750 is the ideal racket for defensive-minded intermediate players. It provides two crucial advantages; higher repulsion and enhanced swing speed. Yonex has used its latest technology, referred to as Nanometric, that reduces weight and size but increases the racket’s aerodynamic adaptability.
The Nanoray’s power and reaction speed is the perfect racket for intermediate players who overwhelms opponents with stunning shots that force them to the back of the court. Furthermore, the Yonex Nanoray badminton racket is a great choice for players who relies on steep, fast, and powerful smashes while maintaining a strong defensive position.
Features
- Suitable for advanced or intermediate players.
- Has a grip size of G4.
- Has medium flexibility.
- Falls in the 4U weight category of 80 to 84g.
- Headlight balance.
- It is available in both square and isometric head shapes.
- The shaft is made from high modulus graphite X-Fullerene.
Pros
- It is a lightweight, high-performance racket with excellent control.
- Its medium flexibility helps the players generate more power with minimum effort.
- Ideal for players who prefers head light rackets.
- Its excellent repulsion and high swing speed make it the ideal racket for defensive-minded players.
- Has increased muscle power as it utilizes Nanoscience technology.
- Has an enhanced grommet system.
Cons
- The racket does not come pre-stringed.
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Victor Brave Sword 12
The Victor Brave Sword 12 badminton racket is a classic that has remained popular among advanced badminton players for several years. That is down to two fundamental advantages; speed and control. It is a favorite for international players, especially because of its tech that minimizes swing resistance by at least 10%.
The Victor Brave Sword 12 takes a diamond-shaped aerodynamic design that makes it cut through the air and minimize resistance. By doing so, its maneuverability is increased because the shape of the shaft makes it more responsive to movements.
The racket’s responsiveness makes it suitable for defensive as well as attack-minded players. As it cuts through the air, a player is able to move the shuttle quickly back to the opponent. Besides, the lightweight head of the racket makes it easy to launch the shuttle with minimum effort. In terms of gameplay, the Victor Brave Sword 12 badminton racket is a great choice for a high-speed doubles game where nimbleness and precision are required.
Features
- The shaft is made from ultra-high modulus graphite nano resin material.
- Has a custom string tension.
- The racket has a neutral or even balance.
- It is available in both square and isometric head shapes.
- Has medium flexibility.
- Has a grip size of G5.
- Falls in the 4U weight class from 80 to 84g.
- Has an all-around swing speed.
Pros
- It is a great all-around choice of racket for both defensive and attack-oriented players.
- It is ideal for doubles game as it offers excellent precision.
- The racket even balance offers exceptional speed and control.
Cons
- It is not necessarily the best at powering steep shorts.
- The racket is comparatively expensive.
See the price on Amazon Victor Brave Sword 12 badminton racket
LI-NING 2018 XiPhOS X1
The LI-NING 2018 XiPhOS X1 White badminton racket features a box type frame designed for offensive, strongly defensive, and control-oriented intermediate players to pro players. These fundamental advantages, coupled with its all-white appearance, gives this racket a mix of elegance and technicality.
The racket is made from military-grade carbon fiber that makes it strong for powering shots to the opponent. The carbon fiber ensures strength and blends with high-performance gameplay with the racket’s great aerodynamics.
The racket has a flat head that attack-minded players can take advantage of to power smashes with incredible precision. Besides being a great choice for singles and doubles, the racket is especially perfect for players who rely on powerful and versatile gameplay.
Features
- Has a grip size of G2.
- Falls in the 3U weight category of 85 to 89g.
- Has medium flexibility.
- Has a head heavy balance, which makes it great for attack-minded and all-round versatile players in advanced or intermediate to the pro level.
- Has a custom string tension from 20 to 28 lbs.
- The shaft is made of high modulus military-grade carbon fiber.
- It is available in both square and isometric head.
Pros
- It can produce powerful and steep smashes that allow the player to dominate the court.
- It is head heavy and therefore offers faster reaction and swing speed.
- It has an improved drive.
- It is quite comfortable to play with.
Cons
- The racket’s shaft is not as responsive.
See the price on Amazon LI-NING 2018 XiPhOS X1 badminton racket
Yonex Voltric Glanz
The Yonex Voltric Glanz badminton racket is designed using the latest technologies in the industry. Every badminton player derives more satisfaction from being able to send the shuttle farthest. This is what you get with this racket.
With this racket, players with strong pronation and supination will be able to twist the racket upwards with speed and experience immediate acceleration in the shuttle’s speed upon impact. On the other hand, players with less pronation and supination power would find it hard to change the racket angle and experience little shuttle acceleration.
Regardless, the frame of the racket has quite a high torque that is necessary to send shots farthest. The Yonex Voltric Glanz allows players to power shots they want regardless of their wrist strength. The racket has medium flexibility and 83 grams shaft designed with Nanometric graphite material. Moreover, Yonex has incorporated the Rexel Fiber that enhances the racket’s ability to repulse and absorb shock. It is an ideal racket designed for attack-oriented intermediate players.
Features
- The racket has a grip size of G4.
- It falls in the 4U weight category of 80 to 84g.
- The racket is highly flexible.
- Has a head heavy balance, which makes it great for attack-minded and all-round versatile players in the advanced or intermediate level.
- Has a custom string tension from 20 to 28 lbs.
- The shaft is made of high modulus nanometric graphite material.
- It is available in both square and isometric head.
Pros
- It can produce powerful and steep smashes that allow the player to dominate the court.
- It is head heavy and therefore offers faster reaction and swing speed.
- It has an improved drive.
Cons
- The racket’s frame does not come pre-stringed.
See the price on Amazon Yonex Voltric Glanz badminton racket
Yonex Duora 7
The Yonex Duora 7 has been designed using cutting-edge technology that allows the player to command the court. It has been a favorite for many players since its introduction in 2016. This racket is great for easy forehands and backhands. With its design, the racket lets players do both with seamless ease.
The racket’s revolutionary design is a perfect fit for players who are looking for fast backhand drives and quick smashing power. It is designed with materials originally meant for the next-generation space aviation. It is renowned as being the first racket to use these materials developed by Toray Industries.
Weighing 88 grams, the racket comes custom-strung. This means that you will get value for your buck. The racket is great for attack-oriented players, as well as for high-performance gameplay. It has medium flexibility and a stiff head that allows players to hit powerful and steep smashes.
Features
- The racket has a grip size of G4.
- It falls in the 3U weight category of 85 to 89g.
- The racket has medium flexibility.
- Has a neutral or even balance, which makes it great for attack-minded, defensive-minded, and all-round versatile players in the advanced or intermediate level.
- Has a custom string tension from 20 to 28 lbs.
- The shaft is made from ultra-high-modulus nanometric graphite material.
- It is available in both square and isometric head.
Pros
- The racket can produce powerful and steep smashes that allow the player to dominate the court.
- It has a neutral or even balance and therefore offers faster reaction and swing speed.
- It comes pre-strung.
- It has great room for excellent smashes.
Cons
- This racket is excellent in all aspects but leaves more to be desired on its aerodynamics.
See the price on Amazon Yonex Duora 7 badminton racket
The bottom line
Among all the factors involved in getting started with badminton, choosing the best badminton racket is the hardest task. A badminton racket is one of the single most important pieces of equipment in the sport. There are limitless types of rackets on the market and from different manufacturers. But with the wide variety of technologies involved, features, attributes, and costs, it is fairly difficult to identify the ideal racket for your level of gameplay.
There are rackets designed for beginners, intermediate players, and pro players. In this section, we have explored the best six rackets that suit the gameplay for intermediate players. By the way, if you are a beginner we have brought you the best badminton racket for beginners also. They are designed with the latest technologies, and every detail about these rackets is cutting-edge. And whereas some might find these rackets a bit pricey for their capacities, you will nonetheless be guaranteed a return of value for your buck because you will experience unrivaled performance that will eventually justify their price tags.
From the Yonex Astrox 77 badminton racket, Yonex Nanoray 750, Victor Brave Sword 12, LI-NING 2018 XiPhOS X1 White, Yonex Voltric Glanz to the Yonex Duora 7, you have a list of badminton rackets you can pick from. Although it just depends on your preference and how deep you will be willing to go to have one of those best badminton rackets for intermediate players in your possession.