Badminton Blog

Yonex badminton shoes explained: Aerus, Eclipsion, 65 and Strider ranges, what Power Cushion does and which model suits your game. UK prices and picks.

Official badminton net height is 1.524m at the centre and 1.55m at the posts. Full UK net and court dimensions, setup tips and kit from Central Sports.

What are non-marking shoes? How to test a pair you already own, why UK sports halls insist on them, and the best in-stock court shoes at Central Sports.

Badminton racket bag guide for UK players: what 3R, 6R and 9R really mean, whether thermal linings work, plus in-stock picks from just GBP 7.99.

Badminton doubles rules explained simply: who serves, which service court, rotation, scoring to 21 and the faults club players get wrong.

A badminton court is 13.4m x 6.1m for doubles and 5.18m wide for singles. Full UK dimensions, net heights and line markings explained.

Find a badminton court near you in the UK. Where to play, how to book, 2026 court hire costs and the kit you need for your first session.

Arcsaber is the control range. Astrox is built for power, Nanoflare for speed, and Arcsaber sits deliberately between them — an even-balance frame designed to hold the shuttle on the strings a fraction longer and put it exactly where you meant to. It is the smallest of the three Yonex families and the easiest to explain. Central Sports is the official retailer of the Yonex All England Championships, and most Arcsaber frames come with a free restring to your chosen tension. The tier system Arcsaber uses the same four tiers as the rest of the range: Play — entry level, pre-strung, forgiving. Game — a step up in materials and stiffness. Tour — near-Pro feel at a lower price. Usually the best value. Pro — full specification, stiffest shaft, least forgiving. The Arcsaber range, model by model Arcsaber 11 — the flagship The frame the range is built around, and a genuine all-court racket. Even balance, a stiff shaft in the Pro version, and the most consistent feel of any Yonex frame if you value placement over raw power. The 11 Pro is the full specification, available in both 3U and 4U. The 11 Play is the entry version and one of the best-value serious rackets Yonex make — a genuinely good frame at a beginner price. Arcsaber 7 — the accessible all-rounder More flexible than the 11, which makes it easier to generate power without a fast swing. If you like the idea of an even-balance control racket but are not yet playing at a high level, this is the one. Available as 7 Play, 7 Tour and 7 Pro, with limited-edition colourways appearing regularly. Arcsaber 73 Light and Arcsaber 2 Clear — entry level Light, flexible and affordable. The 73 Light suits juniors and players returning after a break; the 2 Clear is a straightforward first racket. Which Arcsaber should you buy? Complete beginner: Arcsaber 2 Clear or 73 Light. Improving, playing weekly: Arcsaber 7 Play or 11 Play. Club player who values placement: Arcsaber 7 Tour. County level, all-court game: Arcsaber 11 Pro or 7 Pro. Who Arcsaber is really for Three types of player, in our experience across the counter: Singles players with an all-court game who need one racket to do everything rather than specialise. Players who have tried both extremes — found Astrox too sluggish through the air and Nanoflare too light to hit with — and want the middle. Anyone still deciding what kind of player they are. An even-balance frame will not fight you while you work it out, and you will not outgrow it in a season. The Arcsaber 11 Play in particular is the racket we hand to people who say "I don't know what I need yet". It is forgiving enough for a club player and good enough that you will not need to replace it the moment you improve. Weights and grip sizes Arcsaber frames come mostly in 3U (85–89g) and 4U (80–84g). 4U suits doubles and faster exchanges; 3U gives a more solid feel and suits singles. Grip sizes run G4 (larger) to G6 (smaller), with G5 the usual adult default. Arcsaber FAQs What is Arcsaber good for?Control and placement. It is an even-balance range built for all-court players who want the shuttle to go exactly where they intend, rather than maximum power or maximum speed. Arcsaber, Astrox or Nanoflare?Astrox for power, Nanoflare for speed, Arcsaber for control and all-court play. If you are unsure which you need, Arcsaber is the safest choice. Is the Arcsaber 11 Play worth it?Yes — it is one of the best-value rackets in the Yonex range. You get the flagship frame shape at an entry price, with a more forgiving shaft. What is the difference between Arcsaber 7 and 11?The 11 is stiffer and more precise but demands better timing. The 7 is more flexible and easier to generate power with. Most club players get more from the 7. Browse the full Yonex Arcsaber range, compare it with Astrox and Nanoflare, or see all badminton rackets. Free restringing included with most Arcsaber frames — tell us your tension at checkout.

Nanoflare is the speed range. Where Astrox puts mass in the head to hit harder, Nanoflare takes it out to move faster — quicker blocks at the net, faster drives, easier defence against a heavy smash. This guide explains how the range is organised and which model fits your game. Central Sports is the official retailer of the Yonex All England Championships, and most Nanoflare frames come with a free restring to your chosen tension. The tier system, first Nanoflare uses the same four tiers as the rest of the Yonex range: Play — entry level, pre-strung, forgiving. Game — better materials, a step up in stiffness. Tour — close to the Pro feel at a real saving. Usually the value pick. Pro — full specification, stiffest shaft, least forgiving. A Nanoflare 800 Play and a Nanoflare 800 Pro share a purpose but not a demand level. If your technique is still developing, the Play or Game version will give you more, not less. The Nanoflare range, model by model Nanoflare 1000 Z — the fastest frame Yonex make The flagship. Extremely head-light with a stiff shaft, built for players whose racket speed is already high. It rewards clean, compact swings and punishes lazy ones. Also available as 1000 Tour, 1000 Game and 1000 Play as you come down the tiers. Nanoflare 800 — speed with more substance Slightly more balanced than the 1000, with a bit more weight through the head. It is the model most serious doubles players end up on, because it keeps the speed while giving you something to hit with. The 800 Pro is the full build; 800 Tour, 800 Game and 800 Play step down. Nanoflare 700 — the accessible speed racket A more flexible shaft makes this the easiest Nanoflare to play with. Genuinely fast in the hand but forgiving enough for a club player. This is the one we recommend most often to people who want a speed racket but are not playing county badminton. Available as 700 Pro, 700 Tour, 700 Game and 700 Play, with limited-edition colourways appearing regularly. Nanoflare Nextage — the step-up frame Built as the bridge between a first racket and a serious one. Moderate stiffness, head-light balance, easy to use. If you have outgrown a beginner racket and know you prefer speed to power, start here rather than jumping to an 800. Nanoflare 001, 002 and E13 — entry level Light, flexible and affordable. The 001 Clear, 002 Clear and 002 Feel suit beginners and juniors; the E13 is the budget starting point. Which Nanoflare should you buy? Complete beginner: Nanoflare E13, 001 Clear or 002 Clear. Improving, playing weekly: Nanoflare Nextage or 700 Play. Club player, front-court doubles: Nanoflare 700 Tour or 800 Game. County level, fast hands: Nanoflare 800 Pro or 700 Pro. Advanced, very high racket speed: Nanoflare 1000 Z. Nanoflare or Astrox? The honest answer is that it depends on where you lose points. If you are getting beaten by pace at the net and struggling to defend smashes, you want Nanoflare. If your defence is fine but your smash lacks weight and your clears fall short, you want Astrox. If neither is obviously true, Arcsaber sits between the two and is the safest choice. Doubles pairs often split it: the rear-court player takes an Astrox, the front-court player takes a Nanoflare. Weights and grip sizes Nanoflare frames come mostly in 4U (80–84g) and 5U (75–79g). 5U is unusually light and suits juniors, players with wrist or shoulder problems, and anyone who prioritises hand speed above all else. Grip sizes run G4 to G6, with G5 the usual adult default. Nanoflare FAQs Is Nanoflare good for beginners?The entry models are. Head-light rackets are generally easier for beginners to control than head-heavy ones. Avoid the Pro tiers until your technique is consistent. What is the difference between Nanoflare 700 and 800?The 800 is stiffer with slightly more weight in the head, so it hits with more authority but demands a faster swing. The 700 is more flexible and easier to use. What does 4U and 5U mean?Racket weight. 4U is 80–84g, 5U is 75–79g. Lower numbers are heavier: 3U is 85–89g. Is Nanoflare only for doubles?No, but it suits doubles more naturally because of the faster exchanges. Singles players who rely on speed and retrieval rather than power do well with it too. Browse the full Yonex Nanoflare range, compare it with Astrox and Arcsaber, or see all badminton rackets. Free restringing included with most Nanoflare frames — tell us your tension at checkout.