Most adult intermediate badminton players in the UK should string their racket at 24–26 lbs on Yonex BG65, Nanogy 95 or Aerosonic. Beginners should stay at 22–24 lbs to avoid arm strain. Advanced attackers using premium polyurethane strings (BG65 Ti, Aerobite Boost, BG66 Force) can go to 28–30 lbs for sharper smashes and tighter control. The right tension depends on three things: your skill level, your string choice, and your play style. This guide explains how to choose, written by the in-house stringers at Central Sports — the appointed retailer of the Yonex All England Championships.
What is badminton string tension and why does it matter?
String tension is the force in pounds (lbs) used to tighten the badminton string when it’s pulled across the frame. A racket can be strung anywhere from 17 lbs to 35+ lbs; the chosen tension fundamentally changes how the racket plays.
Lower tension means more string movement when the shuttle hits the bed — the string “catches” the shuttle longer, generates easier power, and is more forgiving on off-centre hits. The trade-off: less control, less repulsion feel, and the strings break less from notching but more from over-stretching.
Higher tension creates a stiffer string bed. The shuttle leaves the strings faster, you get a crisper feel, sharper smashes, more control on net shots. The trade-off: less easy power (you have to generate it yourself), unforgiving sweet spot, and shorter string life due to notching.
The right tension is the one that matches your stroke speed and string choice. Over-tensioning a beginner is the single most common stringing mistake in UK clubs — it causes arm strain, breaks technique development, and shortens string life.
Recommended badminton string tension by skill level
Beginners and improving players (first 12 months)
22–24 lbs. Forgiving, easier to generate power, gentler on the arm and shoulder. Beginners do not have the swing speed to extract value from higher tensions and will fatigue or strain the arm if forced. Pair with a durable multifilament like Yonex BG65 (the world’s best-selling badminton string).
Intermediate club players (1–3 years experience)
24–26 lbs. The sweet spot for most adult club competitors. Provides enough crispness for a developed stroke without the harshness of pro-level tensions. Pair with BG65, Nanogy 95, BG66 Ultimax, or Aerosonic.
Advanced and tournament players
26–29 lbs. Tighter control, sharper smashes, faster feel. Demands a fully developed stroke. Pair with premium thin strings like Aerobite, BG66 Force, Exbolt 63 or 65, or Aerosonic.
Pro and county-level competitors
29–32+ lbs. Maximum control and shot precision. Only viable on premium polyurethane strings (Aerobite Boost, BG65 Ti, Exbolt 65) with frequent restringing. Tension drift becomes significant within hours of play at this level.
| Skill level | Recommended tension | Recommended string |
|---|---|---|
| Junior / very beginner | 20–22 lbs | BG65, Mavis nylon-pro |
| Beginner adult | 22–24 lbs | BG65, Nanogy 95 |
| Intermediate club | 24–26 lbs | BG65, Aerosonic, BG66 Ultimax |
| Advanced | 26–29 lbs | Aerobite, BG66 Force, Exbolt 63/65 |
| Pro / county | 29–32+ lbs | Aerobite Boost, BG65 Ti, Exbolt 65 |
Recommended tension by string type
Different strings respond differently to the same tension. Thin polyurethane strings tolerate higher tension; thicker multifilaments do not.
Yonex BG65 (the all-rounder)
0.70mm multifilament. Repulsion-focused, durable, forgiving. Best at 22–26 lbs. Above 27 lbs the string loses its trademark power feel and breaks faster. The most-strung badminton string in the world.
Yonex Nanogy 95
0.69mm advanced multifilament with nano-coating. Crisper feel than BG65. Best at 24–27 lbs. A good intermediate step-up from BG65.
Yonex Aerosonic
0.61mm ultra-thin. Sharp repulsion, very crisp sound, less durable. Best at 24–28 lbs. Favoured by attacking players who want speed but not the cost of Aerobite.
Yonex BG66 Ultimax
0.65mm polyurethane. Outstanding repulsion, durable for its thickness. Best at 25–28 lbs. A long-time tournament favourite.
Yonex Aerobite and Aerobite Boost
Hybrid strings — 0.61mm vertical strings and 0.67mm horizontal for control plus power. Best at 26–30 lbs. The string set that wins multiple World Championship singles titles.
Yonex Exbolt 63 and Exbolt 65
0.63mm and 0.65mm. Yonex’s newest premium repulsion strings. Best at 26–30 lbs. The choice of many top-100 doubles pros.
Yonex BG65 Ti
BG65 with titanium coating. Slightly crisper than standard BG65. Best at 24–28 lbs.
Browse the Yonex badminton string range.
Tension by playing style
Power and singles attackers
Higher tension (26–30 lbs) on thin polyurethane strings (Aerobite, BG66 Force, Exbolt 65) gives the crisp, fast string-bed exit needed for sharp smashes and aggressive clears. The stiffer bed transfers more swing speed directly to the shuttle.
Doubles defenders and speed players
Mid-to-high tension (25–28 lbs) on responsive strings (Nanogy 95, Aerosonic, BG66 Ultimax) for quick string response on rapid defensive blocks and drives.
All-round and control players
Mid tension (24–26 lbs) on balanced strings (BG65, Nanogy 95) for predictable response across the spectrum of shots from drops to clears.
Beginners and recreational players
Lower tension (22–24 lbs) on forgiving durable strings (BG65, Yonex BG3) for easier power generation and longer string life.
How tension changes over time
Badminton string tension drops the moment your racket comes off the stringing machine. Expect a 4–8% drop in the first 24–48 hours as the string settles and the frame relaxes. Most experienced stringers compensate by pre-stretching the string or stringing 1–2 lbs higher than the requested tension to account for this drop.
Beyond the initial drop, tension continues to fall slowly. After 30–60 hours of play, the string is significantly slacker than original spec even before it breaks. Tournament players restring every 8–15 hours to keep tension consistent.
Signs your tension is wrong
Tension too low
- Shuttle feels “trampolined” off the strings
- Lack of control on net shots and drops
- Strings move and twist visibly
- Hard to place clears accurately
- String life shorter than expected (early breakage from string saw-through)
Tension too high
- Arm fatigue, wrist soreness or elbow pain after sessions
- Vibration through the handle on off-centre hits
- Loss of power even on solid hits
- Shuttle drops short on clears
- Strings break suddenly from grommet notching rather than wearing through
If you notice these symptoms, drop tension by 2 lbs at the next restring.
How often should you restring?
The general guideline: restring as many times per year as you play per week. Once-a-week players restring annually; three-times-a-week players restring three times a year; daily players restring every 4–6 weeks. Always restring at the first sign of fraying, notching at the grommets, or significant tension loss — playing on dead strings reduces shot quality and risks frame damage where strings have sawed into the grommets.
Restringing at Central Sports
Central Sports is the UK’s longest-running specialist badminton stringer with stringing teams at our Coventry, Birmingham and Milton Keynes stores. We use Yonex Stringing Team-trained stringers and electronic constant-pull machines for repeatable tension across full job.
- Free professional restringing included on most premium Yonex, Victor and Li-Ning rackets (typically £100+)
- Same-day turnaround for in-store visits
- 24-hour turnaround for postal restringing
- Full Yonex string library in stock — BG65, BG65 Ti, BG66 Ultimax, BG66 Force, Nanogy 95, Nanogy 98, Aerosonic, Aerobite, Aerobite Boost, Exbolt 63, Exbolt 65
- Stringing for non-Yonex rackets including Victor, Li-Ning, Babolat, Hundred, Apacs, JNICE
Browse strings · Speak to our stringers · Read our full badminton racket buying guide.
Frequently asked questions
What is the best string tension for badminton in the UK?
For most adult intermediate club players in the UK, 24–26 lbs on Yonex BG65, Nanogy 95 or Aerosonic. Beginners should stay at 22–24 lbs to avoid arm strain. Advanced attackers using premium thin strings (Aerobite, BG66 Force, Exbolt 65) can go up to 28–30 lbs.
Is higher tension always better?
No. Higher tension only helps if your stroke is fast enough to extract value from the stiffer string bed. Beginners stringing high tension lose easy power, gain nothing in control they can use, and risk arm strain. Match tension to your skill, not your aspirations.
What tension do pros use?
Top international singles players typically string between 30 and 35 lbs, often on Aerobite Boost or Exbolt 65. These tensions are only viable on premium polyurethane strings with stringing every 8–15 hours of play. Club players who copy pro tensions on standard strings will break strings rapidly and risk arm injury.
Can I string a Yonex racket above the recommended max tension?
The manufacturer rating on the frame is conservative and accounts for stringer skill variation. Most modern Yonex frames will safely take 2–3 lbs above the printed max if strung by a competent stringer. We will not string above 5 lbs over manufacturer max under any circumstances — the frame voids warranty and risks cracking.
Why does my string break so fast?
Three common causes: tension too low (strings saw through each other), badly worn grommets cutting strings prematurely, or off-centre hits on a sweet spot too small for your skill level. If strings break inside 4–6 weeks, ask our stringers to inspect your frame for grommet damage and consider a slightly heavier or thicker string.
BG65 or Aerosonic — which should I choose?
BG65 for value, durability and easy power — the right choice for intermediate club players and the most-strung string in the world. Aerosonic for sharper smashes, crisper sound, and faster string response — the right choice for attacking players who don’t mind shorter string life. Aerosonic is thinner (0.61mm vs 0.70mm) so it breaks faster.
Does Central Sports offer free restringing?
Yes — free professional restringing is included on most premium Yonex, Victor and Li-Ning rackets (typically £100+). On lower-price rackets restringing is heavily discounted. Same-day turnaround at our Coventry, Birmingham and Milton Keynes branches; 24-hour postal turnaround.
How long does a fresh string last?
A typical Yonex BG65 stringing job lasts 30–60 hours of play for a club intermediate before it noticeably loses tension or breaks. Aerobite-class strings often last 20–40 hours due to their thinner gauge. Tournament players restring every 8–15 hours regardless of breakage to maintain consistent tension.