Gear care · RacketIQ

A little care makes kit last longer and play better. The essentials, by category.

🏸 Rackets

Never leave your racket in a hot car or on a sunny windowsill — heat can warp the frame and soften the glue holding it together.
Check the grommets (the little plastic eyelets the strings pass through) now and then, and replace any that are cracked before they fray your strings.
Store your racket in a cover or a padded bag to protect it from knocks, dust, and sudden temperature changes.
Try not to clash rackets with your partner in doubles — even a small crack in the frame can turn into a snapped racket later.
Wipe the frame and handle down after play so sweat and grime don't build up over time.
If you spot a crack anywhere on the frame, stop using the racket — playing on a damaged frame risks it breaking mid-shot.

A handy rule of thumb: restring as many times a year as you play per week. So if you play twice a week, restring about twice a year — even if nothing's snapped.
String tension drops gradually as the strings stretch, so your racket can feel dead and powerless long before a string actually breaks.
Higher tension gives more control but less power, and it's harder on your arm — so beginners are usually better off starting low and working up.
If a string breaks, cut the rest out promptly — leaving a racket half-strung puts uneven pressure on the frame.
Keep a note of the tension you liked so you can ask for the same again, or tweak it, next time you restring.

Use only non-marking indoor court shoes — soles that won't leave scuff marks. A lot of gyms ban anything else and will turn you away.
Never wear running shoes or outdoor shoes on court — their soles grip poorly, and badminton's quick sideways movement can lead to slips and ankle injuries.
Keep a dedicated pair for indoor play only — grit from the sidewalk ruins the grip and can scratch the court.
Let your shoes air out and dry fully between sessions instead of leaving them sealed in a bag — that keeps odor and dampness down.
Replace your shoes once the tread wears smooth or the cushioning feels flat underfoot — even if the uppers still look fine. Worn soles lose grip and support.
If the soles feel slippery, wipe them with a slightly damp cloth before play — dust on the sole is a common cause of slipping.

Feather shuttles are delicate and break easily, so handle them gently — and expect to go through several in a single competitive session.
Feathers are sensitive to humidity — in dry conditions they dry out and turn brittle, which makes them snap sooner.
To revive a brittle tube of feathers, hold the open tube over the steam from a kettle for a little while — that puts some moisture back into the feathers.
Rotate the shuttles you're using during a session so the wear spreads out, instead of wrecking one shuttle fast.
Store shuttles flat in their tube somewhere cool, and keep them away from hot or very dry spots like a heater vent.
Want shuttles that last far longer and cost less over time? Synthetic (nylon) shuttles are a smart choice for casual and beginner play — they just fly a little differently from feathers.

An overgrip is a thin extra layer wrapped over the handle — the cheapest, easiest thing to refresh. Replace it as soon as it feels slick or slippery.
Towel grips — the soft, cloth-style ones that soak up sweat — should be swapped out once they harden or stop absorbing, since they hold onto moisture and bacteria.
Sweaty hands wear grips out faster, so if you sweat a lot, keep a spare overgrip or two in your bag.
Wash your hands before playing to keep oils and dirt off the grip, which helps it last a little longer.
When you wrap a new overgrip, overlap each turn slightly and keep it firm — but not stretched to the breaking point — for a smooth, even feel.