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, as heat can warp the frame and soften the glue holding it together.
Check the grommets (the small 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.
Avoid clashing rackets with your partner in doubles, since even a small crack in the frame can lead to 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, as playing on a damaged frame risks it breaking mid-shot.

A handy rule of thumb is to restring as many times per year as you play per week, so twice-weekly players should restring around twice a year even if nothing has 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 is harder on your arm, so beginners are usually better off starting lower and working up.
If a string breaks, cut the rest out promptly, as leaving a half-strung racket 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, meaning soles that won't leave scuff marks, as many sports halls ban anything else and will turn you away.
Never wear running trainers or outdoor shoes on court, since their soles offer poor grip and the quick sideways movements of badminton can cause slips and ankle injuries.
Keep a dedicated pair just for indoor play and don't wear them outside, as grit from pavements ruins the grip and can scratch the court.
Let your shoes air out and dry fully between sessions rather than leaving them sealed in a bag, which keeps odour and damp at bay.
Replace your shoes once the tread wears smooth or the cushioning feels flat underfoot, even if the uppers still look fine, because worn soles lose grip and support.
Wipe the soles with a slightly damp cloth before play if they feel slippery, as dust on the sole is a common cause of slipping.

Feather shuttles are delicate and break easily, so handle them gently and expect to get through several in a single competitive session.
Feathers are sensitive to humidity, drying out and turning brittle in dry conditions, which makes them snap sooner.
To revive a brittle tube of feather shuttles, hold the open tube over the steam from a kettle for a short while to add moisture back into the feathers.
Rotate the shuttles you're using during a session so the wear is spread out rather than wrecking one shuttle quickly.
Store shuttles flat in their tube somewhere cool, and avoid leaving them in a hot or very dry spot like near a radiator.
If you want shuttles that last far longer and cost less over time, synthetic (nylon) shuttles are a sensible choice for casual and beginner play, though they fly a little differently from feathers.

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