Badminton players seeking strings that both feel great and last will find synthetic gut to be the ideal solution. Proper string tensioning and cleaning will extend its longevity.
Polyester strings may feel stiffer compared to natural gut or multifilament strings, so beginners may take some time to adapt. But these versatile materials offer great power and spin potential at arm-friendly tensions – and that can only mean good things!
Endurance Redefined
Today’s badminton players can choose from an extensive array of string materials to meet their individual playing styles. While natural gut strings have long been preferred by professional players, recreational players often favor synthetic ones due to their superior durability and cost-effectiveness. One such type of synthetic string is multifilament strings made up of multiple layers of nylon wrapped around a core, then coated with special material to improve playability and reduce string breakage.
These strings can help players maximize their spin potential while still enjoying a natural string experience, but some players may find them too soft or lacking power – as such, an alternative option would be using hybrid synthetic strings with poly main string technology.
Synthetic gut strings are composed of a special kind of collagen designed to withstand the strain and movement of racquet strings, usually extracted from cow intestines but sometimes also sheep or goat intestines. Once extracted, string fibers are dried out before weaving them together into an actual string for use – typically they’re less costly than natural gut while providing similar elasticity levels.
Manufacturers add materials like Vectran, Kevlar or Zyex to badminton strings in order to increase strength and durability, providing balance among stiffness, tensile strength, elasticity and abrasion resistance as well as humidity resistance. These newer materials may even include those specially developed to resist humidity effects on string performance.
While synthetic gut strings still outshone polyester strings for durability and performance, restringing your racket at least twice per year, or more often depending on your level of play is recommended to maintain optimal responsiveness. When it comes time for restringing your racquet be sure to switch out both main string as well as cross string as part of this process.
Resistant to Tension Loss
Durable badminton strings not only enhance your game, but they can also reduce the frequency of breakage. Though its lifespan ultimately depends on how frequently and what type of racket you use, there are certain key considerations when selecting materials which can withstand intense hits.
Natural gut strings, made from cow intestines, offer low dynamic stiffness for increased ball control without losing power or increasing impact shock. Unfortunately, natural gut can fray easily under damp conditions leading to costly restrings for amateur players.
Nylon string is an affordable alternative that has similar dynamic properties as natural gut, while boasting greater strength and elasticity. As such, most pros on both ATP and WTA tours use nylon instead, as they can use very high tensions without hindering performance or harming their elbows.
Quality in nylon strings can vary according to the number and angle of its wraps around its core, with multi-wrapped ones considered higher quality as they prevent tension loss that often plagues single-wrapped ones.
Good nylon string shouldn’t lose much tension during its first few days after being strung as it “sets in” to its frame due to moisture absorption and impact load tensile stresses. Once this equilibrium level has been achieved, that string will be considered the ideal one available.
Gamma Sports Live Wire XP is an example of an innovative premium nylon string featuring multi-layered outer core construction for increased stability and crisp feel, along with Vectran, Zyex and Kevlar reinforcements known for their durability – these materials make the Gamma Live Wire XP one of the longest-wearing badminton strings available – though even one wet spot may ruin this string, so it should only be used either as an alternate string or used within hybrid setups for optimal use.
Durable Against Intense Hits
Badminton is an intense game that demands both feel and power from players, but these string types offer these characteristics with an added benefit: durability. These strings can withstand more aggressive hits while still maintaining tension for longer, making them suitable for aggressive styles of play.
Synthetic gut strings is constructed from nylon material designed to mimic the characteristics of natural gut, specifically its elasticity and ability to keep tension constant. These properties make synthetic gut the ideal choice for players seeking crisp, powerful response from their rackets with an excellent combination of control and spin potential.
Synthetic gut is typically an economical choice, making it suitable for beginners who can’t afford the expense of more durable string types. More experienced players may find that synthetic gut doesn’t stand up well against their style of play if they generate lots of spin on every hit.
Nylon strings are the go-to synthetic string choice. While cheap, their playability and tension loss is significantly faster than with other materials. Nylon is often combined with more durable synthetic materials like Vectran, Zyex or Kevlar to increase performance – these include Vectran, Zyex Kevlar or polyolefin being some popular options.
Vectran is a durable material used by Yonex and Victor to add durability to their badminton strings, while Kevlar, another stiff aramid material used by some manufacturers, provides additional strength while being one of the toughest materials available and difficult to break.
Multifilament synthetics are composed of multiple filaments woven together using nylon thread, but may also incorporate other softer materials like polyurethane, Zyex or Kevlar. Polyolefin is typically used as the softest multifilament synthetic and often appears in hybrid sets as cross strings; its softness rivals some Zyex strings but does not hold as much tension than its counterparts; for this reason it often pairs better when combined with polyester main strings as part of hybrid sets.
Versatile
Synthetic gut strings offer consistent performance for players of all experience levels who seek consistent playback, offering both power and feel without breaking the bank. Their versatile nature makes synthetic gut strings an attractive option when upgrading badminton gear without breaking your budget.
Badminton string manufacturers use various polymer yarns in their synthetic gut products, blending them to achieve an ideal balance of properties. Some brands of synthetic gut string use Vectran and Zyex aramids as hard-wearing components to increase stiffness and durability of their offerings – these materials have been popular with Yonex and Wilson badminton equipment manufacturers that incorporate such string into their offerings.
Durable badminton strings tend to be more elastic than other kinds, which allows players with powerful swings to generate more power when striking the ball. Furthermore, these types of string tend to be lighter than alternatives which allows players to reduce overall badminton equipment costs while meeting performance needs.
Synthetic gut strings offer many advantages to badminton racket players, but they do come with some disadvantages that should be carefully considered before making a purchase. They may cause excessive arm fatigue when strung incorrectly and they tend to lose tension more easily when faced with intense play than other kinds of strings do. Furthermore, synthetic gut may not offer as much spin potential.
Though not without their drawbacks, durable badminton strings remain popular options among players on a tight budget. When properly maintained and cared for, synthetic badminton strings can outlive more expensive alternatives and are easy to care for thanks to their resistance against shock. To get the most out of synthetic gut strings and get maximum performance from them, consult with an equipment specialist who can recommend an ideal style and type for you and your playing style.
BG 65 and BG 65 Ti are durable strings and have been used by former world number 1 men’s doubles player Marcus Gideon.