HELP- can I get some good racket advice

[badminton rookie]

Please help
I am an average player and I am starting to play in minor competitions after playing badminton on and off (mainly off until now) for 4 years.
I have bent my current racket- browning exocet Ti about £40- and want to treat myself to a new one.

What do I buy? -the choice is so vast
And where from? (pref online- M&M sports seems to have reasonable rackets at good prices)
:confused:

I'm thinking about £40-£70- is this realistic for a good quality amateur racket?
I am starting to develop a more controlled technique but I still have a fairly forceful playing style.

[smashin']

Well, I was going to let somebody more knowledgable help you out, but seeing how you've yet to get any, I'll throw in my <$.02. I'm not sure exactly what you pounds comes out to be in dollars, but I imagine that you could grab a Yonex Carbonex series racquet in the range you're looking at. I use the CAB 21 and I really like it. Also, maybe some of the lower MP series would do you well, since you say you are a powerful player.

Anyhoo, lemme know what you get and how you like it.

Good luck!

[Loafer]

Hi sam,

I have always used Yonex and I am at a similar standard to yourself I think. I LOVED my Muscle power 100 but they have discontinued it in the UK (robinhood on here has a couple for sale and wants 85 for them)

in terms or WHERE to buy, I would recommend Central Sports (www.centralsports.co.uk (http://www.centralsports.co.uk)) I always get my equipment from them and they offer sound advice, playtests (buy the racket and after 14 days give it back, they either issue you a refund or a brand new racket to keep) and very good prices.

the yonex website (www.yonex.co.uk (http://www.yonex.co.uk)) has a graph showing which rackets suit which playing styles which is good as a guide.

Racket selection is a very personal choice, so although I have been harping on about yonex, I am sure you will get other people saying you should choose Carlton, goosen etc.

I would recommend trying a few rackets out, can you play with any rackets from other members of your team and then making your selection. just a note on this, dont play a single game and choose on the back of that!! you need to play a few games before you adjust to a racket and really decide if you get on with it. Dont forget, how a racket plays is changed buy the strings and tensions used, so if you play with one you like, make sure you get this info too!!

if you want anymore advice, for what it is worth, please feel free to email me

LaurenceTampkins@hotmail.com

Larry