Racket choice in shops

[Michael Banks]

Has anyone noticed a massive decrease in choice at sports shops? A while back you could choose from all vendors even if it was only one or two rackets in the range. Now all they seem to do is stock Yonex or Wilson. Even Carlton rackets are difficult to find in some places.

[danbelcher]

I have noticed this as well. Sports shops tend to sell mostly old stock at new prices. The selection of new racquets is poor. The best places to find new racquets is either mail order, through adverts in BADMINTON magazine, or via stalls when there is a tournament on.

[mpayne]

I haven't noticed this, the sport shops in my area have a wide range of rackets even, some brands which i havent heard of but there are a few shops now claiming to be sport shops which only sell clothes.

[Eglon]

I would agree that the choice is poor. Where I come from the only sports shops are JJB and Sports Connection. With a choice of no more than 8 different rackets ranging from £9.99 to £39.99 it doesn't give many options to a player looking for a good racket.

I have just purchased a new racket via the web and am awaiting delivery. Certainly there was a much better selection available even when just sticking to UK sites.

Unfortunately you would think that the bigger Nationwide Sports Stores would be the ones with the larger variety.But no! For kids etc. what would you rather have bought for you, a £14.99 Yonex Badminton Racket or a pair of Adidas Predators for £80. No wonder there aren't enough kids playing badminton anymore. Even the ones desperate for their money wont encourage them to buy Badminton equipment.

[redkingjoe]

racket choice in shops are really bad in everywhere. we travel a lot around the world. when we visit a place, we usually take a look at general sports(for sports shoes) shops and "badminton specialty" shops. most of the "genera sport" shops get only the lowest end models of Yonex, Prince and the so called specialty shops have mainly highend YY models and very few selections of other rackets.
i think the shops are stocking rackets for the mass.

[Loafer]

the biggest problem in the UK is that fact that all the big chains are now just fashion shops.

even the depth and choice of football boots has gone down

[Phil McBride]

You can at least find some rackets although most grip nowdays seems to be generic tennis. Glasgow is good in that ot houses Greaves sports and they have a good selection of badminton rackets and can get a hold of most things badminton even of they do not stock it.

We also have a badminton specific store although small, in EG Sports.