Buying guide
How to choose strings
Strings affect how your racket feels far more than most players expect, and they are an easy, affordable upgrade. The two figures that matter are gauge (thickness) and tension (how tightly they are strung, measured in lbs). Thinner strings give more feel and power but break sooner; higher tension gives more control but less power and a smaller margin for error.
In short: If you are still developing your shots, choose a durable medium-gauge string at a lower-to-mid tension for a more forgiving, powerful feel.
What actually matters
The specs worth understanding — and why.
Gauge (thickness)
Typical: 0.61mm (ultra-thin) to 0.70mm (durable/thick); 0.65mm is the all-round sweet spot
The single most important trade-off lever. Thinner gauge (0.61-0.65mm) bites into the shuttle for more repulsion, a crisper sound, better feel and spin, but breaks faster. Thicker gauge (0.68-0.70mm) has more material per cross-section, so it lasts longer and feels more muted, at the cost of some power.
Repulsion (power) rating
Typical: BG65 ~6, BG66 Ultimax ~9-10, Exbolt 63 ~9-10, Li-Ning No.1 10/10 (relative manufacturer scales)
High-repulsion strings reward attacking players who want effortless smash and clear power, especially at lower-to-mid tensions. Power-seeking players should prioritise this; it usually trades off against durability.
Control / shuttle hold
Typical: Textured strings (Exbolt 65, Li-Ning No.1, Aerobite) rate highest for control
Advanced players who want placement, deception and consistency value control over raw power. Control is enhanced by thin gauge strung at higher tension and by textured/forged surfaces.
Durability rating
Typical: BG65 / VBS-70 ~9, Li-Ning No.7 ~9-10 (highest); ultra-thin strings ~5-7
The most expensive ongoing cost in badminton is restringing. Players who break strings frequently (hard hitters, mis-hitters, beginners learning contact) should pick thick, durable strings to lower cost-per-hour even if they sacrifice some power.
Recommended tension range (lb)
Typical: Beginner 20-23 lb; intermediate 23-26 lb; advanced 26-30 lb
Lower tension (20-24 lb) gives a trampoline effect and more power, more forgiving for beginners. Higher tension (26-30 lb) gives a flatter, more controlled bed for advanced players but breaks thin strings fast and demands clean contact. Tension must be matched to gauge, racket rating, and skill.
Construction / coating
Typical: Multifilament nylon core + special braided outer; coatings vary by model
Coating and construction determine feel (soft vs crisp), tension retention, abrasion resistance and the hitting sound. It is why two 0.70mm strings (e.g. BG65 vs BG65Ti) can feel very different.
Hitting sound
Typical: Sharpest on ultra-thin strings; muted on 0.70mm durability strings
Thin, high-repulsion strings (BG66 Ultimax, Exbolt 63) produce the sharpest crack, which players associate with clean, powerful contact. It is a real selection driver even though it does not change physics.
Match it to how you play
Find the line that sounds like you.
Absolute beginner, any height/weight/sex, still learning clean contact and mis-hitting often
→ Thick 0.70mm all-round durable string (BG65 / BG65Ti / VBS-70 / Li-Ning No.7) strung at 20-23 lb
Thick gauge survives off-centre hits and learning abuse; lower tension gives a larger sweet spot and a built-in trampoline for power before technique develops. Minimises restring cost during the high-breakage learning phase.
Recreational / improver who plays 1-2x per week and dislikes frequent restrings
→ 0.69-0.70mm durability/all-round string (Nanogy 95 at 0.69mm, BG65 or VBS-70 at 0.70mm) at 22-25 lb
Best cost-per-hour: tension retention and abrasion resistance stretch the interval between restrings while still offering decent repulsion at mid tension.
Power-seeking attacker (typically heavier or stronger player / steep-smash singles or men's doubles rear-court), good clean contact
→ Ultra-thin high-repulsion 0.63-0.65mm string (BG66 Ultimax 0.65, Exbolt 63 0.63, Li-Ning No.1 0.65, VBS-63 0.63) at 24-27 lb
Thin gauge maximises shuttle bite and energy return for smash power and the crisp sound; mid-high tension keeps the bed responsive without going so high it kills repulsion. Suits players strong enough to generate their own head speed.
Advanced control player / singles tactician wanting placement, deception and a flat fast bed
→ Thin string at high tension: Exbolt 65 (0.65) at 25-29 lb, BG66 Ultimax (0.65) at 26-28 lb, or Li-Ning No.1 (0.65) at 26-29 lb
Thin gauge plus high tension produces a flat, low-powered, highly predictable bed that rewards technique and clean placement; textured/forged strings (Exbolt 65 with its Elasticity Outer coating, Li-Ning No.1 with 3D KINT texture) add shuttle hold for slices and net deception. Only viable for players who hit clean and have a racket rated for the tension.
Frequent string-breaker / hard hitter who snaps thin strings within days
→ Thickest durability string (BG65 0.70, VBS-70 0.70 ~9/10 durability, Li-Ning No.7 0.70 ~9-10/10) at 24-26 lb
0.70mm with deep-dip / deep-patterned durability coatings (BG65's braided outer, VBS-70's deep-patterned Thermo Tech coating, Li-Ning No.7's Deep-Re-Dipping) resists abrasion and snap far longer than thin strings; mid tension avoids the extra stress that very high tension puts on the string bed.
Doubles player wanting fast flat drives and quick reflex blocks with spin on net kills
→ Hybrid or thin textured string: Yonex Aerobite (0.67 main / 0.61 cross) or Exbolt 65 (0.65) at 24-28 lb
The thin textured cross generates spin for tumbling net shots and steep cut kills while the slightly thicker main adds drive stability; the hybrid construction balances repulsion in the flat doubles exchange against control.
Lighter / lower-strength player (often a strength proxy) who still wants power but cannot generate high head speed
→ Thin high-repulsion string at LOWER tension: BG66 Ultimax (0.65) or BG65Ti (0.70 for added durability) at 20-23 lb
Lower tension supplies the trampoline assist a lighter player needs for power, while the thin/elastic construction (or BG65Ti's titanium-hydride coating) adds repulsion so they are not relying on raw strength. Avoid 27 lb+ which would deaden the bed for them.
Intermediate all-rounder unsure of style, plays mixed singles and doubles
→ 0.65-0.66mm balanced string (BG66 Ultimax 0.65, VBS-66 Nano 0.66, Li-Ning No.1 0.65) at 24-26 lb
0.65-0.66mm at mid tension is the genuine all-round sweet spot: enough repulsion to attack, enough control to defend, and durability that is acceptable for a once-or-twice-weekly player.