Badminton Bites: The Teardrop Badminton Racket

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Matthew Lau

Badminton Bites - The Teardrop racket: A featured image for the series "Badminton Bites", short badminton articles designed to be read quickly.

Teardrop badminton rackets are now all but a relic of the past with a distinctive variation in racket design that falls somewhere between the oval and isometric head shapes. I still remember them fondly from when I was a junior as it is what my brother (Hayden) used to play with. The term “teardrop” comes from the shape of the racket’s head, which resembles a teardrop with a slightly elongated, rounded top and a narrower bottom. This gives the racket a V-shaped join to the racket stem as opposed to the more common T-shaped join you see in most rackets.

Characteristics of Teardrop Badminton Rackets

Head Shape

The teardrop shape is more elongated than an isometric head but is rounder and wider than a traditional oval head. This shape aims to provide a balance between the compact precision of an oval head and the larger sweet spot of an isometric head.

Sweet Spot and Power

Teardrop-shaped rackets offer a unique blend of benefits. They tend to have a slightly larger sweet spot than oval rackets but not as large as isometric ones. This design allows for a balance between power and control. The elongated shape helps to concentrate power towards the top of the string bed.

Control and Maneuverability

While providing decent power, teardrop-shaped rackets also allow for relatively good control and maneuverability. The narrower bottom can help in maintaining control over shots, especially near the net or during quick rallies, making it a versatile option for players who like to mix power and control in their play style.

Player Preferences

Some players, especially squash players, may favour this shape. This is because the teardrop shape is very common in squash. Plus if this is what you are used to, who is to say it isn’t the right racket for you?

Market Availability

Although teardrop-shaped badminton rackets are less common compared to oval and isometric designs, some manufacturers do offer them as a niche option, such as Victor. However, these are targeted at beginners. They are more frequently seen in squash, where the shape is more prevalent due to different game dynamics.

Teardrop rackets have now been relegated to a thing of the past. But now if you see a person playing with one at a local club night you can be confident to ask them about it. 

Badminton Bites are short quick articles designed for you to consume quickly and easily whenever you have 5 mins free in your day. Check out some more here.

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