Best badminton strings (2026)
Strings change feel more per dollar than any other piece of badminton equipment. Six picks ranked by what they actually do — repulsion, control, durability, and how they feel two weeks after stringing.
By Rui Su · Founder, IntoBadminton · Div 4 Ireland · trained under former Malaysia national and China provincial-team coachesUpdated
Disclosure: Some outbound retailer links may be affiliate links. They never change editorial order or fit scores. Affiliate policy
Choose strings by outcome, not brand
If your clears die short, you want a thinner, more elastic string and possibly lower tension. If your drops sit up, you want a higher-control string with more bite. If you break strings every two weeks, durability and tension hold matter more than feel. Most amateurs are over-strung — start at 22-24 lb if you are unsure, and only go higher when your contact is consistent.
| Gauge | Feel | Durability | Best for | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| #1 | Yonex BG65 | ~$7 | 4.2(2) | 80 | 0.70 mm | Soft / forgiving | Very high | Most beginners and high-volume club players |
| #2 | Yonex BG80 | ~$9 | 4.4(4) | 88 | 0.68 mm | Crisp | Medium | Club players upgrading from BG65 |
| #3 | Yonex EXBOLT 63 | ~$13 | 4.6(6) | 88 | 0.63 mm | Very crisp | Low-medium | Tournament-tier control + power |
| #4 | Yonex Aerobite | ~$16 | 4.5(3) | 88 | 0.61 / 0.67 mm hybrid | Textured / biting | Medium | Players who slice / hit drops |
| #5 | Li-Ning L69 | ~$8 | — | 83 | 0.69 mm | Crisp | Medium-high | Best non-Yonex string under $10 |
| #6 | Yonex BG80 Power | ~$10 | 4.3(2) | 84 | 0.68 mm | Crisp + powerful | Medium | Smash-heavy players who want max repulsion |
Finder fit scores use the reference club doubles profile. Take the quiz for your shortlist.
Image: Yonex (us.yonex.com) #1 · Yonex
BG65
~$7street estimate
Best for: Most beginners and high-volume club players
- Gauge
- 0.70 mm
- Feel
- Soft / forgiving
- Durability
- Very high
Why this pick: The world's most-played badminton string for a reason. BG65 forgives bad contact, holds tension, lasts forever, and costs nothing. If you are stringing your first racket or you snap strings every fortnight, this is your default.
Tradeoff: Less crisp feel than premium strings. Once your technique is consistent, you will notice the muffled response.
Image: Yonex (us.yonex.com) #2 · Yonex
BG80
~$9street estimate
Best for: Club players upgrading from BG65
- Gauge
- 0.68 mm
- Feel
- Crisp
- Durability
- Medium
Why this pick: The classic 'first upgrade' string. Noticeably more repulsion than BG65, sharper sound on contact, and meaningfully more crisp on smashes. The sweet spot for most adult club players.
Tradeoff: Breaks faster than BG65 — plan to restring every 4-8 weeks if you play 2+ times per week.
Image: Yonex (us.yonex.com) #3 · Yonex
EXBOLT 63
~$13street estimate
Best for: Tournament-tier control + power
- Gauge
- 0.63 mm
- Feel
- Very crisp
- Durability
- Low-medium
Why this pick: Yonex's modern flagship string — the thinnest gauge in their tournament line. Generates exceptional repulsion at moderate tension, with surprisingly good control thanks to the heat-treated coating. Many tour pros prefer this over BG80.
Tradeoff: Snaps fast on mishits and abrasive court surfaces. Best at 24-27 lb for amateurs; pros run higher.
Image: Yonex (us.yonex.com) #4 · Yonex
Aerobite
~$16street estimate
Best for: Players who slice / hit drops
- Gauge
- 0.61 / 0.67 mm hybrid
- Feel
- Textured / biting
- Durability
- Medium
Why this pick: Hybrid string — thinner power string in the mains, textured control string in the crosses. Distinctly more bite on slices and net spin than any single-string setup. The thinking-player's choice.
Tradeoff: Marmite. Some players love the texture; others find the feedback too harsh. Try a friend's racket before committing.
Image: e78.us (Li-Ning L69 badminton string) #5 · Li-Ning
L69
~$8street estimate
Best for: Best non-Yonex string under $10
- Gauge
- 0.69 mm
- Feel
- Crisp
- Durability
- Medium-high
Why this pick: Li-Ning's mid-tier string has caught up with Yonex BG80 on feel while costing less and lasting slightly longer. Strong choice for club players who restring 4-6 times per year.
Tradeoff: Less brand familiarity at non-specialist stringers. Bring your own reel if you play in mixed shops.
Image: Yonex (yonex.com) #6 · Yonex
BG80 Power
~$10street estimate
Best for: Smash-heavy players who want max repulsion
- Gauge
- 0.68 mm
- Feel
- Crisp + powerful
- Durability
- Medium
Why this pick: BG80's louder sibling. Same gauge, slightly different polymer mix that adds extra repulsion at the cost of a little control. The right pick if your priority is smash power and you do not mind a slightly less precise touch on net play.
Tradeoff: Less control than EXBOLT 63 or Aerobite. Front-court doubles specialists may prefer those instead.
Frequently asked
What tension should I string my badminton racket at?+
If your racket weight is 4U/5U and you are a club player: 22-24 lb is the safe range. 4U intermediate doubles: 24-26 lb. Pro-level singles attackers: 27-29 lb. Anything above 30 lb on amateur swing speed reduces real-game power because the sweet spot becomes too narrow.
How often should I restring my racket?+
Restring at the earlier of: every 30-50 sessions of regular play, OR every 3-4 months even if the string has not broken, OR immediately if you can press through the bed-plane more than 1cm with your finger. Tension drops well before the string visibly fails.
Why does my string break in the same spot every time?+
Mishits. If a string breaks repeatedly near the top of the frame, you are catching shuttles toward the rim instead of the sweet spot. Drop tension by 1-2 lb and work on contact-point drills before upgrading to a more durable string.
Are pre-strung rackets okay for beginners?+
Factory string is usually a low-tension generic — 18-20 lb of unspecified material. It is fine for the first 5 sessions while you confirm you like the racket. Restring at the first opportunity with BG65 at 22 lb; the racket will feel like a different model.
Run the string finder to land on the right gauge and tension
We score strings against your level, smash style, and string-breakage history — so you do not pay for tour-tier durability you do not need.