Badminton Racket History
Before the racket came an early version of the shuttlecock, played with feet in ancient China in the game "Ti Jian Zi." A wooden bat or paddle was used in early versions of badminton in ancient Greece and Egypt. The game Battledore and Shuttlecock became popular in Europe in the 16th century, again with players using a bat or paddle. The modern version of badminton evolved from the game Poona, which British soldiers brought from India to England in the 1850s. The paddle evolved into a tennis-like racket in the late 19th century, then into high-tech composite instruments in the 20th century.
Wood Rackets
Until the 1960s, badminton, like tennis, was played with wood rackets. The early models featured oval-shaped heads and animal gut strings. Handles were designed for comfort, not performance. Later in the 20th century, rackets became far more sophisticated -- with isometric, diamond or teardrop head shapes, carbon or nylon strings, aluminum or graphite frames and synthetic handles.
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Wood And Metal Rackets
During the 1960s, rackets with wood frames and metal handles became popular with many top players in the sport. The transition is illustrated at the Yonex Racquet History Museum, which displays popular models -- and the stars who used them -- from the 1960s on. Indonesian legend Rudy Hartono used the Yonex B-6000 Five-Ace Deluxe, combining wood and metal, to win several titles.
Aluminum Rackets
In the late 1960s, lightweight aluminum rackets came into vogue. Japan's Emiko Ueno favored an all-aluminum model in doubles play while another Japanese star, Machiko Aizawa, used a racket with an aluminum frame and a steel shaft. As manufacturers produced a greater variety of models, it became easier to find a racket with just the right feel.
Carbon Fiber Rackets
During the 1970s, rackets got lighter still with the use of carbon materials. Fleming Delfs of Denmark favored the Carbonex 8, featuring a carbon handle and an aluminum alloy frame. One-piece and two-piece Carbon models became popular in the 1980s with champions, including Liem Swie King. Rackets became increasingly expensive and, in some cases, less durable and manufacturers experimented with new materials and designs.
Modern Composite Rackets
Graphite rackets became popular in the 1990s, giving players even lighter options to chose from. By blending titanium in graphite rackets, manufacturers made the lighter rackets more durable. Adding nanomaterials such as fullerene to graphite rackets during made them stronger still during the following decade. Racket technology has put far more power into the sport. While promoting the new ArcSaber Z-Slash, Yonex staged a test that resulted in Tan Boon Heong's record 262-mph smash.