Why are Badminton Rackets So Expensive? (7 Reasons Why)

There are both cheap and expensive badminton rackets, but on average, they can get quite expensive. In this article, I will teach you why badminton rackets are expensive, does a more expensive racket makes a difference, are expensive rackets worth the cost, and more!

Before moving on further down the subject, why are badminton rackets so expensive?

Badminton rackets are expensive if made out of quality components, and the design and product testing have been invested with time and effort. Logistics and marketing increase the cost as well. A significant increase in the price can be made by a famous brand, and a big profit margin they often have.

There are many steps in making a badminton racket, so it’s no wonder that they can be pretty expensive. And as in most things, a higher price means a better product. However, not in all cases.

Now, let’s take a closer look at each step that makes a badminton racket as expensive as they are.

Why Are Badminton Rackets Expensive?

Seven main reasons increase the cost of a badminton racket (restring cost) (restring cost). Let’s start from the beginning, which is the racket’s components.

1. Components

A badminton racket consists of three components: grip, frame, and strings.

The most significant difference to the costs makes the frame because it is made from valuable materials such as graphite, kevlar, or aluminum. The strings have a say in the price, and the most common string materials are natural gut and nylon. Natural gut is considerably more expensive than nylon strings. Finally, the grip is made out of rubber or synthetic materials, and there are also differences in qualities.

2. Design

The design of a racket can be a relatively easy process, or it can be well thought where aerodynamics, tension, weight, length, and everything between has been considered.

Naturally, more expensive rackets have better design and more product testing to see how well every aspect of the racket plays together. On the other hand, cheap rackets can be made without further thought, just grip and strings slapped to the frame and done.

3. Manufacturing

The manufacturing process of badminton rackets is somewhat similar, regardless of the quality and brand. However, this does increase the overall cost of all rackets.

This is because there are running costs of the facility, labor costs of the employees, and quality checks in each stage of the manufacturing, which naturally require funds and resources, increasing the price of the rackets.

4. Logistics

After the rackets have been assembled, they need to be stored in the manufacturing facility to wait to transport to where they are shipped for customers or to physical stores.

These storages require energy and maintenance, which increases the overall manufacturing cost of the racket, which again increases the price they are sold if the seller want’s to have a profit margin, which they do because of making badminton rackets is a business as the next one.

Yonex rackets, for example, are made in Japan, so they need to be transported via plane to other continents that purchase these rackets. Undoubtedly, trucks are used within Japan for long distances and even cargo ships to transport the rackets via sea. All of this costs a lot of money which is reflected in the final price of the rackets.

5. Brand

The brand can be one of the biggest determinators of the badminton racket price. This is because if a brand such as Wilson, Yonex, Head, or Babolat has gained trustworthiness, respect, and even status symbols in the badminton space, they can ask for more money from their products when compared to an unknown brand from Amazon where the customer doesn’t have any idea whether the racket is good or even decent.

Think about it, would you pay a bit more if you are confident that the racket is good quality, and it’s from a well known trustworthy brand that is one of the best in the badminton space, or pay less for a racket that has an unknown brand and doesn’t trust what they say? I choose the first every time.

6. Marketing

Marketing is a big part of releasing new rackets, and if you haven’t noticed, all brands release new models each year that are marketed like crazy. These rackets are often great in quality; however, because they are the latest stuff you can get, they are overpriced for a time.

7. Profit margin

Last but not least, to manufacture badminton rackets, the manufacturers and brands don’t only need to get the cost back what it took to make that racket, but they need to make a profit as well because it’s their job and it is a business.

Trustworthy brands like Yonex and Wilson can take a bigger percentage as profit because people trust them and continue buying their products. However, an unknown brand can’t take nearly as large a profit margin from the same products because people aren’t willing to pay as much for them.

Does a Good Badminton Racket Make a Difference?

The price gap is from $30 to $250 and above when it comes to badminton rackets. Does it matter whether you play with a cheap or expensive badminton racket?

A good badminton racket makes a difference, but only if your skills are advanced enough to take advantage of it. Good badminton rackets have specialized in certain skill types that a badminton player can use; however, it doesn’t matter what kind of racket you play with if you don’t have much skill.

For example, a good badminton racket can have tense strings, a stiff build, and heavyweight, which is extremely powerful. Another example is that it can have lightweight and less tense strings, making it super fast to use and easy to receive.

If you still need practice with the basic skills and don’t feel like you need a better racket to improve your already good skills, then I wouldn’t worry about rackets for now.

Are Expensive Badminton Rackets Worth the Cost?

When comparing $30 and $300 rackets, you might think that is the more expensive ones 10x better than the cheaper ones? You might even suspect that expensive rackets can’t be worth it. Or can they?

Generally, expensive badminton rackets are worth it if you already possess good skills and know your playstyle, so you can get a costly racket that is specifically tailored for your skills and preferences on the court. However, if you are a beginner or recreational player, an expensive racket might not be worth it.

After all, this is a matter of preference, so if you want a better racket, even if you are a beginner or recreational player, then go for it; there is no harm in that. Be sure to check the racket’s characteristics because there are huge differences between them.

How Much Does Professional Badminton Rackets Cost?

There are huge differences between professional badminton rackets even within the same category, so that the price gap can be vast.

I examined badminton rackets from Yonex, Babolat, Head, and Wilson and saw that the cheapest professional racket was $89, whereas the most expensive one was $400.

This is drastically determined by the design and component used in the racket. When it comes to a racket that costs $400, a beginner or even a decent player will have a hard time maximizing the benefits of such a racket.

Is Yonex overpriced?

There is a lot of rumor about Yonex being overpriced, so I did a little digging to see whether the rumors are true.

Yonex isn’t overpriced compared to other brands of similar recognition, such as Babolat, Head, and Wilson. Yonex products were similar to the other brands. There are expensive products and cheaper ones as are in all brands, which is determined by the quality of the product.

People believe Yonex is overpriced because they are comparing the latest Yonex products to older products of other brands that are similar in quality. However, the latest products from different brands are equally expensive, so you need to compare similar items that have arrived at the same time.