With the arrival of the cold winter, badminton enthusiasts are facing a common problem - the life of the badminton string has been significantly shortened. Some golfers will even encounter a situation where they "break in seconds" after a few beats. So, why does the string break so quickly, and is there any way to extend the life of the string and reduce the risk of breakage? I've collected a collation and analysis of common causes of string breakage on the Internet, as well as some suggested solutions. Here I would like to share with you:
1. Analysis of the cause of disconnection
The causes of feather string breakage can be divided into two categories: internal and external. The internal factors refer to the nature of the string itself, and the external factors refer to the factors such as stringing, playing and maintenance.
1. Break the vertical bar
（1）拍头或T头处竖线断裂
The point of impact is too low and the line is broken
This is the most common condition of abnormal disconnection, usually due to the following reasons:
- Breaking the line due to the hitting point being too high or too low: The hitting point deviates from the sweet spot due to fierce confrontation or the player's level, hitting the vertical line area without horizontal line protection, causing the vertical line to be cut off by the wire guard, resulting in a second break.
- Broken threads due to damaged knotting: If you use too much force during the knotting process, you will tear the anchored vertical wire garment, resulting in thread breakage.
(2) The vertical line on the edge of the frame is broken
The knotted vertical wire breaks
Breakage of the vertical line on the edge of the frame, especially through the double line hole, may be caused by the stringer's improper use of tools when passing through the double line hole, resulting in damage to the vertical line clothing. Scraping and other behaviors of the user during use may also cause damage to the vertical line, which may cause the line to break.
(3) The vertical line of the sweet spot or the non-edge part of the racket is broken
Break the vertical bar normally
Generally speaking, the broken thread in the sweet area or non-edge part is normal wear and tear, but it cannot be ruled out that the stringer may cause damage to the thread during the stringing process.
2. Break the horizontal line
Abnormal fracture of the transverse line is relatively rare, mainly in the following two situations:
- Broken horizontal line on the edge of the frame: During use, the raised horizontal line on the outside of the frame is damaged, resulting in broken wire.
- Thread breakage due to stranding: Twisted strings during stringing will cause the badminton string to break and fluff more easily, and reduce the durability of the string.
3. Other factors that affect string life
In addition to the above analysis, the string guard of the racket, also known as the stud, is also one of the key factors affecting the life of the string. Once the cord guard pipe is damaged and cracked, if it is not replaced in time, it will not only cause friction and damage to the string during the stringing process, but also cause a certain degree of damage to the string during use, resulting in a significant decrease in the life of the string. At the same time, delayed replacement of the line guard can also lead to the instability of the racket structure and the phenomenon of collapse. Therefore, it is recommended that golfers attach great importance to the maintenance of the cord guard and replace it in time to ensure the long life of the string and the normal use of the racket.
Broken line guards
2. How to extend the life of the string and avoid the risk of wire breakage
In order to avoid the problem of disconnection, you can start from the following aspects:
1. Choose the right string
In the cold winter, it is recommended to choose a thick wire with a diameter of about 0.70mm, such as Yonex's bg65/65ti, Victor's VBS70, Gosen's G-Pro70, etc. While this type of thick wire may slightly reduce the feel, it is more pronounced in terms of durability.
Yonex's BG65
2. Find a suitable stringer
It is important to choose a conscientious and responsible stringer, as a standardized stringing process will not cause damage to the string and provide a good feel and reduce the risk of breakage.
3. Pay attention to the details when using it
During use, pay attention to the hitting point and try to hit the ball in the sweet area to reduce the risk of disconnection. Avoid scratching the ground, especially if you are fighting on concrete floors, to prevent damage to the raised vertical lines outside the frame. In addition, it takes a certain amount of time for the thread to regain its elasticity after being stressed, and if the thread is not given enough rest time, the thread will become more and more brittle and easier to break. Therefore, properly controlling the frequency of play and giving the string some rest time is also an effective way to extend the life of the string.
4. Strengthen the maintenance of the racket
Maintenance methods include checking and replacing the cord guards, rotating and cleaning the string, etc. The wire guard is an important part of protecting the ball line, regularly check whether the line guard is aged, deformed or cracked, and replace the damaged line guard pipe in time to avoid the occurrence of cutting the line due to the rupture of the line guard. Rotating the string refers to the situation in which the string is dialed into a V-shape with your fingers after playing the ball to restore tension and reduce the alignment. Routing refers to the deviation of the position of the line due to uneven force after playing, which will increase the wear of the line, reduce the elasticity of the line, and affect the feel and control. Cleaning the string refers to wiping the string with a clean cloth or paper towel to remove dust and sweat stains on the string, keeping the string clean and dry, and preventing oxidation and corrosion of the string.
5. Some measures to avoid disconnection
Sweet spot moves up the racket
- Place the racket in a plastic bag and add a damp paper towel to keep the string moist. However, the string should not be wiped with a wet wipe, as uneven wiping may lead to uneven force distribution, which can damage the racket and outweigh the losses.
- For golfers who have a high hitting point and the line is broken, it is recommended to choose a racket with the sweet zone moving up, or let the stringer add a horizontal line above to reduce the range of the non-horizontal area and reduce the probability of breaking in seconds.
- Consider lowering 1~2 pounds moderately in winter to improve string life. However, low-tension golfers should not reduce the tension, so as not to increase the probability of line routing.
Add a horizontal line
3. Some precautions after disconnection
After the string breaks, cut all the horizontal and vertical strings in time to restore the shape of the frame. Do not forcibly use the broken racket to avoid secondary damage to the frame.
Fourth, how to choose the right string
When choosing a string, in addition to choosing the right string diameter according to the season, you also need to choose a string of different materials according to your personal preferences and playing style. Generally speaking, beginners and power fighters can choose a thick line of 0.70mm or more to improve durability and strength. For intermediate and advanced players and technical players, you can choose a thin line of 0.68mm or less to improve feel and control. Nylon thread is suitable for most ordinary players, polyester thread is suitable for advanced players and players who pursue feel, down thread is suitable for professional players and players who pursue perfection, and carbon fiber thread is suitable for players who play regularly and players who pursue durability.
5. Summary
During the cold winter months, badminton enthusiasts need to be more cautious when selecting, stringing and using strings to reduce the risk of string breakage. Choosing the right string, finding a responsible stringer, paying attention to details and maintaining the frame in a timely manner are all effective ways to extend the life of the string. I hope you can still enjoy the badminton game in the cold winter!