Just find one that is not too expensive, has a cool name, and a cool colour. If you're a beginner that's all that matters. By the time you wreck the cheapo racket you should know what you're looking for.

Get an Astrox 7, you can get your hands on one of these for about $100 (don't pay more than 120$ tops) , and it's a fantastic racket that you can use for a while as your skills develop. It's a medium-stiff flex, so it should help your clears as you gain proper swing form from baseline to baseline. Balance is head heavy, which should give you greater momentum when striking the bird for above the head shots (smashes, clears). It is the midrange equivalent to the Astrox 77, one of Yonex's top of the line racket models.

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Ideally you should find a racket that uses some of the more contemporary materials now used to construct rackets. You want to be looking for high modulus graphite compositions as compared to carbon/aluminum, which is likely what your father's racket was made of. High modulus graphite is a lighter overall material that can be compacted in the same space at a denser level than aluminum especially, so theoretically you'd be enjoying the ability to string your racket at a larger range , as well as a more solid feedback when making contact with the shuttle.

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Get the Voltrix 7. Medium weight head. Forgiving with mis hits. And you won't grow out of it until you become a seasoned intermediate player. It's going to run the same or slightly more than the other suggestions here. Best value IMO

Its pretty much preference but I'd recommend something flexible because if you guys are new you won't be able to swing fast enough to make stiff shafts bend.

I’m in the same situation as the OP and am also looking for a “Beginners” racket. I noticed Amazon is selling the Yonex Astrox 7 racket (prestrung with BG65 @ 24 lb) for $139.95 with free shipping. Is that a decent price? That’s more then the $120 price suggested above but I haven’t been able to find this racket anywhere else on line!

Anything made of full graphite (carbon) as a single piece (no separate T joint).

Should be 80-90 grams if it's carbon.

Price wise, if you can find one for £5, I'd be surprised, but you can certainly get a new one at £15.

I always recommend the Yonex nanoray 20. It's about $60, is pretty even balanced and can take a decent string tension. To me, the price/quality ratio is really good. Also the fact that it comes with factory strings is usually a plus for beginners.

Go to a sports store and see if you can get a graphite or carbon model for around 20-40 bucks. Any brands in particular? Yonex, Carlton, Babolat, Victor or Forza would do. Most of the decent starter rackets are in this price range. No need to look for something more expensive, when you improve your techniques it's worth it to look for something more suitable for your style, those rackets are in a higher price range

If you live in the U.S, I'd recommend Senston rackets. You can find them on Amazon for less than $30. They sell cheap but good overall rackets.

Using the wrong badminton racquets can be a major setback especially when you're beginners. You need to look after the perfect weight, handle and balance in racquets head and body. There is a recent study which describes everything you should aware of especially when you're beginners, and it also answers your quarries which racquets is the best for you.

Yonex Arcsaber! Good for beginners!

Alpsports/ Apacs for Racket Kawasaki for Shoes

Apacs or Yonex for the racket

The details about the equipment don't matter as long as you're comfortable using them. Of course, it has to be a quality one. Equipments also don't have to be expensive. Expensive ones don't translate to better performance.

I recommend badminton shoes, Kawasaki and world balance has some good choices, or you could go for Yonex which is more pricey. You should get the one that feels the most comfortable for you.

For racket, I recommend Yonex Arcsaber lite series (Lite series in general is fine for beginners) or Apacs rackets. Dont cheap out on the racket but done splurge on it too, expect to spend around 1.8-2.5k for a racket.

Learn the basics.

How to properly hold a racket. How to step safely.

Badminton is not just about rackets, you need to go places to use the racket. And you need to be on that place very fast so that you can get back faster.

Once you know that, you need to know where to put the shuttle.

I suggest you look for a proper coach/trainer if you’re really serious. Both for your safety and enjoyment.

About rackets, get anything you can afford. Once you’re really into it, get anything you really want even if you can’t afford it.

Personally I started with wooden rackets. They probably dont make that one now. I haven’t check.

Invest in a good court shoe po. Your lower body will thank you.

May affordable shoes kay kawasaki sa chris sports and world balance :)

I would just buy a quality blade that is not too fast. A wooden frame from stiga/donic/butterfly or any other brand of same quality and a decent rubber that is not too soft and not too hard. Something like this: http://www.tabletennis11.com/other_eng/pro-racket-persson-strategy-fl

I have no experience with the rubbers, but the donic frame should be fine and would also be great for more advanced players. It was one of the first blades I used when I started playing.

colestt.com has some good cheap beginners stuff.. (it's in the sticky I think.) I bought a couple of his paddles and was very impressed with how good they were for what I paid for them.. I can't remember the name of the paddles, one has dawei 2008 rubbers on both sides and the other has an assassin/illuminata rubber combo.. both play great and I got both for something like $65 total. They aren't as good as the $275 racquet (Timo Boll ALC/Tenergy 5/donic bluefire M1) I put together, but either would be great for a beginner. If the fancy paddle is the best I've played with, these guys are about 85% as good. I can still win games with them and in some sick way, they feel like there's more control.. probably because they play a little slower. If you're just starting out, DON'T get crazy professional gear yet, you need a little time playing with slower rubbers/paddles to develop some skills and get used to the game.. if you get super fast springy rubbers you'll miss a lot of shots you normally would make. Good luck dude! Enjoy the game!

Read the racket guide (sticky post in this sub).

For beginners, look for a racket na:

Flexible - A racket too stiff may cause injuries and 'di maganda for power input for beginners. A flexible racket would offer you a more comfortable hit and doesn't require much force to generate power

Head Weight - Even balance is good for beginners because it works for power and control. Head heavy is VERY good for power-centered play Head light is VERY good for control-centered play (Choosing the head weight really depends sa play style mo, but I'll recommend to go for an even balance muna to prevent injuries)

Racket Weight - Choose a racket on a lighter side (5U or more)

Budget - If budget is in the conversation, these following brands offer rackets from different price ranges:

Apacs (1k - 3k php) I recommend! Kawasaki (1k - 2k php) Felet (2k - 5k php) Young (1k - 3k php) Flex power (1k - 3k) Black knight (2-4k) Available in Chris Sports and Toby's Sports!

Pricey but Quality rackets: Lining Victor Yonex

My entry racket was an arcsaber 11 play. Not sure if beginner talaga sya since mej pricey n pero un nirecomm sakin e

Yonex lite rackets. Astrox lite, nanoflare lite, arcsaber lite. Magaan at high flex. Mas madali i maneuver dahil high flex at more forgiving. Meron din similar sa ibang brands pero di lang ako familiar. Hope this helps

Try mo Kawasaki Honor Galaxy. Magaan siya. Meron sa Chris Sports.

apacs commander 80

Something lightweight and doesnt vibrate too much when u hit the shuttle would be good. A good example would be the apacs nano fusion 722, light weight, flexible shaft and easy to use, perfect for beginners and intermediates.

In malls those rackets are sold for 1,200 pesos in bundle. This is a good option for recreational and outside use since it will be scratched at clashed more often . But if you want to play more seriously you can’t use those rackets. Alpsport and apacs would be a better option.

Thanks for sharing the product links. Very helpful!