The racket

Why there's a dedicated Crossminton racket at all says a lot about the sport. The first rallies were played with badminton and squash rackets. The badminton rackets couldn't withstand the force — the Speeder is about three times as heavy as a shuttlecock and shattered the delicate frames. The squash rackets were too long and too sluggish for the pace. Out of that gap arose a dedicated build: short and nimble like squash, but robust enough for the heavy ball.

The rules draw only two limits: the racket is at most 61 centimeters long, and the head measures at most 650 square centimeters. Everything else — weight, material, balance, stringing, grip size — is free. Your choice thus follows you, not a regulation.

The weight usually lies between 100 and 145 grams. A lighter racket is more nimble and tires the hitting hand later — an advantage, because Crossminton is played at high frequency into all four corners. A heavier one carries more mass into the shot. For the start, a rather light, balanced racket is the safe choice.

With the material, entry level and tournament part ways. Beginner rackets are mostly made of aluminium: cheap, robust, often with a shorter shaft and larger hitting surface, which makes contact easier — just right for school and rental. Tournament rackets are made of graphite and carbon, often reinforced with Kevlar; they're lighter, stiffer and give a more direct feel on contact. The material difference has a consequence that matters when stringing: aluminium tolerates much less string tension than carbon.

Three terms meet you in every buying guide. The balance says where the weight sits: head-heavy supports power, grip-heavy the handling, balanced is versatile. The stiffness describes how much the frame gives: a stiff one reports the contact directly, a flexible one forgives more. And the sweet spot is the optimal contact zone — a larger head makes it bigger and contact easier. These figures come from the racket sports and aren't specifically documented for Crossminton; take them as guidance and, in the end, trust your own feel when test-hitting.

Take your racket in hand and feel it out: does it still feel light after a long rally, or does it pull your hand down? Is it aluminium or carbon? Balance it loosely on one finger — does the weight sit more in the head (power) or in the grip (control)? Consider whether that suits the way you want to play.