Badminton Grip Size Guide: G4 vs G5 vs G6

Last updated: June 2026 · Written by the team at Badminton House

Badminton grip size looks simple until you try to buy a racket: G4, G5, G6, millimetres, inches, brand charts that do not quite match, and product pages that only list certain sizes. If you are shopping in Canada, the practical question is usually not “what does every grip size mean?” — it is “which badminton grip size should I actually order, and can I adjust it if it feels wrong?”

This guide explains grip size in player terms: how G4, G5 and G6 compare, why Yonex, Victor and Li-Ning sizing can differ slightly, how to check your hand fit, and why many Canadian players are better off starting slightly smaller and building up the handle with grip layers.

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What G4, G5 and G6 Mean on a Badminton Racket

Badminton grip size is written as the letter G plus a number. The sizing system typically runs from G1 to G6, and the key detail is that the numbers work in descending handle thickness: G1 is the thickest, while G6 is the thinnest.

In practical Canadian buying terms, you will most often be choosing between G4 and G5, with G6 showing up on some models for players who want a thinner starting point. Children often need thinner G6 or G5 grips, while larger-handed players may need thicker G1 or G2 grips.

Grip size is not the same as racket weight. A listing such as 4U G5 combines two separate specs: 4U describes the racket weight category, while G5 describes the handle size. If weight labels are also confusing, see our 3U vs 4U vs 5U badminton racket guide.

One more important detail: the G-number describes the handle size before your final grip setup. The finished feel can change once you add a replacement grip, towel grip, or overgrip, so treat G4, G5, and G6 as the starting point — not the entire fit decision. For the grip layers themselves, see our overgrip vs replacement grip vs towel grip guide.

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G4 vs G5 vs G6: Yonex, Victor and Li-Ning Are Not Identical

A badminton grip size label is not perfectly universal across brands. G5 on a Yonex racket and G5 on a Victor racket are both “small” handles, but they are not the same measured circumference.

For cross-brand comparison, use the millimetre chart first. It is more useful than inch-based charts because it shows the small differences that players actually feel once they move between Yonex, Victor and Li-Ning.

The main takeaway: do not assume the G number alone tells the whole story. A Victor G5 at 81 mm is closer to a very slim feel than a Yonex G5 at 83 mm. Li-Ning G5 at 83 mm lines up with Yonex G5, but older Li-Ning listings may use S sizing or simply list the handle in millimetres.

Victor updated its grip sizing about ten years ago to be closer to Yonex sizing. That makes modern Victor rackets easier to compare than older charts suggest, but the measured sizes are still slightly different: Victor G4 is listed at 85 mm versus Yonex G4 at 86 mm, and Victor G5 is listed at 81 mm versus Yonex G5 at 83 mm.

Li-Ning can be the confusing one when you are shopping older models or reading older spec sheets. The older Li-Ning S system ascended from S1 upward, while the newer G system descends from G1 to G6. In practical terms, legacy Li-Ning S1 corresponds to 83 mm and S2 corresponds to 86 mm in the chart above.

If you are switching racket brands after getting comfortable with a handle size, re-check the actual millimetre measurement and test the finished grip feel after your base grip or overgrip is installed. For a broader racket-brand comparison, see our Yonex vs Victor vs Li-Ning guide.

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Why Some Grip Size Charts Disagree

You may see badminton grip size charts online that convert every G-number into inches: G1 as 4 in, G2 as 3.75 in, G3 as 3.5 in, G4 as 3.25 in, G5 as 3 in, and G6 as 2.75 in. The problem is that those generic inch charts do not line up cleanly with brand-specific millimetre charts.

For example, Yonex G4 is listed at 86 mm on verified millimetre charts. Converted to inches, 86 mm is about 3.4 in — not 3.25 in. Yonex G5 is listed at 83 mm, which is about 3.27 in — not 3 in. That is a large enough difference to matter when you are trying to choose the right handle feel.

The safest way to read grip sizing is to treat the G-number as a brand label, not as one universal measurement. The brand table above is more useful than a generic inch chart because it shows the actual millimetre sizing used by the racket maker.

• If a listing gives millimetres: prioritize the millimetre number over a rounded inch chart.
• If a listing gives only G4, G5, or G6: check which brand the racket is from before assuming the handle will feel the same as your current racket.
• If you are between sizes: remember that the finished grip can change once you add an overgrip or change the base grip.

For Canadian buyers comparing rackets online, this is one reason grip size can feel confusing even when the product page looks clear. A G5 label is helpful, but the millimetre chart and your final wrapped handle are what actually determine whether the racket feels right in your hand.

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How to Measure Your Hand for Badminton Grip Size

The simplest badminton grip size test is the handshake fit test. Hold the racket the way you would shake someone’s hand: relaxed fingers, thumb resting naturally, and no squeezing. In that position, the tip of your ring finger should not touch your palm. If it digs into the palm, the finished handle is likely too small. If there is a large gap and the racket feels hard to rotate with your fingers, it may be too large.

1. Hold the racket correctly. Use a neutral forehand grip, not a panhandle grip and not a full fist squeeze.
2. Check the ring finger. Look at the space between the tip of your ring finger and your palm while holding the handle naturally.
3. Test racket rotation. You should be able to make small finger adjustments without the handle feeling unstable or bulky.

You can also use a ruler as a starting point. Measure from the tip of your ring finger down to the second line on your palm, then compare that measurement with the manufacturer’s grip size chart for the racket you are considering. This is most useful when you are choosing between listed sizes online, but it should not replace how the racket feels in your hand.

For most players, the best approach is to combine both methods: use the ruler measurement to narrow your choice, then use the handshake test to confirm whether the finished handle lets you stay relaxed, change grip quickly, and control the racket with your fingers.

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When in Doubt, Choose Smaller and Build Up

If you are between two badminton grip size options, the safer buying rule is simple: choose the thinner handle. A thin grip can be built up with extra grip layers; a handle that already feels too thick is much harder to make thinner without removing the factory grip or changing the handle feel completely.

This matters because small circumference differences are noticeable in badminton. A few millimetres can change how easily you use finger power, rotate the racket for defence, or relax your hand between shots. If the grip is slightly small, you have room to tune it. If it is already too large, your adjustment options are limited.

That adjustability is why a smaller base size is so useful. Overgrips can be applied over the factory grip, and the amount of overlap lets you fine-tune the result: a light overlap keeps the handle slimmer, while a heavier overlap makes it feel fuller. The finished handle matters more than the printed G-number on its own.

If you are not sure whether you need an overgrip, replacement grip or towel grip, read our separate badminton grip guide. It explains the difference between adding material on top of the existing grip and replacing the base layer entirely.

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Which Grip Sizes Do Badminton House Rackets Come In?

Badminton House’s current badminton racket collection lists two Yonex Astrox models, and both product pages show G5 and G6 as the grip size options. The important takeaway: if you are shopping our current Yonex racket selection, do not assume a G4 option is available.

Both listed racket prices are above Badminton House’s free Canadian shipping threshold of $200, so they qualify for free Canadian shipping when available and ordered through the store.

If you already know you like a thicker handle, it is usually easier to start with the smaller listed size and add grip layers than to buy a handle that is too large. You can also pair a racket purchase with our stringing service and ask for help setting up the finished handle feel.

Before ordering, check the product page for the live size selector and stock status. If you receive a racket and the grip size feels wrong, review the Returns & Exchanges policy before removing factory packaging or customizing the grip.

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Quick Grip Size Recommendations for Canadian Buyers

For most Canadian buyers, grip size is less about hand size alone and more about how the racket behaves once the grip is finished. A smaller handle can support more finger control and wrist action, while a larger handle may feel better for players with large hands or players who tend to lose their grip during rallies.

Use these situational checks before you order, especially if you are buying online or switching between Yonex, Victor and Li-Ning.

If you are still narrowing down the rest of the racket spec, grip size should be considered alongside weight. A G5 handle on a 3U racket can feel very different from the same handle size on a faster 4U or 5U frame, so your next useful read is our 3U vs 4U vs 5U badminton racket weight guide.

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Which Badminton Grip Size Should You Choose?

Use this as the short version after you have checked the brand chart above. Grip size labels are useful, but the finished handle matters once the factory grip or overgrip is on the racket.

Badminton House note: our current Yonex Astrox racket options are listed in G5 and G6, so Canadian buyers who want a G4-style feel should start smaller and build up. See the Badminton House grip options section above for the current racket examples.

Grip size is personal, but it should never be a guessing game. We play badminton ourselves, so if you are choosing between G5 and G6, trying to build toward a G4 feel, or buying for a junior player, contact us and we will help you think through the fit before you order.