Unstrung vs Strung Badminton Rackets: What They Mean and Which to Buy

Last updated: August 2026 · Badminton House

Unstrung vs Strung, Side by Side

The terms work the same way in tennis and squash, so if you arrived here from another racket sport the answer is identical.

What Does “Pre-Strung” Mean?

Strung and pre-strung mean strings are already installed when you receive the racket. Factory-strung specifies who installed them; a retailer may also sell a frame with its own stringing service. Check the listing for the included string and whether tension can be chosen.

A listed range such as 20–30 lbs may be the manufacturer’s stringing recommendation rather than the tension of the installed strings. Ask the seller for the actual setup if the listing does not specify it.

What Tension Does a Factory-Strung Racket Arrive At?

Do not assume an exact factory tension unless the manufacturer or seller states it. The often-quoted 18–22 lb range is only a rough estimate, and installed tension changes with time.

The supplied string and its condition matter more than the factory-strung label. Check the string model if it is named, and decide whether the installed setup gives you suitable depth and feel.

This is why a first restring changes a racket more than most people expect. A new string at a tension chosen for your game may improve a setup that feels unsuitable or has lost tension — see our string tension guide and string selection guide.

Can You Play With an Unstrung Racket?

No. There is nothing to hit the shuttle with — an unstrung frame is an empty hoop.

The more common version of this question is whether it is safe to keep a frame unstrung, and the answer there is yes. A bare frame is stable in storage; it is not under load, so there is nothing to relax or distort. Rackets are shipped unstrung precisely because that is the least stressful state for them.

Two things not to do. Do not string it yourself without a proper machine and knowledge of the stringing pattern — badly fitted strings pull the head out of shape and are explicitly excluded from manufacturer warranties. And do not let a stringer exceed the tension printed on the frame; that limit is a manufacturer recommendation, not a precise breaking point or a target for every player.

What Does a Restring Cost?

Ask for a current string-and-labour quote. In North America expect about US$25–45 all in, or CAD $30–45, split between labour and the string itself. Club stringers sit at the bottom of that range and specialist pro shops at the top.

That number is the thing to add to any unstrung frame’s sticker price before comparing it against a strung one. An unstrung racket advertised at the same price as a strung one is meaningfully more expensive.

It is also a recurring cost rather than a one-off. A useful rule: restring as many times per year as you play per week.

Does Stringing Affect Your Warranty?

This gets repeated inaccurately, so it is worth being precise.

Yonex USA’s published one-year limited warranty covers eligible defects in materials and workmanship for the original US purchaser, subject to its conditions. It excludes improper restringing, including deviation from the official pattern, and string breakage. Other markets have their own terms.

The US terms also exclude improper use and failure to follow product instructions. Absence of a separate tension clause is not permission to exceed the frame’s recommendation; check the terms for your market and ask the selling dealer about a claim.

The sensible conclusion is unchanged — use a competent stringer who follows the correct pattern and stays inside the printed range.

Which Should You Buy?

The short version: strung rackets sell convenience, unstrung rackets sell control. Beginners need convenience. Once you have a preference, paying for someone else’s string choice stops making sense.

Common Questions

What does unstrung mean on a badminton racket?

The racket is sold as a bare frame with no strings fitted. You cannot play with it until a stringer installs strings, which costs extra.

What does strung mean?

Strings are already installed and the racket is ready to play. Pre-strung also means it arrives with strings; factory-strung specifically means the strings were installed at the factory.

Is unstrung better than strung?

Not better, just different. Unstrung lets you choose the string and tension, which matters once you have a preference. Strung is the right choice while you are still finding out what you like.

Why do expensive rackets come unstrung?

Because the buyer almost always has a string preference, and fitting one at the factory would only be cut out and thrown away. Selling the frame alone is cheaper for the manufacturer and better for the player.

How much does it cost to string a badminton racket?

About US$25–45 or CAD $30–45 in North America, including the string. Add that to the price of any unstrung frame before comparing it with a strung one.

Can I store a racket unstrung?

Yes, indefinitely. An unstrung frame is under no load, which is the least stressful state for it — that is why rackets ship that way.