I have to admit that I have an egoistic reason for writing this article: I’d like to get great badminton gifts myself.
I understand that it can be difficult to find the perfect gift if you don’t play the sport, and what makes it even trickier is that some of the most obvious gifts for badminton players are hard to get right.
In this article, I’ll show you which gifts to avoid alongside better alternatives broken down by budget so you can find something that fits your wallet.
The 3 badminton gifts to avoid
Let’s begin by looking at badminton gifts to avoid.
Counterintuitively, gear like rackets and shoes are difficult gifts to get right unless the player you’re gifting it has no preferences, and is fine with anything that looks like strings on a stick.
Rackets
In order to buy one, you’ll need to be confident in the specifications the lucky person prefers. Here’s what you need to know:
- Brand and model (i.e. Yonex Astrox 100 Game)
- Preferred weight class: often 3U or 4U
- Preferred handle size: G4-G6
In some cases, you might also need to know their preferred color scheme, although whether that one is available in a store near you is a whole different story.
Lastly, knowing their preferred strings and string tension is important as most rackets come either unstrung or factory strung, which usually offers a poor experience.
Getting an exciting new racket, only to have to send it back to the shop to get it strung, sucks when all you want to do is play with it right away.
If you know all of that, great. You are now ready to buy the racket.
If not, and the receiver hasn’t specified these details, chances are that they may simply not know their preferred string, tension, or even racket type. Only if you’re confident that this is the case, can you go ahead and get them one without their knowledge.
I’ve prepared this guide on strings and tension but otherwise, stores can often help guide you if you know the general skill level of the player. I’ve also prepared several guides on the best rackets based on my experience play-testing gear.
If you don’t know their skill level and they don’t know their preferences, chances are that they are a beginner player, meaning this guide on the best badminton rackets for beginners is a good starting point.
Just as a friendly heads up, there is no single best racket as you’ll see in that guide. It all depends on things like playing style and skill level.
Shoes
The same is true for shoes, although they are easier as fewer players have hardcore preferences like they may with rackets.
If you’re considering shoes as a gift, be aware that the shoe sizes are often half a size smaller than typical casual sneakers before you head over to the guide on the best badminton shoes.
Classes
Another gift to avoid is training classes whether offline or online, unless the player has specified exactly which ones and you’re just paying for it.
Pushing someone else to get better with classes is an ineffective approach. In fact, many players tend to play badminton just for exercise without wanting to put in the work to improve their game.
To do so, the player has to repeat practice drills, performing the same shot over and over again in order to improve. It requires hours upon hours and a single class lasting an hour or two usually won’t make a difference.
The few exceptions are when practicing service, certain tactical work, or small actionable tips (like those in this article on drive shots).
If you made it through this chapter with some of your gift ideas intact, great!
If not, I’ll be looking at gift ideas that are suitable for badminton players next.
The best badminton gift ideas by budget
I’ve broken these gift examples down into four brackets:
- Less than $200
- Less than $100
- Less than $50
- Less than $25
Let’s dive in!
Badminton gifts if your budget is less than $200
Tech gear like a massage gun or smartwatch is always fun and doesn’t have to cost $200. You can certainly find options for less, provided you know the preferences of the person you’re giving it to.
In my experience, this type of gear splits the waters. One group doesn’t care and just wants to have fun, while another finds the numbers motivating and loves the tech.
Smartwatches can be a fun tool but it can also be a tricky item to purchase for someone else as some prefer wearing normal watches.
I’ve tried a few different smartwatches in the $50-$75 range over the years and I have yet to find one that I love in that price range. There were always tracking inaccuracies forcing me to input manual data to circumvent it. It gets annoying.
To be fair, I haven’t tried high-end ones from brands like Apple, Samsung, Garmin, or Fitbit. That could change things.
From research, I understand that the Garmin Venu 2 is currently the best sports watch in the market, but it’s also $249, while the former version comes in at $149. I haven’t tried either, so these are just suggestions within the budget.
Another option is gifting a massage gun. They feel a little odd at first, but they are great when feeling sore after playing. I’ve had good experiences with an affordable one from a brand called Kingtech but it seems like they aren’t available worldwide.
I’ve heard that Pulseroll should be a good brand and their website suggests they have a mini massage gun for $162 (they also offer normal-sized ones but they are nearly twice the price).
If you prefer shopping on Amazon, this Hypervolt Go 2 seems like it would do a reasonably good job.
Like with the rest of these gift ideas, unless I’ve specifically said so, I haven’t tested these products and you should look at them as example suggestions rather than endorsements.
Next, let’s look at gifts for badminton players for less than $100.
Badminton gift ideas if your budget is less than $100
Heart rate monitors aren’t for everyone but they can be fun to measure your fitness level over time, especially if someone is looking to get fit or lose weight while playing badminton.
Chest straps seem to be the most popular choice for badminton players (I’m guessing due to their accuracy).
This Polar H10 appears popular on Amazon and costs $89, but I’ve also seen Decathlon have some at nearly half the price.
My understanding is that the key with chest straps is that they have a Bluetooth connection so you can transfer the data to your phone. As far as I’m aware, you don’t need a special watch or app for this to work, as there are free fitness apps in the app stores that can receive the data (think Strava, Google Fit, or Apple Health).
Another gift alternative for less than $100 is a badminton bag.
I was hesitant to include bags in this article. There are many different types, which makes it a hard gift to win with unless the receiver has already specified their preferences.
For example, does the player want a bag that covers the racket entirely or a backpack that it sticks out of?
The final idea in this budget range is tickets to a badminton tournament. Tickets tend to be surprisingly affordable compared to other sports but might be tricky to get as there are tournaments all over the world and usually just one or two per country per year.
… If your budget is less than $50
One of my favorite badminton gifts is shuttles.
If your player plays in a club weekly and pays a one-time fee for the season, that usually includes shuttles, meaning that they may not need them.
On the other hand, if they arrange games and practice sessions on their own every now and then, they’ll need shuttles.
If they play indoors, a good middle ground in terms of value for money tends to be Yonex’s Aerosensa 30 (AS30) often costing $30-$40 for a tube of twelve shuttles.
If they play outdoors, plastic shuttles tend to be better and Yonex Mavis 300 is a popular choice costing around $40 for a tube of six. It sounds more expensive, but they’ll last forever as they’re made from plastic and nylon instead of feathers.
Another practical gift for badminton players is sports clothes that they can play in on court.
If they are a fan of a certain player, t-shirts could be a fun option. The top players are sponsored by Yonex, Victor, Li-Ning, and a few by Mizuno and usually have a new seasonal style every year.
Each brand usually has a page displaying which items their sponsored players are using, but that often doesn’t include shorts and t-shirts. Some stores like this one have made a lookbook showing it.
Here’s an example of Viktor Axelsen, the current world #1 in men’s singles.
If you know that your player likes stretching (hint: most players don’t), another option is a foam roller. They are a popular tool and a reasonably priced gift to give to a badminton lover.
Pulseroll has a few premium options but if you’re looking for something mid-range, here’s one for $27 that seems decent.
Finally, the last gift idea for this budget range.
Bringing a towel to the game is a nice way to dry sweat off your face and hands between games. Branded small-medium-sized towels don’t come cheap, like this example from Li-Ning at $30.
You can, of course, get cheaper alternatives that are not specifically made by badminton brands as well.
… If your budget is less than $25
Finally, we have the category for small gifts that are often easy to get at general stores like supermarkets and not particularly badminton-specific despite being used in the sport.
The first is a pair of small scissors to cut strings on the racket when they break so the racket head doesn’t lose its shape.
If you know that your player likes warming up and stretching (again, most players don’t), resistance bands (like this one) tend to be a good and easy way to do that.
Another training-related tool is a hand grip strengthening device (like this one) as players generate more power in certain shots by pushing the thumb against the handle of the racket.
There are also HECS balls for your player to practice wall drills at home but without damaging the walls.
Other, simple items are:
- A sports spray deo for shoes and while playing or when going home
- A tiny bag for coins or keys to keep inside the badminton bag
- Small laundry bag to bring in the bag for sweaty t-shirts or shoes
- Badminton keychains
- A (long sleeve) sports t-shirt to wear when going home after playing
Takeaways
- Shoes and rackets tend to be tricky badminton gifts as each player has specific preferences
- There are loads of small items not specific to badminton but are also used in the sport
