Best Badminton Strings
for Intermediate Players 2026
The best badminton string for intermediate players is the Yonex BG80 — a major step up in control and repulsion from the BG65, used by competitive club players worldwide. String it at 22–26 lbs for the best balance of repulsion and shuttle placement. Ready for more power? Try the Yonex BG80 Power or the Yonex BG Exbolt 68.
You play regularly, your footwork is improving, and you're starting to hit with more intention — but your strings still feel like they're holding you back. This guide covers the 8 best badminton strings for intermediate players in 2026: options that reward a developing swing with more repulsion, better control, and a crisper response on your best shots.
Top 8 Badminton Strings for Intermediate Players (2026)
Every string below is selected from the StringMatch database of 45 badminton strings, filtered for players who play regularly and want more performance than a beginner string can offer. They prioritise repulsion and control — the two qualities that matter most when you start playing with intention.
The BG80 is the most natural upgrade from the BG65 and one of the most popular competitive club strings in the world. Its 0.68mm construction is thinner than the beginner-standard 0.70mm, giving it noticeably more repulsion and a crisper, more direct response on clears, drives, and smashes. The control score of 85 reflects its ability to place the shuttle precisely — a characteristic that rewards players who have started to develop consistent technique.
The BG80 Power takes the same 0.68mm construction as the BG80 but prioritises repulsion over precision, making it the better choice if smashing is your strongest weapon. It generates noticeably more pace on overhead clears and flat drives — you can feel the extra pop on contact. The slight reduction in control compared to the standard BG80 matters less when your rallies are built on aggression rather than placement. An excellent string for players who swing hard and want their strings to reward it.
The Exbolt 68 sits in Yonex's newer Exbolt range — a line designed to balance repulsion and durability better than the classic BG series. At 0.68mm it is aimed squarely at regular players who want performance without sacrificing too much string life. Compared to the BG80, the Exbolt 68 feels slightly softer on contact and holds tension a little longer, making it a strong choice if you play two to three times a week and want to restring every 2–3 months rather than every month.
Victor's most popular intermediate performance string, the VBS-66N delivers an excellent all-round experience at 0.66mm. It is marginally thinner than the BG80, giving it a livelier response and slightly more repulsion — ideal for intermediate players who have consistent enough technique to benefit from a higher-performance gauge. The all-round character makes it versatile across singles and doubles. A strong choice if you want to explore outside the Yonex ecosystem without compromising on quality.
The NBG95 sits between the BG65 and BG80 in terms of gauge and performance character. At 0.69mm it is slightly more durable than the BG80 while still offering meaningfully better control and repulsion than a beginner string. It is a reliable choice for intermediate players who play once or twice a week and want a string they can leave on for 3–4 months without losing too much tension. The comfortable all-round character suits players who enjoy mixing clears, drops, and net play.
The Aerobite Boost is Yonex's accessible hybrid string — a thicker 0.72mm main string for durability combined with a thin 0.61mm cross string for enhanced shuttle grip. The result is exceptional control on drop shots and net play, where the cross strings grab the shuttle briefly and direct it precisely. It is the most demanding string on this list to get set up correctly, but the improvement in touch and deception at the net makes it worth exploring once you are consistently competing at club level. More forgiving than the standard Aerobite.
The BG85 has long been a favourite among doubles players for its crisp, direct response and precise shuttle placement. At 0.67mm it offers a slightly thinner profile than the BG80 family, delivering sharper feedback on flat drives, quick net exchanges, and short service. If you play doubles more than singles and your game is built on speed and placement rather than big overheads, the BG85 deserves serious consideration. The control-focused character suits players who already hit consistently and want more precision from their string.
Li-Ning's flagship mid-range performance string, used by some of their sponsored players and widely respected across Asia. At 0.65mm it is noticeably thinner than the rest of this list — meaning more repulsion and feel, but shorter string life. The No. 1 is best suited to intermediate players on the upper end who already restring regularly and want to start approaching the feel of advanced strings without jumping to the most demanding options. A strong alternative to Yonex for anyone looking to try something different.
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Find my string in 90 seconds →Side-by-Side Comparison
All eight strings at a glance. Scores from the StringMatch database (0–100 scale).
| String | Gauge | Repulsion | Control | Durability | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Yonex BG80 | 0.68mm | 72 | 85 | 72 | Mid |
| Yonex BG80 Power | 0.68mm | 82 | 78 | 70 | Mid |
| Yonex BG Exbolt 68 | 0.68mm | 80 | 78 | 68 | Mid |
| Victor VBS-66N | 0.66mm | 80 | 80 | 65 | Mid |
| Yonex NBG95 | 0.69mm | 76 | 80 | 74 | Mid |
| Yonex Aerobite Boost | 0.72/0.61mm | 78 | 86 | 68 | Mid |
| Yonex BG85 | 0.67mm | 72 | 86 | 72 | Mid |
| Li-Ning No. 1 | 0.65mm | 82 | 80 | 63 | Mid |
When to Upgrade From the BG65
The Yonex BG65 is the world's default beginner string for good reason — durable, forgiving, and consistent. But it has a ceiling. Here are the signs you have outgrown it:
Your swing has developed consistency
Thinner strings like the BG80 (0.68mm) and BG85 (0.67mm) give more repulsion — but they also give more feedback on mishits. If you are still hitting frame shots and mishitting regularly, staying on 0.70mm is the right call. When you start hitting cleanly from the sweet spot most of the time, you will immediately notice the improvement a performance string offers.
Your clears feel flat despite good technique
When your technique is solid but your clears still fall short or lack pace, the string is often the limiting factor. Moving to BG80 or Exbolt 68 at 22–24 lbs will give you noticeably more repulsion for the same swing effort — the difference is particularly obvious on overhead clears and flat drives.
You are playing at least twice a week
Intermediate performance strings at 0.66–0.68mm break faster than the BG65. If you only play once a week, consider staying on BG65 or moving to the NBG95 (0.69mm) for better longevity. If you play two or more times a week, restringing every 6–8 weeks is normal and reasonable with these strings.
String Gauge Guide for Intermediate Players
Intermediate players have more options than beginners — and the gauge decision becomes meaningful at this level. Here is how to think about it:
0.69–0.70mm — for consistency-first players
If you play 1–2 times per week and want strings that last 3–4 months without snapping, the NBG95 (0.69mm) is your best step up from the BG65. Better performance than beginner strings but more durable than the BG80 range. Good for players who find thinner strings break too quickly.
0.67–0.68mm — the intermediate sweet spot
The BG80 (0.68mm), BG80 Power (0.68mm), Exbolt 68 (0.68mm), and BG85 (0.67mm) all sit in this range. It offers a meaningful improvement in repulsion and feel over 0.70mm strings while remaining durable enough for players who restring every 6–10 weeks. This is where most competitive club players operate.
0.65–0.66mm — approaching advanced territory
Strings like the Victor VBS-66N (0.66mm) and Li-Ning No. 1 (0.65mm) start to approach advanced-level performance. More repulsion and feel, but shorter lifespan — expect to restring every 4–6 weeks if you play frequently. Best suited to upper-intermediate players who already restring regularly and want to maximise performance.
Best Tension for Intermediate Badminton Players
Tension has a direct effect on how the string responds — higher tension means more control and a crisper sound, but requires a faster, more consistent swing to benefit from it. Lower tension gives more natural repulsion from the string bed.
For intermediate players, string at 22–26 lbs (10–12 kg). This range gives you:
- More shuttle placement accuracy than beginner tensions (18–22 lbs)
- Enough repulsion for confident overhead clears and flat drives
- A responsive feel on net shots and short service
Players who smash aggressively and have a fast swing can push to 26–28 lbs to tighten up their shuttle placement further. Anything above 28 lbs is generally reserved for advanced and professional players who can sustain the swing speed needed to generate repulsion at high tension.
Players coming from 18–20 lbs should increase tension gradually — try 22–23 lbs first and adjust from there after 2–3 sessions to see how it feels.
StringMatch analyses 45 badminton strings across 9 factors — level, swing speed, budget, playing style, and more — and gives you a personalised ranked list in 90 seconds. Free, no sign-up.
Find my perfect badminton string →Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best badminton string for intermediate players?
The Yonex BG80 is the best all-round string for intermediate players. It is a significant step up from the BG65 in control and repulsion, suits medium-to-fast swing speeds, and is used by competitive club players worldwide. If you hit aggressively and prioritise power, the BG80 Power is the better version.
What tension should an intermediate badminton player use?
String between 22–26 lbs. This gives enough control to start placing the shuttle precisely, while still providing good repulsion for clears and smashes. Players with faster swings can go up to 26–28 lbs. Always increase tension gradually — try 22–23 lbs first if coming from beginner tensions of 18–20 lbs.
What gauge string should an intermediate badminton player use?
The 0.68mm range (BG80, Exbolt 68) is the sweet spot for most intermediate players. It offers meaningful improvement over beginner 0.70mm strings while remaining durable enough for regular play. If strings break quickly, go to 0.69–0.70mm. If you want more feel and restring regularly, try 0.66mm.
Is the Yonex BG80 good for intermediate players?
Yes — the BG80 is one of the most recommended strings for intermediate and competitive club players. The step up in control from the BG65 is immediately noticeable, and the repulsion on clears and smashes is significantly better. String it at 22–25 lbs to get the best balance of feel and performance.
Should intermediate players use a hybrid badminton string?
The Yonex Aerobite Boost is a good hybrid option for intermediate players who want more touch and control on net play. However, hybrid strings cost more and can be harder for some stringers to set up correctly. If you play a lot of doubles and focus on net exchanges and deception, it is worth trying. For beginners to intermediate strings, a quality mono string like BG80 is usually the better starting point.
How often should an intermediate player restring their badminton racket?
Playing 2–3 times per week, restringing every 6–8 weeks is ideal. At 0.68mm, strings lose tension faster than beginner 0.70mm options and may snap more readily. Even if they don't break, dead strings feel flat and reduce your repulsion significantly. A common guideline is: restring as many times per year as you play per week.