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Test Your Badminton String IQ

By Steve Crandall
Vice President, Sales & Marketing
Ashaway Racket Strings

I have written a great deal in these columns about badminton racquet string and stringing techniques. This month, I thought it might be fun to turn the tables a little and see what you know. So, I'm giving a pop quiz. Answer the questions below and find out how knowledgeable you have become on this subject.

Quiz answers are in the next column, "String Facts".

1. The larger the gauge number, the thicker the string.
   True _____ False _____
   
   
   
2. "Catastrophic" breakage - when strings break all at once - occurs more often under hot humid conditions.
   True _____ False _____
   
   
   
3. The standard length for badminton string sets is . . .
   33 feet _____ 37 feet _____ 30 feet ______
   
   
   
4. If you want the shuttle to explode off your racquet with greater power, you should string your racquet at a higher tension.
   True _____ False _____
   
   
   
5. Which one of the following is not a string gauge used by professional badminton players?
   22 _____ 21 _____ 20 _____
   
   
   
6. Which of the following is the acronym for the only national Racquet Stringing Association?
   USRSA _____ USSRA _____ USRA ______
   
   
   
7. Multifilament string construction is the most common for badminton string.
   True _____ False _____
   
   
   
8. Which of the following is the most commonly accepted range in millimeters for a 21-gauge string?
   .65 - .68 mm _____ .75 - .78 mm _____ .80 - .85 mm _____
   
   
   
9. A device to measure string gauge is called a . . .
   Thermometer _____ Dynometer _____ Micrometer _____
   
   
   
10. Which of the following countries is not home to a racket string manufacturer?
    USA _____ Canada _____ Japan _____ France _____
    
    
    
11. What was the first synthetic material used for manufacturing racquet strings?
    Polyester _____ Nylon _____ Rayon _____
    
    
    
12. Which of the following raw materials used in racquet string has the least elasticity or stretch?
    Polyester _____ Nylon _____ Kevlar _____
    
    
    
13. Which of the following is not a type of stringing machine?
    Electronic _____ Drop weight _____ Chemical combustion _____
    
    
    
14. Which of the following elements is not used in racquet strings?
    Titanium _____ Copper _____ Carbon _____
    
    
    
15. The normal tension range for stringing badminton racquets is 35 - 40 lbs.
    True _____ False _____
    
    
    
16. A 22 gauge string is normally more durable than a 20 gauge string.
    True _____ False _____
    
    
    
17. Which one of the following fiber properties does not affect badminton string performance?
    Elongation _____ Creep _____ Denier _____ Moisture absorption _____
    
    
    
18. At a lower tension, a string is more apt to add control to your game.
    True _____ False _____
    
    
    
19. The first synthetic Ashaway string was produced in . . .
    1945 _____ 1949 _____ 1952 _____
    
    
    
20. Steve Crandall's first tips column appeared in what year?
    1990 _____ 1993 _____ 1995 _____ 1997 _____
    
    

I confess, there are some tricky questions on this quiz, so you shouldn't feel bad if you don't score a hundred. On the other hand, I hope everyone who takes this quiz passes, especially if they have been reading this column since it first came out in . . . Oops! Almost gave away an answer.

The bottom line here is having a little fun while learning some things about badminton racquet string that might enhance your performance and enjoyment of the game. I'll review some of the tougher questions next time and give myself a grade on how well I am getting this information across in the column. So please ace this quiz for me.

This article previously appeared in Badminton News / USA.