Carbon frame and shaft: what the T700 label changes in badminton

Today's session is titled "Carbon frame and shaft: what the T700 label changes in badminton," and it will follow the plan announced here. The goal is to learn which parts of a badminton racket are affected by the advertised fiber.

The essential terms

Before we move forward, let us define together the words I will use.

Shaft

The part of a badminton racket that connects the handle to the head.

Consider this case to fix ideas: the Laws of Badminton name the shaft among the components of the racket.

You will find the details in the entry devoted to Shaft.

String bed

The area of a badminton racket occupied by the strings, intended for striking the shuttlecock.

Consider this case to fix ideas: the Laws of Badminton specify that the strings form a defined surface within the head of the racket.

To clarify this term, open the entry String bed.

As an example, nothing prevents you from looking at the Rally store, with "Raquette Rally — Carbone T700": one reference point among others.

What is at stake behind the scenes

Here is what the texts provide: the strung area of a badminton racket may not exceed 280 mm in length and 220 mm in width, with a tolerance for the strings to extend into the throat (35 mm wide at most, 330 mm total length).

Note this provision: a badminton racket may not include any device that allows the player to significantly change its shape.

From a regulatory standpoint, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has the authority to decide whether a racket complies with the specifications of the laws.

From a regulatory standpoint, USA Pickleball launched a spin rate test on October 1, 2026: paddles certified after that date must pass it.

The procedure to follow

Let us continue with this step: the process relies on automated equipment designed specifically for pickleball, used in the laboratory and on the court, with proprietary software analysis. Check off this step in your own sequence.

Where is carbon found in the racket?

Let us pause on this measurement: the USA Pickleball spin test uses PaddleVision, a two-camera system developed by the Swedish company Image Systems, and sets a threshold of 2,100 rpm that must not be exceeded.

One framework to know: the laws of badminton limit the racket to 680 mm in total length and 230 mm in total width.

On the rules side, here is what is established: the strings of a badminton racket must form a crossed pattern, either interlaced alternately or bonded where they cross.

Do the frame and the shaft have the same role?

From a regulatory standpoint, paddles that are already certified remain compliant with the standards of their certification period, despite the arrival of the spin test.

On the rules side, here is what is established: a badminton racket must be free of added objects or protrusions, except those used to limit wear, dampen vibrations, distribute weight, or secure the handle, which must remain reasonable in size and position.

Here is what the texts provide: the spin test procedure was released on July 15, 2026; until October 1, a paddle could still be approved with only the surface roughness and coefficient of friction tests.

To finish, in practice

Write down your questions as you read, then check them against the corresponding sections.

Related reading

• T700 carbon badminton racket: what you need to know — T700 in badminton rackets and the BWF rules. Across these pages, you will move through the reading plan, starting with what organizes the subject.
• Stringing surface and balance: what the fiber does not say — Avoid judging a racket by its fiber alone while overlooking balance and stringing. The reading plan announced here: the vocabulary to know.
• Permitted badminton racket dimensions: the limits set by the laws of the game — Check with a few measurements that a racket meets the official limits. Covered in turn: the detailed procedure and the basic vocabulary.
• Pala hitting surface: reading the spec sheet of a carbon model — Decode a pala spec sheet to separate information from slogans. The announced reading plan: the core of the method under the microscope.

Sources cited

• Laws of Badminton, spécifications de la raquette — Maximum racket dimensions (680 mm by 230 mm), strung area, ban on devices that change the shape, authority to rule on compliance. Accessed 2026-10-13.
• USA Pickleball lance son test de taux de rotation (The Dink Pickleball) —
• Nouveau processus de test des palettes (PPA, MLP, USA Pickleball) — Announcement on March 8, 2023 of a joint automated test of paddles and balls in the laboratory and on the court. Accessed 2026-10-13.

Sources and verification

• This text draws on 3 sources: 1 official body or institution and 2 press articles.
• Facts checked against their sources on October 13, 2026.
• How sources are chosen and verified: Fact-checking.