Fibre Tressée Understanding T700 carbon in sports rackets

T700S, standard modulus and intermediate modulus: reading the difference

Published on October 21, 2026 Reviewed October 22, 2026 4 min read

Text by the Fibre Tressée editorial team.

Three carbon rods of similar shades lined up on a neutral background, one of them slightly bent.
Stiffness compared. T700S fiber belongs to the standard-modulus fibers, which are more flexible than intermediate or high modulus fibers. Modulus measures the stiffness of the material, not the comfort or power of a racket. A stiffer fiber is therefore not automatically preferable. The final behavior also depends on the resin, the stacking of the plies, and the design.

On to “T700S, standard modulus and intermediate modulus: reading the difference”: I will guide you from part to part, always telling you where we stand. Place T700S relative to the intermediate or high modulus fibers from the same manufacturer.

Tensile modulus of Toray fibers — Shows the stiffness of T700S compared with intermediate and high modulus fibers.
Tensile modulus of Toray fibers — Shows the stiffness of T700S compared with intermediate and high modulus fibers. Source: Fibres de carbone à module standard, intermédiaire et élevé (Toray) — Manufacturer data consulted in 2026.

The basic vocabulary

Let us take the time to name precisely the notions we will be handling.

Intermediate-modulus fiber

A category of carbon fibers that are stiffer than standard-modulus fibers but less stiff than high-modulus ones.

To make the notion tangible, Toray's page on standard, intermediate, and high modulus fibers lets you compare these categories.

You will find the details in the entry devoted to Intermediate-modulus fiber.

Stringed area

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

To make the notion tangible, the Laws of Badminton specify that the strings form a bounded surface within the head of the racket.

You will find the details in the entry devoted to Stringed area.

Shaft

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

To make the notion tangible, the Laws of Badminton name the shaft among the components of the racket.

To clarify this term, open the entry Shaft.

What the comparison must settle

Here is the basic principle to keep in mind — T700G is a variant of T700S with reinforced fiber-resin adhesion; Toray intends it notably for aerospace and sporting goods.

Keep this fundamental rule in mind: Toray presents T700S as a standard-modulus fiber with high tensile strength, with processing characteristics suited to filament winding, weaving, and prepreg. Come back to this idea whenever a doubt arises.

Let us start with the foundation: Toray presents standard modulus as the most economical category of carbon fiber in its range. Make this principle your anchor for reading.

What makes the difference

I suggest this reading grid to guide your decision.

  • A carbon fiber is a filament about 5 to 10 micrometers in diameter, made up mostly of carbon atoms, with high stiffness and high tensile strength relative to its weight.
  • Toray classes T700G, the version with reinforced fiber-resin adhesion, among the fibers intended for sporting goods: a T700 grade can therefore exist in several variants (T700S, T700G) with different uses.

The most common pitfalls

A trap awaits at this stage — a standard-modulus fiber is not the stiffest: intermediate-modulus (42 MSi) and high-modulus (up to 85.3 MSi) fibers exist, so “T700” is not synonymous with maximum stiffness.

Where does T700S sit in the range?

Let us pause on this measurement — Toray's M series (M35J to M60J) covers moduli from 49.8 to 85.3 MSi (343 to 588 GPa): T700, at 33.4-34.8 MSi, therefore sits in the lower part of the stiffness scale of Toray carbon fibers.

A concrete case will help you see more clearly: T300 is Toray's reference fiber, used in aerospace for more than 20 years; T700 belongs to the same standard-modulus family.

Let us pause on this measurement: Toray T700S carbon fiber has a tensile strength of 711 ksi, or 4,900 MPa.

Which fiber is stiffer?

Let us pause on this measurement: the tensile modulus of T700S fiber is 33.4 MSi, or 230 GPa.

In conclusion

Go back to the headings that concern you most and reread them carefully.

Questions and answers

Is T700 an intermediate-modulus fiber?

No: Toray presents T700S as a standard-modulus fiber.

Related reading

Sources cited

Sources and verification

  • This text draws on 4 sources: 3 manufacturer documentations.
  • Facts checked against their sources on October 13, 2026.
  • How sources are chosen and verified: Fact checking.