The Plysonic is a great project for those who don't want to make anything big as
you don't need a lot of space to make one. The plans include over 150
pictures and explain every step in detail. There is additional information
about varnishing, sharpening, epoxy use, tips and tricks and more.
And for every set of plans we sell Woodenwidget will plant 5 trees on your
behalf!
The Plysonic can be made using almost any wood but obviously some woods are more
suitable than others for making a badminton racket. Ash, Beech, Teak and
Pine work well or even a mixture of these woods. To make it even simpler you
can just use real wood banding which is a very common product and used to
cover the edges of kitchen worktops and furniture. There is also a huge
choice of wood species, even some quite exotic ones. The advantage of edge
banding is that it comes on a roll and is cut very precisely, is very easy
to use, relatively inexpensive and easily shipped.
The Plysonic is a bit of a departure for Woodenwidget. It began as a wish to
make a wooden racket just for the fun of it but the end result was so
pleasing that the decision to make plans was taken. Using modern glues and
composite materials it has been possible to make a wooden racket only very
slightly heavier than a modern one. There is great satisfaction to be had
playing with a racket you have made yourself but the Plysonic is much more than
a gimmick. It takes a little while for your body to adapt to the different
feel but once you 'get it' you'll never go back!
Being a head heavy racket it has good power and surprising precision too.
The best part is the feel of the racket. It is softer to play with and less
tiring to use. It is great for soft shots at the net, accurate when serving,
powerful for clears but the way it can drive is something else. Obviously
you have to take more care of it than a cheap, easily replaced racket. You
do not want to use it to pick up shuttlecocks off the court for example but
apart from that it is very robust and will be the talk of your badminton
club. After all, how many players do you know why play with wood?
The Plysonic plans are very detailed and walk the maker through every single
step. You will need a few slightly specialist tools such as a pillar
drill with drum sander and maybe an angled head on your drill but apart
from that the construction is quite straightforward. The racket head is
made from thin laminates about 1 mm thick and they are bent around a
purpose made jig. The shaft is a ready made carbon tube and the handle
is easy to make from any light wood.
