Reinforcing member for a badminton racquet

A badminton racquet comprising:

• a frame including a tubular hoop portion and a tubular handle portion;
• a string bed supported by the hoop portion;
• and
• a generally T-shaped reinforcing member including,
• a first section having an outer surface, the outer surface defining a first cross-sectional area measured about a longitudinal plane positioned generally perpendicular to the string bed, and
• a second section longitudinally and outwardly extending from the first section, the second section having an outer surface that defines a second cross-sectional area measured about a transverse plane, the first cross-sectional area being at least 50 percent greater than the second cross-sectional area, the first and second sections configured for placement within the hoop and handle portions of the frame, respectively.

A badminton racquet extending along a longitudinal axis and, the racquet configured for impacting a shuttlecock and for placement within a test support for a torsional stability test, the racquet comprising:

• a frame including a tubular hoop portion defining a hoop and a tubular handle portion, the frame having a head size of approximately 54.5 inches2, the handle portion having a distal end region having an outside diameter within the range of 6.75 mm to 7.25 mm;
• a string bed supported by the hoop portion, the racquet having a strung weight within the range of 88.0 to 93.5 grams;
• and
• a generally T-shaped reinforcing member including,
• a first section, and
• a second section longitudinally and outwardly extending from the first section, the first and second sections configured for placement within the hoop and handle portions of the frame, respectively, the racquet having a torsional deflection of less than 10.5 degrees when measured in a torsional stability test wherein the handle portion is fixedly supported by the test support, and the shuttlecock traveling at an incoming velocity of approximately 34 miles per hour impacts the string bed at a location approximately 1.25 inches to the left or right of a geometric center of the hoop portion.