How to use the elasticity of a badminton racket to increase its speed by 80%?

Badminton rackets generate the highest particle velocities among all sports (137 m.s -1 ) (Cohen, 2014). Here, we investigate the role of elasticity on this particularity. Racket stiffness and mass properties likely influence the impact and restitution coefficient (Montagny 2003). In the present study, we investigatethe difference of velocity obtained with or without the elasticity of the racket in two different experiments. The first one allows to assess the flexible/rigid velocity ratio in a linear motion using a mechanical actuator. The second one aims to compare this result with human motions.