Lunged for a drop shot. Landed on the outside of my foot. Ankle rolled completely sideways. Heard a pop.
Three weeks on crutches. Two months of physical therapy. Six months before I trusted that ankle again.
Rolled the same ankle two more times over the next year. Each time, another month off court. Realized I needed protection or I'd destroy my ankle permanently.
Tested 5 different ankle braces over 7 months. Here's which ones actually prevent rolls without killing your movement speed.
Badminton has more direction changes than any other racket sport. You're lunging, cutting, jumping, landing awkwardly.
Your ankle has ligaments that keep it stable. Roll your ankle once, those ligaments stretch. Roll it twice, they stay loose. Third time, you have chronic instability.
Wore running shoes for my first year playing. No lateral support. Rolled my ankles constantly. Switched to court shoes. Better, but not enough.
Court shoes prevent some rolls, but if you already have weak ankles or previous injuries, you need extra support. That's where braces come in.
Three main types of ankle braces. They provide different levels of support.
Sleeve braces are stretchy compression material. Light support. Won't stop a serious roll but remind your ankle to stay stable.
Lace-up braces have straps and laces like a shoe. Medium to high support. Lock your ankle in place while allowing forward/backward movement.
Rigid braces have plastic shells. Maximum support. Used for severe injuries or post-surgery recovery. Too restrictive for most players.
Tested all three types. Here's what actually works for badminton.
ASO Ankle Stabilizer - $45-50
Why it's the best: Lace-up design with figure-8 straps provides maximum support without restricting movement. Stays tight during entire matches.
Wore this for 4 months straight after my third ankle roll. Zero rolls during that time despite aggressive lunging.
The lace system lets you adjust tightness precisely. Loose enough to move, tight enough to prevent lateral rolls. Figure-8 straps lock your heel in place.
Fits inside court shoes without making them too tight. Adds maybe 5mm of thickness. Barely noticeable after the first session.
Only downside: takes 2 minutes to put on with all the lacing and straps. But once it's on, it doesn't move all match.
Best for: Players with previous ankle injuries, chronic instability, or anyone who's rolled ankles multiple times.
McDavid Ankle Brace - $35-40
Why it works: Lace-up with quick straps. Easier to put on than ASO. Almost as much support.
Tested this during tournament play. Support is excellent. Movement feels 95% normal. Footwork speed barely affected.
The quick-strap system means you can adjust it between matches without fully removing it. Perfect for tournaments where you have multiple matches.
Build quality is solid. Six months of use, still performing like new. Straps haven't stretched. Material hasn't worn down.
Best for: Tournament players who need reliable support without maximum restriction. Balance of protection and mobility.
Zamst A2-DX Ankle Brace - $55-60
Premium option: Thin profile, excellent support, professional-grade construction.
This is what many pro athletes use. Combines lightweight design with high-level support.
Material is a specialized synthetic that's thinner than other braces but just as strong. Fits inside shoes without adding bulk.
The strapping system is more complex but more effective. Takes practice to put on correctly, but once you learn, it's fast.
Price is steep at $60. But if you play 4+ times per week, the durability justifies the cost. Mine lasted 9 months with heavy use.
Best for: Serious players willing to pay premium for the best combination of support and mobility.
Mueller ATF2 Ankle Brace - $25-30
The value pick: Basic lace-up design that delivers 80% of premium brace performance for half the price.
Bought this as a backup brace. Ended up using it regularly for practice sessions.
Support is good, not great. Prevents most rolls. Won't save you from the worst-case landing angles like the ASO will.
Durability is acceptable. After 4 months, the laces started fraying. The straps loosened slightly. Still functional but showing wear.
For the price, this is solid. If you need a brace but can't afford $50, this delivers adequate protection.
Best for: Budget-conscious players, practice sessions, or as a backup brace.
Short answer: not for injury prevention. They provide compression and make your ankle feel more stable, but won't stop a roll.
Tested compression sleeves for 6 weeks. They felt supportive during warm-ups. The moment I lunged hard, my ankle rolled right through the sleeve.
Sleeves work for mild instability or as a reminder to be careful. They don't work for actual injury prevention.
If you've never injured your ankle, skip the sleeves and just wear proper court shoes. If you have weak ankles, get a real brace with straps.
Most players wear braces during recovery, then stop once they feel better. This is a mistake.
I stopped wearing my brace after 2 months of feeling fine. Rolled my ankle again 3 weeks later. Back to square one.
Once you've injured an ankle, those ligaments are permanently looser. You need support forever, especially during aggressive play.
I now wear braces for every session. Zero ankle rolls in 18 months. Small price to pay to keep playing.
Yes, slightly. But not as much as you think, and way less than being injured for 6 weeks.
First session wearing the ASO brace, I felt slow. Footwork felt restricted. Movement felt heavy.
By session three, I adapted. Barely noticed it. Played a tournament in month two. Performance was normal.
The mental benefit is huge. I stopped hesitating on lunges. No fear of rolling my ankle. That confidence made me faster overall despite the slight physical restriction.
Speed loss is maybe 2-3%. Injury prevention is 80-90%. Easy trade-off.
Most braces come in S/M/L/XL based on shoe size. Measure your shoe size, follow the sizing chart exactly.
I'm size 10 shoe. Ordered medium. Too loose. Ordered small. Perfect fit.
When in doubt, size down. Braces should be tight. Loose braces don't provide support and will slide around during play.
Try them on with your court shoes before committing. Make sure they fit inside your shoes without making them painfully tight.
If your ankle hurts after rolling it, stop playing. Ice it. See a doctor if pain lasts more than 48 hours.
I kept playing through ankle pain after my first roll. Turned a mild sprain into a severe one. Recovery time went from 2 weeks to 6 weeks.
Braces prevent injuries. They don't heal existing ones. If you're hurt, rest and recover properly before returning to court.
Playing through ankle injuries makes them worse. You'll end up with chronic instability that requires braces forever.
I wear the ASO Ankle Stabilizer on my right ankle (the one I rolled three times) for every session.
Left ankle is fine, so I don't brace it. No point restricting movement if I don't need to.
For tournaments, I bring a backup McDavid brace in case the ASO strap breaks or I need to switch.
Total investment: $85 for two braces. They've lasted 7 months so far. Compare that to $200+ in physical therapy costs from ankle injuries.
If you've rolled your ankle once, wear a brace immediately. Don't wait for a second roll.
If you have naturally weak ankles or hypermobility, wear braces preventatively. Some people are just more prone to ankle injuries.
If you play on slippery courts or wear worn-out shoes, wear braces. Environmental factors increase roll risk.
Better to wear a brace you don't need than to skip it and get injured. Injuries cost you more in time, money, and performance than braces ever will.
Just buy the ASO Ankle Stabilizer. It's $45 and provides maximum protection. It's uncomfortable for the first session, then you forget it's there.
If you want something lighter and play at a high level, spend $60 on the Zamst A2-DX. You get pro-level support without sacrificing speed.
If you're on a budget, get the Mueller ATF2 for $25. It's not perfect but it's way better than nothing.
Whatever you choose, wear it consistently. Braces only work if you actually use them. Don't wait until you roll your ankle again.
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