Hi! Buying a racket is a very personal decision much like buying a car. Different people will look for different things. If you are a beginner, it is best to buy a racket that is evenly balanced (meaning the head and the handle of the racket pretty much balances each other out). As you get better, you will develop a preference for either a head-heavy racket (for smashers) or a head-light racket (for defensive players).

Price should not be much of an issue since there are a lot of good rackets at every price range. You can get a very good one at below $100. There are rackets that cost as much as $300 but it does not necessarily mean that it will make you play better. The point is, it is how you feel when you play with your racket and not the price that you should look at.

I like the graphite or titanium rackets. I'm not very familiar with the carbon fiber ones. You cannot go wrong with a Yonex or Carlton racket.

Hope this helps.