Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The most popular versions of the game are “singles” (with one player per side) and “doubles,” however it can also be played with bigger teams (with two players per side). While formal matches are conducted on a rectangular indoor court, badminton is frequently played as a recreational outdoor pastime in a yard or on a beach. The shuttlecock must land in the half of the court belonging to the opposing team in order to score a point.
The international governing organization of the sport, the Badminton World Federation (BWF; formerly the International Badminton Federation), was established in 1934. Additionally well-liked is badminton in Malaysia, Indonesia, Japan, and Denmark. The inaugural BWF world championships took place in 1977. Numerous countries host regional, national, and zonal badminton competitions. The All-England Championships are the most well-known of them. The Uber Cup, donated in 1956 for women’s team competition, and the Thomas Cup, donated in 1939 for men’s team competition, are two other well-known international competitions.
Men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, and mixed doubles, in which each pair consists of a man and a woman, are the five events that make up badminton’s Olympic program. In order to compete at the highest levels, athletes must have exceptional fitness. They must have aerobic endurance, agility, strength, speed, and precision. It is a technical sport that calls for excellent motor coordination and the refinement of complex racket movements.
So what is the appeal of badminton?
•First and foremost, badminton’s fundamentals are simple to grasp; even beginners with little to no experience can enjoy their first game and advance quickly.
•You just need a small amount of equipment to start playing badminton; if you decide to do so in a public club, you may rent or borrow whatever you need.
•It’s fantastic for body conditioning! On the badminton court, you can anticipate burning 600–1000 calories per hour while also putting your stamina, flexibility, and coordination to the test.
•Badminton is a sociable sport that makes it easy to make new friends.
Essential gear for badminton
Footwear
The right shoes are an essential buy for badminton. Anyone who has played or even just watched a game will be familiar with the rapid pace at which players move around the court; agility on the court is essential to earning that crucial point.
Badminton shoes are made specifically for badminton movements, so your shoes must be able to sustain these movements. The thin soles are made to support the player’s sides and keep their feet near to the ground. This lowers the possibility of injury while enabling fast ankle direction adjustments for the player.
When you first start out, non-badminton shoes are sufficient, but if you’re using running shoes, be cautious. Running shoes feature a higher, thicker sole that is not as well suited for the unpredictable motions of badminton because they are made with downward force in mind.
Sportive outfit
This is the last piece of gear that is advised. It is not as crucial as the shoes because it won’t stop injuries, but it will undoubtedly make you more comfortable while you play. You can move around the court more quickly and comfortably when wearing a sporty clothing, and you can hit the shuttle with ease. The suggested attire is a t-shirt and shorts (or a skirt).
Badminton rackets
If you are new to the sport, the range of rackets available may seem a little intimidating. However, buying your racket doesn’t have to be a difficult endeavor.
The best advise is to choose a piece of equipment you can afford and is appropriate for your level of play because athletic equipment prices can vary greatly. Consider a lightweight model instead of a professional one if you are just starting out because they are better suited for novices.
Another method of determining which racket is best for you is to test the balancing point. To achieve this, hold the racket’s shaft horizontally by placing it on your index finger. It is more of a power racket if your finger is closer to the racket head when you balance the shaft, and a control racket if it is closer to the handle.
Shuttlecocks
You have two options when choosing a shuttlecock or “birdie”: those made of real feathers or those made of nylon. Naturally, the feather versions cost more and are regarded as being better, but they don’t last as long as the less expensive versions. Therefore, your best option when starting out is the nylon models.
Badminton sets
Even if you just need a few pieces of equipment to play badminton, you might wish to start with a friendly match. If you have adequate room, many manufacturers sell starter setups that come with the net, racket, and shuttlecocks.
Scoring
Regardless of who is serving, a point is scored when the birdie lands on the side of the opponent.
The game is won by the first side to score 21 points. But the victorious team must prevail by a margin of two points.
The first team to score two extra points wins if there is a tie (20 points apiece).
No matter what the other team has scored, the winning team is the first to 30 points.
The match is won by the first team to win two out of three games.
Net & poles
In our opinion, a net (with the poles) should also be included. Without the net, you can still smash the shuttle around, but this equipment imposes some restrictions on the shots that make the game more entertaining and realistic. The nets and poles will probably be provided if you are playing indoors at a sports facility that is set up for badminton, so you won’t have to worry about them. You will have to buy them if you want to play outside. They are reasonably priced (starting at about $50 in the US). View the most recent pricing on
Playing Area
•For singles matches, the court is rectangular, measuring 17 feet (5.18 meters) by 44 feet (13.4 meters) and 20 feet (6.1 meters) by 44 feet for doubles matches. The entire court is split in half by a net (dividing the length of the court). It is 5.08 feet high at the posts and stands 5 feet tall in the center (edges). Even when singles is being played, the two net uprights are always placed on the doubles sidelines.
•The edge of the court during the singles game, or the singles sideline, is 1.6 feet inside the doubles sideline. The left and right service courts are designated by the center line, which also divides the court’s width. The doubles long service line is 12.75 feet behind the short service line and is 6.6 feet from the net (2.6 feet from the back boundary). The doubles long service line is 2.4 feet in front of the singles long service line. The rear boundary line is another name for the long service line. A badminton court’s surface is made out of a springy, frequently plywood floor that is covered with vinyl or treated hardwood strips.
Playing Strategy
Single– typically serve lengthy games. Whether dropping or clearing, answer a high serve.
Build your game strategy on alternate drop and clear shots, and then employ the smash/drive when opportunities present themselves. Run your opponent around the court, from front to back and side to side.
Make shots in doubles so that your
Partner– has a chance to play a winning shot upon their return. Playing a shot that exposes your partner to smashes is never a good idea. Always choose the offensive position. This suggests that all shots ought to be made downward. Generally, serves should be brief and modest. If you receive short serves, attack them.
- Side-by-side: From the net to the baseline, each partner is in charge of one-half of the playing court.
- Up-and-back: One player plays the front half of the court, working from the middle and directly behind the short service line. From the centerline and just in front of the double rear service line, the partner plays the court’s back area.
- Up/back rotation – this technique combines the two doubles’ defensive and offensive methods by adopting an up-and-back shape for defense.