Badminton is considered the fastest racquet sport in the world. Played with slender racquets and a cork wrapped with sticking goose feathers as its ball (known as a shuttlecock or birdie) it is said that the best player could hit the shuttlecock and send it flying at a speed of up to 200 mph. In tennis, the fastest recorded speed of the ball is at 155 mph, in a service by American Andy Roddick during the 2004 Davis Cup.
How Badminton is Played
The game of badminton is played by two opposing players (either singles or doubles like in tennis) over a 44 ft by 17 ft rectangular court, which is bounded by tramlines and divided on the middle by a 150 cm high net. It starts when one player serves by hitting the shuttlecock from below the level of the waistline with the objective of sending it diagonally to the opponent's court. On the other side of the court where the shuttlecock is sent by the server is an opposing player, who must receive the serve by returning the shuttlecock back to the server's court. The players then hit the shuttlecock back and forth until one of them misses, sends the shuttlecock outside the court or fails to send it over the net. The player who does not make a mistake earns a point.
Generally, matches have three games at 21 points each, with the player winning the first two matches as the victor. When both opposing players earn 20 points, the first to get two points lead wins the match. In the event both sides get 29 points, the first to get 30 points wins. Recreational players make a variation of this by limiting the matches into two 21-point games only.
When played by advanced or even intermediate players, the game of badminton can be really fast and intense. Unlike tennis, the shuttlecock must not land on the court which makes its flight from one side to the other very fast, especially when a smash shot is employed. One watching a game will see players doing a lot of turns, running, sudden change of direction or even jumping in getting at the shuttlecock. This means that a good player must have stamina, flexibility and agility.
Badminton Racquet
The basic equipment in badminton is the racquet. The racquet is light and slender and is made up of carbon fibre materials. In the past racquets were made of steel or even wood. Today steel or aluminum racquets are still being manufactured, but only few use them since they are heavy and not very effective in imparting force. The parts of a racquet are the handle or grip, the frame which is oval-shaped, and the shaft which connects the handle and frame. Inside the frame are criss-crossing strings. This portion is called the string bed, where the shuttlecock makes contact. The tightness of the strings (called tension) is measured in pounds, which ranges from 22 to 36 pounds.
Badminton Shoes and Attire
Like in most sports special shoes are used in badminton for performance and avoidance of injuries. Since badminton is played indoor, non-marking gum-soled shoes are used so as not to mess up the court floor and prevent slips. The ideal shoes should be light, not have high heels, have good ankle support and cushioning - to prevent ankle sprains, heel pains and allow for better movement.
Basic Badminton Strokes
The two basic strokes in badminton are the forehand and backhand. The forehand is executed by hitting the shuttlecock on the right side of the body (left for left-handed players) and the backhand on the left side of the body (right for left-handed players). The backhand can also be executed hitting the shuttlecock on the right side of the body, but in such case the player's back will be facing the net. The forehand and backhand strokes are futher classified into clear, smash, drop, drive, net and underhand. These shots are described as follows:
1. Clear- the shuttlecock is hit overhead and sent in a high ark to the back of the opponent's court.
2. Smash - the shuttlecock is hit overhead and sent toward the opponent's court in a steep downward trajectory.
3. Drop - the hitting motion is somewhat similar to a smash but is less forceful and the shuttlecock's downward trajectory is not as straight and fast as in a smash.
4. Drive - the shuttlecock is sent toward the opponent's court in a flat or horizontal trajectory.
5. Net - the shuttlecock is hit near the net gently to send it just over the other side of the net.
6. Underhand - the shuttlecock is hit below the level of the net and is usually characterized by a lifting or scooping motion.
Beginning Badminton
Badminton is fun, affordable and appropriate for most ages. It is an enjoyable way of getting a sweat and takes away the drudgery of a monotonous and taxing exercise. But to get its full benefit it is advisable to learn the basics first by getting a trainer. Aside from avoiding bad habits as one progresses in the sport, a training is helpful in avoiding injuries by learning to execute the proper movements.
Reference:
Oreta, Butch, and Vip Malixi. Advanced Badminto Techniques. Philippines: [publisher unknown], 2005.
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