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Badminton is one of the most popular sports around the world. Just like lawn tennis, it needs a lot of accuracy and a lot of running too. But for female athletes who are serious with badminton, the little space confined by those lines means battlefield.

Singapore is proud to have produced a top-notch badminton player. Li Li won the singles category in the Commonwealth Games in 2002 and took home the gold medal. It was then that she made a great bang by defeating Tracey Hallam of England in the fourth set, which eventually upset the English team. Li also took part in the 2004 Summer Olympics but was defeated by Gong Ruina from China.

Another badminton superstar from Asia is Gong Ruina from China. A consistent Olympian, Ruina had swept the awards of almost all of the competitions that she had participated in. Ruina’s victory may be considered as a destiny. Why? It is because Ruina has a meaning in Chinese. “Rui” means clever and very wise while “na” is an character they use for a girl. It seems Ruina was born to be a champion. Even the legendary Susi Susanti was defeated by this girl in their match in Brunei Open.

Susi Susanti is one heck of a superstar Indonesia and in the world of badminton. She was awarded with a “Hall of Fame” award in 2004 by the International Badminton Federation. She was the very first Indonesian to take home gold medal in the single event in the 1992 Olympic Games.

Heading West, a very large star is shining brightly – Tracey Hallam. Considered as a top-seed badminton player in England, she has proven her talent to the whole world and became one of the public’s favorite players. In the 2004 Olympics, she defeated Julianne Scheck of Germany and another badminton star Camilla Martin of Denmark. However, she lost to another badminton pro, Mia Audina of Netherlands. Nevertheless, her trainings with male badminton players paid off and put her in her current status as a badminton superstar.

Get the information that you need to know; see and learn their moves for yourself without the hassle of getting your feet on the badminton court.

To become a good badminton player, beside Physical Skill, you also must have a Mental Strength. Mental Strength is very crucial especially when come to the tournament. Besides these, Sport Nutrition is also important especially for the player preparing for the tournament.

1. Physical Skill:

Let’s start with the most fundamental of badminton skill, ie: Strokes, Steps/Footwork, Stamina, and Strategy.

Strokes:

The basic technique of badminton strokes includes Overheads forehand and backhand clear / smash / drop, drives, lifts, net shot. You are higher recommended to learn from the badminton demo video(see link at the bottom of this page). With the video, it will save you a lot of time learning all the basic strokes.

After you have learn the basic strokes, the next step you have to do is practice and practise. Without the ability to execute all the different strokes, one will not be a complete badminton player.

Steps/Footwork:

Steps/Footwork is always comes together with stroke. A good badminton must have a good coordination of footwork and strokes. This includes foot, body, arms, swing coordination.

Stamina:

A badminton can last anything from 15 minutes to 1 hour plus and there can be more than one game within a day. A completed badminton match is best of 3 games, that means you got to play at least 2 games continuously. Without good stamina, a badminton player will be unable to successfully execute his/her desired strokes or even cannot finish the game. Again, stamina need to be build over the time via regular training, workouts or exercises. Regular workout will also help to improve your game by increasing your arm strength.

Strategy:

With good badminton skill and stamina is not enough, you must also have a good strategy to win a game. you have to make the correct shot at the correct time, either a drop-shot, smash, or clear? This is also important to identify the weakest point of opponent. This is especially crucial for doubles game, you should identify your opponent weakness and attack the opponent who is weaker. This is the most simple strategy. If your opponent is weak on his/her backhand clear, then you should hit the shuttle towards his/her backhand more. To go one level higher, it is also important to make the correct choice for a series of return and to lay out a game plan for whole match. This is so called the strategy of a badminton game.

2. Mental Strength:

Besides physical skill, a good badminton player must have good mental strength as well. Mental strength is the ability to make the correct decision even when under pressure or at the crucial moment. For example, when one is down to 5-19, or reaching the match point, 20-20. The player must stay focus to the game regardless whether he/she is leaving behind, leading, or under huge pressure due to the internal or external factor (eg: audience). A good badminton player must also be able to change strategy during the game on different situation. A good badminton player will not go down without a fight and should be able to keep his pace and the accuracy of his shots until the very last point in the game. A good example would be the game in between Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan during the Malaysia Open 2006. Lin Dan was already leading 20-13 in the rubber game and this was a really difficult situation for Lee Chong Wei, But he handled the pressure well and showed a great fighting spirit, slowly clawing back in to the game. And Finally, he won the game by 23-21.

You also have to keep yourself calm in the court and with high EQ. Many incidents, good or bad, can happen during a match either outside or inside the court. For example, bad line calls, umpires decisions or insulted by the audience or even opponent coach. See The Athlete’s Mind Guide(refer link below this page) .

3. Sport Nutrition

Beside physical skill and mental strength, Sport Nutrition (refer link at the bottom of this page) is also important especially for the player preparing for the tournament. On a day-to-day basis, you have to take care of your nutrition by consuming a well balanced diet comprising carbohydrate, fat, protein, electrolytes, vitamins, minerals and water. A Nutritionist can extend help in achieving this. Water should be consumed in just adequate amounts before, during and after play, ideally at the amounts required to quench the player’s thirst.

In General, BWF (Badminton World Federation) has introduced 3 major types of badminton scoring system in the past. It was started with traditional scoring system, ie: a match that consists of best of 3 games, each games consists of 15 points, except ladies single, which consists of 11 point per game.

In 2002, the BWF concerned with the unpredictable and often lengthy time required for matches, BWF decided to experiment with a different scoring system to improve the commercial and especially the broadcasting appeal of the sport. The new scoring system shortened games to 7 points and decided matches by the best of 5 games.

In 2005, the BWF experimented again with the scoring system, intending both to regulate the playing time and to simplify the system for television viewers. A match consists of best of 3 games, each game consists of 21 points. The experiment ended in May 2006, and the BWF adopted this new scoring system from August 2006 until now.

Followings are the details of new scoring system and traditional scoring system :

New scoring system (21-point system)

1. A match consists of the best of 3 games, each game consists of 21 points.

2. The side winning a rally adds a point to its score. (regardless which side was serving)

3. At 20 all(ie: 20-20), the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins that game.

4. At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point first, wins that game.

5. The side winning a game, will serve first in the next game.

6. When one side reaches 11 points, both player will get a 60 sec of break.

7. For doubles matches, only one service is allowed.

8. Player at right court will serve when even point. (eg: 0,2,4,6,8,10)

9. Player at left court will serve when odd point. (eg: 1,3,5,7,9,11)

10. Other old (15-point system) rules remain the same.

Traditional scoring system (15-point system)

1. A match consists of the best of 3 games, each game consists of 15 points.

Except ladies single which consists of 11 points each game.

2. Only the one who won the rally and with serve will get a point added to its score.

If he/she lose the rally, service will be transferred over to opponent and both do not gain any point.

3. The opponent now must win the rally in order to gain a point. If he does, he will gain a point and continue to hold the serve and will gain another if he win the rally again. If he lost the rally, the serve will be transferred to opposite side again with no point added to both side and this continue.

4. At 14 all, the side that not holding the serve can decide whether to play additional 3 points.

(for ladies single would be 10 all)

5. Player at right court will serve when even point. (eg: 0,2,4,6,8,10)

6. Player at left court will serve when odd point. (eg: 1,3,5,7,9,11)

7. 2 serves are allowed for doubles game (men doubles, women doubles or mix doubles)

Badminton is an indoor sport which is recognized internationally. It is true that most major badminton tournaments were mainly participated by the eastern countries in the past. But now, it has gained influence of many western countries which could be seen in the recent 2008 Olympics. Here are a couple of useful tips that would save not only your money but time as well if you intend to get a badminton set. Before purchasing, ask yourself this question “Am I going to play badminton as a hobby or competitively?”

For those who are just taking it up for the fun of the game, when choosing your racket, simply drop by at supermarkets or large sport utility shops that sell all kinds of sporting equipments as the rackets are not that expensive. Purchasing one or two rackets will be enough. When buying shuttles, you could consider either getting the feathered ones or plastic ones. The latter is more durable and therefore last longer and also comes in a variety of designs and colors. A bag for all your equipment is optional but would be helpful in transporting your badminton set around.

Now, for those of you who are planning to go all the way out in the sport, these are the few things that you should take note of. The first thing is choosing the right racket. Try going to professional racket shops where there are experienced personals or sport specialist who can offer good advices. They will be able to help you to look for the ideal racket that suits your style of play. This is because rackets have several sections and all of them have different shapes, weights, and sizes. It is advisable to purchase a minimum of two rackets as you will need an extra racket in the event of a broken string halfway through a tournament match. These rackets will be much more costly as they use high grade materials such as carbon fiber.

When buying the shuttles, you will need at least four packs as they have to be changed as soon as one of them gets broken or damaged. Plastic shuttles which are more durable and last longer are also available but make sure the head of the shuttle is made out of cork and not of plastic. When practicing, ensure you have an accurate measured court with a net at the right height. Don’t forget to get a bag for all your equipment as it will not only be easier to carry around and avoid loss of items but also make you look more professional.

There it goes, flying through the air. You watch in scary as the badminton racquet follows the shuttle through the air. How clumsy can you be? Don’t get worried about it. You aren’t the 1st individual this happened to. Look at the bright side as you watch the shaft break in 2. You may purchase yourself a far better racquet now. This aged set has been in the family for 10 years, since the kids were small. Today that you know how you just like to play the game, you need to upgrade your equipment.

A badminton racquet is actually the most important component of the equipment. The following is exactly what a person must take into consideration:

- Does the manufacturer’s description of the type of player the racquet will be meant for match your own style?

- What material is the racquet frame built of?

- What material is the shaft produced of?

- What kind of reputation does the producer have?

- Can you afford the racquet?

You shouldn’t fall for counterfeit racquets. Along with quite a few other products being replicated, more than just one manufacturer warns users that a counterfeit badminton racquet is on the market. In the case of Yonex, they will also give you with a method to show the difference. On the real products the company logo sticker is nearly impossible to remove while on a counterfeit item, it peels off easily. Obviously, this is going to be difficult to notify when you are going to shop on the net but at least you will be capable to test out the items at your local sporting items retailer. Racquets range from extremely low priced to just under $400. Since you are an more advanced player, you should really upgrade to a racquet that will work along with your own playing style, not towards it. You won’t have to jump to the top of the line to discover an improvement.

For as long as badminton was known, it has always been a 15 points game as a basic badminton rule. But after the Thomas/Uber Cup in 2006 where they experimented on trying the 21 points game, it has since been the official rally format. So what is the difference between 15 and 21 game rally formats?

The 15 game rally format is still the preferred format played in badminton. When not in tournament, it is still okay to follow this format and not the official one. Listed are the basic badminton rules for a 15 point game.

A team should win two out of three matches to win the game. Basic badminton rules say that men should work more for the game because they have to complete the whole of 15 points while the women just need the 11 points to win the match. In men’s match: When the score ties to 14-all, the side that scored 14 first shall have the choice either continue playing to 15 or to set the badminton game to 17 points.

In women’s match: When the score ties to 10-all, the side that scored ten first shall have the choice either continue playing to 11 or to set the badminton game to 13 points. Only the side that served can win a point. If you win in which the other side served, you just win back the turn to serve but not add points to you game. In singles: when the score if an even number, serve right of the service court; when the score if an odd number, serve left of the service court. In doubles: when you serve and received on the right side if the service court first, you will continue during the match to serve on the same side when your opponent’s score is an even number. As basic badminton rule, your partner’s pattern is reversed.

The 21 game rally format is the official format used in the tournaments and official games. People are still hesitant to try this new format rally on their own. For those who want to try, here are some basic badminton rules for the 21 point game:

A team should win two out of three matches to win the game. A team should score 21 points to win the game. When the score ties to 20-all; the side that scored two consecutive rallies after that wins the match. When the score ties to 29-all, the side that scored the 30th point will win the game. You can score a point even if your side did not make the serve. Only one player of the doubles team can do the serving. Basic badminton rules may change, but it is still a fun sport to play.

Badminton is a historical game packed with loads of fun and folly with intelligence quotient too required to win. Badminton apart from its heritage and history, it is also a game of fitness of all ages.

Badminton is a user-friendly game, in the sense that it can be played either in a small scale level indoors (courtyard of the house) or in large scale in badminton courts in clubs/ sports grounds etc. Let me pen down few uses of playing a badminton game.

Games can be categorized as mind games and body games. A mind game is mostly played indoor and does not have anything to do with the body. They improve intelligence of a person and teach them how to think. Whereas, body games give fitness and health to your body but do not have much to do with intelligence quotient. There are very few games which feed both your mind and body, out of which badminton secures a prominent place.

Badminton can be rightly defined as a game of Mind and Body!

Well, playing badminton burns your calories to a drastic level, which is right choice to lose weight in an interesting way. Hours of push-ups and make-outs in the gym may yield you temporary results which are a result of unnecessary cash flow. Without wastage of a single penny, the best way to lose weight is with the help of sports and badminton has got it right.

Losing weight not only means losing innumerable calories but also making your body fit and trim. The game of badminton has all potential to give you packed abs and strong muscles. Regular gaming can yield you good results.

Another important factor of the game of badminton is its versatility. Badminton does not have age limits. Anyone can play badminton. Playing it unofficially does not even need rules to follow. Just smashing the shuttle cork left and right will make a good game. This is not in the case of other games. You need to follow certain rules even in a kid game. Thus anyone can easily adapt to the game of badminton.

Moving on to the benefits of badminton to the mind, one should first understand the basic rules of this interesting game. Once you learn the rules and start to play, you will understand the intelligence involved in the game. A single move has to be taken with precautions and calculations that you don’t lose the game. In this way it helps nurturing your mind too!

Have you been asking yourself over and over again which racket to choose from in the badminton shop for your badminton set, or maybe what kind of shuttle should you use, feather or plastic? Well, I would like to help you make the right decision with ease. Before even contemplating about which racket and attire to buy, ask yourself this question, “Am I taking this sport purely for fun or competitively?”

If it is for fun, then this is what you should do when choosing your badminton set. You can simply buy the ones from supermarkets or multiple sports utility shops. You need not go to shops which are specialized in badminton rackets because you do not require such high quality rackets. The cost will definitely put a dent in your wallet. Besides rackets, you will also need to purchase shuttles to be used in the game.

There are two kinds of shuttles, namely feather and plastic. I would suggest the plastic ones to be used during casual play. This is because they last longer while the feathered shuttles are required to be changed frequently as they wear off easily. The disadvantage of a plastic shuttle is that it is heavier and doesn’t give you the same feel as a feathered shuttle. There are also several other things to ponder over, such as badminton bags, shoes, headbands, etc. These are optional items.

Now for those who are planning to play badminton competitively, I would suggest that you go to shops that are specialized in rackets. Do not hesitate to seek help or assistance from experienced personal when choosing a racket. Picking a wrong racket will result in wrist injuries and lack of precision so be sure to get a racket that you feel comfortable with. You will need a minimum of two rackets as one of them will act as a spare whenever you are in a tournament. Be sure of what you are buying as every detail no matter how small makes all the difference.

Where shuttles are concerned, you will need a minimum of 2 packs of feathered shuttles each time you train as they wear off easily and have to be changed frequently. Plastic shuttles can also be used but be sure that the head is made out of cork and not plastic. Also ensure that you have a proper court to train in. It has to be equipped with measurements of an official sized court and a net at the proper height. Add-on items such as suitable clothes, badminton shoes, and special bands should be purchased as they not only give comfort during play but helps you avoid injuries.

Heritage Badminton set provides almost everything except the players in order to play a badminton match starting from the nets to playing rackets. Even though all the materials are given as a set, there is no compromise with the quality. Each item in the set is made to be of the best quality and assured for a long life. Up to four players can play with the four rackets provided. These rackets are made up of highly durable tempered steel shafts. This ensures long life to the racket. The racket neck joint is also made strong. This makes the racket break resistive when dropped from a height even. That makes the racket efficient even at times of high tension and more forceful shots. The strings in the racket are made up with high tension so that it gives ease for the player and also doesn’t give much impact on the player’s hand.

The neck of the racket is neatly carved with high quality steel that makes the swing soft yet forceful. The material is highly durable. This provides a perfect balance to the head of the racket. And coming to its handle, Handle is the most important part of a racket since it is the place where the player exerts the entire force. That part should be given more care so that it does not affect the player’s hands. So, it is made of much soft cushion type of deluxe grade padded grips. This gives much comfort to the hands. And also reduces the strain because of more wrist action and also helps in smooth blood flow into the palm through the wrist. This racket also gives less impact stress when the shuttlecock is hit hard. The shuttlecock provided is pure feather type and not like plastic moulds. The shuttlecock is designed with perfect shaping based on the aerodynamic structure so that its performance is not much varied in presence of slight winds.

This special feature of the shuttlecock provides such a high performance even with such less weight. Even though the weight of the cock is less its aerodynamic structure makes its path soft and it is not much affected by the soft wind. Along with these rackets and cocks, court markers are also provided which can be used to mark the court lines around and with this come the ground stake mallet, which helps much in setting up the poles for the net. Aluminum rods are provided with the kit which can be made to hold the net. These aluminum poles are easily mountable. And so can be done in very less time. These aluminum rods are 1.5 inches in diameter and they stand at a height of 63 inches from ground the net is 21 inches tarpaulin net and it has a 1.5 inch top tape. Adding to these items, come a parts storage bag, and a storage or mobile wooden crate. For the beginners, this kit also provides a rule book for badminton.

Here is a perfect kit for an advanced badminton player. This set contains with it all the necessary materials to play an official badminton game. This set is also suitable for a garden play between friends and also for picnics. Since the kit comes with an easy carry over bag, you can easily take it to places. All the materials in the kit are of very less weight so no need to worry if one can carry this kit. This kit weighs only four pounds so this is easy to carry over to places. This kit basically contains all the materials to play a badminton game. This is best suited to be played as a doubles game since this kit comes with four badminton rackets. These rackets are all made up of tempered steel which gives high strength to the racket.

The racket has Hi-sheep Tight string stringing, soft touch padded grip, tempered steel shaft and of official size and dimensions. So this gives the experience of real game play. The strings are of high strength and so they are tied with high tension to make the mesh perfect place for cock landing and hitting the cock hard enough. The shaft is made of hard tempered steel so that it is so strong for rough handling while playing. The weight of the racket is very less but it is very tough. Hence it is unbreakable. The handle is made of correct proportion and of soft grip that gives comfort to the hands of the player. They do not hurt the player’s hand when he tries to smash the cock. These points prove the effectiveness of the racket provided.

The Net provided is very easily mountable one which comes along with poles for mounting and also net clips that helps to set up the net in no time. The net has the dimensions of 20′ X 2′ X 1.5″. it has 1.5 inch tape. The poles provided are decided in such manner so that they are easily fixed since they are not cylindrical but octagonal with 1.5 inch diameter. The shuttle cocks provided are of high quality grade A types. The kit contains 2 such cocks with it. The cock is very tough so it can withstand the pressure exerted by the racket over it. The ground marking tools are best in this kit.

The Advanced Badminton set features an easy mounting system that assembles in minutes, with no tools required, so it can be set up in the backyard or at the beach. Along with the net and poles ground marking tools are also provided which consists of Official badminton boundary marker kit includes 4-flags, 4-hooks and 130′ of cord, 6-yellow styrene stakes and tape. The flags can be placed in the four corners along with the four hooks with the help of which we can pull around the long 130′ string. Overall this kit provides a great gaming feel.