Play Badminton - An Intro to Learning to Play Badmiton

In a nutshell badminton is kind of a cross between Tennis and Volleyball. You play with a racquet that is similar to a Tennis racquet, but much lighter and more agile. You hit a shuttlecock, also called a birdie, back and forth trying to make your opponent miss the bird.

BADMINTON was invented long ago in ancient Greece and Egypt. It became a childs game in India called "POONA" during the 18th Century. The British Army Officers stationed there took the Indian version back to England in the 1860's and introduced the game to family and friends.

The name Badminton was officially associated with this game after a party given in 1873 by the Duke of Beaufort. The party was held at his place, called "Badminton" in Gloucestershire. Then afterwards the game was referred to as "The Game of Badminton," in Gloucestershire. When the word spread, Badminton became its official name.

The English played Badminton under the same rules as in India until 1887. The English felt the rules were a bit confusing and contradictory so a group of men formed themselves an organization called the Bath Badminton Club, whom standardized the rules, and made the game applicable to English ideas.

The basic regulations, drawn up in 1887, still guide the sport today. However, in 1895, the Badminton Association (of England) was formed to take over the authority of the Bath Badminton Club, and the new group made rules, which now govern the game throughout the world.

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While Bird is in Play

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There really isn't a set time or condition to change your strings because everyone's playing habits are different. But if you are serious about playing badminton here are some tips to help you judge when you should change strings.

First, your strings show signs of notching where the verticle strings are cutting through horizontal ones or vice versa. This usually happens after one hits the bird a few thousands times.

Hopefully, you will find this notching in the sweet spot of your racket, as this is also a sign of where you are mostly making contact with the bird when hitting. If you are not seeing the notching at the sweet spot, then you are consistently hitting the bird off center. This might be part of the reason you are not playing to your potential.

Second, when you push the strings to the side the strings stay in place and do not bounce back. This is a sign of loss in tension. When this happens your shot will feel flat, no power. Your shots will lack distance and power.

If you play with strings in this condition, it will be hard for you to hit a overhead clear from one baseline to another. You will also feel slow to sluggish response from your racket. When you make contact with the bird you will feel the bird sink into the strings and not bounce off the strings.

Third, is when your strings have made grooves into one another but do not show signs of wear and tear such as notching explained above. This condition usually occurs when rackets havn't been played with for a while.

What happens is the tension on the strings push them agains each other and after awhile they begin to settle and get comfortable and make grooves in each other. This condition may also occur in new pre-strung rackets.

Strings in this condition can be stiff and lack elasticity which will cause lack of power in your shots. You will feel like your playing with a wooden paddle. Strings in this condition will also tend to snap easier.

If your strings are in any of the conditions listed do get your rackets restrung. Taking it to a badminton proshop will usually do the trick. And you will immediately feel the difference in your play.

Be very careful when restringing your rackets as not all racquets can be strung with the same tension. You may have heard that the tighter the string tension the more power you have in your shots. Although this is true to an extent, older racquets are more delicate and cannot with stand the tension that some of the newer racquets are capable of holding.

Another thing to consider is that strings strung tighter have a higher chance of snapping if hit incorrectly. Unless you are an advance player I would not recommed stringing past 25lbs. But if you've got the money to spare and you just want that extra edge, you're certainly welcome to string as tight as recommended for your racquet. I'm sure your badminton pro will be very happy with the repeat business.