How Badminton Rackets Evolved To Suit The Sport of Badminton
In the earlier times, the game of Badminton was called Battledore and the Greeks and Asians were the first ones to play it. During the 1850s, the Duke of Beaufort revolutionized the game in his house in Gloucestershire and called it badminton. His home was later identified by the locals as the Badminton House.
In 1992, the popularity of badminton grew all over the world after its official debut in the Barcelona Olympics. Currently, the number of players and professionals of badminton is growing and more world badminton tournaments are being organized because of this. Badminton is truly an interesting and fast-paced sport that can be enjoyed by both beginners and pros. It is also a great and fun way to stay fit and healthy.
Even though the game of badminton started in an English House, the sport is now globally known and is a very popular sport in the Asian countries like Malaysia, South Korea, Indonesia and China. These Asian countries are now producing world class players and China is producing the top badminton players. The Chinese have won a lot of major and world tournaments in the last few years and they are able to keep the top spot.
Battledore and Shuttlecock
The early game of battledore was very basic. Two individuals would hit a shuttlecock back and forth with a plain bat until one person misses and the shuttlecock falls to the ground. Those bats had handles and heads which are similar to the modern day rackets. The difference is that the head was entirely solid and made out of wood. Woven strings were not yet used during that time.
Badminton Is So Much Fun!
I love playing Badminton! I currently play every week as part of a sports club at my work place. In order to help newbies and for current players to improve their skill, we are also going to take badminton coaching sessions. It is so easy to pick up bad habits and adopt dodgy techniques so it is definitely beneficial to gain tips from the experts. In turn this will improve the games we play and give players more sense of achievement as they will see their game play improve dramatically.
If you want to get involved and play Badminton, courts are readily available in your local schools, colleges or sports centres. Playing Badminton does not break the bank either. On average a court could cost about £10 (about $15) and if you’re playing doubles this obviously works out to be only £2.50 (about $4) per player. Of course, as an additional cost you have to buy rackets and shuttlecocks but these do not have to cost that much. The best thing to do is set a budget and stick to it.
Badminton rackets
They have all have the same basic parts such as the handle, the shaft and the head. What they are made of differs; generally they are made of steel and aluminium, the lighter the racquet the better. Over the years the weight of a racket has reduced and you can now find top of the range rackets that weigh as little as 70 grams. Most rackets are 80-100 grams. They are made of carbon fibre composite. Carbon fibre is stiff and offers very good movement. Before carbon fibre, rackets were made of wood, can you imagine the weight of those!
Head-heavy rackets versus light-heavy rackets
How to Play Badminton Like a Pro: 5 Badminton Tips to Improve Your Game
Many people who don’t get coaching miss out on the opportunity to learn the correct techniques.
The badminton tips below will help you play like a pro. Here’s how to make it seem like you received professional coaching. Are you ready to step up your game and impress others?
1. Correct Forehand Strokes
The badminton forehand stroke is used most often during a badminton game. In order to play like a professional, perform the correct forehand stroke technique.
After you master this stroke, you can perform many types of shots, such as the badminton clear, drop shot, and smash.
After those shots, you can learn more complex shots, such as the badminton jump smash, attacking clear, and badminton drives.
2. Maximizing Wrist Action
You might have heard people mention that badminton is ALL ABOUT THE WRIST. Well this is true, but it’s only HALF true.
The power comes from your wrist action AND your swing (badminton stroke).
The KEY to maximise your badminton wrist action is to not grip your racket too tightly. When you are holding your racket too tightly, you are basically tensing your hand muscles, which restrict the movements of your wrist. Therefore you won’t be able to perform a quick flicking wrist action if you hold your racket too tightly.
3. Body Balance
When you don’t have good balance, it makes it harder to produce more power in your badminton strokes.
When you perform a powerful swing, you will most likely lose balance. Therefore, subconsciously you won’t perform a strong swing since you know you’ll lose balance after your strong swing.
Experienced or good badminton players will always know how to make use of their NON-RACKET ARM (arm that is not holding the racket) to maintain balance at all times.
How To Choose A Badminton Racket
Of all racquet sports, badminton has the thinnest, most lightweight of all rackets. As such, the sport which features singles or doubles games to drive a “bird” or shuttlecock over the net is considered the fastest game all over the world of sports. Therefore it’s imperative that you choose the right kind of racquet based on your skill level so you don’t ruin the experience of playing the game. To choose the right kind of racquet, here are some factors you need to consider: frame construction, grip size, balance and string configuration.
Step 1
First up is frame construction. According to Hart Sports New Zealand, the most affordable types are made from steel but they do come heavy. Lightweight aluminum rackets offer more control while graphite models are the lightest and should give off excellent speed, handling, and control. Experienced players will find graphite rackets fit for them while beginners ought to start with steel or aluminum.
Step 2
Grip size is also an essential element to the game. Make sure your hand fits around the handle of your racquet choice perfectly by trying it out before you make the purchase. Some shops will give you size measurements advice and letting you try different grip sizes of the same racquet. When in doubt, go for a smaller grip size that you think you need. This is because you can simply add overgrips to increase the size overtime if you find the handle too small for comfort.
Step 3
Balance as well as comfort and fit are also of prime importance. Make sure you visit local badminton clubs to try out several racquet brands to see how you and your racquet fit each other.
Yonex Badminton: The Label Brand of Badminton
With over 50 years in the badminton design industry, Yonex badminton is arguably the number one brand with regards to badminton equipment. In addition to the badminton sport, it also boasts manufacturing quality gears for golf and tennis. Then again, the company is most dominant in the game of badminton. Yonex is well-known for their badminton rackets and shoes. They may not be the most economical in terms of price tag, but the high cost certainly equates to top quality. The Yonex badminton brand would not be as popular among a lot of Olympians and professional players if gears are not as effective and would easily wear and tear.
Probably the most admired of the Yonex badminton products is their badminton rackets. Not only do they appear innovative, they are very efficient from the latest technologies used too. Some of the technologies and innovations are Nanoscience, Elastic Titanum, New Grommet System and Solid Feel Core. The badminton rackets have the Nanoscience technology wherein the head of equipment is lighter and thinner. This allows players, whether beginners or advanced, to swing easier and maximize their power. Also, the frame of the racket is stronger and not as stiff from the Elastic Titanum innovation.
The New Grommet System of the Yonex badminton rackets make for better string tension. This produces better shots. A technology called Solid Feel Core reduces the frame vibration as well. This curtails human error and results to more accurate swings. Besides badminton rackets, Yonex is also proud of their badminton shoes. Just like with the rackets, the shoes are made in innovative designs and from advanced technologies. A few of these technologies and inventions are Power Cushion, Ergoshape, MSLite and Double Russel Mesh. The Power Cushion feature presents to absorb and reduce as much shock. The cushion can be found on the underside of the heel area. While other brands utilize urethane, this Yonex technology is 3 times more of a shock-absorber. The Power Cushion insole gives the feet additional support as well.