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Saturday, March 31, 2007

Badminton Net Play 1

Badminton Net Play is an important area that requires more finesse than power. A flick of a wrist could send your opponent scrambling back.

A sudden change in angle of the racket face could send your opponent falling desperately to the ground.

For me, winning a point from these types of badminton shots are more satisfying than a point won from smashing. The feeling of being able to play delicate shots and deceive your opponent is really pleasing. It is like winning a battle effortlessly.

There are 3 types of net play.

Net Shots

These shots are played from around the net area back to your opponent’s net area. It can be played both on the forehand and backhand sides. The objective is to force your opponent to hit a weak lift or hit shots that could not clear the net. These shots can be played straight or cross court.

Execute the net shot well and you will have a tumbling shuttle falling into your opponent’s court. It is a difficult shot to return by any standards.

Here are some pointers for playing a net shot.

* Adopt the forehand grip for forehand shots or the backhand grip for backhand shots.
* Must keep the racket up in front of your body.
* Lunge forward aggressively with your racket leg.
* Extend the racket arm and keep the racket high to ensure the shuttle is hit as early as possible.
* The racket face shall be parallel to the floor and let the shuttle bounce off the racket face.
* Your lunge movement and the parallel racket face will cause the shuttle to tumble over the net.
* You can try to move the racket head slightly outwards to increase the tumbling effect.
* Push back to your base position using both legs while ensuring your racket is still up in front of your body.

There are times when you could only reach the shuttle when it has fallen close to the ground and near the net. A successful net shot from this difficult situation is called a Hairpin Net Shot. It is so named because the flight path of the shuttle resembles an inverted hairpin.

The techniques for hitting the hairpin net shot are about the same as a normal net shot. But because it is hit near to the ground, you need to slice or lift your racket a bit. Although it is a rather difficult shot to play, you will learn it with practice.

Monday, March 26, 2007

Strings

Badminton strings are thin, with high performing strings in the range of about 0.65 to 0.73 millimetres thickness. Thicker strings are more durable, but many players prefer the feel of thinner strings. String tension is normally in the range of 18 to 36 lbf (80 to 130 newtons). Recreational players generally string at lower tensions than professionals, typically between 18 and 25 lbf. Professionals string between about 25 and 36 lbf.

It is often argued that high string tensions improve control, whereas low string tensions increase power.[10] The arguments for this generally rely on crude mechanical reasoning, such as claiming that a lower tension stringbed is more bouncy and therefore provides more power. An alternative view suggests that the optimum tension for power depends on the player:[11] the faster and more accurately he can swing his racket, the higher the tension for maximum power. Neither view has been subjected to a rigorous mechanical analysis, nor is there clear evidence in favour of one or the other. The most effective way for ajavascript:void(0)
Publish player to find a good string tension is to experiment. Playing at high string tensions can cause injury, depending on the player's ability: few amateur players can safely play above 30 lbf, and for most players even 25 lbf is too high.


Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton#Strings

Saturday, March 24, 2007

Rackets

Badminton rackets are light, with top quality rackets weighing between about 70 and 100 grams (without strings). [8][9] They are composed of carbon fibre composite (graphite reinforced plastic), which may be augmented by a variety of materials. Carbon fibre has an excellent strength to weight ratio, is stiff, and gives excellent kinetic energy transfer. Before the adoption of carbon fibre composite, rackets were made of light metals such as aluminium. Earlier still, rackets were made of wood. Cheap rackets are still often made of metal, but wooden rackets are no longer manufactured for the ordinary market, due to their excessive weight and cost.

There is a wide variety of racket designs, although the racket size and shape are limited by the Laws. Different rackets have playing characteristics that appeal to different players. The traditional oval head shape is still available, but an isometric head shape is increasingly common in new rackets.

Friday, March 23, 2007

Badminton Clears 2

Around the Head Clear

This is actually a forehand overhead badminton clear played at the non-racket side of your body. Try to use it whenever play permits as a forehand stroke is always better and more accurate than a backhand.

The techniques for hitting these badminton clears are about the same as the forehand overhead clears with only some minor adjustments.

Here are some pointers for playing a forehand around the head clear.

* Stand squarely to the net.
* Bend your upper body sideways to your non-racket side as your arms come through.
* Shift your weight to your non-racket leg.
* Bend your elbow and bring the racket behind your head.
* As you swing forward, your forearm will brush the top of your head before straightening.
* Transfer your body weight rapidly as your non-racket leg pushes your body back to your base position.

An important thing to note here is that whether you are playing a badminton clear, a drop shot or a smash, your wrist plays a key part in creating deception.

The basic preparations for these badminton shots are the same, only the angle of the racket face, the speed of the racket head and the point of impact is different. Keep your opponent guessing.

Underarm Clear

The underarm clear is usually played from the front court area to your opponent’s back court. Whether to play it high and deep or a flatter, cross court clear will depend on the situation at that time and your opponent’s positioning on court.

In any case, try to reach the shuttle as early as possible so that you can have various shot options. Your wrist action is the crucial element in creating a deception for your shots.

Here are some pointers for the underarm clear.

* Adopt the forehand grip for a forehand underarm clear or the backhand grip for a backhand underarm clear.

* Extend and put your racket up when you go for the shot.
* The point of impact shall be well out in front of you and as high as possible with your racket leg leading in a lunge position.
* Swing your racket upwards as the shuttle drops in the hitting area.
* Unlock your wrist as you contact the shuttle, producing a whip action.
* Follow through with your racket in the direction of the shuttle’s trajectory.
* Push with both legs and move back to your base position.

Practice hard on your Badminton Clears and your game will benefit tremendously...


Ref:http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_clears.html

Tuesday, March 20, 2007

Badminton Clears

Badminton Clears are the most common and important of all badminton strokes that can be played overhead or underarm. These shots can be played both on the forehand and backhand sides.

Overhead Clear>

Use the clear to move your opponent to the backcourt. It will create space in the frontcourt for you to exploit.

It will also give you more time to go back to your base. The optimum hitting zone is located somewhere above the central area of your racket.

You can play two types of Badminton Clears, Attacking Clear and Defensive Clear.

Attacking clear has a trajectory that runs almost parallel to the ground. The shuttle travels flat and fast towards your opponents back court. These badminton shots allow less time to your opponent to get behind the shuttle, potentially causing weak returns. The shuttle is hit square with your racket face.

Defensive Clear has a high and deep trajectory. These badminton shots give you more time to return to your base and prepare for the next shot. The shuttle is hit with your racket face leaning slightly backwards.

Forehand Overhead Clear

The forehand overhead badminton clear is similar to the action of throwing a ball. If you can throw a ball well, you shouldn’t have problem playing this stroke. You can always practice throwing with a shuttle first before stepping on to the court.

Here are some pointers for playing a forehand overhead clear.

* Adopt the forehand grip.
* Turn your body and stand sideways to the net with your non-racket shoulder facing the net.
* Shift your weight on to your rear foot.
* Bend your elbow and lock your wrist preparing to swing forward.
* Raise your non-racket hand and point at the shuttle to improve timing and balance.
* Contact the shuttle as high as possible and in front of your body using a strong throwing action as if you are going to throw your racket high and forward through the air.
* Straighten your elbow as you hit the shuttle.
* Let your wrist unlock with a whip action as you hit the shuttle.
* Follow through with your racket and shift your weight from your rear foot to your front foot.
* Move back to your base position.

Saturday, March 17, 2007

Badminton Serve 2

Flick Serve

Use this badminton serve when you are under pressure from a rushing opponent. It is a rather useful tool during doubles. However, you might be left exposed if your opponent anticipated it. So, use it sparingly and keep your opponent guessing.

You can use either your forehand or backhand to perform this serve. Give the impression that you are going to push the shuttle as in the low serve, but instead use your wrist to flick the shuttle over. Wrist action is the key to executing this serve well.

Drive Serve

Use this badminton serve to add some variation to your serving game. This is considered an attacking serve and can be used in singles and doubles. The shuttle will travel at a flatter angle pass the net with pace.

It may win you points outright or force a poor service return if your opponent is unprepared. However, make sure you contact the shuttle below your waist and not make a service fault.

* Played with forehand underarm action.
* Stand in a comfortable and balanced position, a bit further from the service line.
* Lead with your non-racket leg and place your racket leg behind.
* Place your racket a bit below the waist level and bring it back parallel to it.
* Swing the racket forward following through. Hold the shuttle by the feathers and let it drop slightly sideways to your body.
* Hit the shuttle and let it pass the net at a flatter angle.

All these Badminton Serve have its own purpose in different situations against different type of opponents. Try to master it and use it accordingly. Remember that Practice Makes Perfect


Ref:http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_serve.html

Friday, March 16, 2007

Badminton Serve

Mastering various types of Badminton Serve is essential if you want to improve your game. Serving is the starting of a point. Use it not merely as "just a serve" but a weapon during games.

Always remind yourself not to cheaply lose points because of bad service, especially now with the new scoring system. Be familiar with the Badminton Service Rules as well.

Basically there are four types of serve.

High Serve

Use this badminton serve during singles play to move your opponent as far back in court as possible, thus opening up his court. Be more cautious if you use this serve during doubles. Opponents with strong attacking abilities will work this serve to your disadvantage.

* Played with a forehand underarm action.
* Stand two to three feet behind the short service line.
* Relax your body and bent your knees slightly.
* Lead with your non-racket leg and place your racket leg behind.
* Bring your racket back to almost your shoulder level then swing it forward following the rhythm of the stroke.
* Hold the shuttle by the feathers and let it drop slightly in front of you.
* Hit it with the flat face of your racket and follow through until your racket reaches the non-racket side of your head.

Low Serve

Use this badminton serve when you want your opponent to lift the shuttle. It is commonly used during doubles, but you can use it during singles too if your opponent’s attack is too strong. You can use either forehand or backhand to play this serve.

Forehand

* Stand two to three feet behind the short service line.
* Relax your body and bent your knees slightly.
* Lead with your non-racket leg and place your racket leg behind.
* Bring your racket back to your waist level then start your forward swing.
* Hold the shuttle by the feathers and bring it closer to meet the racket instead of dropping it in front.
* Contact the shuttle at a higher point but still below your waist line.
* Push the shuttle with the racket face and try to make the shuttle skim the tape of the net.

If you normally use high serve during singles, mix the low serve in occasionally. You might be able to catch your opponent off-guard if you can execute it well.

Backhand

* Stand in a comfortable and balanced position with your racket hand in front.
* Lead with your racket leg and place your non-racket leg behind with your feet pointing towards your opponent.
* Carry out a short back swing then bring the racket forward.
* Hold the shuttle on the tip of the feathers in front of your waist level.
* Push the shuttle with the racket face and try to make the shuttle skim the tape of the net.
* You can try to shorten the grip for a better control of the racket.
* Beware of breaking the Service Rules.


Ref:http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_serve.html

Thursday, March 15, 2007

Badminton Footwork

Badminton Footwork is the most fundamental skill that you need to possess in order to become a successful Badminton player.

Your opponent will most certainly try to play every shot away from you and the only way to reach the shuttle is to have a good footwork.

So how to define what good footwork is?

Good badminton footwork is simply having the ability to reach the shuttle early while on balance. You can skip, shuffle, bounce, glide, chasse step or lunge on court.

So long as you reach the shuttle fast, depriving your opponents of time, you can use all the above movement that suits best to you depending on the situation.

Although there are no fix movements on performing the badminton footwork, there are some basic things to remember.

Bent your knees slightly with your feet shoulder width apart. Stay on the balls of your feet and hold your racket up in front of your body. This is the ready position you shall assume in the centre of the mid-court area.

This centre area which can be referred as your base is not fixed. It is an area where you are in your ready position and can possibly reach all shots hit towards your court. Position your base accordingly after considering yours and your opponent’s strength and weaknesses.

Let say that you are strong and good at hitting shots from the back court. You may consider positioning your base slightly nearer to the service fault line to gain an advantage. If you are not certain where your strength lies yet, just make your base on the centre of the mid court area. You won’t go too wrong from there.

For all shots that are played in the frontcourt, take a small step first followed by a bigger step, extending your racket leg to reach the shuttle. The bigger step performed is known as a lunge. The timing of the shot will be improved if the landing of your racket leg is simultaneous with the shot.

For all shots that are played in the midcourt, extend your racket leg to reach shuttle that are hit towards your racket side of your body. Extend your racket leg or non-racket leg to reach shuttle that are hit towards your non-racket side of your body.

For all shots that are played in the backcourt, rotate your hips and shoulder and move back far enough so that your body is behind the falling shuttle. This will increase the power and variety of your stroke. If you can’t get back fast enough, you will most likely be forced to hit a weak clear.

Below is a diagram showing you the direction and area that you have to cover during play.

Unless you are confident where your opponent will play the next shot, try to return to your base every time after you make a shot. Always be ready to react quickly and be alert.

Remember…Badminton Footwork is the most fundamental skill in Badminton. You must master it to progress further…


Ref:http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_footwork.html

Wednesday, March 14, 2007

Badminton Grip

Starting wtih a correct Badminton Grip is the foundation of Playing Badminton.

Holding the racket wrongly will decrease your stroke’s power and accuracy.Your shots will be limited and therefore you will not enjoy the game as much let alone improve.

You will need to learn how to change grip quickly during games. Below are the two basic types of Badminton Grips.

Forehand Grip

* This grip is used to hit shots that are on the forehand side of your body and around the head shots.
* Hold the racket head with your non-playing hand so that the handle points towards you.
* Your racket face shall be perpendicular to the floor.
* Place your playing hand on the handle as if you are shaking hands with it.
* There shall be a V shape in between your thumb and your index finger.
* The racket handle shall rest loosely in your fingers for greater flexibility.
* Can try shortening your grip and place it nearer to the shaft to increase control and accuracy when serving and hitting from the forecourt and midcourt.



Backhand Grip

* This grip is used to hit shots that are on the backhand side of your body.
* Hold the racket as you would on a forehand grip.
* Turn the racket anti-clockwise so that the V shape moves leftwards.
* Place your thumb against the back bevel of the handle for greater leverage and power.
* The racket handle shall also rest loosely in your fingers.
* Can try shortening your grip and place it nearer to the shaft to increase control and accuracy when serving and hitting from the forecourt and midcourt.

Possessing a correct Badminton Grip is like having a good head start in a race. Don’t lose out and make every effort to improve your game.


Ref:http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton_grip.html

Tuesday, March 13, 2007

Techniques introduction

Badminton is one of the most well known games in the world. However, it is not well known that, at a competitive level, badminton demands many qualities from the shuttler: speed, strength, agility, stamina, skills, accuracy, smartness, mental power and team work.

The badminton shuttle has been clocked at excess of 180mph. To strike the shuttle at that speed requires enormous skill and power (power = strength * speed), gathering the strength of many muscles in the human body to choreograph a thundering smash. At the other end, returning the smash requires quick response and agility. A slight misjudgement will result in losing the point.

A badminton game can last up to 2 hours where most of the time the players are sprinting from corner to corner in the court while hitting the shuttle with amazing speed and accuracy. Such is the result of many years of rigorous and torturous training.

Great techniques and physical fitness alone is not enough to win a badminton game, a successful player must play smart. Using quick thinking to adapt his/her play to the opponents tactics and weaknesses. Using varying speed and position and deceptive plays to earn a edge over the opponent. In the court, the players are left to their own, help is not available from anyone. The player must maintain high concentration and will power, the game hasn't ended if the scoreboard doesn't say 15.

While single games demand great stamina from the player, double games demand team work and cooperation between the two players. In a doubles game, in addition to thundering attacks and swift defense, one often see quick drives attempting to penetrate and dissolve the coordinating opponent. Any miscommunication between the players may result in gap in the defense.


Ref:http://www.badmintoncentral.com

Monday, March 12, 2007

Scoring system and service

The basics
Each game is played up to 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a rally (this differs from the old system, where players could only win a point on their serve). A match is the best of three games.
At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts (see court dimensions). The server hits the shuttlecock so that it would land in the receiver's service court. This is similar to tennis, except that a badminton serve must be hit from below the waist in underhand form(upwards), the shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce, and in tennis the players stand outside their service courts.
In singles, the server stands in his right service court when his score is even, and in his left service court when his score is odd.
In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve, but he changes service courts so that he serves to each opponent in turn. When the serving side loses a rally, the serve passes to their opponents (unlike the old system, there is no "second serve"). If their new score is even, the player in the right service court serves; if odd, the player in the left service court serves. The players' service courts are determined by their positions at the start of the previous rally, not by where they were standing at the end of the rally.
A consequence of this system is that, each time a side regain the service, the server will be the player who did not serve last time.
Details
If the score reaches 20-all, then the game continues until one side gains a two point lead (such as 24-22), up to a maximum of 30 points (30-29 is a winning score).
At the start of a match a coin is tossed. The winners of the coin toss may choose whether to serve or receive first, or they may choose which end of the court they wish to occupy. Their opponents make the remaining choice. In less formal settings, the coin toss is often replaced by hitting a shuttlecock into the air: whichever side it points to serves first.
In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game serve first. For the first rally of any doubles game, the serving pair may decide who serves and the receiving pair may decide who receives. The players change ends at the start of the second game; if the match reaches a third game, they change ends both at the start of the game and when the leading pair's score reaches 11 points.
The server and receiver must remain within their service courts, without touching the boundary lines, until the server strikes the shuttlecock. The other two players may stand wherever they wish, so long as they do not unsight the opposing server or receiver.
Faults
Players win a rally by striking the shuttlecock onto the floor within the boundaries of their opponents' court. Players also win a rally if their opponents commit a fault. The most common fault in badminton is when the players fail to return the shuttlecock so that it passes over the net and lands inside their opponents' court, but there are also other ways that players may be faulted. The following information lists some of the more common faults.
Several faults pertain specifically to service. A serving player shall be faulted if he strikes the shuttlecock from above his waist (defined as his lowest rib), or if his racket is not pointing downwards at the moment of impact. This particular law changed in 2006: previously, the server's racket had to be pointing downwards to the extent that the racket head was below the hand holding the racket; now, any angle below the horizontal is acceptable.
Neither the server nor the receiver may lift a foot until the shuttlecock has been struck by the server. The server must also initially hit the base (cork) of the shuttlecock, although he may afterwards also hit the feathers as part of the same stroke. This law was introduced to ban an extremely effective service style known as the S-serve or Sidek serve, which allowed the server to make the shuttlecock spin chaotically in flight.[7]
Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes back over the net; but during a single stroke movement, a player may contact a shuttlecock twice (this happens in some sliced shots). A player may not, however, hit the shuttlecock once and then hit it with a new movement, nor may he carry and sling the shuttlecock on his racket.
It is a fault if the shuttlecock hits the ceiling.
Lets
If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. Lets may occur due to some unexpected disturbance such as a shuttlecock landing on court (having been hit there by players on an adjacent court).
If the receiver is not ready when the service is delivered, a let shall be called; yet if the receiver makes any attempt to return the shuttlecock, he shall be judged to have been ready.
There is no let if the shuttlecock hits the tape (even on service).

Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton

Sunday, March 11, 2007

Badminton Shoes

A good pair of Badminton Shoes must provide good grip, cushioning and some flexibility at the forefoot.

Never wear jogging shoes to play badminton. These shoes have thicker soles and lack the stability needed for badminton. You might end up twisting your ankles.

If you want to get a good grip from your badminton shoes, only wear it on badminton courts. Do not wear it for jogging or any other activities. Once the grip is gone, the shoes will not be effective on court anymore.

Reserve it solely for Badminton purposes.

When selecting the size, leave a space about a thumb’s width from the tip of your big toe to the tip of the shoes. This will allow some room for your feet to move inside your shoes after wearing sports socks.

If your heels and knees start to hurt every time you land heavily on the floor after jumping, it means that the cushioning of your shoes has worn off.

Although your shoes may still look new, it may be time to change them. If you want them to last longer, you may have to change the insole.

To protect your heels, it would be wise to invest in a good pair of heel cups. While they may be expensive, they are certainly worth it as they can save you from a lot of pain.

Heel cups can also help to prolong the life span of your Badminton Shoes. If you decide to invest in them, get a good pair that comes with a life-time guarantee.


Ref:http://www.badminton-information.com

Saturday, March 10, 2007

Service Tips

What do you do with an opponent who has read last issue's article on returning serve in doubles and is now giving you all sorts of problems on your serve? Before you flick every time, here are some ways to neutralize the rushed return.

Serve wide to the alleys. It helps if your partner has a good backhand, since you will be exposing it to a down the line return on a serve to his backhand alley. Also, figure out which "hand" - forehand or backhand - the receiver uses from either court to return serve, then serve slightly wider to that point where he has to change from one "hand" to the other.

Drive your serve fast and low at the receiver's head or chest. This is particularly effective against a tall rusher who waits in a very upright stance close to the short service line. The return will come back very quickly, so have your next shot ready.

Come set, and then hold your serve. You must serve within five seconds, but if you vary your hold time from one serve to the next the receiver's timing is thrown off. Usually the guessers start tipping over toward their forehand; serve to the backhand. You are in trouble if this tactic does not stop the rush - the receiver is a fundamentally aggressive player.

Serve deliberately short. The hard rushers have very little time to decide whether a particular serve will land good or not so they may try to play the serve. The next time try serving even shorter. You are in deeper trouble if this tactic doesn't work either - not only is the receiver aggressive, but also quick and experienced.

Your serve may be easy to read. One way to deceive the receiver is to take a big backswing and slice across the bird as you serve. With the same stroke you can serve short or long, but the short serve is difficult to master and so is less consistent. The way I prefer is to strike the shuttle with a short, quick-but-controlled stroke, which gives the receiver less time to react. The first and fourth option make the receiver lift the bird more, the other options delay the receiver's rush. Practice your short serve and don't rely on your high serve to get you out of trouble. The high serve invites trouble; you are giving them an opportunity to win the rally by gambling on the receiver making an unforced error. Keep your high serve in reserve, to use at unexpected times. If you are the server's partner, try the following.

Figure what type of return of serve the receiver likes. Usually players have one or two favorite returns. If the receiver likes soft returns, stand imperceptibly closer to the server. Likewise, if the receiver favors drive returns, wait farther away from the server and keep your racket head up

Calm your serving partner, say something positive and encouraging. Your partner is probably psyched out by the intimidating return of serve and is undergoing a crisis in confidence, which causes serves to be too high or too low. Remind your partner of the simple tips above.

Get a new partner. The serve is the single most important shot in doubles. A partner who cannot serve short consistently is a loser.

Ref:http://www.badzone.co.uk/coaches%20corner/servicetips.html

Friday, March 9, 2007

Badminton Facts

Olympic Sport?
Yes. Badminton premiered as a full-medal Olympic sport at the
1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona, Spain and was again featured at
the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta. At the Sydney Olympic Games in
2000, badminton continues as a full-medal sport.

Pan American Games Sport?
Yes. Badminton was included for the first time in the XII Pan
American Games, March 11-26, 1995 in Mar del Plata/Buenos Aires,
Argentina. Badminton will also be contested in 1999 at the XIII
Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada.

Events Played?
Men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed
doubles. All the events are Olympic events with the Mixed Doubles
being included in the Olympic Games for the first time in Atlanta
in 1996.

Top World Athletes?
No. 1 ranked men's singles player( as of November 26, 1996): Joko
Suprianto of Indonesia; women's singles: Mia Audina (Indonesia);
men's doubles: Denny Kantono and Antonius Iriantho (Indonesia);
women's doubles: Indarti Isoliana and Denyana Lomban (Indonesia);
mixed doubles: Tri Kusharynto and Minarti Timur (Indonesia)

1996 Olympic Champions?

Men's singles: Poul-Erik Hoyer-Larsen (Denmark); women's singles:
Bang Soo Hyun (Korea); men's doubles: Ricky Subagja and Rexy Mainaky
(Indonesia); women's doubles: Ge Fei and Gu Jun (China); mixed doubles:
Kim Dong Moon and Gil Young Ah (Korea)

Top U.S. Athletes?
Kevin Han (Colorado Springs, Colorado) - top American in the world
rankings (65 in men's singles as of November 26,1996; was ranked as
high as 28 before the 1996 Olympic Games)
Final rankings after '94-'95 season - No. 1 ranked men's singles:
Kevin Han (Colorado Springs, Colo.); women's singles: Kathy
Zimmerman (Denver, Colo.); men's doubles: Kevin Han/Tom Reidy
(Brooklyn, N.Y.); women's doubles: Linda French (Elmhurst,
Ill.)/Erika Von Heiland (Anaheim, Calif.); mixed doubles: Linda
French/Mike Edstrom (Denver Colo.)

Top Countries?
Indonesia occupies all the top positions in the November 26, 1996
world rankings. In men's doubles, 4 of the top 10 are from Indonesia
as are 3 of the top 10 women's singles players and 2 each of the top
ten men's singles, women's doubles and mixed doubles players or pairs.
Other dominant countries are China (with 5 of the top ten women's singles
players, 3 in men's singles, 2 in women's doubles and 1 each in the men's
and mixed doubles), Malaysia (with 2 of the top ten men's singles players
and 1 in men's doubles), Korea (with 1 player or pair in the top ten in
women's singles and men's, women's and mixed doubles), and Denmark (with
3 top ten pairs in women's doubles, 2 in the mixed doubles, 2 players in
the ten in men's singles and 1 in women's singles as well as 1 pair in the
men's doubles).

U.S. Performance?
Between 1949-1967, the United States largely dominated the sport,
winning the equivalent of 23 world individual championships (one
men's singles, 12 women's singles, one men's doubles, eight women's
doubles, and one mixed doubles) and three women's world team
championships. The U.S. men's team was also world runner-up
during this period. Although America's international success has
declined since the 1970s, the current U.S. squad is one of the
most promising up-and-coming teams in world badminton. The
United States qualified six athletes (maximum allowed for one
country) for the 1992 Olympic Games, and won a total of five
medals at badminton's inaugural appearance at the 1995 Pan American
Games. In 1996, three players qualified.

International Games To Shoot For?
Olympic Games, Thomas and Uber Cup (World Team Championships for
men and women, respectively, held every even year), World
Championships (held every odd year), Sudirman Cup (World Mixed Team
Championships, held every odd year), Pan American Games (very four
years), U.S. Open.

Professional or Amateur?
The International Badminton Federation's World Grand Prix
Circuit, started in the 1980s, turned a primarily amateur sport
into a professional one. The highest paying Grand Prix
tournament, the U.S. Open, awards $200,000 in prize money. The
Grand Prix Finals, a tournament of champions, has a purse of
$350,000.

The USBA Classic Series is America's own "Grand Prix Circuit," in
which top U.S. players compete in five regional tournaments for a
minimum of $2,000 in prize money per event.

National Governing Body?
USA Badminton (formerly known as the United States Badminton Association
in Colorado Springs, Colorado). The association was established in 1936.
It is a full-member of the U.S. Olympic Committee.

International Association?
International Badminton Federation (IBF) headquatered in Gloucestershire,
England, established in 1934.

USBA Members?
Over 2,700 members belong to the USBA (as of January 1996).
However, the USBA estimates there are thousands more recreational
badminton players in the United States.

Worldwide Associations?
The IBF has 130 member associations around the world, with more
than 14 million members.

Grassroots Level?
There are 503 high school interscholastic badminton programs in
the United States. The USBA's major grassroots program is the
"Target-2004 Junior Development Program," consisting of eleven
regional junior programs across the United States.

Badminton's Beginning?
Modern badminton began as "poona" in India. In the 1860s it was
adopted by British Army officers stationed in India. The
officers took the game back to England, where it became a success
at a party given by the Duke of Beaufort at his estate called
"Badminton" in Gloucestershire. The first badminton club in this
country, the Badminton Club of New York, was formed in 1878.

National Events To Shoot For?
U.S. Junior National Championships, U.S. Adult National
Championships, U.S. Senior National Championships, USBA Classics.

Fastest Sport?
Badminton is one the world's fastest racket sports, requiring
quick reflexes and superb conditioning. In a badminton smash,
the shuttlecock has been timed at speeds over 200 m.p.h. in top
international competition.

Aerobic Sport?
Badminton is a highly aerobic sport which can be played
throughout one's lifetime. In a typical two-game match, a player
run approximately one mile.

Badminton's Popularity?
A 1993 study revealed that more than 1.2 million Americans play
badminton at least 25 times a year, 760,000 Americans call
badminton their favorite sport, and more than 11.2 million
Americans played the sport at least once during the year.
Internationally, more than 1.1 billion people watched the 1992
Olympic badminton competition on television.

Tennis vs. Badminton
Statistics Don't Lie
The speed and the stamina required for badminton are far greater
than for any other racket sport. At the 1985 All England
(Tennis) Championships, Boris Becker defeated Kevin Curren 6-3,
6-7, 7-6, 6-4. At the 1985 World Badminton Championships in
Calgary, Canada, Han Jian of China defeated Morten Frost of
Denmark, 14-18, 15-10, 15-8. The following is a statistical
comparison of those matches.

Time: Tennis, 3 hours and 18 minutes. Badminton, 1 hour and 16
minutes.
Ball/Shuttle in Play: Tennis, 18 minutes. Badminton, 37
minutes.
Match Intensity*: Tennis, 9 percent. Badminton, 48 percent.
Rallies: Tennis 299. Badminton, 146.
Shots: Tennis, 1,004. Badminton, 1,972.
Shots Per Rally: Tennis, 3.4. Badminton, 13.5.
Distance Covered: Tennis, 2 miles. Badminton, 4 miles.

Note that the badminton players competed for half the time, yet
ran twice as far and hit nearly twice as many shots.

*The actual time the ball/shuttle was in flight, divided by the
length of the match.

Thursday, March 8, 2007

Equipment laws

The Laws specify which equipment may be used. In particular, the Laws restrict the design and size of rackets and shuttlecocks. The Laws also provide for testing a shuttlecock for the correct speed:

 3.1 To test a shuttlecock, use a full underhand stroke which makes contact with the shuttlecock over the back boundary line. The shuttlecock shall be hit at an upward angle and in a direction parallel to the side lines.

 3.2 A shuttlecock of the correct speed will land not less than 530 mm and not more than 990 mm short of the other back boundary line....


Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton

Wednesday, March 7, 2007

Playing court dimensions

The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. Courts are almost always marked for both singles and doubles play, although the laws permit a court to be marked for singles only. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but the doubles service court is shorter than the singles service court.

Badminton court, isometric view
Badminton court, isometric view

The full width of the court is 6.1 metres, and in singles this width is reduced to 5.18 metres. The full length of the court is 13.4 metres. The service courts are marked by a centre line dividing the width of the court, by a short service line at a distance of 1.98 metres from the net, and by the outer side and back boundaries. In doubles, the service court is also marked by a long service line, which is 0.78 metres from the back boundary.

The net is 1.55 metres (5 ft 1 inch) high at the edges and 1.524 metres (5 ft) high in the centre. The net posts are placed over the doubles side lines, even when singles is played.

Surprisingly, there is no mention in the Laws of a minimum height for the ceiling above the court. Nonetheless, a badminton court will not be suitable if the ceiling is likely to be hit on a high serve.


Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton

Monday, March 5, 2007

History and development

Games with a shuttlecock are widely believed to have originated in ancient Greece about 2000 years ago. From there they spread via the Indo-Greek kingdoms to India and then further east to China and Siam (now Thailand).

In England since medieval times a children's game called Battledore and Shuttlecock was popular. Children would use paddles (Battledores) and work together to keep the shuttlecock up in the air and prevent it from reaching the ground. It was popular enough to be a nuisance on the street of London in 1854 when the Punch magazine published a cartoon depicting it.


Battledore and Shuttlecock, an antecedent to the modern game of Badminton. 1854, from the John Leech Archive

Battledore and Shuttlecock, an antecedent to the modern game of Badminton. 1854, from the John Leech Archive

In the 1860s, British Army officers in Pune, India, began playing the game of Battledore and Shuttlecock, but they added a competitive element by including a net. As the city of Pune was formerly known as Poona, the game was known as Poona at that time.

About this same time, the Duke of Beaufort was entertaining soldiers at his estate called "Badminton House", where the soldiers played Poona. The Duke of Beaufort's non-military guests began referring to the game as "the badminton game", and thus the game became known as "Badminton".

In 1877, the first badminton club in the world, Bath Badminton Club, transcribed the rules of badminton for the first time. However, in 1893, the Badminton Association of England published the first proper set of rules, similar to that of today, and officially launched badminton in a house called "Dunbar" at 6 Waverley Grove, Portsmouth, England on September 13 of that year. They also started the All England Open Badminton Championships, the first badminton competition in the world, in 1899.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) was established in 1934 with Canada, Denmark, England, France, the Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales as its founding members. India joined as an affiliate in 1936. The BWF now governs international badminton and develops the sport globally.


Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton

Saturday, March 3, 2007

Intro to Badminton

Badminton is a racket sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their rackets so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents' half of the court. A rally ends once the shuttlecock has struck the ground, and the shuttlecock may only be struck once by each side before it passes over the net.

The shuttlecock is a feathered projectile whose unique aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently from the balls used in most racket sports; in particular, the feathers create much higher drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly than a ball. Because shuttlecock flight is strongly affected by wind, competitive badminton is always played indoors. Badminton is also played outdoors as a casual recreational activity, often as a garden or beach game.

The Danish Olympic badminton player Peter Gade
The Danish Olympic badminton player Peter Gade

Badminton is an Olympic sport with five competitive disciplines: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles, in which each pair is a man and a woman. At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic stamina, strength, and speed. It is also a technical sport, requiring good hand-eye coordination and the development of sophisticated racket skills.


Ref:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton