People who don’t know much about this sport often get tennis and badminton mixed up because both are played with a stringed racket. But these sports are very different from each other. In tennis, a big oval-shaped racket is used to hit a bouncing ball. In badminton, a small racket with an isometric-shaped head is used to hit a shuttle over the net.
If you play sports, you know that each one has its own equipment needs. The same is true for badminton, which also has its own special gear that players use during games and on the court.
Badminton Equipment List
If you want to play badminton, you need all of these things. So, take a look at this list of all the important things you need to play badminton.
1. Racket
This is the most important piece of badminton gear, since you can’t hit the shuttlecock without it. So, to play badminton, you need a racket, which starts at a very low price all over the world for beginners. However, if you want a racket with a high-tension string and frame, it can cost a lot more.
The BWF (Badminton World Federation) has rules about how a racket should be made. BWF rules say that the string can’t be more than 27.94 cm long and 20.9 cm wide. The BWF says that a racket can’t be longer than 68 cm or wider than 23 cm.
If you are just starting out, you should start with a less expensive racket because you are more likely to break it by hitting it on the floor or on the racket of a teammate. So save your money when you’re a beginner and invest when you’re an intermediate player. Most rackets for advanced players don’t come with strings, so the players can change the tension of the strings to suit their needs.
2. Shuttlecock
The shuttlecock is another important piece of badminton gear. If you have tennis rackets but no shuttlecock, you still can’t play. You need to buy a shuttlecock right after you buy a racket. Most shuttlecocks have either feathers or plastic instead of feathers.
If you’re just playing badminton for fun, you can use a synthetic or plastic shuttlecock instead of one made of feathers because it will last longer. But if you are a professional player, you should always use a shuttlecock with feathers, because that is what is used in all badminton tournaments around the world.
A shuttlecock should weigh no more than 5.50 grams and no less than 4.74 grams.
3. Badminton Net
The net is another important part of the badminton set. You can play badminton with a racket and shuttlecock, but it wouldn’t be fair because many of the rules require a badminton net. If you’re just playing for fun, you might not need a badminton net, but if you want to play professionally one day, you must play under a net.
The badminton net is exactly 5 feet tall, not more and not less. The badminton net is set up on the court with the help of two poles at each end of the court.
4. Badminton Shoes
Not only do you use your hands to play badminton, but your feet are also very important. If you want to hit the shuttlecock in badminton, you have to move quickly. So, you need a pair of shoes that are very comfortable and flexible so you can move quickly and easily all over the court.
Shoes for a badminton court should be well-cushioned and made of high-quality materials. This will help the forefeet, which hurt the most when playing badminton, feel better. Experts say that players should always stand on their bare feet while waiting for a service. Because of this, players should always wear good badminton shoes.
5. Badminton Apparel
You need a t-shirt and shorts that are easy to move in and don’t get in the way of hitting the shuttlecock. Most of the time, a cotton T-shirt with a round neck and short sleeves is the best choice.
6. Badminton Grip
The badminton racket’s handle must have a grip made of cloth, synthetic fiber, or any other material. It soaks up the sweat on your hand and makes it feel drier.
7. Socks
Always wear a pair of cotton socks because cotton absorbs sweat and keeps your feet from slipping inside your shoes. Don’t wear nylon socks because they can’t soak up sweat.
8. Wristband/Headband
You do not have to have a wristband and a headband in order to play badminton. But if you sweat a lot, a wristband will keep your sweat from getting on your racket. Also, if your hair keeps getting in your face while you play, you could use a headband to keep the sweat from getting into your eyes and face.
9. Badminton Bag
If you play badminton regularly, you might consider purchasing a badminton bag to hold all of your other important belongings. Badminton bags are available in three sizes (3, 6, or 9 pieces), with the most frequent size being a 6 piece bag, which allows you to accommodate everything you need.
10. Towel
You should bring a towel to wipe away sweat because you don’t want your sweat to cover the whole badminton court as you play. If there is water on the courts, you and other players could slip and hurt themselves.
Benefits of Badminton
Badminton has a lot of benefits, from increasing your life expectancy and mobility to helping your heart stay healthy and giving people of all ages and abilities a chance to work out.
1. Badminton is a total body workout
A game of badminton can help you burn about 450 calories an hour by making you lunge, dive, run, and get your heart rate up. The different moves give you a great cardio workout because they work your whole body, including your hamstrings, quads, calves, and core.
2. Socializing
Adults should exercise for 30 minutes five times a week. Some of us may be guilty of not getting enough physical exercise because of increasing home and work demands. Badminton is a fun and adaptable activity that may fit into your hectic schedule.
3. Badminton improves your mental wellbeing
Regular physical exercise of any kind helps to produce endorphins, which are natural feel-good chemicals. As a result, melancholy, anxiety, and stress may be reduced, while general mood and sleep can improve. Playing badminton, whether in singles or doubles, encourages interaction between competitors. This is especially useful in fighting loneliness among senior gamers.
4. Heart Health
A healthy heart is necessary to ensure that your body works properly. Badminton reduces bad cholesterol, which may clog your blood arteries, while increasing good cholesterol. As a result, the risk of hypertension (high blood pressure), heart attack, and stroke is lowered.
5. Badminton helps reduce health risks
Adults who engage in badminton are less likely to develop type 2 diabetes. It lowers the liver’s sugar production, which lowers the body’s fasting blood sugar.
For toddlers and young adults, chasing the shuttlecock and moving around the court quickly may help them grow bone mass and density. This reduces the probability of developing osteoporosis in the future.
6. Increased Life Expectancy
Playing a racket-based sport, such as badminton, may add six years to your life. Football may add more than four years to one’s life, while cycling, swimming, and running can each add more than three years.
7. Improved Mobility
As you get older, you find it harder to move around. You can avoid this by staying active and following a workout plan that keeps your joints lubricated. It also makes it less likely that you will have arthritis or other joint problems.
8. Badminton is a flexible exercise
Anyone, no matter how fit or healthy they are, can enjoy badminton. You can choose a harder or easier workout by changing how fast you play. This is so that you can meet both your own needs and the needs and skills of the other participants.
9. Child friendly
As kids learn more about technology, they are turning to smart phones, tablets, and TV to pass the time. It might be hard to get your kids to go outside and do physical activity when they’re not at school. Taking them to a badminton session will teach them the value of health and fitness and give them the chance to learn new skills. You’ll have a wonderful time with your loved ones.
Conclusion
When choosing the best badminton gear, you should start with how it works and work your way up to how it looks. Each piece of badminton gear is important, but you will figure out what works best for you over time.