Badminton Equipment & Accessories

Badminton Equipment & Accessories

Racquet – used to hit the bird, the racquet is shaped like a tennis racquet and has strings, but weighs much less. The frame of the racket, including the handle, is not to exceed 680 mm (26.75 inches) in overall length, and 230 mm (9 inches) in overall width. The overall length of the head is not to exceed 290 mm. Most racquets are made from light man-made materials such as aluminum or graphite, and are strung with synthetic material such as nylon.

Shuttle, Shuttlecock, Bird, Birdie - whatever it is called, it is badminton's version of a tennis ball. It has a small ball at the front to give it speed, and feathers protruding from it to help it float when it is hit high into the air. An official shuttlecock must have 14-16 feathers and are usually made from a goose or duck and from the left wing of the bird only.

Shoes – special court shoes are worn to allow players to move quickly across the court, and to give them traction for quick movements around the court.

Strings - Badminton strings are thin, high performing strings in the range of about 0.65 to 0.73 millimetres thickness. String tension is normally in the range of 18 to 36 lbf (80 to 130 newtons). Recreational players uses lower tensions strings between 18 and 25 lbf. Professionals string between about 25 and 36 lbf. High string tensions improve control, whereas low string tensions increase power. The optimum tension for power depends on the player: the faster and more accurately a player can swing their racket, the higher the tension for maximum power. The most effective way for a player to find a good string tension is to experiment.

Badminton Grip - allows a player to increase the thickness of his racket handle and choose a comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or several grips before applying the final layer. Players may choose between a variety of grip materials. The most common choices are PU synthetic grips or toweling grips. Grip choice is of personal preference. Players often find sweating a problem; in this case, a drying agent may be applied to the grip or hands, or sweatbands may be used.

There are two types of grip: replacement grips and overgrips. Replacement grips are thicker, and are often used to increase the size of the handle. Overgrips are thinner (less than 1 mm), and are often used as the final layer. Toweling grips are always replacement grips. Overgrips are more convenient for players who change grips frequently, because they may be removed more rapidly without damaging the underlying material.

Badminton Shorts - customised for the purpose of badminton is NOT necessary. However, they're important because it enables you to move more efficiently. Find out what to consider when choosing the correct pair of shorts for your badminton sessions.