BADMINTON Special Olympics Sports Skills Program

Equipment
Badminton equipment can range in quality from backyard
sets to top-quality professional merchandise. It is important
that badminton equipment be selected for durability and best
play reasons.
Rackets
Today’s rackets are made from a variety of materials such as
boron, carbon, graphite, or metal that range in price from US
$5 to US $200. Most rackets used in badminton are very
light and weigh between 3.5 and 4.2 ounces. Also, most
rackets use nylon strings. Nylon strings are fairly inexpensive
with good durability. Many tennis shops can repair broken
strings, and they can individualize string tension for player
preference. Select a racket that has a grip size that feels good
in the hand and a weight that feels comfortable. Leather grips
provide a good grip initially. A variety of terry cloth, rubber,
or foam grip wraps are also available to help maintain good
grip control. Ultimately, if the athlete likes his/her racket,
then he/she will play his/her best as a result.
Shuttles (Birds)
Plastic, nylon, and feather are the three types of shuttlecocks,
shuttles, or “birds.” Nylon shuttles are recommended for both
practice and competition for durability, economic, and
performance reasons (Figure 1).
Clothing
Clothes for badminton should be comfortable, have the
capability to absorb sweat, and, most important, be flexible
for ease of movement.
Shoes
The type of shoes wo rn will depend to a large degree on the
p l aying surface and the individual preference of the athlete.
H oweve r, a comfort a ble tennis shoe, which gives solid ankle,
arch, and heel support, is sound advice.
1 8
Figure 1
Socks
Socks of va rying lengths are all appropriate for badminton
practice and competition. Socks should possess good
a b s o rption qualities. Athletes who are prone to blisters should
wear two pairs of socks for both practice and competition.
Shorts
C o m f o rt a ble, action-oriented shorts are recommended for both
practice and competition. A tennis dress or a blouse and skirt
m ay be the choice of some wo m e n .
Shirts
T- s h i rts and collared polo style shirts are typically wo rn for
badminton practice and competition. Comfort, sweat absorp t i o n ,
and ease of movement in the shoulder area are good to consider
when selecting practice or competition shirt s .
The Training Facility
A badminton court is shown in D i a g ram 1. Athletes should
be able to identify the names of the court lines and spaces.
If necessary, four badminton courts may be taped on a tennis
c o u rt or roped off in a grassy area. Howeve r, for safety and best
results, badminton should be played on a gymnasium floor.
Diagram 1