On 13th May 2019, AirBadminton was launched jointly by the Badminton World Federation and HSBC along with a new shuttlecock, AirShuttle. It is an ambitious project designed to create for people of all ages and abilities to play badminton. It is a development project in partnership with HSBC, BWF’s Global Development Partner. It aims to deliver a positive experience to people to play badminton on hard, grass, and sand surfaces at parks, beaches, and playgrounds around the World.
Given that most people have their first-hand experience in an outdoor environment, the BWF has made it easier for everyone to play the sport through the new outdoor game and a new shuttlecock- AirShuttle. The project has taken about five years to develop, and over 30 designs of the AirShuttle were dubbed before the final design was chosen. The new shuttle is designed and developed to provide more stability and wind resistance. Victor is the first badminton brand to take the AirShuttle to market.
Table of Contents
Aim
The goal of the conception of AirBadminton is to encourage and inspire the mass participation of people to play badminton. Also, to find an effective, economic, and sustainable way of encouraging more people to play more badminton in more places. The ultimate aim is to increase the accessibility of the sport, by enabling it to be played on a variety of surfaces. This will lead to the overall brand development of the sport.
Why play AirBadminton?
Badminton is a very popular sport with more than 300 million active players globally. AirBadminton comes up with a plethora of health and social benefits. In fact, playing the sport for just an hour can burn up to 450 calories. It improves physical qualities such as speed, endurance, strength, agility, reduces stress, and helps eliminate various health problems. Research also shows that racquet sports such as badminton with a strong social connectedness can increase longevity by nine years.
AirBadminton has the similar benefits of playing badminton, in fact, the physical effort required to play competitively on sand is higher than traditional badminton.
Where to play AirBadminton?
It can be played anywhere-parks, beaches, playgrounds, gardens and streets around the World. It can be played on a safe surface at any level including hard, grass, and sand.
Where can I buy the AirShuttle?
To buy an AirShuttle, click here.
How to play AirBadminton?
You can play AirBadminton can be played in the following formats:
Singles (1 vs 1)
Doubles (2 vs 2)
Triples (3 vs 3)
Rules
There are some official rules laid down by the BWF, which are:
The rallies commence with a service behind the 3m mark on the court.
The player can serve anywhere behind the 3m mark (service marker) as there is no centreline, with both feet stationary.
Dead zone: If the shuttle lands in the dead zone, then it is considered a fault.
The net height should be 1.45m on a sand surface because players sink into the sand while playing on that surface.
What is a Dead Zone?
The AirShuttle makes net shots very difficult to control, therefore the net area has been taken out to facilitate strokes away from the net. This will help in creating rally situations.
A player must not step inside the dead zone while hitting the shuttle. After the hit, it can step inside the area.
Disciplines
Men’s Singles
Women’s Singles
Men’s Doubles
Women’s Doubles
Triples
Scoring System
The rules for scoring are similar to traditional badminton, the only difference being the number of games and points.
Total Games: Best of 5
Total Points for each game: 8
If there is a tie, and the score to 11-11 then the next person to score and reach 12 points is the winner.
How to play Triples?
Singles and doubles are similar to the traditional format whereas, triples are a different format in which the same player cannot return the AirShuttle twice in a row. The player must allow the next member of the team to take the next return. Triples is a new exciting format of the game where good strategy and communication is key between teammates.
Who can play AirBadminton?
This sport can be played by all irrespective of their age, gender, ability, and level of experience. It is an inclusive sport that can also be enjoyed by people with disabilities.
Final Thoughts
I hope now you know everything about AirBadminton. It will solve the problem of playing in windy situations with the help of AirShuttle. The conception of this innovative game will help in the mass participation of people playing badminton.
I hope you enjoyed this article.
Thanks for reading. Keep playing.
How to change the speed of a shuttle manually?
While playing a badminton match, you might have observed the speed of the shuttle. Due to various causes, the flight of the shuttlecock can be fast or slow. If you have not played badminton, you might have observed in International matches that the players are doing something with the feathers of the shuttle.
Well, they are changing the speed of the shuttle. Every player must know how to change the speed of a feather shuttle. In this article, I have explained how to change the speed of the shuttle manually. However, this practice is not allowed in National/International matches as the shuttles used there are of high quality. But this situation can arise when you are playing a practice match at your academy.
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The shuttle speed can be fast or slow and depending on it you need to change the speed.
- How to slow down the feather shuttle?
A feather shuttle has a total of 16 feathers together. So if you want to slow down the shuttle you need to bend the tip of every 4th feather outward. This will create friction, which will slow down the speed of the shuttle. Moreover, the more you bend the tip of the shuttle, the slower the speed of the shuttle.
- How to make the feather shuttle fast?
Well, to make the shuttle fast, you need to do the opposite of what you did to make the shuttle slow. So, you bend the 4th feather of the shuttle inwards. This will reduce unnecessary friction and make the shuttle move faster.
Things to keep in mind while changing the speed of the shuttle
- The feathers of a shuttle are very delicate so, therefore, bend the tips of the feathers lightly. Otherwise, this will damage the shuttle.
- If you playing a National/International match and you want to make a change in the flight of the shuttle, you need to first take permission from the umpire.
- Bending the feathers too much can make affect the flight of the shuttle.
- This technique should be used on new feather shuttlers, whose feathers are in good condition.
Final Thoughts
Remember to always ask your opponent if he/she is ready to change the speed of the shuttle and then do it. The decision should be always mutual. Everyone needs to be aware of how to change the shuttle. If you are not aware, your opponent might change the speed according to his/her preference without you even realizing it. Therefore, be careful and practice this technique during your training games.
I hope you enjoyed this article.
Thanks for reading. Keep playing.
Top 5 Yonex Badminton Racquets
Yonex is one of the most famous and trusted brand for badminton racquets and equipment. Most professional players like Carolina Marin, Kento Momota, Lin Dan and many more use this racquet brand. Yonex offers a variety of racquets, for different skill sets.
One special feature is that Yonex uses the Nano science technology which creates ultra light weight racquets that are thinner, stronger and more stable than an ordinary racquet. While selecting a racquet, you must be very careful as the racquet plays a vital part in maximizing your potential on court.
Yonex offers a series of badminton racquets like the Astrox, Nanoflare, Voltric and many more. In this article I will help you with 5 badminton racquets to choose if you are a professional player.
Yonex Astrox 88s
This particular racquet is targeted for finesse players who control the net, usually the players at the frontcourt in doubles. Additionally, the overall length of the Astrox 88S is only 5mm longer, which enhances both accuracy and power. Astrox rackets are an attack-oriented model that can take the lead in a high-speed game with a design that can deliver powerful, steep smashes, allowing players to dominate the court. The counter-balanced head adapts to each shot, helping you to control the drive and to attack the opposition with increased acceleration, steeper angle, and power on the smash.
Yonex Arcsaber 11
The Yonex Arcsaber 11 is an improvement of Arcsaber 10. It is specially designed to create a competitive advantage during fast paced rallies of intense matches. It is quite similar to Arcsaber 11 but comes with better control and ease of use. Additionally, it gives you comfort so that your arms and forearms don’t get tired that easily. It is an even balanced racquet for explosive all round play. It also gives you unmatched control over each shot. In general, this racquet is an excellent choice as it creates a controlled explosion of your power.
Unlike other badminton racquets, it is also very durable. It is a racquet for explosive and aggressive players, especially in singles.
Yonex Voltric Z Force 2
It is a progression of Voltric Z Force. However, in the new version, the head and the shaft are slimmer. With immense offesnsive power for smashes it is regarded as one of the best racquets for singles. It has been used by many elite players like PV Sindhu, Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei and many more.
The ultra-thin shaft and ultra-aerodynamic head shape allows it to be hit with increased power. It excels at the backcourt because its fast and smooth swing allows the shuttle to be hit with a lot of power. It is a racquet used for advanced and offensive players.
Yonex Voltric 80
If you are looking for a racquet with the best features at an affordable price, I think this is the one. It is an excellent choice for defense and power. It is a head heavy racquet, therefore good for defensive players. It also comes with good smashing power, improved speed, and impressive control. It is highly recommended for advanced players with an aggressive and fast style play.
Yonex Astrox 99
It is the choice of the reigning World Champion, Kento Momota. Notably, it is one of the best singles racquet used by several top players. It is a choice for advanced players who value power, speed, and precision. Also, the best choice for attack-minded players as it has exquisite smashing abilities.
It is featured with a head heavy balance and stiff shaft which offers players an explosive racquet with a focus on power and smashing. It is currently the World no. 1 racquet. To know more about this racquet, click here.
Final Thoughts
I hope you found this article helpful in choosing your racquet.
Thanks for reading. Keep playing!
10 Interesting Facts of Badminton
Badminton is officially the fastest sport in the World. Like every other sport, there are some interesting facts about badminton that will definitely amaze you. Let me take you through some of these interesting facts on badminton that will blow your mind.
Badminton is the second most popular sport in the World
Well, this fact might surprise you but it is true. After Football, Badminton is the second most participated sport in the World. It is played regularly by an estimated 220 million people around the World. In fact, it is particularly popular in Asia, with many of the best players gracing the game from that continent.
Badminton has proved its popularity in the Olympic domain as well. When it was introduced in 1992, records say that 1.1 billion people actually tuned in their TV Channels to watch the sport.
The Shortest and Longest Badminton match
The shortest badminton match ever recorded was at the 1996 Uber Cup in Hong Kong which lastest for a shocking six minutes. Ra Kyung-min South Korea defeated Julia Mann of England, 11-2, 11-1 in that match.
On the other hand, the longest match was recorded during the doubles semi-final at the 2016 Asian Championships. The match lasted a staggering 2 hours and 41 minutes. The Japenese pair of Naoko Fukuman and Kurumi Yonao played out of their skins to shock the third-seeded, Nitya Krishinda Maheswari and Greysia Polii 13-21, 21-19, 24-22, in 161 minutes to create a new world record.
A Shuttle is made from a left-wing of a goose
An average shuttlecock weighs 4.74 and 5.5 grams and the best of them are made using 16 feathers from the left-wing of a goose. To know how to change the speed of the shuttlecock manually, click here.
Why do they use the left-wing?
Well, Geese’s wings are related to the physics of sports. The 16 feathered shuttlecocks, when smashed into the air, spins clockwise only if the features belong to the left-wing of a goose. But do the same with the right-wing feathers of a goose and your shuttlecock rotates counterclockwise — which totally screws the game and the players.
To ensure satisfactory flight properties, it is preferable to use feathers from a right or left-wing for each shuttle separately and not mix them as feathers from different wings are shaped differently. Duck feathers are also used, but they are of a lower quality than goose feathers.
The Racquet strings are made from the stomach lining of cats
Badminton strings were made from the dried stomach lining of animals like cats or cows. While some still use it, most players have shifted to using synthetic strings.
Badminton is a more intense sport than Tennis
Even though Tennis matches last longer than badminton matches, statistically, one badminton match is much more intense than a tennis match. The match intensity, no of rallies, no. of shots, shots per rally, and distance covered is statistically higher in a game of badminton.
Asian Domination of Badminton
Since the introduction of badminton into the Olympics in 1992, Asian badminton players have won 93 out of 103 Olympic medals.
Also, 70% of the BWF event winners are from Asia, with the most successful countries being China and Indonesia.
Since the inception of the Thomas Cup in 1948, only 5 countries have won it so far with four of them being Asian Countries. (Updated 2018)
Indonesia- 13
China-10
Malaysia-5
Denmark-1
Japan-1
Origin of the name
The game existed in India before the 15th century where it was called ‘Poona’ because it was originated in the city of Pune. The game was bought by the British officers back into their country. This game was reintroduced and popularised at the ‘Badminton House’ which was Duke of Beaufort’s residence in Gloucestershire, England. Therefore, it was decided to name the sport – badminton.
Fastest badminton smash
The doubles specialist from Denmark, Mads Kolding smashed the shuttle at speed of 426 km/h in the PBL(Premier Badminton League in India).
However, the World record is held by Boon Heong of Malaysia, clocking a whopping 493 km/h. This was recorded under test conditions. To know about the five fastest smashes in the history of badminton, click here.
Longest Rally in Badminton
In 2015, the match between Naoko Fukuman/Kurumi Yonao vs Poon Lok Yan/Tse Ying Suet ended after 256 shots, which took 4.5 minutes.
Highest Jump Smash
Liem Swie King is a badminton player from Indonesia, who was famous for his jump smash. He was one of the first players who started using jump smashes on the International Circuit. He achieved a height of 1 meter while executing a jump smash which was one of the highest jumps in badminton.
Final Thoughts
I hope you enjoyed reading these interesting facts about badminton.
Thanks for reading. Keep playing!
Common Faults in Badminton
Badminton is a very competitive sport, and no player would like to lose points by making a fault. There are certain rules to follow to avoid losing points.
At times, you may make the fault without even knowing for what it is considered a fault. In this article, I have explained five common faults in the game of badminton that every player must be aware of.
- Contact Fault
- Over the Net Fault
- Service Fault
- Receiver Fault
- Double Hit
Contact Fault
During a rally, that starts once the service is delivered, there are two things you cannot touch during the rally. If touched, it is considered a fault, and the point goes in favor of your opponent.
Badminton Net: If you touch the net, or your racquet touches the net in the middle of the rally, it is considered a fault.
Shuttlecock: In a badminton game, you can hit the shuttlecock with your racquet only. The shuttlecock should not touch you or any part of your body during a rally, as it is considered a fault. Even if the shuttle touches your shirt, pant, etc, it will still be considered as a contact fault.
Over the Net Fault
You may be wondering can you get the badminton racquet to go over the net in the middle of a rally. Well, the answer is YES. However, you cannot allow your racquet to hit the shuttle before it passes over the net to your side of the court.
But once the shuttle crosses the net, if your racquet crosses over to your opponent’s side, it is fine and not considered a fault.
Service Fault
A service fault is the most common fault and many players often tend to make this mistake. It generally happens when you perform the low serve and flick serve.
Let me take you across the rules to avoid a service fault.
- You must hit the shuttle from below your waist (lowest rib). As per the latest BWF guidelines, the shuttle must be contacted at or below 1.5m from the surface of the court. Anything above that is considered a fault.
- Your badminton racquet head must be pointing in a downward direction when you hit the shuttle.
- Neither the server nor the receiver may lift their foot until the server has struck the shuttlecock. Dragging your feet while serving is also considered a fault.
- While serving you cannot have a double action. There cannot be a pause in the racquet swing while serving. It has to be continuous
- Any sort of unnecessary delay can also be called as a fault by the referee.
- Your service must travel above the net and land on diagonally on the opponent’s court. If it lands exactly opposite to the court you serve from, it is considered a fault.
Receiver Fault
As a receiver of the service, you must not move until the service has been made. You must not move your feet from where you are standing, otherwise, it will be considered a fault.
Also, you must not use any gestures or movements to distract the server. This can also cost you a point.
Double Hit
Hitting is shuttle twice is considered a fault. Once the shuttle comes to your side you have only one chance to hit the shuttle. You cannot hit it again until your opponent returns your shot.
For instance, in doubles, once the shuttle touches your racquet, it cannot be hit by your partner to continue the rally. If both the players touch the shuttle, it will be considered a double hit fault.
Final Thoughts
So here are 5 common badminton faults that you need to be aware of to be more careful in avoiding them. Practice hard to eliminate such errors in your game.
I hope you enjoyed reading this article.
Thanks for reading. Keep playing.
Types of Badminton Courts: A Comprehensive Guide
Badminton is one of the most popular sports in the world with almost 220 million people playing the sport. With the likes of Saina Nehwal, PV Sindhu, Srikanth Kidambi, and a few more, the popularity of badminton has increased exponentially in India. This has raised the demand for badminton venues.
From children to old people, everyone enjoys the sport. These people enroll themselves either for badminton coaching or just playing to stay fit at these badminton venues. There are various types of badminton courts. I will help you with all the information on the different types of courts and also will explain which court surface you should play to avoid injuries.
Table of Contents
Synthetic Badminton Court
This surface is the best surface for playing badminton. When you watch all National and International tournaments, you will see that all these matches are conducted on synthetic courts. It is a top-class surface that is laid on a wooden base. The synthetic surface provides better bounce and is anti-slippery which helps you not to slip on the court. This will help to reduce the strain on your knees and protect them from injuries. There are two types of synthetic courts:
1. PVC Badminton court
They are very popular as they provide decent anti-slip properties. They are available in the form of mats and it is very easy to lay them on the badminton court. They are segregated into the surface, middle and lower mats. While the surface mats provide durability, anti-slip, and abrasion-resistant properties, the middle mats add stability.
2. Acrylic Badminton Court
The most celebrated feature of an acrylic surface is that it comes in many colors and can be used for many different sports. It also has anti-slip properties and is more economical than a PVC surface. However, the shock absorption is not as good as a PVC surface.
Wooden Badminton Court
After a synthetic surface, a wooden surface is the most used surface for a badminton court. The BWF itself recommends wooden flooring. It has a natural shock absorption capability. This makes it a great playing surface. However not all wood surfaces are recommended for play. When it gets wet with sweat or water, the surface becomes slippery and makes it difficult to play. The best one is hardwood.
Cement Badminton Court
These surfaces are mostly seen outdoors, installed in parks. This surface is not recommended for everyday play as it does not provide shock absorption for your knees. This could lead to injuries.
Rubber Mat Flooring
This is a recent product for Indoor sports flooring. It is a natural rubber cushioned surface that can be used for various sports. It is easy to maintain and has a good shock absorption mechanism. Also, easy to install and uninstall.
Outdoor Badminton Courts
Even though professional badminton has always been an indoor sport, plenty of people around the world play badminton outdoors for fun and recreation. It is very less expensive and effortless to set up an outdoor badminton court compared to an indoor court.
Many people set up badminton courts in their backyard. If you’re setting up a badminton court outdoors, you might need to keep some important things in mind. The first and foremost thing is that the place where you want to set up the court shouldn’t be an open space. If it is, there are high chances of breeze, and that will negatively affect the quality of the game. Make sure you choose a closed space where the breeze is less.
The next thing to consider is the type of flooring. Some people set up cement flooring as it is pretty easy and cheap compared to other types of floorings. But, the chances of getting injured are extremely high.
You can’t play badminton flawlessly on this type of court. You need to be very careful while you are playing as there’s nothing worse than getting injured while playing. I got injured several times when I was playing on this type of court.
Now, when I’m playing outdoors, I wear knee pads to protect my knees from getting injured, as I always had issues with my knees while playing on these courts. Others set up badminton courts on the ground itself without any additional flooring. This is also dangerous as it can lead to many injuries. So, you need to be careful while playing on a court like this.
Some people set up courts in parks with grass or sand on it. This can be better than the other types of outdoor courts. Still, it is not the ideal way to play badminton.
The best way to play badminton is to play it indoors. However, if you can’t do that, play the game outdoors, with safety being the priority.
Final Thoughts
Here are all the different badminton courts you could play on. Try avoiding a cement court and use proper shoes while playing to avoid injuries.
I hope you liked the article. Thanks for reading! Keep playing.