Category Archives: Badminton

Badminton Courts and New Materials Considered

Posted on February 6, 2011 by cintaduapuluh

Perhaps you didn’t know, but there are some folks working on new futuristic badminton courts right now. For those in the United States, they may not realize how important this sport is throughout Asia, or in other parts of the world. It is for that reason that high-tech and new materials are being brought into this sport to increase the agility of the players to compete at the upper end of the tournament spectrum. These new courts will be lined with carbon composites and graphene coatings.

Now then, you might think that sheets of graphene, or carbon nanotubes might be more apropos to international space stations, satellites, stealth aircraft, and products and equipment in other super high-tech industries. Still, you be wrong to think that badminton is not considered equally important in many of the countries who find it one of their favorite pastimes and most competitive sports. The reason this technology is so incredible is that graphene and carbon composites can be made to conduct electricity.

In fact, they could work just like a giant touchpad. In other words every time a player took a step, it could record exactly where they put their feet, and later that could be played back to help a player better themselves, and train at improving the muscles needed for those types of agility based moves. For Olympic coaches it will be a godsend, and it will only increase the already furious pace of the game.

If you doubt somehow that badminton is not one of the fastest played sports on the planet, or one that doesn’t require the greatest agility a human body can offer then I suggest you go to YouTube and download some of the recent tournaments in Southeast Asia, and see for yourself. Indeed, these new courts will play extremely fast because they will be nonskid, not to mention the fact that they will be literally indestructible.

They will not need resurfacing, they will not show wear and tear, and they will be worth every penny for those who play on them. Being able to hone your skills on a graphene coated carbon nanotube composite court will make the difference between those who move on to be world champions, and those that are able to compete in the lower ranks.

Not long ago when I looked at what these researchers were doing, I was blown away by some of their discoveries, and how they will be using this material, in fact, I think it will change everything, the game they never be the same again. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

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Glow in the Dark Badminton – What A Rush

Posted on January 12, 2011 by cintaduapuluh

I just happened to see a YouTube video featuring glow-in-the-dark badminton. It was one of the coolest things I’ve ever seen. The badminton birdie had LED lights on it, and as you hit it, it lit up and started to dim within a few seconds, as it was time for the next player to hit it again. Almost like a firefly. It was the coolest thing I’d ever seen, and these players were playing in the dark. I was amazed at how good they were. In fact, it reminded me of a great way to improve one’s badminton game, and a great way to practice. After all if you are practicing in the dark, you have to have full control of everything else.

Now then, the net also had a small LED white light which was also dim, and a small strip on the floor for the boundaries of the court. The players had a “T” of reflective stripe, a glow-in-the-dark strip, on the front of their uniforms. You couldn’t tell exactly what the player was doing, but you could see them move and the “T” would bend and contort as they went after the birdie. It seems to me that glow-in-the-dark badminton could be a very fun sport here the United States, and it should be taken up, and also used to train our US Olympic badminton team.

I can’t wait to play it at night myself because it looks so cool. Of course, you have to make sure your eyes had adjusted before you start playing, and it might take a few games to get the hang of, but eventually I believe you could master the sport, and learn quite a bit about your badminton tactics and your personal style by doing this. Not only that, but since you are playing in the dark all the distractions are gone, so you can give it your full attention. And you wouldn’t be able to tell whom you are playing with, which brings up another good point.

As you probably realize there are now badminton robots, and if you played in the dark with a robot, you might forget that you are playing against a machine, and you could play until your heart’s content, for hours on end without the robot getting tired. What an awesome workout, just imagine the amount of calories you could burn off, the weight you could lose, and the agility you could attain. Indeed I hope you will please consider all this and think on it.

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Badminton – A Sport For Counts, Cagney And The Whole Family

Posted on December 10, 2010 by cintaduapuluh

Badminton, that game played with small racquets and a funny looking thing called a shuttlecock (or bird), actually has a long and storied history. The sport first appeared in China around 500 BC. It was called Ti Jian Zi and was played with a shuttlecock and one’s feet.

The sport next surfaced in the 16th century where it was played by the European nobility (hence the sport of Counts) and was known as “jeu de Volant,” which was French for “wheel game.” It consisted of hitting a small ball with the palm of one’s hand.

Call it badminton or call it Poona
The sport as we recognize it today was created by British military officers in India in the mid-18th century. It was particularly popular in the British garrison town of Poona so was known as Poona for a period of time.

Retired British Army officers took the game to England where its rules were developed. It was officially launched in 1873 at the Badminton House, Gloucestershire — hence the name badminton.

Badminton in America
America’s first club was the Badminton Club of New York, which was founded in 1878. Badminton’s popularity took off in the 1930s as YMCAs, schools and hundreds of new badminton clubs offered lessons in the sport. Its popularity was also spurred in the 1930s due to the avid play of such Hollywood stars as James Cagney (the sport of Cagney), Douglas Fairbanks, Boris Karloff, Dick Powell, Ginger Rogers and Bette Davis.

How badminton compares with other sports
One of the more interesting things about this game is that it is played with a shuttlecock, a projectile with feathers, which causes it to fly differently from the balls used in other sports. The feathers of a shuttlecock create a much higher drag, so that it decelerates much faster than a ball.

While there have never been definitive studies done comparing badminton with other sports, there is a general agreement that it – especially the singles version – requires more aerobic stamina than tennis while tennis requires greater upper body and core strength.

It is also generally agreed that the sport definitely requires more explosive athleticism than tennis and a somewhat greater explosive athleticism than squash. It also requires significantly faster reaction times than either squash or tennis.

Family fun or cutthroat competition
Another thing that makes this sport unique is that it can be played for fun or as serious competition. If you ever see Olympic badminton, you will know what we mean – it’s incredibly fast paced and requires an amazing athleticism. Yet, you can also spend as little as $19.95, put up a court in your backyard and watch your kids spend hours battling each other for family bragging rights. And that’s certainly something you can’t say about football, basketball or even tennis.

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Badminton – A Backyard Classic

Posted on November 28, 2010 by cintaduapuluh

The amount of fun you can have while playing has made badminton a backyard classic, similar in nature to tennis. Whether it’s a game here or there or having tournaments with friends and family members, badminton, a backyard classic, is something worth getting into this summer. If you are unfamiliar with the game and would like to learn more, read on for some information on this wonderfully fun and exciting game.

What Is Needed to Play?

Just like tennis, badminton uses rackets and a propelled object to play. There is a net in the middle and the goals are relatively the same in that you need to get the propelled object over the net. The rackets look quite a bit different, though, and most people consider the propelled object to have a funny name, the shuttlecock. Additionally, the shuttlecock can be known as the bird or birdy. It looks basically like a ball with feathers sticking out the back of it in a funnel shape. However, it’s the grace of the sport that has made badminton a backyard classic.

How to Play

Badminton does not require as much speed as tennis, so it’s an activity that is often enjoyed by people of any age and is not limited only to those who are extremely fit. The rackets are smaller but with a longer handle, and it does not require as much speed or force to hit the shuttlecock. It is a game of finesse and grace. But what are the rules? Two teams, either one on one or two on two, are placed on each side of a net in an area similar in size to a tennis court. The game is played until one team reaches 21 points. Three games are what it takes to make a match. Whether you serve or not, you can get a point for each rally that is played if the other team misses or performs a foul. One of the things that makes badminton a backyard classic is the fact that the rules are quite simple.

Purchasing Equipment

High-quality badminton equipment can be purchased quite readily at most sporting good stores. Although you are not likely to need really high-quality rackets until you get the hang of the game, some people like to start out with better quality. However, you can also get cheap sets at local department stores and at sporting stores that will help you get a taste for the game before you decide to invest a lot of money in it. No matter what you decide to do, ensure that you know what you intend on buying before you go into the store. This will prevent you from making a purchase that is not right for you.

In Conclusion

What truly makes badminton a backyard classic is how much fun you will have. Playing a game or two with your friends or family members and hosting badminton tournaments in your backyard is a wonderful way to get outside and enjoy the sunshine this summer. Not only will you get some sun, but it will also help you stay in shape.

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