Badminton

Did you know that badminton (or a form of it) is a very old game? Badminton was played in ancient times, and an early form of the game was known in ancient Greece and Egypt. In fact, the game of badminton came from a game called battledore and shuttlecock, in which two or more players would try to keep a feathered shuttlecock in the air with small rackets. The word shuttlecock is still used in the game.

During the 18th century, the game was called "Poona" in India and British Army Officers stationed there brought an Indian version back to England in the 1860's. A man named Isaac Spratt, a London toy dealer published a booklet, "Badminton Battledore - a new game" in 1860 which really got the game going in England.

In very general terms, badminton is a racquet sport played by two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite sides of a rectangular court that is divided by a net.

The play is simple; players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their rackets so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents' half of the court. A rally ends once the shuttlecock has struck the ground. The shuttlecock may only be struck once by each side before it must pass over the net.

The shuttlecock (or the birdie as it is sometimes called) is a feathered projectile whose unique aerodynamic properties cause it to fly differently from the balls used in most racket sports. The feathers create much higher drag when in flight which causes the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly than a ball. Because shuttlecock flight is strongly affected by wind, competitive badminton is always played indoors. Badminton is also played outdoors as a casual recreational activity, often as a back yard or beach game.

Some people may not be aware that badminton is an Olympic sport with five competitive disciplines: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.

The game is most widely played, however, at homes. Badminton is a game that entire families enjoy playing. The cost of the equipment can be very affordable, and the basic rules are simple enough to learn. However, at higher levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness. The best players will have stamina, strength, and speed. It is also a technical sport, requiring good hand-eye coordination and the development of sophisticated badminton racket skills.