Saturday 30 March 2013

Badminton Association of India

History

As we know that there are many racket sports in the world and like many other racket sports, badminton also has a long history! Badminton gets its name from Badminton House in Gloucestershire, England - the home of the Duke of Beaufort, where the sport was played in the last century. Before Badminton House, there was a game called poona (a game which was played by British army officers stationed in India). Before poona, there was jeu de volant played on the European Continent, before that, battledore and shuttlecock, and, before that, Ti Jian Zi - as you can see, it's not easy tracking the lineage of the sport we now call badminton! The origins of badminton dates back at least two thousand years, a surprisingly long history for one of the Olympics' newest sports!

Worldwide popularity for the sport surged only after badminton's Olympic debut at Barcelona in 1992. The first major tournament was the Thomas Cup (world men's team championships) in 1948. There are now many world tournaments. After all these years, badminton is not so different from its ancient predecessors, nor from the game played by elite society in the mid-1800s, except for the speed of the game. Here's an interesting fact for you - the fastest smash recorded by Great Britain's Simon Archer, was clocked at over 160 mph (260 km/hr)!

BAI Mission

"To regulate, promote, manage and develop the sport of 'Badminton' in the Country transperently."

"To create comprehensively established progressive pathway for Badminton Players, Coaches and other Technical persons of the Country.".

"To seek support of Govt. of India, Sport Authorities, Executive Council Members, all Member Associations, Indian and International Media and Sponsors for the continuous promotion and growth of Badminton India."

"To effectively Co-ordinate with Badminton Asia Confedration (BAC), Badminton World Federation (BWF), Indian Olympic Association and all other National & International Sports Organisations for the progess of the Sport of Badminton."

BAI Vision

“To provide leadership for the sport of ‘Badminton’ by focusing on common ‘Mission’ of all Stake holders and to set-up short, medium and long-term ‘Goals’ in terms of the progress in all core activities and functional areas of Badminton in order to ensure the talent and standard of Badminton in the Country continues to grow with the sport becoming increasingly popular world wide and the ‘Badminton India’ remains the nursery of Champions”.

Aims & Objects

To encourage, standardise, control, promote and develop the game of Badminton in India especially by organising Coaching, Training Camps, Tournaments and Exhibition Matches amongst Schools, Colleges, Universities and States through and by affiliated Organisations on an amateur basis for adults, juniors and sub-juniors.

To maintain general control of Badminton in India particularly with reference to the Rules and Regulations for the conduct of the Tournaments.

To act as ‘Accredited Representative’ of all its affiliated Organisations in all matters of common interest as National Body.

To co-ordinate Inter-State activities in respect of ‘Badminton’ in all ways including holding of Inter-State Tournaments, organising or recognising Championship Tournaments / Matches.

To organise World Championships of ‘Badminton’ in India for enhancing overall status of badminton in the Country and to set path for ‘Olympic Qualification’ by the players.

To facilitate ‘International Exposure’ to junior players to create comprehensively established progressive pathway for them and for the Country.

To receive ‘Grants-in-Aid, Funds and Sponsorships’ for the purpose of the Association and deploy the same in such a manner as may be considered desirable for the promotion of ‘Badminton’.

To select ‘Teams’ to represent India and to promote, control and finance visits for International Participation.

To promote, control and, if necessary, to finance the visits of foreign Teams to India.

To have Court Officials Committee (COC), maintain ‘Panel of Umpires’ and also to nominate Umpires to attend Training Camps being organised by BWF & BAC, from time to time, for Certification.

To maintain a panel of ‘Coaches’ and also to nominate National Coaches of Senior and Juniors.

To support, popularise and encourage the development of ‘Badminton’ as a sports for all.

To maintain an ‘Anti-Doping Programme’ and to ensure compliance with ‘BWF/WADA’ code and guidelines.

NEWS 2013

International Badminton Federation news 2013

Parupalli Kashyap reaches career-best ranking after title win

India's ace shuttler Parupalli Kashyap, who recently triumphed in the Syed Modi International India Grand Prix, made a leap of six places to reach a career-best ranking of 14th in the Badminton World Federation (BWF) rankings released on Thursday.

Wednesday March 27, 2013

Saina Nehwal nominated for BWF Female Player of the Year award

The announcement of the winners and the presentation of prizes will take place in Kuala Lumpur on May 18 following the BWF Annual General Meeting.

Friday March 15, 2013

Defending champ Saina enters quarters of Swiss Open badminton

Women's singles top seed Saina had a pretty easy outing against Petya Nedelcheva of Bulgaria as the Indian won 21-15, 21-10 in half an hour to take a 6-2 lead in career head-to-head.

Defending champion Saina Nehwal to start campaign in Swiss Open

Saina will begin her campaign against Sashina Vignes Waran of France and is expected to have a smooth sail till the quarterfinals, where she is likely to meet sixth seed Tzu Ying Tai of Chinese Taipei.

Saina Nehwal's daily training schedule

It is well known that Badminton is a very physically demanding game that requires a great deal of strength and fitness to compete at the top international levels.

Earlier this year, Saina Nehwal had gave an interview to 'timeswellness' in which she had talked about how she keeps fit. She had shared some information about her rigorous training regimen, her diet for strength and endurance, and also about how physical fitness should also be accompanied by mental strength and well-being.

If I remember correctly, her daily fitness schedule that she had mentioned in that interview was something like this:

A typical day in the life of Saina Nehwal when she is training for forthcoming tournaments:

Get up at 6:00 AM
Have a good breakfast. (her main meal)
Go to Gopichand Academy (just 2 kms away from her house)
Practice badminton skills from 7-11 AM
Come back home for Lunch.
Take a short nap.
Return back to academy at 3:30 PM (On the way have a cup of tea)
Practice for 3 hours till 7 PM.
Have a glass of juice after practice.
Followed by Dinner
Then Relax by listening to Hindi film music or watching TV (likes to watch others play)
Practice Yog Nidra (form of yoga meditation)

Saina also has a personal gym at home, it is said, that has all the basic fitness equipment and that she spends quite some time on Yoga (Yog Nidra) for relaxation in both the morning and the evening.

Fitness is the key to success at Top Level

If you look at the best badminton players in the world today, every one of them has well-developed strong legs. Their overall body structure, strength and fitness looks similar to the kind that hockey and football (soccer) players have. Strong muscular legs and high endurance.

Badminton players usually focus on fitness exercises such as running, sprint running, hopping/ jumping/ skipping and a reasonable bit of weight training for improving their fitness. Having strong legs is one of the most important parts of physical fitness in badminton which involves a lot of running, hopping and jumping for the full duration of a badminton match which lasts for about 60 minutes.

Saina's badminton success, her new blonde look, her brand endorsements all attract media attention, however not much is usually reported about the kind of unflinching dedication and commitment that she has had towards her rigorous training schedule for many years.

It is this dedication that has made Saina Nehwal the kind of player that she is.

Badminton Accessories

Apart from the standard badminton equipment such as badminton rackets, shuttlecocks, and badminton net that is required for playing badminton, there are several other badminton accessories such as badminton shoes, headbands, wristbands, badminton apparel and clothing, badminton bags etc. which have become an important part of the badminton kit of most modern professional players today.

The commonly used Badminton Accessories are:

Professional Badminton Bags,
Badminton Clothing / Apparel,
Replacement Grips,
Towel Grips,
Badminton Strings,
Proper Badminton Shoes.

Other common badminton accessories / gift items that are available in the markets are:

Portable badminton net for indoor and outdoor use,
Badminton key chains as gift items,
Mini-Shuttlecocks as gift items,

Out of all the above, I would say having proper badminton shoes is probably the most important badminton accessory, because these shoes are specially prepared for badminton players, keeping in mind the rapid lateral movements and the jumps that badminton players have to execute. Playing with proper nice-fitting badminton shoes as an accessory, instead of any other common jogging or sports shoes, can largely reduce the risk of injuries to the players.

Buying Badminton bags though not necessary, can be a very convenient accessory as most players like to carry 3 or 4 rackets with them for a match, and these badminton bags are particularly designed keeping the shape of the rackets in mind, so that the rackets as well as some shuttlecocks can be carried safely from one place to another without damage.

Importance of Badminton Accessories

Choosing to buy the right badminton accessories can help badminton players to focus on the critical aspects of their game and on their matches, rather than having to spend time on other trifle matters, and hence this small looking aspect, can be an important part of match preparation.

Badminton Net

A Badminton Net divides the badminton court into 2 equal halves. Opponents playing the badminton game take their places on either side of this badminton net, and the objective is to hit the badminton shuttle over this net to the opponents side of the court in such a way that the opponent cannot return it, and it falls to the ground.

Beyond the badminton net

How high is the Badminton Net?
The Badminton net is supposed to he 5 feet & 1 inch high on the edges (from the ground) & should have 5 feet height in the center of the badminton court. The net is held in place extending it over net posts (net poles) on either side of the court. The chair umpire who is governing the badminton match takes his/her place near one of these net posts.

What are the proper dimensions or size of the badminton net, what should be the width (depth) of the net?
The badminton net dimensions / size should be such that the net should be of 2 feet & 6 inches wide (depth), should stretch across to each side of the badminton court & the top edge should be 5 feet above the ground level at the center of the court.

How are badminton nets made?
Badminton nets are made by using various materials, such as nylon, polyethylene, and vinyl. The materials used to make these nets have changed over time, and will no doubt keep on changing as technological innovations allow for more efficient solutions.

Color of the Net Fibres
The fibres whether natural or artificial that are used for making the net, should be of dark color, to provide for better visibility, and they should be of even thickness, in the range of 15mm to 20mm.

Net tape
The nets are lined with a white tape on the upper side, that has a cord or cable within it, so that the net can be stretched over each of the net posts on either side of the badminton court.

If you are looking to buy a badminton net, it would be wise to consider various aspects such as the durability, and the strength of the net, in comparison with the cost.

The Net Posts / Net Poles
The net posts or net poles as they are called are generally made of good quality steel that make it durable in all kinds of weather, and offer stability to the structure. These posts vary depending on whether the intended use is indoors as in the professional badminton circuits or for external use. The outdoor one should be of the type which can be portable & easily wheeled from here to there, while the indoor net post can be plugged into the wooden floor using proper net post accessories.

Badminton Net Specifications

How tall is the Badminton Net?
Height of the net at the center of the badminton court	5 feet (1.524 metres)
Height of the net at the extreme ends of the court (over the sidelines for doubles)	5 feet 1 inch (1.55 metres)

Badminton Net and Posts - Size/Dimensions/Measurements
Depth of the badminton net		2 feet 6 inches (760 mm in depth)
Length/Width of the badminton net		At least 6.1 metres wide so that it extends over the entire court completely.
Badminton net thickness of mesh/net		15 mm to 20 mm (should be uniform throughout)
Colour of the cords (mesh) of the net		Dark colour
Upper Edge/Lining of the net		75 mm white tape

Badminton Posts (Poles) Height		Should stand at 1.55 metres in vertical length when the net is stretched over the posts (poles)

Badminton shuttlecocks

Badminton shuttlecocks (Shuttles)

Badminton Shuttlecocks (also known as Birdies or Shuttles) are a distinct and unique feature of badminton, that make the game so very different from all the other standard ball games.

Unlike most other games that involve playing with a ball, badminton players have to hit these feathery shuttlecocks across to each other with their rackets, and upon being hit these shuttles tend to fly in the air, due to their aerodynamic shape.

There are commonly 2 types of shuttlecocks used by players. The professional players play with the feathered shuttlecocks, while the casual or recreational players may be seen playing badminton with the synthetic shuttlecocks.

Feathered Shuttlecocks (Feathers):

These badminton birdies are conical in shape and made upto 16 bird feathers which are overlapped and laced together by thin threads. One ends of all these feathers are attached firmly together to a rounded cork located at the base of the shuttlecock, giving the shuttlecock it's beautiful flowery shape, and aerodynamic properties. The cork is covered with a thin leather or synthetic material.

Feathered Shuttlecocks are manufactured from the feathers of only the left wings of geese or ducks. Manufacture of shuttlecocks from the feathers of chinese ducks is quite common.

The distinct aerodynamic properties of shuttlecocks are such that a shuttlecock always retains its stability and always flies in the air or lands on the ground cork-first.

When shuttlecocks fly through the air on being hit, they are affected by breeze to a large extent, and hence playing badminton outdoor in a strong breeze, becomes quite difficult. Due to this reason, professional badminton is always played on indoor badminton courts.

Feather Shuttlecock weight:A feathered shuttlecock is very light in weight and weighs only around 4.75 to 5.50 grams.

Number of feathers in a Shuttlecock:Shuttles have 14-16 feathers with each feather 70mm in length.

Shuttlecock dimensions:
The cork diameter (base diameter) is 25-28mm and the diameter of the circle that the feathers make (the top diameter) is around 54mm.

Synthetic Shuttlecocks (Plastics):

Synthetic nylon shuttlecocks are also manufactured but generally badminton players everywhere like the touch and feel of the feather shuttlecocks rather than the synthetic ones.
The main advantage of the synthetic shuttlecocks is that they last much much longer than their feathery counterparts, and hence are more cost-effective for the players who play for recreational purposes only and cannot afford the price of feather shuttles.

In professional play however, using a feathered shuttlecock of the very best quality is the norm.

Badminton Rackets

Badminton Rackets (also called racquets) are very light in weight compared to the rackets used in other sports such as Tennis or Squash. Most modern badminton rackets, do not weigh more than 100 gms.

Materials used:

Long ago people used to play badminton using well-polished wooden framed badminton rackets that were considerably heavy to swing around. Later on, as technological advancements were achieved, these wooden frames were soon replaced with stronger and lighter materials such as aluminum, steel, ceramic, boron, carbon fiber or a combination of these materials.

The badminton rackets that are used by professional players today, are usually made from Carbon fiber which is light-weight as well as being quite strong.

Standard Specifications for Badminton Rackets for professional levels of play is as below:

Total length of the badminton racket should not exceed 680mm.
Total Width (of the racket head) should not be more than 230 mm.

Things to consider when choosing and buying a badminton racket:

Experienced players say that you need not buy a very costly priced racket if you are just starting out in badminton. As your make progress in your game, and learn more about your own style of play, you can opt for better rackets at that point of time.

Weight of the Racket

Lower priced rackets may be generally a bit heavier than high priced rackets, but for beginners there is no harm in starting with it. Only ensure that the racket weight is within the rules specified i.e. less than 100 gm.The weight of a badminton racket is indicated by manufacturers using notations such as 1U, 2U, 3U, and 4U. The 1U indicates heaviest racket weight and 4U is the lightest. The weight of high quality badminton rackets generally ranges from 83 grams to 100 grams.

Grip Size

Alongwith notations for weight, manufacturers also provide notations for grip sizes of the badminton rackets. These usually range from G2, G3, G4 to G5 where G2 is the biggest size grip and G5 is the smallest size. Some brands simply call the grips as small, medium and big sizes. A smaller grip can aid in making the racket is easier to turn in players hands, which can be useful for players who prefer long rallies, and deceptive play.

Head Cover

A good quality badminton racket will also generally come with a head cover when you buy it. This head cover will help to keep your racket safe when it is not in use.

Stiffness and Flex

There are several other factors such as balance point, stiffness and flex of badminton rackets that make rackets different from each other. For finding a good racket for yourself, the best way to judge is to walk into a sports shop/store and try out the rackets yourself. One size does not fit all. And since all players have different physical attributes, hence one type of racket is not suitable for all players.

Whichever racket you ultimately decide to buy, remember that it is ultimately the players skill which matters most at most levels of play. Even badminton rackets that were tailor made to be used by world champions cannot help you win, if you cannot play well.

Improvement in badminton skills, comes more as a result of the badminton practice drills, physical and mental training, and actual match play, as compared to which badminton rackets are being used. Hence practice is more important. However having a good racket that suits you, is also a definite help.

Mentioned below are some of the popular brands of badminton rackets that players opt for.

1. Yonex

2. Li Ning
3. Carlton
4. Wilson
5. Victor

It is a difficult task to compare and review badminton rackets that are made by so many different brands, and to come to a definitive conclusion that a particular brand of racket is the best. This is because playing styles and playing strength varies from player to player and so do their perceptions of rackets.

In general many players consider buying rackets made by Yonex, not only because Yonex offers a wide variety of good quality badminton rackets that can suit players of different playing styles, but also because it has a very good brand name and market reputation. Furthermore the Yonex badminton rackets are easily available in most countries in all the major cities.

Buying Badminton Rackets online

You can also choose to buy badminton rackets online from websites of sports stores or speciality badminton stores or from shopping sites such as Amazon. If you have physically checked out a racket earlier, either with a fellow player or at some sports store, and have confirmed that it will suit you, then buying that racket online at discounted rates can also save on some cost.

Buying Used Badminton Rackets

If you are a beginner in badminton, and are not yet sure which racket will suit you, then it can be a good decision to buy a decent but cheaper used badminton racket that is for sale if it is in a good condition.

Generally fellow players who are going to buy a new badminton racket may want to sell their old one. This can save you on cost, and help you to decide whether that particular brand of racket suits your playing style. However it will be good to ensure that the used racket is in a good condition.

Later on when you are comfortable with a particular badminton racket brand then you can opt for buying a new one off the shelf.

How to choose a badminton racket

.

How to choose a badminton racket is a question that is most frequently asked by players who have started to play badminton and are keen on improving their game and taking it to the next level.

There are so many types of badminton rackets that you can select from, that are manufactured by top brands that it is quite confusing for most badminton players to make a detailed comparison and choose a badminton racket. The most common solution opted for is to ask senior players about which is the best badminton racket.

However though experienced players can be of help, not all players agree on which is the best badminton racket, mainly because the different badminton players have differing playing styles, and not everyone is of the same playing strength. Hence opinions about which is the best badminton racket differs greatly, amongst players of all levels.

The fact is not all badminton rackets are suited for all types of players. And the only way to really choose the best badminton racket that suits you is to try out different rackets to find the best one for you.

Here are few hints that can help you to select badminton rackets:

#1.
The badminton racket that you choose should be of the standard specifications, so that is is acceptable in official matches and professional play. The standard specifications of a badminton racket are that the total length of the badminton racket should not exceed 680mm and its width (the width of the head) should not exceed 230 mm. Also the weight should not exceed more than 100 gms. Generally branded badminton rackets that are sold by reputable brands meet the standard specifications.

#2.
If you are in the beginner category, then it can be wiser not to buy a very costly racket initially. As your game improves, you will be able to better understand what choice of badminton racket you require based on your style of play. A very basic badminton racket, which is neither too heavy nor too light can be good to start with for a beginner. The weight of the badminton racket is indicated as 1U, 2U, 3U and 4U by most brands. The heaviest is 1U while the lightest is 4U.

#3.
Alongwith the choosing the right racket you should also ensure that you opt for a grip size that makes you feel comfortable while holding the badminton racket in your hands. Many players who have attacking styles and like to smash usually prefer larger grips so that they can grip the racket tighter, whereas many deceptive players who like to rally and play drop shots, like smaller grips so that they can turn the racket easily in their hands.
Also Stiffer badminton rackets give more power, but reduce control. On the other hand rackets having more flexible shafts give better control, but with reduced power.

#4.
Alongwith selecting a badminton racket of your choice, you can also get a head-cover or even a badminton bag for storing your racket safely when it is not being used for playing.

#5.
Last but not the least, your choice of badminton racket should be based on what suits your style of play, rather than what other players use. Because Saina Nehwal plays with the ArcSaber 7, does not necessarily mean that the ArcSaber 7 is the best racket for you. Or because Lin Dan plays with the Li Ning Lin Dan Woods N90 badminton racket does not necessarily mean that its the right choice for you.

This brings to me memories of that scene in the Harry Potter movie, where Harry goes to purchase his first wand at Ollivanders-the wand shop. The store-keeper who is a very experienced wand-maker shows him a few wands, and asks him to try them, before ultimately deciding on the best wand for him. The wand chooses its master, he says.

As with wands, so with badminton rackets. It is better to try out several badminton rackets before making a choice. With time and more experience, you will find those perfect badminton rackets that suit you.

As a parting thought, Buy a badminton racket that suits you, and one which you are comfortable playing with.

You can read more information about Badminton Rackets such as Weight, Grip Sizes, Stiffness and Flex here, alongwith a list of some of the famous badminton racket brands.

.

Badminton Training

'Badminton Training - How To Get Fit To Win' Review

Badminton isn't just a sport that relies on skill,

vision and mental
alertness, it's also a very physical sport and the better you get at it, then the fitter you need to be in order to compete and win against players at the same level as you.

Those at the top of the game are elite athletes with supreme levels of strength, endurance and power.

Unfortunately at the lower or more social end of the spectrum, most players don't give a second thought to their fitness... and this is a big mistake because they could easily take their game up a few levels by becoming fitter and changing their game plan due to their new level of fitness.

It's for this reason that I thought I'd put up a page all about a Badminton fitness training program that's been written for me by a friend of mine called Jago Holmes specifically for Badminton players.

I've known Jago for quite a while now and we've worked on other Badminton projects together in the past.

A few months ago I asked Jago if he'd be interested in writing a fitness training program for readers of my newsletter and visitors to my website. I thought it would be a really good idea because there is nothing like this available anywhere else for us Badminton enthusiasts.

Tennis, Golf, Running, Soccer, they all have dozens of training programs that you can easily get hold of to help improve your fitness and boost to your performance in those particular sports, but not Badminton.

Anyway Jago agreed to write one for me and set about putting a program together. As well as being a certified personal trainer in the UK, Jago is also a keen Badminton player himself, so he seemed like the ideal choice.

To be honest it took him quite a while to write it, but when he sent it to me I understood exactly why it had. Jago has put his heart and soul in to this program, which has been well researched and beautifully presented, using over 160 full colour photographs.

It could really be described as more of an encyclopaedia of Badminton fitness training because it contains such a wide range of specific exercises and training techniques designed to improve every area used in a typical game of Badminton.

It includes exercises for the shoulders, core (stomach and lower back) and forearms to help build power and strength in to shots like the smash or a backhand clear, which are areas most amateur Badminton enthusiasts just don't ever think about. Something which if done regularly can have dramatic effects on your performance.

The manual includes workouts you can do at home, outside, on court or even at your local gym that all help to improve strength, power and endurance in exactly the places where you need it.

There's also a section on flexibility which is a must read, especially when you consider the amount of stretching and bending than goes on in just about every game you play. In fact it's probably fair to say that neglecting this part of your fitness could be one of the biggest reasons why so many players needlessly pick up injuries to their knees, elbows and lower back.

What I really like about the programs is that are they're written in a friendly, easy to use way, so that you can personalise your own workouts and mix and match exercises and techniques to work on your weaker areas, meaning you get much quicker improvements in your game.

Another great point is that Jago also offers a load of free bonuses when you buy the program which makes it really good deal. All of them are relevant to any keen Badminton player.

All in all I think it's an excellent training guide for anyone who loves the sport, but wants to get a quick boost to their game by getting fitter and stronger, not to mention the extra confidence and speed around court you'll get after following Jago's advice.

Here is an unsolicited testimonial from my newsletter subscriber who had bought and used this manual:

"Hi Chau Yap,

I just bought Jago Holmes' new badminton training program that you recommended.

I tried out some of the exercises especially the one for the smash. When I played last night, I wowed my friends and they asked me what secret training have
I done or what food have I been taking. For a 50 year old badminton enthusiast like me, this training program does make a lot of difference to me.

Thanks for the recommendation. It's a real bargain considering the amount I paid for my son's badminton training under a coach at the moment.

Andrew Lee
Perth, Australia "

So I'd wholeheartedly recommend Jago's training manual, because you can apply his techniques to your game straight away, you'll learn so much and because it's an instant download, you'll be able to get started immediately.

Oh and one more thing that I think is very important is honesty. The internet can be a very dishonest and risky place to buy things, but as I've mentioned I've worked with Jago for a while now and I know he's an honest and trustworthy guy. If you have any problems, he'll sort them out for you quickly. Plus he offers a 100% money back guarantee if you aren't totally happy with what you've bought, so you really can't lose.

Yonex

Badminton Star becomes UNICEF Ambassador

Are Yonex Rackets Better?

YONEX badminton rackets are used by most of the professional players. So is it because their rackets are better? Or is it because they have stronger financial power to promote their products?

Well, I think they do produce some really good rackets using their advance technology. Whether you should pay a premium for their rackets depends on your personal preference and needs.

Anyway, Badminton coach Kah Shin is going to share his thoughts on the technologies used in YONEX Rackets. I am going to leave it to him from here...

Hi there, I am Kah Shin and I am going to share with you my thoughts on the different technologies found in YONEX Rackets. YONEX currently have 4 series of badminton rackets: NANOSPEED Series, ARMOTEC Series, MUSCLE POWER Series and CARBONEX Series. In these Series of rackets, some or all of the technologies that I am going to discuss below are applied on it. Let me start off with...

YONEX Nanoscience Technology

I think this technology can help those who are not so good in generating power on their badminton stroke. This is because the racket head is thinner and lighter, therefore it is easier to swing with the hand.

For those who already possess enough power on their badminton stroke, this technology in the racket helps them to deliver the maximum power and speed when they swing. However this will also depends on how you contact the shuttle.

YONEX Elastic Titanium

In my opinion, this technology makes the racket frame stronger but lighter. This titanium racket frame is not as stiff as the racket from other brands. You won't see this technology in other brands, that's why YONEX is the leader in making quality rackets.

But of course the selling price will be at a premium to other brands. Whether or not you should invest heavily on a racket will depend on how advance your skills are. Do remember this though... skills and techniques are still by far the most important thing in playing good badminton.

YONEX Solid Feel Core

When the shuttle contacts the sweet spot of the racket, it will actually spread out huge vibration. The vibration can deflect the stroke if we could not grasp the strength of it properly. Now with this technology it lessens the vibration from the frame therefore minimizes human errors and produces better, more accurate strokes.

YONEX New Grommet System

In my opinion, this grommet system gives the racket a better string tension compared to the ordinary grommet system. This is because the 10 o'clock and 2 o'clock position of the racket are the two essential points holding strings that cross the center of the racket which is the main hitting point or known as the sweet spot. Better string tension produces better shots but the string will easily break if we miss out on hitting the sweet spot.

YONEX Muscle Power

In my opinion, this muscle power technology enables the racket to have more durable tension in comparison to other rackets. With the technology of the new grommet system combining with the muscle power, it actually tightens the string and makes it more compact. Once the string is tighter and compact, it will be more durable and lasting.

The higher string tension will also provide a more joyous and fun experience when you play. Somehow other brands do not have this kind of technology. The string tension loosens up easily and can last for around two weeks only under frequent usage.

YONEX Isometric Technology

In my opinion, this isometric square head shape technology helps improve the contact of the shuttle. This is because with the larger racket head and area, the player can easily hit the shuttle and helps minimize errors on missing strokes.

YONEX Built in T-joint

In my opinion, rackets with built in T-joint are better in offloading power from the racket. The shuttle will have maximum power because this technology will pass through most of the offloading strength.

YONEX Control Support Cap

In my opinion, this technology can really help players in swinging quick because it gives wider and flatter gripping than other racket. This is especially beneficial to doubles players where doubles game are faster and speedier than the singles game, therefore a lot of quick swings are needed. It is easier for our hands to swing with a wider grip compared to a round handle.

YONEX Titanium Mesh

In my opinion, this technology is not suitable for the kids, but is suitable to the advance players. This is because the titanium fibres make the racket 2.3 times heavier than the normal racket weight. Kids usually cannot perform proper stroke and swing if the racket is heavy.

For the adults or the advance players, this racket helps them send out shuttles faster than the normal racket because it have a stable racket face that generates better impact on the shuttle. However, it is not so good for wrist action because it is heavy.

YONEX Armortech - 800

This technology is incorporated in the Armortech-800 rackets. It is designed mainly for doubles play. It has two types, first is the offensive play boxed shaped type. This type has better face stability and it generates better impact on the shuttle therefore it increases the head speed.

Second is the defensive type which has an aerodynamic cross section. It minimizes the air resistance and is good for net play. This is because net plays need not have a fast head speed.

YONEX Power Armor System

In my opinion, this technology creates a better and more powerful racket frame and it packs more speed and power into the racket. The power and the speed of the shuttle will not be distorted as it hits the sweet spot of the racket. This is good for smashing as the racket accelerates and speed up the shuttles steadily. This technology helps players to have a better killing instinct.

Conclusion

And this wraps up my thoughts on YONEX rackets. I am not suggesting you to get up and go buy a YONEX racket. This is not my intention, as other brands produce good rackets as well. As YONEX rackets are generally more expensive than other brands, you have to figure out yourself whether to buy or not.

Always remember that no matter how good a racket is, it will never replace the importance of having good skills and techniques. So the next time when you are losing more than you win, don't go and change your racket. Instead, improve your skills and techniques. Good rackets would only make a difference when you possess good abilities.

Badminton Player's Blog

This page is created for you to share your journey as a badminton player to the World. Doesn't matter if you are a social player, a professional player or somewhere in between, we and all the badminton fans out there would love to hear what you have got to share.

Share your badminton stories, life stories and put up some great pictures for us to view too! If you are interested in having your own Badminton Blog, your own player's diary to write about all this, please contact us and we will create a blog for you and teach you how to use it.

Enjoy the game! Badminton is truly a pleasant gift in life!!

Lukas & Max Badminton Blog

'Lukas Zevl & Maximilian Koreny Badminton Blog

Name: Lukas Zevl

Date of birth: 25.10.1991

Place of birth: Czech Republic

Height: 177cm

Weight: 73kg

Coaches: Peter Koukal ( Czech ), Andrew Chang ( Malaysia )

Actual club: BK 93 Hofovice, Czech Republic

Involvement clubs: SKB Cesky Krumlov (first Czech league 2007-2008), Sokol Doubravka
(second Czech league 2009-2010), Humblebaek (first Danish division 2010-2011)

Equipment sponsor: Yonex

Started playing: When I was 8 years old

Favorite player: Peter Gade

Current ranking: 394 men's single

Goal: participation at the Olympics

Best achievements:

10 times Czech Junior Champion

Second place at Europe Circuit Finals 2010

Swiss and Slovak international champion in mix double 2009

Czech and Slovak international runner-up in men's single 2009

Swiss and Belgium international 3rd place in men's single 2009

Hobbies: bike riding, football, ice-hockey, snowboarding, travelling with badminton

Education: High school of mechanical engineering (graduated 2011)

Favorite Food: Czech food

Drink: water, coke, Czech beer

Movie: Snowboarders

Character: diligence, militancy

Character I don't like: naivety

Name: Maximilian Koreny

Date of birth: 23.09.1991

Place of birth: Canada

Height: 177cm

Weight: 66Kg

Coaches: Andrew Chang (Malaysia), Peter Koukal (Czech),

Actual club: BK 93 Horovice, Czech Republic

Involvement clubs: Sport-etudes Yonex Laval and under Team Quebec in Canada. Then BK 93 Horovice, Czech Republic and league for Sokol Meteor Praha Radotin.

Equipment sponsor: Yonex

Started playing: I started playing at the age of 6

Favorite player: Peter Gade

Current ranking: 566 men's single

Goal: Play in the World Championship, Olympics and be top 10

Best achievements:

Finals at national junior championship

Semi-Final at GPA Prague

Semi-Final at GPA Brno

Semi-Final GPA Tesin

Hobbies: Watching series or movies, going out with some friends

Education: Finish my high school at Dorval Jean XXIII and started Cegep at Cegep Montmorency

Favourite: Food: Italian and Czech food.

Drink: Water, milkshakes and soft drinks

Movie: Snatch

Lukas & Max Badminton Blog

Share your stories here guys...

What Other Visitors Have Said

Click below to see contributions from other visitors to this page...

Life After Vietnam Open Not rated yet
After the tournament in Vietnam, where we spent only one week we returned back to the Malaysian capital Kuala Lumpur, where we continued our preparation.

Badminton Training

Badminton Training with Expert Trainers

There are many sports today that have become internationally known and one of these is Badminton. Badminton is a sport that has captivated millions of people. This sport became one of the favorites of people especially in urbanized centers.

This is mainly due to the relative ease of playing such sport and it can be played in small spaces compared to more rigorous sports. It is one of the most played sport today and it continuing to grow in popularity.

For many, Badminton is a great way of getting in shape and having a good time. Medical experts all agree that physical activity which involves the major muscles has benefits always and many are enrolling inbadminton training sessions worldwide.

Sports such as badminton increases the metabolism of the body, it also lowers bad cholesterol and boosts the immune system. Only 30 minutes of badminton play can extensively reduce the risk of coronary diseases and inhibit the development of hypertension later in life.

Lastly, because exercise makes the body release endorphins, a chemical which gives you that relaxing feeling after a good strenuous exercise, badminton can be a potent stress relieving activity. Anyone that is in a huge stress load, can take up a racket and play it all away.

Badminton is one of the best sports for people that want to exercise and relieve stress, which is one of the main reasons why badminton training is on the rise.

Many are starting to know and play the sport and some are vying to become experts in playing badminton. Many are trying tips and tricks from a myriad of sources claiming to provide the "easy tips" on becoming good in badminton.

But, nobody became good through textbooks only, superstars in sports did not become good just by reading handy manuals, it all comes down to personal commitment in achieving advancement, the effort spent on playing the sport and most important the advice and training from a very good coach, the combination of these three makes a person excel in sports.

We are offering all badminton enthusiasts the chance to excel in the sport, the chance to be with the best, and become the one of the best also. This one of a kind offer is something the badminton enthusiasts will crave for.

This offer will give you the chance to have a one on one training session with the best players in the world of badminton. This will really help anyone gain the techniques needed to become good in the sport and also a way to love the sport more. Expert trainers will assist you in yourbadminton training, and help you in your quest to become good badminton players.

It is well known to the badminton community that the best players of this sport mainly come from Malaysia. So through this offer, we are giving you the chance to fly off to Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia and have the chance to train with the best players in the world of badminton.

Andrew Chang a well renowned badminton expert alongside many professional coaches will team up to help you excel in badminton. They will give you expert advice on how to play the game, techniques, strategies, badminton training secrets and many more. Personal advice coming from them is priceless, their experiences will help you grow and improve your badminton playing skills.

Our once in a lifetime offer includes the following, a week of badminton training with the best coaches in badminton in Kuala Lumpur. Training involves one-on-one sessions with the best of the best in badminton, among them is Andrew Chang.

They will offer their advice, techniques and strategies that made them successful in badminton. These experts will also show you their "secrets" on how they became good in badminton; this priceless opportunity is one of the kinds and is a must for any badminton enthusiast.

Accommodations for the whole badminton training week will be provided for all who will avail this amazing package. Also as a bonus of this offer, you get the chance to visit the best places in Kuala Lumpur, especially a tour to the world famous Petronas twin towers, or in any other locations you want to see.

This will surely be one of the most memorable events that will happen in your whole life. This priceless offer, we are offering to you so that you can enjoy the experience any badminton lover dreams of.

Testimonials of the effectiveness of this package come not only from ordinary people but also professional badminton players coming from different countries.

"I think Andrew is very good coach and I'm very happy when I can train with him. I like his coaching because he knows how to prepare good program and what player needs to improve. I feel I have improved after train with Andrew and I think I could be much better if i could train with him for a long time. I would like to continue in teamwork with Andrew."

Zuzana Pavelkova (Czech Republic National Player)"

So don't allow this opportunity to pass by, grab it and enjoy the experience the joy of badminton and the benefits it gives to anyone. Hurry now and become one of the many people who have experienced this wonderful opportunity of having the best badminton training ever.

Contact Us
Please note that all fields followed by an asterisk must be filled in.
First Name*
E-mail Address*
Country*
Message*