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What is a shuttlecock?

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What is a shuttlecock?

The shuttlecock is the most iconic part of badminton and is globally recognised as the symbol of our sport. Even so, many people do not know how awesome shuttlecocks are! So we have created this shuttlecock series to take everyone from shuttlecock novice to shuttlecock master…

So let’s start with the shuttlecock fundamentals!

🧠 Do you know that not all shuttlecocks are the same? There are shuttlecocks for high and low altitudes, shuttlecocks for hot and cold climates, even shuttlecocks for dry and humid conditions. Not to mention the newest change to the shuttlecock, special outdoor shuttlecocks!

Two shuttlecocks side by side. See the flared feather skirt and narrow cork base.

After reading this article series you will have all the information to be the know-it-all at your club! Be sure to subscribe to the Badmintonspeak Newsletter for more badminton stories.

Shuttlecock Fundamentals

The badminton shuttlecock, also known as a Shuttle, Birdie, Volant, or Ball, is the object hit between two people playing badminton. The Shuttle is characterised by two parts, the base (or head), and the skirt.

The shuttle is the only sports object designed to slow down once hit instead of speed up. This is done via the skirt of the shuttlecock flaring wider than the base (the part players hit). This increases drag from wind resistance. The cone shape is designed to hold in the air longer and slow down quickly.

The cone shape makes the shuttle fly in a very stable and predictable way making it easier to judge the flight of the shuttle. The unique shape enables the shuttle to fly base first making it much easier to hit. This is important for playing consistent and repeatable shots. The shape also slows the shuttle down giving players more time to react and ensuring the shuttle drops steeply when reaching the rear of the court.

Do you have any more questions about the design of the shuttlecock? Leave us a comment!

The name explained

How the name for the badminton ball came about is anyone’s guess. But one does wonder why one sports object has so many names.

You hardly hear any badminton player referring to the full name on the court – instead, most players refer to the “feather-balls” as shuttles or birdies. It seems that only novices refer to it as “the ball”. And thank God for that. Because the unique volant deserves a unique name. We might be convinced that “the shuttle” should be the common way by which we refer to shuttlecocks – not ball, birdie, or volant.

What’s your opinion? What do you call your badminton ball? ,-)

Which shuttlecock should I use?

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How to choose a shuttlecock for badminton?

There are many different types of shuttlecocks ranging from different materials, and different grades even for different conditions. The many options can make it very confusing to know which shuttles to choose. So this is our full breakdown of the different types of shuttles and how you can choose the right shuttlecock for you!

First up: Shuttlecock Material

The first big difference in shuttlecocks is the material used. This is generally split into 3 categories: Feather, Hybrid, and Synthetics.

Synthetic Shuttlecocks

Synthetic Shuttlecocks are the most popular type of shuttle for beginners and recreational players. They are characterised by a synthetic material, normally nylon, to create the skirt of the shuttlecock. This is molded into a netting or webbed shape. These shuttles are durable and last for multiple games without any damage which is especially useful for players learning the sport.

🧠 Did you know? Synthetic shuttlecocks need to use a netting style with holes as Nylon is a heavy material. If the skirt was solid with no holes it would be too heavy and drop too quickly. So tiny holes are added to the skirt to allow air to pass through making the trajectory more similar to a traditional feather shuttle.

What are the pros and cons of the Synthetic shuttles?

Pros

  • Synthetic shuttles are generally much cheaper.
  • They are more durable and difficult to break. You can play multiple matches with the same shuttlecock.

Cons

  • Synthetic shuttles are slower and require more effort to hit with power.
  • It is much harder to play more technical shots like slices.
  • They are less stable and predictable making it harder to play precise shots.

Who should use synthetic shuttles? This type of shuttle is very effective for players who are learning. Players that use fundamental badminton shots, clears, smashes, drop shots, net shots, drives, and block defense. It’s also a great option for players who play recreationally with friends and don’t want to spend too much money.

Feather Shuttlecocks

Feather Shuttlecocks are the traditional shuttles used since the very start of the sport (Check out our article on the history of the shuttlecock). They are characterised by 16 feathers from a goose or duck.

Feather shuttlecocks use processed feathers from birds to create the skirt of the shuttle. The ‘quill’ of the feather is inserted and glued to the base of the shuttle. These types of shuttlecocks are used at the competitive and professional levels of badminton in every country.

🧠 Did you know!? (Is it true?) Feather shuttlecocks only use feathers from the left wing of the bird… why? Aerodynamics! The feathers from the left wing of the bird are said to fly more consistently and spin in the same way due to the contours and curvature of the feathers. According to Satoshi Yuza, a Yonex promotion manager.

You can see how a feather shuttlecock is made in our article ‘how shuttlecocks are made’.

It is generally understood that the goose feathers are the premium version of the feather shuttle with duck and chicken feathers being less durable and generally lower quality. Some lower quality or grade shuttles use feathers from all over the bird and then form them into the shape of a left-wing feather. These feather shuttles do not fly as well and are generally less durable.

What are the pros and cons of the feather shuttles?

Pros

  • These shuttles are more sensitive to the player’s shots making them more precise.
  • It is easier to play more technical shots with them.
  • They sound much nicer to hit and easier to tell good vs bad hits.

Cons

  • Feather shuttles are sensitive to how they are hit. They are harder to play with if you don’t have a good technique which also breaks the shuttle faster.
  • Feather shuttles are very fragile and can break after 2-3 points.
  • Feather shuttles can be deformed more easily if stored incorrectly.

Who should use feather shuttles? Technical ability is the biggest factor when deciding to use feather shuttles. Technically good players, capable of playing all types of shots, need ‘feel’ or accurate shuttle flight to play advanced skills such as slices, tumbles or backhand clears. They are for players who are playing competitively and need reliable flight for their shots.

Hybrid Shuttlecocks

Hybrid shuttlecocks are a mix of both synthetic material and natural materials. Different brands create hybrid shuttles in slightly different ways with different formulas. For example, Babolat hybrid shuttles have a traditional cork ‘head’, a synthetic Nylon base, and a feather skirt. Victor hybrid shuttles, on the other hand, are made with carbon fiber, this shuttle has a foam-like synthetic feather skirt with a carbon fiber frame and cork composite base. You need to check each hybrid shuttle to see how it has been created.

🧠 Hybrid shuttles only recently started to be developed and available in badminton. The aim is to make a synthetic shuttle that mimics exactly how a feather shuttle performs. Why? To make a cheaper and higher performing shuttlecock.

The badminton community has been split on their view of hybrid shuttles. The purists of badminton want to keep feather shuttles, the original shuttle, and the highest quality of the shuttles to keep the game high quality.

Many club-level players are eager to find a hybrid shuttle that performs more like a feather but at a cheaper price. Both of these groups currently reject hybrid shuttles and haven’t adopted them into the game on a large scale, however, innovation is continuing with better quality hybrid shuttles coming to market.

What are the pros and cons of hybrid shuttles?

There is not a straight answer to this as every hybrid shuttlecock is very different. If you are looking for the play style of a feather shuttle for the cost of a synthetic then you should try some of the newest hybrid shuttles. If you want to be ahead of the curve you should keep an eye out and try new hybrid shuttles that come out.

We will have a review of some hybrid shuttles coming soon. You should join our mailing list so you are notified when it happens!

Second: The Base

It’s not only the skirt that can be a different material. The base or ‘head’ of the shuttlecock that is hit can also be different materials.

Most bases are made from cork material, however, this is not the full story as you can have composite cork or natural cork. Natural cork is one piece of cork cut to the right size, shape, and weight for each shuttle. This makes the weight consistent and the cork more durable as it is one piece.

Composite cork is a mixture of natural cork and synthetic cork which deteriorates quicker than natural cork as it’s not one piece. The composite is a cheaper option which is used in the budget option shuttles.

The Base cover

You might also see the white covering on shuttles. It’s the same for every type of shuttle, right? No! Again you have options. This is important as it is the only part of the shuttle that contacts the strings of a racket. Traditionally shuttles were covered in different types of leather which combine with the cork and propel the shuttle over the net. We do still see this used today with sheep membrane/skin used for some shuttles. However most shuttle types use a rubber covering for the head of the shuttle, this is a good option as it adds more propulsion to the shuttle as rubber is generally more elastic.

Third: Shuttle grades

Feather shuttles have an added complexity as, unlike hybrid or synthetic shuttles, there are different grades of shuttles. The grade of the shuttle is a way of categorising the quality of shuttles which is why only feather shuttles have this. Feather shuttles can vary massively in their quality due to the feathers and manufacturing whereas hybrids and synthetics can be standardised much more easily.

So what determines shuttle grade?

The main factors that affect shuttle grading are durability, consistency, and flight trajectory.

As you can see in our ‘How shuttlecocks are made article, the feathers used for shuttlecocks are graded and categorised before they are made into shuttles. In this way, the best feathers are made into the best shuttles by combining them with the best bases, with the lower grades of feathers having lower grades of base.

The shuttles are tested again after manufacturing for flight speed and quality. The best quality shuttles should fly very consistently with a near-perfect flight trajectory and arc numerous times. The shuttles will also be more resistant to damage.

So now we know what grades are, it’s simple, right? You would think so but not really. Every brand of shuttle manufacturer has its grading system and categories. So you need to check each badminton brand for their grading system. A good general rule is the most expensive shuttles are the best quality.

RankYonexVictorLi-NingRSLBabolat
TopAerosensa 50Master AceG900UltimateBabolat 1
Aerosensa 40Gold ChampionG800SupremeBabolat 2
Aerosensa 30ServiceG700Classic TourneyBabolat 3
Aerosensa 20Champion No.1G600NO.1 TourneyBabolat 4
Aerosensa 10Gold MaximaG500NO.2 TourneyChallenge
BottomAuroclub TourQueenG60NO.3 Tourney
List of some of the shuttlecock brands and how they categorize the quality of the different shuttlecocks on offer

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Which shuttlecock speed should you choose and what’s the difference?

Did you know that the speed of a shuttlecock differs depending on the type or brand of shuttles you are using?

Are you getting frustrated when your perfect drop shots, go into the net every time you change venue? Or maybe your power smash beats everyone on Tuesday but can’t beat anyone on Thursday? Well, there is a simple answer to this!

The answer is: that the conditions (or the shuttles) have changed!

Shuttlecocks are (very) sensitive and can be hugely affected by the air and conditions you play in. On the other hand, if you change the shuttles, they might be at a different speed with a different trajectory!

How the conditions affect shuttlecock speed

As shuttlecocks are designed to be affected by air resistance any change to the air it travels through will affect the shuttle flight. This all comes down to air density which is affected by air pressure, humidity, and temperature. In low air density conditions, the shuttle will speed up as the air is thinner for the shuttle to fly through, high air density will make the shuttle fly slower.

  • Low air density conditions: Hot air temperature, High humidity, and low air pressure (high altitudes).
  • High air density conditions: Cold air temperature, low humidity, and high air pressure (low altitudes).

This is why there are different shuttle speeds so they counteract the air conditions so no matter where you play you get the same experience.

What does this mean for us, the players? It means that depending on your playing conditions the shuttle will fly differently and affect your shots. The solution? Choose the right speed of shuttle for the conditions or tip the shuttles… So you aren’t good one day and bad the next (most of the time) you just need to test your shuttles!

🧠 Did you know? at the start of every tournament, the referee will do shuttle testing on the courts to choose the right shuttle for the matches that day. This can change day to day depending on conditions. When the air is dense, the shuttles fly slower. In those cases, tournament officials choose a faster, or heavier, shuttle to compensate. By contrast, when the air is less dense, competition officials pick a slower, lighter shuttle.

What is your slang for shuttlecock? Is it badminton birdie, ball, featherball, shuttle, or something entirely different? 
Let us know in the comments

How to test a shuttlecock before practice, a match, or a tournament

The BWF has official guidelines on how to test shuttles. The video below has all the details the BWF uses to test shuttles at the events they hold globally. This is our quick breakdown:

  • On most badminton courts there are two notches painted at the rear of one side of the court, one on either side of the rear service line. These are the testing markers.
  • Stand at the back of the court and hit towards the end with the notches.
  • When standing behind the court hit the shuttle underarm to the end with the notches.
  • The shuttle should land between the two notches to be the right speed (Do this with 3-4 shuttles).
  • If the shuttles are short of the notches you need to get faster shuttles or tip the shuttles to be faster.
  • If the shuttles go too far you need slower shuttles or tip them to be slower.

This video shows how to test a shuttlecock correctly

This table shows the different speeds and a good general rule of when to use them. Synthetic and Hybrid shuttles are different only having a slow, middle, or fast shuttle shown by the colour ring on the shuttle (Red = Fast, Blue = Average, Green = Slow).

Shuttle SpeedAltitudeTemperature
75 – Very slowAbove sea levelVery Hot (30+ Degress)
76 – SlowAt Sea levelHot (25 – 30C Degrees)
77 – AverageAt Sea LevelAverage (15 – 25 Degrees)
78 – FastBelow Sea levelCold (0 – 15 Degrees)
79 – Very fastBelow Sea levelVery Cold (Below Zero Degrees)

The secret tipping technique can help fix a wrong shuttle speed

This is a super secret old-school technique used by badminton players to change shuttle speed (and sometimes cheat). If you are at a match and the shuttles are not at the correct speed. What do you do then? You tip the shuttle to make it faster or slower.

How? You need to do this carefully! Take your feather shuttles and bend the tip of the feathers either inside to make it faster or outwards to make it slower. This will increase or decrease the air resistance of the shuttle. You only need a slight change for a big difference. You should only do it with every feather, every 2 feathers, or every 4 feathers to keep the shuttle balanced.

🧠 Players sometimes damage or tip feathers to change the shuttle flight to their advantage either before or during a match. They might also do this to get the shuttle changed when an opponent or umpire doesn’t want to change the shuttle. Watch out!

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Annie Xu and her identical twin sister’s unique Olympic qualification journey

Annie Xu and her twin sister Kerry Xu represent Team USA Badminton. They both ditched badminton in favor of college and jobs. But then something happened… Watch the video to get the complete story

Annie Xu and Kerry Xu talk about their badminton journey

Annie Xu and Kerry Xu decided to follow the dream

The Xu sisters were born in San Jose, California in October 1999. They started playing badminton at the age of 8 and by the age of 12, they were winning USA National titles in badminton.

Talented and hard-working, they were selected for the USA Junior Badminton Team.

While still competing in singles, the Xu’s were paired in doubles. At the Pan Am Junior Championships in 2014 and again in 2015, the twins secured the gold medal.

As seniors, Annie Xu and Kerry Xu competed internationally. They were part of the USA Uber Cup team in 2016 when they were only around 17 years old.

They did reasonably well in that period winning medals in International Series Level tournaments in 2017 and 2018. In 2019 they only played the Silicon Valley International Series, which they won.

Following that they decided to focus on their education and retire from international badminton. After graduation from UC Berkeley (in California), they both got jobs.

But then, in 2022, they started entertaining the idea of getting back into badminton to qualify for the Paris 2024 Olympics.

The Road to the Paris Olympics is long and costly – here’s how you can help Annie and Kerry Xu

It might come as a shock to you 🙂 But most badminton players struggle to make ends meet. This is especially true for up-and-coming players such as the Xu sisters.

Kerry Xu has set up a GoFundMe page. The girls are trying to raise USD 20.000. If you can spare a few dollars, please go and show your support

If you care about the future of badminton, you will understand that we cannot allow financial shortcomings to stand in the way of player development.

What’s more, badminton in the USA truly represents amazing potential for our beloved sport. Making badminton great again in the USA – will help badminton as a whole.

Get more badminton stories you didn’t know you needed

Make sure to subscribe to the Badmintonspeak Newsletter – we do our best to keep you informed and provide information you didn’t even know you needed.

Sponsor appreciation: these organizations made the KFF Singapore Badminton Open possible

Let’s be honest. In badminton, it is rare to experience sponsor appreciation. Perhaps because we, the fans and followers of badminton, tend to take sponsors for granted. We shouldn’t. Because it is in everyone’s interest to help sponsors benefit from their involvement in badminton.

At Badmintonspeak we believe that it is our collective responsibility to support the organizations who support the sport of badminton. So let’s start doing that.

Badmintonspeak launch

Do this to show your appreciation for badminton sponsors

Here’s what you can do

  • Learn about the sponsors mentioned below
  • Use the links to learn about the business of the sponsor
  • Recommend one or more of the sponsors via your social media

This sponsor appreciation article relates to the recent KFF Singapore Badminton Open.

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Huge shout-out and thanks to the sponsors of the KFF Singapore Badminton Open

The Super 750 tournament was brilliantly organized by the Singapore Badminton Association. The following organizations were the main sponsors for the KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2024 in Singapore.

Karim Family Foundation – smart philanthropy supporting the Singapore Badminton Open for the second year in a row

The Karim Family Foundation (KFF) is the philanthropic arm of the Karim/Sukwanto family. The foundation is focused on 4 pillars – namely; sports development, arts & culture, mental health, and education.

KFF was the title sponsor of the Singapore Badminton Open in 2023 and 2024.

-> Check out the website of KFF here
-> Why does KFF support sport with philanthropy?
-> Listen to Cindy Karim talk about badminton and philanthropy in this podcast

JK Technology presenting sponsor in Singapore

A long-time supporter of badminton in Singapore, JK Tech is a one-stop IT solution service center in Singapore. Mr. Eugene Ang is the managing director of JK Technology. Listen to his words of encouragement in this video:

JK Technology was one of the main supporters of the Singapore Badminton Open in 2024. The firm has been supporting quite a few badminton-related activities throughout the years.

Whenever an organization shows such great support for the sport of badminton, our badminton community really must reciprocate. That’s part of sponsor appreciation.

Follow JK Tech Singapore on Facebook here

Let’s also appreciate these key badminton sponsors

100 Plus

100 Plus is the category pioneer in isotonic drinks. They are part of the Fraser & Neave group of businesses.

Follow on Instagram
See 100 Plus on Facebook


BWL – Best World Lifestyle

Since 1990, BWL has been developing premium quality products for beauty, health, and wellness.

Follow BWL on Facebook or check out their products on the website.


Badminton sponsor Corum watches

Corum premium watches

Corum has been rafting avant-garde luxury timepieces that represent creative and daring watchmaking since 1955

See more on Instagram
See premium timepieces on the website


A.M. aesthetics Singapore

Medical aesthetic services for Asian skin conditions, A.M Aesthetic provides an authentic and comfortable experience for you.

-> See clinics and treatments on the website
-> Follow on Facebook


Bauerfeind – orthopedic solutions for badminton

Bauerfeind manufactures orthopedic products and is a premium Brand in Orthoses, Compression Socks, Insoles, Footwear, and Measurement Technologies.

-> See orthopedic solutions for badminton players


Eagle Brand – Medicated oils

Best known for its Green Oil, Eagle Brand also offers medicated oils for badminton players.

-> See what’s new on their Facebook page

Badminton muscle rub from Eagle Brand - sponsorship appreciation

Starry Homestead logo badminton appreciation

Starry Homestead – an interior design firm

A leading interior design firm in Singapore, Starry Homestead excels in transforming environments into bespoke sanctuaries of aesthetic elegance and functional finesse.

-> Get inspiration on Instagram


Sponsorship appreciation for these contributing sponsors

In addition to the main sponsors listed above, we would also like to acknowledge the following contributors to the KFF Singapore Badminton Open 2024 tournament:

  • Winbox – sports betting and online gaming in Singapore, Thailand, and Malaysia
  • Foundit – jobs portal (formerly Monster)
  • GAIA Group – Indonesian gourmet and lifestyle group
  • Tote Board Singapore – As a broad-based grantmaking organization, Tote Board contributes towards building an inclusive, resilient, and vibrant community through our grants. Tote Board supports worthy causes in the community.

Badminton in Austria is on trend and growing

Badminton in Austria is trendy and growing at a healthy rate. While still a comparatively small sport, badminton seems well organized in Austria. The progress of badminton in Austria is driven by a group of highly motivated volunteers and club people.

Growth in membership and badminton clubs

The official report from the Austria Badminton Association indicates a growth of 3,2% in membership in the last year. This brings the total membership to 4.551. Two new clubs were added in 2023 and the number of female participation has been increasing – the current percentage of female badminton players in Austria now stands at 35%.

WAT Simmering is currently the largest Austrian Badminton Club. It is located in Vienna and has been enjoying a surge in membership in recent years. The video below shows excerpts from a 2. Bundesliga match against WBH Wien.

Well-produced summary from a team event match in Austria

How is badminton organized in Austria?

The Austrian Badminton Association, or ÖBV for short, consists of 9 regional associations with a total of app. 121 clubs and 4,551 registered members, of which around 3,000 have a playing license.

In addition to local and regional club sports, members receive targeted performance-oriented training in 3 federal youth performance centers (BNLZ) in the West (Dornbirn), South (Graz), and North (Linz) of Austria and ultimately for the national squad in the federal performance center (BLZ) in Vienna.

There are several levels of competition for club teams. The highest level of team competition happens in the 1. Bundesliga and 2. Bundesliga.

At the individual level, the Austrian Badminton Association facilitates local, regional, and national badminton tournaments in Austria. Player progress is managed through a National Ranking system, which you can explore here.

Badminton in Austria seems perfectly positioned to improve and grow badminton over the coming years.

Austrian badminton players competing internationally

At the moment, most people cannot name one Austrian badminton player. But that may change over the coming years. The ÖBV is dedicated to improving the competitive level of Austrian badminton.

As of June 2024, the highest-ranked Austrian men’s singles players on the BWF World Ranking are

World RankPlayer POINTSCOUNTRY
97AUTCollins Valentine FILIMON8688719000Austria
137AUTLuka WRABER5627413523Austria
182AUTWolfgang GNEDT6191610033Austria
543AUTKai NIEDERHUBER660031791Austria
673AUTMichael TOMIC880751140Austria
Top Austrian men’s singles players

At the moment Austria is not ranked in the top 100 in either ladies’ singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles, or mixed doubles. So there is something to work on for the Austrian National Team and all the local coaches involved at the club level.

Badminton in Austria – historical facts

Organized badminton came to Austria rather late. The national association was founded in 1957. That’s around 60 years after Badminton England was founded.

Austria made their first international team appearance when the mixed team competed at the 1962 Helvetia Cup. The team did well to achieve third place in their first time competing internationally

Unfortunately, Austria has never qualified for either the Uber Cup or Thomas Cup, but they have participated in the Sudirman Cup a total of 10 times as of 2024 with 18th place in 1995 being their best result.

Jürgen Koch (born 1973) is probably the highest-ranked Austrian badminton player in men’s singles. His highest world ranking was at number 29 in 2010.

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Faster footwork speed: How to increase your speed on the badminton court

Improving the footwork speed in badminton is essential for enhancing overall performance, as it enables players to reach the shuttlecock faster, react quickly to the opponent’s shots, and maintain an edge during badminton rallies.

In this researched article you will find several helpful badminton tip videos and some further tips and suggestions that will help you get faster footwork and movements on the badminton court. (for more tips, get the Badminton Newsletter)

3 ways to increase your speed in badminton – tips you can use

Tobias Wadenka from Germany is a respected badminton expert. At Badmintonspeak.com we appreciate the many tips he shares on his YouTube channel. Here are some great footwork tips on how to improve your speed on the badminton court:

More tips on how to improve your on-court speed in badminton

The 8 tips below are purely based on internet research. Each tip provides a method that will help badminton players improve their on-court speed. (for more tips, get the awesome Badminton Newsletter

1. Enhance Footwork

Good footwork is critical for speed and agility in badminton. Practice the following drills to improve your footwork:

  • Shadow Footwork: Mimic badminton movements without a shuttlecock, focusing on quick and precise steps. If you haven’t been taught how to do shadow footwork exercises, find a coach who can teach you how.
  • Ladder Drills: Use an agility ladder to perform various step patterns, such as side steps, in-and-out steps, and crossover steps.
  • Cone Drills: Set up cones and practice moving quickly between them using badminton-specific movements like lunges and side shuffles. Again if you don’t know how this is done, make sure you get a certified badminton coach to show you.
You might find this video from Tobias Wadenka helpful.

2. Strengthen Leg Muscles through targeted exercises

Strong legs contribute to explosive speed and quick changes in direction. What’s great about this tip is that just about everybody can build stronger leg muscles. Try incorporating the following exercises into your training routine:

Great tips for strengthening your legs – from the lovely folks at Badminton Insight

3. Improve Reaction Time on the badminton court

Badminton is the fastest racquet sport in the world! Quick reaction times are crucial for responding to your opponent’s shots. Especially in defensive positions.

Practice these drills to sharpen your badminton reflexes:

  • Reaction Ball Drills: Use a reaction ball (a small, bouncy ball with an irregular shape) to practice catching or hitting it as it bounces unpredictably.
  • Partner Drills: Have a partner randomly hit shuttlecocks to different areas of the court, and focus on reacting quickly to each shot.
Great badminton tip video on improving badminton reactions – from Gregory and Jenny at Badminton Insight.

4. Plyometric Training

Plyometric exercises improve explosive power, which is essential for quick movements and jumps. Okay, not everyone understands the meaning of plyometric. The Merriam-Webster Dictionary defines it as “exercise involving repeated rapid stretching and contracting of muscles (as by jumping and rebounding) to increase muscle power”.

Include the following in your workouts:

  • Box Jumps: Jump onto and off a sturdy box or platform to develop explosive leg power.
  • Burpees: Combine a squat, jump, and push-up to work multiple muscle groups and improve overall agility.
  • Jumping Lunges: Perform lunges with a jump, switching legs in mid-air to build explosive strength.

Read this scientific paper on the efficiency of plyometric training as it relates to badminton

5. Speed and Agility Drills for improving speed on the badminton courts

Incorporate drills specifically designed to enhance speed and agility:

  • Sprints: Perform short sprints (10-20 meters) to improve overall speed and acceleration.
  • Shuttle Runs: Set up markers and practice running quickly between them, mimicking the stop-and-go movements of a badminton match.
  • T-Drills: Set up cones in a T shape and practice moving forward, backward, and side-to-side quickly.
Here are some good agility training tips from Justin Ma’s YouTube channel.

6. Improve Stamina and Endurance

Good endurance allows you to maintain speed throughout the match. Focus on cardiovascular exercises like:

  • Interval Training: Alternate between high-intensity bursts (e.g., sprinting) and low-intensity recovery periods (e.g., jogging).
  • Cycling and Swimming: Low-impact cardiovascular exercises that build stamina without putting excessive strain on the joints.
Check out these badminton interval training exercises. Do these on a regular basis and you are highly likely to improve your speed on the badminton court

7. Optimize Techniques and Tactics including anticipation skills

Speed is not just about physical ability but also about efficient technique and smart tactics:

  • Efficient Movement: Work with a coach to refine your footwork and ensure you are moving efficiently on the court.
  • Anticipation Skills: Study your opponents and learn to anticipate their shots, reducing the need for extreme speed by positioning yourself correctly.
Watch these anticipation exercises from BasicFeather – the badminton racquet company co-owned by badminton legend Morten Frost

8. Proper Nutrition and Hydration

Fueling your body with the right nutrients and staying hydrated can significantly impact your performance and recovery.

  • Balanced Diet: Eat a diet rich in lean proteins, complex carbohydrates, healthy fats, and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
  • Hydration: Drink plenty of water before, during, and after training sessions and matches to maintain peak performance.

Viktor Axelsen is known to optimize all aspects of his badminton training. So it is no surprise that the badminton superstar from Denmark also cares a whole lot about his diet. Listen to what he said about that in 2021:

Viktor Axelsen discussing his food and diet plan.
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