Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are “singles” (with one player per side) and “doubles” (with two players per side).

The aim in this racket sport is to score points by hitting a shuttlecock over a raised net and onto the floor of the opponent’s court. Badminton events include singles and doubles. All feature two stages of competition: Group Play and Knock-Out.

Required Equipment

There are certain items that you must have if you want to play badminton. It is by no means one of the most expensive sports to practice, but it is neither running or basketball, where the equipment needed is minimal.

• Racket

A racket is one of the few mandatory items in order to play badminton. A racket must follow very strict guidelines to be considered a badminton racket in a professional setting. That doesn’t mean you need to spend a lot. 

• Shuttle (or birdie)

The second mandatory item is the shuttle. This is what distinguishes badminton from all the other racket sports and what makes it so unique. The shuttles used in competitions are called feathered shuttles and they are not cheap to buy, especially because they do not last that long. We do not recommend using this type of shuttle if you are just starting.

There is a different kind of shuttle, called a non-feathered shuttle, which is cheaper and much more durable. This one doesn’t have feathers but has a plastic body that resembles fairly well the flight of the feathered shuttles. 

• Indoor Court Shoes

Indoor court shoes with a non-marking sole are mandatory for use of gym facilities. This is both to protect the floor and for your safety. Shore worn outdoors can pick up material that may cause you to slip and injure yourself, or others. If you have worn your court shoe outside, you should clean the soles before using them. Only clean non-marking gymnasium footwear to be worn; Hiking-style footwear is not permitted.

Shoes are, in our opinion, the third most important equipment to buy after rackets and shuttles. This is because badminton can be a very demanding sport for your feet and having proper shoes will save you from a lot of discomforts and injuries. 

As it is the case with all the other items, there are shoes that are designed for beginners so you do not need to spend a ton of money on them. Our recommendation is, if you can, to make sure they are shoes designed for badminton, as the movements are very specific and shoes designed for indoor courts, in general, will not work as well. These will be slightly more expensive but they are, in our opinion, worth the investment.