Badminton gear talk

rustyfalcon24 said:how hard is it to catch a hand if you're a total amateur? if me and a friend show up to the Fairgrounds for our first time ever to play Badminton, are we gonna look like complete idiots?

I've been playing table tennis for years. It's such a technical sport that you won't even grasp what's actually happening without putting in massive effort and time. Real beauty and fun only kick in after a long journey. How does Badminton stack up in that regard?

where can I pick up decent gear for a total beginner without spending a fortune on pro stuff?

what kind of surface is used? how different is playing at the Fairgrounds compared to, say, setting up a net in a field or a park and marking out the lines in the right spots?

Decent gear—rackets, I mean—is available at the Fairgrounds, Pavilion 20. They carry Wilson, which is the best value for money in my book, especially for recreational players.
Otherwise, you can find rackets anywhere. When I started, I grabbed a Carlton from Getro, some aluminum one for about $10, and it was totally fine.
The guys carrying Victor's rackets over on New Road also have specific Badminton shoes and other gear.

Gary Lee4 said:Hey everyone!

Looking for a partner for Badminton.
I'm pretty much free every Monday, Tuesday, and Friday starting at 4:00 PM.

We can work something out for other days or times if needed.

I usually play over at the Fairgrounds...

I'm definitely not a pro, but I wouldn't call myself a total amateur either...

If you're interested, please reach out to me,

best regards,

Ys3

So, did you ever find a partner?

Honestly, if you ask me, that’s easily one of the absolute worst sports out there

I’ve been playing with a Yonex B500—which is basically an aluminum and steel hybrid—but I’m finding it just a little bit too heavy for my liking, so I think I might transition over to a graphite model soon, perhaps something from Wilson or Yonex, or maybe even Victor. I actually picked up the game just last year and I am absolutely loving it; when I first started out, I could barely even hit the shuttlecock, but now everything seems to be clicking perfectly 🙂. I usually get some play in at the local Fairgrounds or even down at the Concord center—though they have fewer courts, I personally find them much better than the Fairgrounds, plus they aren't quite as pricey. Oh, and I was also hoping to track down a good book regarding physical conditioning or specific warm-up routines for Badminton. I’ve spent some time browsing around online, but I haven't really found anything quite right yet, so I guess I was wondering if anyone might have a recommendation?

crimsonpilot89 said:The gear is decent enough. If you're looking for rackets, you can pick them up at the Fairgrounds, specifically Pavillion 20; they carry Wilson, which I find offers the best value for money, especially if you're just playing recreationally.
As for general availability, you can find rackets pretty much anywhere. When I was first starting out, I picked up a Carlton model from Getro—just some aluminum one for about fifteen bucks—and it actually held up quite well.
The folks over at the shop carrying Victor's rackets on New Road also stock specific Badminton shoes and other essentials.

What kind of prices are we talking about for rackets at the Fairgrounds?

Alex Ramos9 said:How much are the rackets going for at the Fairgrounds?

I know about Turbo Grinder—they carry Forzin rackets. You can get the entry-level models for around $6—really solid options for casual players if you want to spend closer to $20!$100And hey—there’s even a pro-level racket listed above! $233Well—it really just depends on what you're looking to find out! 😉

ESPN 2 is showing the finals from the European Team Championships in Poland today!

The women's final between Russia and Denmark runs from 12:00 to 2:30 PM—then catch the men's final between Poland and Denmark from 4:30 to 6:30 PM. Definitely try to tune in for the men's match—it’s going to be an absolute blast in the arena since the home team is playing!👍

Hey everyone!!!
Quick question for the group... where can I actually get a racket restrung? Does anyone know who handles this and where they're located?

I’m pretty sure there’s a shop over in Concord that actually has a service center built right into the store itself

Most clubs offer stringing services now.

Hey everyone, I’m offloading some rackets for Badminton... price is $23... hit me up if you're interested... hanging out over by Pavilions 18 and 20 at the Fairgrounds

ivan.lugano@gmail.com

I’m looking to pick up a new racket for some recreational Badminton, so if anyone has any recommendations...

I’ve been playing for about two years now, so I’d prefer something a bit higher-end than the basic models in the $100-$$50 range.

Does anyone know where I can pick up some badminton shuttlecocks around the US—maybe near a local Dick's Sporting Goods? Also, which brands are actually worth the money, and what kind of prices am I looking at lately?

boldranger12 said:Where can I buy shuttlecocks in the city, which ones are the best, and what's the price range?

I guess I wouldn't know which ones are strictly "the best," but maybe it's safe to say they're all pretty similar. Just passing along some advice from an auntie at the local shop (who seemed to know her stuff): if you're just playing recreational Badminton, I wouldn't bother with feathered shuttlecocks. Those are really meant for serious competition, and if you catch the frame of your racket a few times, the feathers start falling out and you basically have to toss them.

So, my suggestion would be nylon shuttlecocks. And maybe don't get the cheap kid versions, but rather the nice ones with the cork tip and the green fluorescent body. I picked up some Victor shuttlecocks (a 3-pack, medium speed) at the Speedminton shop (located on New Road on the right side, one street before the roundabout when you're heading from the Sports Center toward Tresnjevac) for $14 and a little extra (there's also a 6-pack for about $7). You can find similar ones at Rost-Sport near the Sports Center for $4.75/each, and they're sold at the Max Badminton Center too (where I go with Kimberly Doyle2). There are three different speeds, which I think differ by the colored tape on the cork tip—I believe the green ones are the slowest, blue is medium, and red is the fastest.

Link: http://www.badminton-mojsport.com/index.php?/Loptice/

So I’ve been playing some recreational Badminton here in the suburbs for the last three years, and honestly, I’d say I’ve picked up enough skill to actually hold my own once things get intense... but the real headache is finding someone to play with because it is basically impossible to track down anyone else who plays during the summer months, so I was wondering if anyone knows of any group training sessions for older amateurs (I'm 23) around the area that aren't just solo practice? Or maybe there's someone on this forum who's looking to hit the court too and doesn't want to drop a ton of cash on expensive club fees? Let me know! Cheers

Yo, anyone here down to put together some badminton teams before summer hits? I’ve been playing recreationally for about three years now, but lately, I can't find a single soul to hit with since everyone is either already at the beach or just whining about how hot it is (seriously, where are all the guys?). If there are people out there who know their way around a racket—nothing crazy, just decent skill levels—hit me up in this thread and we’ll see if we can make something happen. Just a heads up, summer sessions usually start around 3 PM, and a ton of local clubs are running huge discounts on court rentals right now during the off-season, so let me know!😁

I'm way too talented for that kind of thing, even if I haven't stepped onto a court in five years...😁 Good luck finding someone who actually fits the bill😁

Honestly, I’m dealing with the exact same issue with my crew and this heat—it’s brutal. Personally, the temperature doesn't really bother me; I can usually power through a two-hour session without breaking a sweat. I’ve been playing for almost two years now, and I don't play half bad—though I'm sure you're pretty solid too. Shoot me a DM if you want to chat more about it.

Calling all weekend warriors and casual players—if you’ve been looking for a reason to pick up a racket, this is it. We’re officially opening registration for our local LCS badminton league over in San Jose. We’ve got several different divisions running, so whether you’re just playing for fun or you're a total pro, there's a spot for you—just keep in mind we do have a minimum age requirement of 16. You can dig into all the nitty-gritty details about how the league actually works right here:

If anyone's looking to play some poker, let me know. I used to practice regularly, but it's been a while. Reach out if you're interested.