SOTX Badminton Rackets - A Rival For Yonex?

SOTX badminton rackets are a relatively new name in the badminton world, however, they have been growing at a fast rate in China. Now they have entered the UK and US market, selling a wide range of badminton equipment such as rackets, shuttlecocks, bags, clothing and shoes. SOTX was formed in China in 2002, and now have many outlets throughout many major chinese cities. SOTX has also expanded globally, into 20 other countries, and are extremely active in promoting the sport of badminton. This can only be good for our sport, extra competition doesn't hurt anyone, and it may well help to lower costs for those who purchase badminton rackets.

I guess it was inevitable that a major badminton racquet company evolved in China, the only mystery is that i didn't happen sooner. Yonex is the most successful manufacturer in the far east, selling millions of rackets each year. However, SOTX appear to making quite an impact, and are already eating into the market share. This rapid growth has now seen SOTX badminton come to the west, in the UK and in the US.

There are nine ranges in the SOTX line up, and the flagship rackets are the CP series, which stands for Commax Power, or circle power. These racquets are made from high modulus carbon, and also include a new technology exclusive to SOTX, force pro nano. Force pro nano technology is designed to minimize vibration which can cause injury and strain to wrist, arm and shoulder muscles. The CP series is designed to withstand higher stringing tensions, as high as 31lbs. This tension produces excessive vibration in normal badminton rackets, but with the force pro technology, this is no longer the case. The benefit to badminton players could be huge, and SOTX appears to be the only current manufacturer offering this protection for players. I guess the only way to tell if this technology works is to try it for yourself. String your racket at 31lbs tension and see if your arm aches after a few hours play. The only other problem is finding a string that can take this stress without breaking.

The downside to this engineering is the price. The top of the range CP 7000 retails for around £109 in the UK, and $300 in the US. This puts SOTX in direct competition with the top Yonex offerings, who already have a solid reputation for quality and innovation. The CP 7000 is also very stiff, which adds to the vibration, and as such is only recommended for experienced players, who are able to get the most out of these types of racquets.

At these prices i think it will be difficult for SOTX to sell many rackets, but in time, as their reputation grows and more online retailers stock their products, the prices will fall to more reasonable rates, in line with most of the competition. The rest of the CP range are the 6000, which is a bit more flexible, the 5000 which is yet more flexible and lighter, all the way down to the CP 1000, and even this entry level racket will set you back around £60.

Things get even more expensive with the SOTX Woven range. The Woven 16 costs a whopping £129.99... gulp. It is developed from high grade carbon fibre and glass fibre which make it more stable and easier to control. It can also be strung to high tensions, but it does not have the force pro technology so you will most likely feel all the vibration at high tensions. Cue the arm and shoulder injuries. There are another 9 rackets in this range, which are all very similar, and the bottom of the range is the Woven-2i, which still costs £49.99.

The SOTX Diamond Fighter range is made from special memory alloy which reduces the ageing process of the racket. How it does this i do not know, but it does seem very similar to the Yonex ArcSaber range.

There is also the super light range, which, as the name implies, offers very light rackets, down to just 75 grams, which is in direct competition with Karakal badminton equipment, only SOTX is more expensive. The choice is yours...

It appears that SOTX is the new kid on the block, and the more established brands could come under threat. The main stumbling block for SOTX badminton rackets is gaining an honest reputation for quality and durability, and only time will tell if they are successful.

Find out all you need to know about SOTX badminton rackets at the badminton racket blog.

The Ideal Badminton Set For You

Badminton is a perfect game for people who desire to get in shape as it helps to reduce weight. Furthermore, it is an enjoyable sport for all ages without the hassle of going through vigorous training. It can be played indoor or outdoor, fun and casual playing or professionally as in competitions and tournaments. This article is to give information on the different types of badminton set required for different ways of usage or play. Before getting a badminton set, you have to decide whether you are playing for fun or competitively as there is a vast difference in terms of monetary value.

If you are playing badminton for fun, you can easily purchase a badminton set from either a supermarket or a large sports store. In some places, you can find badminton set sold in a hardware store or even a pharmacy. There are certain sets which are nicely packed together in a carrying case with a zip. These usually consist of everything you need in a badminton set and do not cost much but they are basically quite useless and can easily hurt your wrist. It is best to get medium cost rackets. You may need to purchase several packs of shuttlecocks as the feathers can easily be damaged or perhaps you can use the plastic types which are more durable. Lastly, a badminton bag would be helpful and handy to carry your badminton set around.

As for purchasing a badminton set for competitions or tournaments, it is advisable to obtain advice from badminton centers or refer to the sports specialist as to which set is appropriate. You can also consider purchasing the equipments online using search engine. The rackets used for competitions are usually of a higher quality than those used for fun and therefore the cost is heftier. You will need a minimum of at least two rackets just in case if the strings were to snap in the racket which you are using.

As for the shuttles, you will require at least two packs of the feathered ones. Get the high quality types of shuttlecocks which are packed separately. There are also synthetic nylon plastic types that can withstand the forceful hitting and last longer but ensure that the heads are made of cork and not plastic. Where the net is concerned, it is usually provided by the badminton courts, both indoor and outdoor. If you need to purchase a net, then look for nets with metallic poles. Also check for an all-weather net that can withstand both sun and rain if you intend to play on an outdoor court.

If you are playing professionally, then do dress up for the match. Wear suitable sports attire that is flexible and comfortable as badminton game requires you to dash randomly around the court. Supportive and soft soles shoes are highly recommended. Remember to get a badminton case as it will be easier to transport your badminton set around. If you have any other queries on badminton set or intend to buy one, click on this http://www.badmintonset.org for further assistance.

Why Egos and Incorrect Information About String Tensions in Badminton Could Be Harmful

Imagine the scene. A young player is chatting to an experienced player at your club about racquets. Invariably at some point the discussion moves on to the subject of string tension. "My racquets are strung at 30lbs" says the experienced player, "the tighter the string the better - that's what you want."

Now this scenario has been played thousands of times in club and league badminton and it will continue. The question is, is it doing any damage?

There has been a huge amount written about badminton racquet string tensions over the last few years. Forums are full of players quoting all sorts of sky high numbers. For those who are new to this wonderful game, or have limited knowledge of this critical element, it is very easy to be taken in by the confident belief that "the tighter the string, the better" or "the tighter the string, the more power you get."

Is It True, or Have We Been Told A Big Lie All These Years?

If you want a simple answer, then the above statements are untrue. It's not quite as simple as that though. So let's separate fact from fiction so that you can then make more informed decisions about your string tensions.

The string tension in your badminton racquet plays a major part in your ability to play shots well. If the strings are too slack, then they fail to perform at optimum level. For now, I'll assume you are past beginner level and play in a club and you're a senior (over 18).

Before I discuss what I consider to be "safe" string tensions, perhaps it's worth getting some of the facts about string into the open.

• All strings stretch, like elastic, and therefore from the day your racquet is strung, the strings begin to lose tension (known as creepage in the trade).
• Every racquet has a "sweet spot." This is an area on the strings which produces the best results from the contact with a shuttle.
• The lower the tension, the bigger the sweet spot. Consequently, beginners need to play with lower tensions as they are more likely to mis-hit the shuttle. The bigger "optimum hitting area" is therefore essential in their progress in the sport.
• As a player becomes more consistent, they do not require such huge sweet spots. Their needs change and they now require a faster "response" off the strings and more power.
• As tensions are increased, the sweet spot reduces. A highly accomplished player, who consistently hits the shuttle well, will generate more power and enjoy the benefits of the shuttle travelling faster off the strings. The tighter strings give them more control.

OK, so we've moved from beginner to highly accomplished player. I'm not talking about your first team player here because that will vary between leagues or clubs. What I mean by a highly accomplished player is someone who is representing the area, playing county badminton or even international badminton. They could be tournament players who are playing local and national tournaments. They play to a consistently high standard.

When Increased String Tension Does Not Equal Increased Power

Whenever you increase string tension, there is a point when you do not get the same return in terms of power. So what is this point of "diminishing returns?" This will depend on the individual. A highly accomplished player may find that their tensions need to be 24lbs before they notice a levelling out on power. A lower level player may find that this is way too high and 20/21 lbs is a max. Whilst it may not seem a great difference in terms of numbers, I assure you it's massive in terms of how the racquet plays and feels.

Whatever the range, please keep your ego at bay here as it's so common for players to boast about playing with super-high tensions and yet their performance will be suffering as a result.

Once you have found your maximum tension for power, then you need to decide whether you wish to sacrifice some in order to improve the repulsion characteristics of the string, which basically give you more control of the shuttle. Let me explain...

As the strings are tighter and the sweet spot reduces, the strings do not absorb the shuttle and then propel it forwards as much (which is where power comes from in the string). Instead the shuttle moves off the strings quicker, instantly reacting to the movement of the racquet. This produces control.

The lower repulsion and higher control characteristics are what the top players are seeking in order to provide them with the greatest opportunity to exploit the weaknesses of the opposition. They already posses the power required to create openings and recognize that this, coupled with touch and speed form the basis for a top flight all-round game.

So Where's The Danger?

Every racquet manufacturer provides information on what they deem safe tensions for their racquets. Many players choose to ignore these "early warnings" and have their racquets strung considerably higher.

As you can imagine, exceeding recommended limits is potentially dangerous in two ways. Firstly, the racquet frame may crack or shatter due to the significant pressure on it. Second, when you increase tension, you also increase vibration through the racquet.

The loss of repulsion characteristics means the player may have to put more into the shot to get the same power. This may result in tennis elbow, shoulder or neck injuries, which are now becoming more common because of the higher tension requirements from players.

And that's where this knowledge can be dangerous. These injuries are serious and can take considerable time to heal. You may need physiotherapy treatment which is costly. My concern here is that young players are being given the wrong information, backed up by over-zealous players in far-east who contribute to the badminton forums. Before you know it, our budding youngsters are sidelined with serious injuries and could easily miss a season.

League clubs overall are suffering through falling numbers. Losing a player for weeks or months through injury can be a major blow to the club. Promotion, relegation or even winning the league may depend on fielding a fully fit side week after week. It would be tragic to lose a key player through injury at a critical time.

How Tight Is Tight - A Guide To Stringing Tensions

I've been stringing badminton racquets for over 20 years. This has included string for beginners to international players. Having seen the changes in technology from two piece racquets, to one piece composite frames, nano technology and isometric heads, I've pretty much seen it all over the years. The development in racquet technology has brought us lighter and yet stronger frames.

This development has also generated a significant amount of testing by international players, looking for competitive advantage. Tensions have been pushed higher and have now entered those usually seen in squash racquets. Bear in mind squash racquets are significantly thicker and heavier than badminton racquets and therefore they are designed to withstand these tensions.

So here's my guide to racquet tensions. As with all guides, there are players who will not wish to be classed as a beginner or low level player (there's that ego again), and therefore dismiss my recommended tension. Also, tensions are so personal. We all play a different game, some are power players, some are great tacticians, some have a very broad range of shots, others have limited shots but have mastered them. Essentially we're all different. You need to experiment to find the optimum tension for your style of play.

Beginner - 16lbs - 18lbs - especially if playing with plastic shuttles
Beginner - 17lbs-19lbs if playing with feathers
Intermediate - 18lbs -20lbs
Advanced - 20lbs-22lbs
County/International - 23lbs - 25lbs

As I said previously, this is a guide. I know county players who are happy playing with 22lbs and I also know some who play with 27lbs or more.

Whilst stringers will string your racquet beyond the manufacturers recommended tension, expect them to stipulate that they will not be responsible if the frame breaks.

A Quick Word About Playing With Plastic Shuttles

Whilst playing with plastic shuttles is extremely cost effective compared to feather shuttles, please bear in mind that hitting these shuttles are a major cause of tennis elbow. Plastic shuttles do not fly like a feather. You generally have to put more effort into clearing the shuttle to the back of the court than you do with a feather.

As the saying goes you "stroke a feather and punch a plastic."

Because there are significant flight differences between plastic and feather shuttles, it is recommended that you lower your string tension to get more repulsion properties from your string and less vibration. If you're playing with a plastic shuttle and have your racquet strung at say, 24lbs, you may as well play with a board.

As with all sports, a modicum of common sense prevails. I've known players who play with both plastic and feather shuttles. Thankfully, they are fully aware of the increased dangers of playing with plastics compared to feather shuttles and use a different racquet, strung 2-3 lbs less than their racquet for feathers in order to compensate.

What About Differences In strings?

This article is not written to do direct comparisons with strings but there are a few things worth mentioning.

Generally, the better players are opting for thinner gauge strings like Yonex BG80. It's a great string, can be strung to high tensions and the players like the "feel" and control they get with the combination of a favoured tension and this string. As it's thinner, the string will not have the same durability as a thicker gauge string and therefore the racquet will need to be strung more often.

Again, string choice is personal. Beginners need string with durability rather than feel and control because their focus at this standard of play is all about getting the shuttle back and playing rallies.

As the player develops and skill increases, the need for durability reduces. Control and feel become more important. There are strings that bridge the gap between these two opposing needs, namely Yonex BG65Ti, Ashaway Rally 21 and many more.

To find what works for you, you need to speak to your stringer and ask them to record your tensions and chosen string so that you can eventually find the right combination for you. If you change racquets, you may need to adjust again, but generally you'll only be making minor adjustments to suit.

Let's Wrap This Up

Hopefully you now understand that a higher tension does not necessarily equal more power and generally it's actually the opposite. Please do not be fooled by those boasting of extremely high tensions, they may already be feeling the pain from this and yet don't wish to tell you about it!

There are definitely dangers in exceeding racquet manufacturer recommended tensions. Beware, you could soon be ending your love affair with your favourite racquet if you choose to exceed the recommended tension. Check your frame for stress lines frequently or you may be in for a shock.

Test to find your optimum tension and string choice. Remember, this is personal to you and you alone. What's right for you may be detrimental to your club colleague or partner.

Please, do not be lead by others and some of the foolish comments on the badminton forums. Test any changes in small increments of 1lb. Bear in mind that each string is individually tensioned when stringing a racquet, so a 1lb increase is enough to notice a difference.

When you've found the right tension for you and the right string, you can then concentrate on enjoying and improving your game without having that little niggle in the back of your mind that you're missing something.

Enjoy your testing and feel free to email me if you want further clarification on any of the points I've raised - it's always good to hear from you.

Paul Stewart is an Advanced Badminton Coach based in Warrington, Cheshire, UK.

Further badminton coaching & training articles and videos can be found on his badminton blog http://badminton-coach.co.uk

Three Simple Tips to Increase the Power of Your Badminton Smash

One of the hottest topics I'll be covering in my online coaching program is increasing power to your badminton smash.

Wherever I travel to coach, there are always two major questions I'm asked

How to improve the backhand
How to get more power in the smash
There are a number of simple adjustments you can make that will help you increase power and improve your accuracy in your badminton smash, so let's get started...

Let's Begin With Your Feet!

Why your feet? Simple. If you haven't the speed to get behind the badminton shuttle before you hit it, then there is no way you are going to hit a good powerful accurate smash. You need to be behind the shuttle so your bodyweight is ready to move in the direction of your smash. Adding your bodyweight to the smash provides more power.

How far behind the shuttle should you stand? Ideally, you need to be far enough that the shuttle would land slightly ahead of your non racket leg, but in alignment with your racket shoulder.

Exercise 1

You need to test whether you are moving fast enough to get behind the shuttle. Stand on the front service line and ask your feeder to lift the shuttle towards the back line. Now, with your racket in your hand, try to beat the shuttle. But, you mustn't hit the shuttle! Instead, allow it to hit the floor and note the position it lands in relation to your body.

Where is the shuttle? Is it sufficiently in front of your body that you can hit it down, allowing your bodyweight to move forward? If not, you've just discovered one key element you need to improve that will add more power to your smash.

So try again, and this time move faster, going beyond where you would normally stop. Test again. Any better? If so, repeat this exercise until you are comfortable that you've got it right.

Finally, test again by moving back and this time hit the shuttle. Work it and it's likely the first few shots will fall into the net!

Grip

There are so many badminton club and league players I've seen that seem to move and hit with excessive tension in their bodies. This tension is caused by pressure getting to the shuttle on time, frustration from wanting to hit the shuttle better or score more points and most likely a host of minor reasons that are causing a major issue.

When the body is tense, it is unable to perform anywhere near its optimum capability. A tense body cannot move as fast, hit as fast or as powerfully as one that is free from tension. Think about it. If you were to go onto court to play against a player you know you can easily beat, why is it your shots are so much better and you appear to move so much faster? Yes, you're not under pressure and therefore playing with a sense of freedom - freedom from tension.

One of the major adjustments I ask of most players is the way in which they grip their racket. I'm not talking about correct forehand or backhand grips here, although that does feature high on my list.

In this article I'm talking about the strength of your grip. If you grip your racket too tight, then your muscles are constantly under tension. This does not allow them to flow and carry out you instructions to move in a certain way in order to hit the shuttle. They are almost fighting to move in the right sequence.

A tight grip then restricts the amount of power available to these muscles, which only leads to a poor result and disappointment for the player. If you consistently grip the shuttle too tight, then you're running the risk of injuring your elbow. Tennis or golfers elbow is extremely painful and is frequently caused by your grip being too tight, or your racket grip being too small for the size of your hand.

Exercise 2

Go on court and hit shuttles with a very relaxed grip. Grip the racket firm enough that it won't slip out of your hand - you don't want to see the whites of your knuckles or you're gripping too tight! Play a few overhead shots and the second before your racket connects with the shuttle, squeeze a little tighter.

I expect you'll find that you're hitting the shuttle harder as your racket can accelerate quicker towards the shuttle without the tension to apply the brakes.

Your backswing can make all the difference

Looking back over the last 30 years or so, preparation for an overhead shot has changed. This is mainly due to the significant improvements in racket technology. No longer are we playing with steel framed rackets, weighing considerably more than the average 85g in today's rackets. The lightweight, one-piece carbon construction has meant that you can now prepare and hit in a second. There's no need for a long backswing - an almost tennis-like serve in order to hit an overhead shot in badminton.

What I do see so often is almost a "corkscrew" action whereby the racket is moved with the shoulder turn. So why is this wrong?

Whenever you move a muscle, or series of muscles, they always want to return to a neutral position i.e. go back to where they started from.

A corkscrew action therefore usually creates a reverse action. This means that instead of the racket being thrown in a direct line at the shuttle, it's almost moving across the path of the shuttle. Catch the shuttle at precisely the right point and you may hit a good smash.

But, this method is extremely unpredictable and inaccurate too.

Exercise 3 (A video explanation is available)

Stand in a space with sufficient clearance around you to swing your racket. From a defensive stance, place your non racket hand onto the front of your shoulder to feel the muscles move.

Now, with your non-racket hand still on your shoulder, prepare to hit an overhead and feel which way your arm and shoulder are moving. Got it? Now play the shot and pay attention to the follow through and where your racket finishes.

Do the same exercise again, but this time lift your racket straight over your shoulder as though you are scratching your back. Your elbow should be pointing virtually upright. Can you feel a difference? If you can, that suggests you're more likely to be using a corkscrew action in your preparation.

If you didn't feel a difference, turn your shoulders as though you are going to hit the shuttle. Your racket will move to its usual position.

When you throw the racket from here, watch the line of the racket. Is it going out in direct line to where you want to hit the shuttle, or is it falling across your body towards your non-racket leg?

If your racket is going in a straight line then you've got great technique and chances are you're already hitting the shuttle pretty hard. Focus on exercises 1 and 2 to see if you can improve in these areas.

If your racket is somewhere near your non-racket foot, then you may find that you hit stronger and more consistently cross court than you do straight. If you do, then the corkscrew action is a cause. Also, you may find that you pull most of your round-the-head shots out of court.

Quick Summary

OK, we've covered some basic ground here, but from what I continue to see in clubs, a huge percentage of players can improve the power of their badminton smashes by improving in one, two or all three of these key areas.

Have some fun testing these exercises out, and hopefully you'll find the one area where you quickly find a little more focus makes a huge difference in the result of your smash.

This article is not meant to be a complete checklist of ways to improve the power of your badminton smash. I've chosen my "big three" because they are relatively easy for you to check for yourself when you haven't the luxury of working with a coach.

Paul Stewart is an Advanced Badminton Coach based in Cheshire, UK but also coaches in Lancashire, UK.

He was Head Coach for Greater Manchester Junior Badminton Association between 1995-1999 regularly running 2 squads at weekends. The highlight of coaching these squads was attaining a medal for third place at the 1999 ICT tournament. The ICT is considered the pinnacle of the county junior calendar and is the most highly sought after for team places.

He has a weekly coaching session for league badminton players and is also coaching county juniors as one of the assistant coaches in the Middlewich cell of Cheshire County Juniors.

Further badminton coaching & training articles and videos can be found on his badminton blog http://badminton-coach.co.uk

What Is a Badminton Drill?

A Badminton Drill is quite simply a practice.

No, not practicing by playing or knocking a few shuttles across the net to your partner. A Badminton Drill is a practice. It's a practice of a specific skill or element required to play badminton. The Badminton drill can take many forms but will usually focus on taking a small and specific area on which to work.

Let me give an example from my own style of play, I invariably have my racquet 'down' either to the side or in front, even when at the front of the court. But a far better position for the racquet and me as I'm well over six foot, is to have my knees slightly bend and the racquet head raised to shoulder or head height. I need to Drill this habit into my head. So my partner and I play the 'patty cake' game, both stand just back of the front service line and try hitting the shuttle as horizontal and as close to the net tape as possible.

It becomes a 'game' when there are no rules, i.e. freedom to hit shuttle on either forehand or backhand. It becomes a Drill when you continually just do forehand. It can be further broken down into say, near forehand and far forehand.

Badminton drills are better than practise as they are more specific to particular areas and should be done over a considerable amount of time. An hour spent on a particular Badminton drill is nothing, and what's more it should be regularly repeated throughout the training regime.

Another Badminton drill might be 'mid court backhand cross net return', bit of a mouthful that, but if your partner can deliver the shuttle to the right area this is easily practicable, but the main purpose of the drill could be to get you to change from a forehand grip to a backhand grip!!..

A Badminton drill is a very useful training technique and is simply a repetition of a small but necessary skill.

To learn more Badminton training tips to improve your game and watch some strange video clips showing you things you can do right away to improve the way you play, go take a look here now - Badminton training

If you'd like to read a review of Jago Holmes's new Badminton training program - 'How to Get Fit to Win,' go take a quick look here - http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton-training-how-to-get-fit-to-win-review.html

Why Don't More Kids Play Badminton?

I suppose it shows my age when I say things like that. I recall having several badminton sets as a kid. They were lots of fun then and I'll bet if more kids were exposed to them - they'd find it true today as well. I suppose it's not unlike so many other sports niches - a small but rabid following whose expertise scares away crowds of novice players. Have you ever seen a 'professional' badminton match?

When I first began researching for the badminton page on Backyard Steward site I was mesmerized by the incredible depth of product variability - the technology and materials used in the racquets are very modern and highly sophisticated. We've come to the point now that we're looking for ways to reduce wind drag on badminton racquets. Some are reminiscent of fine Chevy engines - completely blueprinted and balanced. Can you believe that?

All that high tech stuff aside for a moment - badminton is an excellent backyard game you should consider for your kids - if you haven't already. It's a low impact and deliberately easy game to play for beginners. The slowed movement inherent of the shuttlecock (we called it the birdie when I was a kid) makes it a game that old and young can play together easily. Very few people can't pick up a badminton racquet and whack the shuttlecock across the net a time or two. One might even consider it a primer for a much more demanding sport such as tennis. Tennis, while generally similar, is much harder on just about all your body parts by comparison. Knees, wrists, and ankles are much better off for badminton players - trust me on that.

Another great characteristic of badminton is the ease and speed in which you can set up the net. Most backyard sets have aluminum poles that can easily be planted with little effort. For kids this is good for another reason - changing the height of the net. Once kids start batting the shuttlecock around a bit they typically forget about keeping score - because they're having too much fun. Does outdoor exercise get any better than that? You don't have to strictly adhere to the court dimensions either - which makes it fit in any size backyard.

Personally I think badminton is a developmental thing that all kids ought to be exposed to at least once in their lives. Coordination, timing, and balance are all synergized and in the guise of good natured entertainment. For the older kids you'd probably want to chalk the yard for all those 'line' shots - just to prepare them for their tennis-like McEnroe impersonations.

All kidding aside, badminton with or without strict interpretation of badminton rules is one of those classic family fun games yours is virtually guaranteed to enjoy.

Badminton Sets

Greg King is the owner and operator of the Backyard Steward website which is focused on power tools, outdoor furniture and decoration, as well as family-friendly entertainment ideas.

http://www.backyardsteward.com

The Many Health Benefits of Playing Badminton

Badminton is a fantastic sport. Not only is it great fun and a good opportunity to socialize with like minded people, but there are also many health benefits of playing badminton.

Let's take a look at a few of these now.

Flexibility - no one can deny that Badminton improves your flexibility in most of the major muscles, including the hamstrings, erector spinae, pectorals, triceps and many other areas. It's an absolute necessity that good players maintain a healthy level of flexibility in all of these muscles. Whilst stretching hasn't been proven to have a positive effect before playing, there is certainly plenty of evidence to prove that it is beneficial afterwards.

Strength - Obviously your upper body won't gain too much strength due to playing Badminton, but your forearms, thighs and calves will be sufficiently challenged to improve their strength and power. Anyone who has ever done a series of jump smashes back to back will testify to the huge challenge this places on the thighs muscles.

Muscular Endurance - Absolutely vital to any Badminton players, it's the ability to keep going right to the end of a match. Virtually every muscle group has to continuously contract in a long game of badminton. From the calves right up to the shoulders.

Heart and Lungs - Again Badminton places a very challenging workload on the heart. Those who regularly play singles or against a particularly good doubles pairing will agree with me on this one. Short bursts of all out effort are often required in quick fire rallies which can often last for well over 10 shots per point. This series of stop start action, intense activity interspersed with short periods of rest is very much like interval training which is rapidly becoming one of the most popular types of fitness training techniques.

Mobility - As we age our joints can become less fluid or moveable. The connective tissue and bone endings can become worn and are therefore not as mobile as when we were younger. It's important as we age to maintain a certain amount of movement in our joints otherwise both our posture and the performance of simple everyday tasks becomes much more of a challenge. Badminton helps to lubricate and mobilise almost all the joints on the body so again it's a very useful sport to take part in.

These are just a few of the most obvious health benefits of playing Badminton, but what many people overlook is the social side of the sport. Not only for meeting and interacting with people who share the same passion for the sport as you, but more so for the bringing together of people who love to use and challenge their bodies in a way that can actually improve their health and well being the way that Badminton can do.

To find out more about Badminton training to improve your game and to watch some strange video clips showing you things you can do right away to start seeing a difference go take a look here now - badminton training

If you'd like to read a review of Jago Holmes' new Badminton training program - 'How to Get Fit to Win,' go take a quick look here - http://www.badminton-information.com/badminton-training-how-to-get-fit-to-win-review.html