| If you're like most of us you probably played the | | | | birdies and the cord you will need to lay out your |
| game as a kid. Your parents or a friend's parents | | | | court. The court should be 40 feet long and 20 |
| may have set up a net in the backyard, used | | | | feet wide. If your yard will not accommodate a |
| string to draw some lines for a court and then | | | | court of this size, you can simply shrink it a bit. Or |
| got out of your way. You may even have happy | | | | you can choose to just play singles as singles can |
| memories of lobbing the bird over the net to your | | | | be played on a court that's only 17 feet wide. |
| friend or brother or smashing it into your | | | | What badminton sets cost |
| opponent's stomach. | | | | Generally speaking, complete sets are relatively |
| Things have changed | | | | inexpensive. However, like many things in life, |
| If you watched the Summer Olympics recently | | | | quality costs and good quality sets cost more |
| you may have stumbled onto Olympic badminton. | | | | than the cheap ones. You can buy a complete set |
| If so, you have seen that it's not just a kid's | | | | for as little as $30 or as much as $150. As you |
| game. It can be a very fun family game but also | | | | might expect, the sets costing $100 or more will |
| a way to compete and enjoy "the thrill of | | | | have much better rackets and much sturdier nets |
| victory." As you may have seen, badminton on a | | | | than those costing $29.95. |
| competitive level is fast and furious and not for | | | | Competitive rackets and shoes |
| the faint of heart or the slow of feet. | | | | The same goes for competitive rackets and |
| Indoor badminton | | | | shoes -- you can pay a little or a lot for either of |
| The competitive version of this sport is played | | | | these. There are competitive rackets costing |
| indoors. There are courts available at many | | | | more than $200 or less than $70. The same is |
| recreation centers or clubs. You may be able to | | | | true of indoor shoes -- you can pay as little as |
| catch on with one of these clubs or sign up for | | | | $80 or more than $120. |
| what's known as a ladder at your local recreation | | | | The great thing about this sport is that it can be |
| center or YMCA. One note of warning -- if you | | | | played and enjoyed by almost anyone. You can |
| choose to play competitively, be sure to come | | | | play badminton outdoors with your kids or indoors |
| with the right indoor shoes and a high quality | | | | where you can work up to being the club |
| racquet or you may find yourself getting totally | | | | champion or even a national champ. What's more, |
| schooled by your opponent. | | | | you can play it with an investment of less than |
| The outdoor game | | | | $50 or go all out and spend hundreds of dollars. In |
| If you're more into family fun than cutthroat | | | | short, you get to make these choices yourself |
| competition, you can make a court in your | | | | instead of being required to spend a ton of |
| backyard. Most of the better badminton sets | | | | money. And how many sports can you say that |
| come with everything you need -- a | | | | about? |
| regulation-sized net, four racquets, two or three | | | | |