Badminton is a sport played by opposing players who use a racquet to hit a feathered projectile called a shuttlecock back and forth over a net. Players get points by getting the shuttlecock to go over the net and land on the floor in their opponents’ half of the court.
Badminton can be played for fun at a slow pace, but it is also a fast, dynamic Olympic sport played on an indoor court. It is played as singles, doubles and mixed doubles and can be played by all ages and ability levels from beginner through to world class performance.
The shuttlecock is a feathered or plastic projectile with aerodynamic properties that cause it to fly differently from the balls used in most racquet sports. The feathers create much higher drag, which causes the shuttlecock to slow down far more rapidly than a ball. Shuttlecocks have a much higher top speed when compared to other racquet sports.
The shuttlecock flight is affected by wind because it is so lightweight, so competitive badminton is played indoors. Badminton is also played outdoors for fun, often as a garden or beach game.
Find Out More About Badminton
If you want to find out more about playing badminton, what the rules are, or where to play, visit the badminton national governing body Badminton England for everything you need to know.