The 80's

[Stevenio]

After that 'Rough or Smooth' nostalgia, I'd be interested to know what are your badminton terms & memorabilia that sum up the 80's? Here is my list:

'Rough or Smooth'
Dunlop Green Flash
ISI
Morten Frost
Carlton Red or Blue Plastic Shuttles
Towel grips & guaze
Shoe bags
1 piece rackets
Flourescent Ashaway strings
Carbonex 8

[Geof]

Remember the little towel on the hip,or the shorts with towel down the sides?Maybe this was the 70's?
Greys Superlite rackets
YonyYarma rackets
The first metal carlton racket ( Bright red)
Gut stringing
Wearing blazers for county matches!
Feeling very old now.Who started this post.

[NigelDiplock]

I can't remember what was going on last week, let alone the 80's!!

Steven, you mention gauze tape - does anyone know if this is still available?

[Michael Banks]

What about:

Carlton Boron Classic,
Racket covers that just covered the head,
Everybody wearing white,
Headbands,
Tracksuits or Shellsuits!
Gym slips!!!

[Geof]

Did you play in gym slips Michael? What club was that ?

[Michael Banks]

Didn't play in them Geof, just a spectator.

Maybe this site needs a section where people can post old photographs with some of the aforementioed clothing or equipment.

[Stevenio]

Nigel,
Yes it is still available. Look at Midas Gauze tape here as an example. You can probably get it at a good sports store.
http://www.wsports.luna.co.uk/racket_main.html

[rachyuk]

I started off with 'Rucanor' shoes and tracksuit. Havent seen Rucanor for years...

[Drew]

What about Double shafted rackets by Sondico (I think?)
ISI kit that shrank!

[Michael Banks]

Does anyone still play with those open throat rackets, Slazenger I think. Or those hammer head things from Wilson?

[mcripp]

Does anyone remember the John Mott rackets.

[jtboy]

Rucanor are still about, they make the Hampshire Junior squad tracksuits!!! Im not sure about shoes though

[rachyuk]

Fantastic...My first ever tracksuit was rucanor - Navy with cream and white stripes down the leg and a big 'R' badge on the right side breast. Made of nylon/stretchy stuff. Quality eh?

S'Probably come back into fashion a few times since then! I have no idea where it is now though! I had socks too....and a wristband!

[Justcoll]

I can't remember anything from the 80's but I do remember those old racket presses from the 70's which stopped the old wooden rackets from warping!

[willis]

I was sponsered by a company who supplied me rackets called John Mott.These rackets had a strange wire like T-piece.They were great but would break a lot.Other junior players at that time where playing with Sunbatter racket.Don't now what happened to these brands.If any on has a John mott lying around let me know.

[pj101]

Those rucanor indoor sports trainers were great, wish they were still available, we all used to wear them at our club, lightweight, good grip and very cheap to buy (best bit)!. I find the modern sport shoe quite uncomfortable to wear in comparison, partically the high backs that stick into your upper achillies tendon.....My other pet hate nowadays are the "cycle shorts" that some players insist on wearing, still, like cricket, traditional clothing in sport seems to be a thing of the past.

[Geof]

Saw John Mott about three years ago.He's certainly not making rackets any more.
Anyone remember when the ladies wore frilly knickers and little bobbles on the back of their socks?

[vetsa]

Now Geoff, you have made me feel very old all of a sudden. You have described me to a tee as a badders player in the 80's with my white frilly knickers and ankle socks with pink or blue bobbles on the backs and very feminine badders kit, including the full pleated white skirt or loose flirty one. Never have managed to turn completely mod and pour myself into cycle shorts (mainly because I haven't got the perfect figure - far from it)....actually do miss not having to dress in whites and be dressed the same as one's partner - anyone else feel the same or am I just plain old-fashioned.....

[Michael Banks]

I've never been one to complain about frilly knickers or a loose flirty one as you put it Carmel.

But I do like the introduction of colour into the sport. Not necessarily patterns but bold colours as long as the kit is predominantly one colour.

[rachyuk]

It's great to see players wearing bold colours...like the sunday Cricket players....soon it'll be fashionable to play in all white again!!

[Michael Banks]

How many people out there play matches in matching kit? Even if it is only a club t-shirt. Many other team sports wear the same kit and badminton seems to be missing out here. I think it looks smart if the team, look like a team.

[rachyuk]

In my teens my partner and I used to wear a pair of flourescent socks between us - one sock each - green on one foot and pink on the other! That was our matching kit!

It was a phase....I'm sad to say I threw out all my flourescent socks when I went into black gothic and wore 100's of bangles up to my elbows and leatherette necklaces!

Oh....... (deep sigh!)

[trolleybus]

Emerik raquets, an Australian make appeared, Martin Dew put us on to them, my kids got them for free!!!They were good, we've still got one or two left.Nobody has mentioned Gillian Gilks, best woman player England ever had. At that time she put Badminton on the map, pity the top people of the time could not take advantage of it!!