Advice on starting to play & clubs nr Maidstone

[Wizza]

Hi all,

I'm totally new to badminton, having only played it a couple of times on holiday and thoroughly enjoyed getting to know every inch of the court! . I am a quite fit 45 year old and I'm looking to learn,play and enjoy the game. I enjoyed it so much that I want to fit it into an already busy schedule. I have tried google for some clubs but pulled up more on places with badminton facilities rather than details on senior clubs. Does anyone have any advice on clubs in the Maidstone area or further south(Headcorn, Staplehurst, Sissinghurst, Cranbrook etc)? I don't even know the rules , I was guided on holiday by someone who played to county standard some years ago.
I am looking to buy a racquet, probably quite cheap to get started, (Carlton airblade flex type) to get started. Are there any racquets or bits of kit to steer clear of? I do wear orthotics in my shoes and running shoes do any brands come up slighty big?


Grateful for any advice.

Wizza

[Lefty]

Hey Wizza,

I'd say go for a racket between £40 and £60 if you can afford it. Anything which classes as "stiff" or above in terms of flex will probably make it difficult for you to use so go for a racket with a medium flex and fairly light racket so you can learn the shots without putting too much strain on your wrist/arm. Anything more expensive won't be worth the money as you need to get your technique right before you can start to "feel" the difference a racket can make and what suits your game.

The best place I find for rackets is www.centralsports.co.uk (http://www.centralsports.co.uk) which is near me in Coventry but they do great mail order too. They can advise you on equipment better than anyone so ring em a ring!

Before you join a club, do some research and then ask the club contact if you can come down to a session as a one off (they might even let you for free!). There's no point joining a club full of county wannabes who thrash you every game and make you feel frustrated and crap. The most important thing is finding some friendly fun people who will brighten your day whether you win or lose! Saying that, if you want to improve, make sure there are players of a better standard than you at the club! Best place to get club information is to start at www.badmintonengland.co.uk (http://www.badmintonengland.co.uk) then try going to the individual club websites if they have them.

Hope that gets you on the right path. See you on court one day ;)

[cliffe]

Nice to hear that someone is thinking of taking up the game rather than all those who quit :) Unfortunately although Maidstome had its own league 20 years ago there are few clubs left. Most clubs in the area play at Castlemaine (Gillingham) iin the Medway league. There is a pay and play club there on Friday nights that you could just turn up to. There used to be a non affiliated club at the Mote Park Lesuire Centre , worth a visit, am told there is an evening class/club at Oldborough Manor School and a Badminton section at Kings Hill Leisure Centre (expensive to join) Many of the small villages still have clubs that might be fine, Lenham, Egerton, Charing all have non league clubs try visiting your local village hall there could easily be a club there. Affiliated Badminton in Kent means league but you can always start with a village non league club and as you improve consider if you want to get more competitive. :D

[Wizza]

Lefty & Cliffe,

Thanks for your advice. I have found someone from my rugby club that plays, so I will be having a a couple of sessions with him at a leisure centre whilst finding out about the local clubs. Cliffe has pretty much come up with what I found, Medway is too far ( commutimg back from London is bad enough). I did hear that Sissinghurst have a club, as I say I will look into it a bit more, might even get the experienced player back into it;I'm sure my enthusiasm will rub off!

Thanks again, will keep you posted on my progress and findings.

Wizza

[FeatherhitterJ]

Nice to hear that someone is thinking of taking up the game rather than all those who quit :) Unfortunately although Maidstome had its own league 20 years ago there are few clubs left. Most clubs in the area play at Castlemaine (Gillingham) iin the Medway league. There is a pay and play club there on Friday nights that you could just turn up to. There used to be a non affiliated club at the Mote Park Lesuire Centre , worth a visit, am told there is an evening class/club at Oldborough Manor School and a Badminton section at Kings Hill Leisure Centre (expensive to join) Many of the small villages still have clubs that might be fine, Lenham, Egerton, Charing all have non league clubs try visiting your local village hall there could easily be a club there. Affiliated Badminton in Kent means league but you can always start with a village non league club and as you improve consider if you want to get more competitive. :D

You said it all for Kent.

Trouble is there are few - very few - classes for beginners. One in Faversham and all the rest in Aylesford and Gravesend... If anyone can find a club that is able (league commitments) and willing (members and coaches happy to help) it should be advertised..

I don't think most clubs have any commitment to getting more people playing, so if you are a novice and you get a chance, grab it!

Jonno
Canterbury

[Mee]

Try Westborough Badminton Club in Maidstone. The people there are very friendly and always open to new visitors.

EIther that or look towards the Tunbridge Wells league or Ashford league. Both websites can be found online.

[FeatherhitterJ]

Glad to see this is working down here in the , so-called, Garden of England (more like building site in some areas).

This, don't you think, is one of the things that Badders.C can do well....?

LINK UP PEOPLE AND CLUBS.


If that works, and it can, then it all goes to help the re-growth of badminton.

Anyone else in Kent wanting to get going with a racket?

Jonno
Canterbury

[Wizza]

Thanks again guys, a brief update on my foray into local badminton. I've been playing with one of the dad's from the rugby club where I coach, he's been teaching me the basics on a Friday night. We brought our kids along, they absolutely love it (4 more for the sport!) and are improving no end. I was invuted to play with some "mature" or "seasoned" players on a Tuesday evening (straight after my Kung Fu class, knackered!). It was a real blast, just the right level for me to learn in , no egos, great sociable fun.

My kids look forward to their Friday night session, my boy says they play (left to their own devices) at school.

Thanks again for your help, I do need some clarification on the movement allowed (or not allowed) on sevice. I understand that the racquet must be held below the waist? Can you move, rock forward or does everything have to be still ?

Regards

Wizza

[cliffe]

Thanks again for your help, I do need some clarification on the movement allowed (or not allowed) on sevice. I understand that the racquet must be held below the waist? Can you move, rock forward or does everything have to be still ?

:eek: On recieving or serving ? On serving both feet must be on the ground and the shuttle must be struck from below the waist (lowest rib) The racket shaft must point in a downwards direction.

[Wizza]

Thanks Clife,

It's on serving, My friend told me to slightly rock forward on my feet when I serve. There is motion but my feet do not take a step, both feet are on the ground, I do not take a step. the movement could be seen as a transfer of weight from back leg to front leg , the knees bend. Are you allowed to lift a heel off the floor?

Regards

Wizza

[rhombus]

:eek: On recieving or serving ? On serving both feet must be on the ground and the shuttle must be struck from below the waist (lowest rib) The racket shaft must point in a downwards direction.


Dear Richard,

There seems to be a physioloical difference with young people these days, their waist's have move upto just below their armpits.....doing a John Pugh as it was known

Hope you and dee are well

Kindest regards

Rhombus

[cliffe]

You can rock and lift the heel , but why ? You should be right at the line when serving (minimum distance for shuttle to travel) and for the most consistant serve it is easier to be completely stationary. Try watching the TV footage of the pros. Backhand serve is pretty much accepted as best for doubles, your description implies you might be talking forehand seve and singles. Still best not to be rocking in my opinion though.

[Wizza]

Cliffe,

I was using back hand serve (now corrected to being struck from lowest rib height) and serving on the line , then going to the net. Yes, I am playing doubles. I can see that I need to practice the serve a lot more. All of my family watched the pros recently on sky sports, amazing stuff! We still use the old scoring system in our games, we enjoy it, should we change?

Wizza