Anyone for 'Beach Badminton'......

[rachyuk]

I came across this whilst browsing the web!

It's a major sport in Germany apparently! There is a book you can buy out there called 'Beach Badminton' and I (my browser) translated this from it...

"Beach Badminton is more than fun on the beach. It is played on sand and is an expression of a certain lifestyle, so the organizational expenditure is very small: a sand surface, a net, racquet and ball are everything that one needs for Beach Badminton. In Germany, Beach Badminton seems to be well established. For fitness and health aswell as dynamics and fun.

Disadvantages of beach play are a greater load on knee joints and also mobility, coordination and equilibrium are decreased.

Beach Badminton can be operated in singles or doubles mode, for leisure and also match-oriented. Beach Badminton can also be played in specially prepared indoor arena."


So, who fancies a quick bash about on the pebbles (ouch!)of Brighton beach or in the chilling winds at Tynemouth??

[Eglon]

If the participants looked anything like the ones we see on TV playing Beach Volleyball then I think you could get a great following.

Only problem is though, if players at the All England where complaing of the 'drift' when playing how could they cope on our beaches!

I live in Scotland but have family in Newcastle, anytime anyone wants to play at Tynemouth when I'm visiting I'll be there with my Speedo's et al.

[Alex]

Definately a good fitness type game. Good as a spectator sport too i would have thought as there would be players throwing themselves at the shuttle as there would be limited risk of injury.

I think that it would be better as a doubles game though as getting to the shuttle after a good shot would be difficult on sand!

Indoor arenas created especially, now here is a sport that could kick off!

Get Gail Emms to put on her bikini and there is a wonderful spectator sport!

[Eglon]

Someone in another forum was asking about 'Out of Season' Training and Competition.

What better way to get into shape and keep yourself fresh than playing on the beach? Nothing serious just fun, while keeping fit.(Running on sand isn't half hard on the thigh and calf's. At least it is on mine anyway. I'm probably just unfit.)

Of course you'd have to guarantee a decent summer here on the sunny UK or move somewhere hot. Sounds nice!!!

Warm, sunny, good fun and able to look forward to the autumn/winter being fit and brown. Great idea!!

[Justcoll]

Beach badminton is what we should be playing here in Durban, South Africa. My word, but it is really hot here in the evenings when we play, sometimes so bad that I could play in my bikini. And I was reading on anothe site how people in U.K., Canada, etc. go off to badminton in freezing temperatures! I sincerely hope that the halls are heated! HA HA!

[vetsa]

Hi there Colleen, I was just thinking the exact same thing when I read about Beach Badminton - what a great idea. I wonder if it would take off like Beach Volleyball in South Africa - the concept sounds great and with all the clubs in Durban, an inter-club fun competition could be a possibility followed of course by a great social along with the proverbial beach braai (barbeque in English terms !!!). What fun could be had by all - and turned into a real family badders event - obviously held during summer (perhaps as a pre-season curtain raiser - as the season starts in March). It should definitely encourage people to start off their badders with a good social bash, as well as getting into badders, on a slightly different vibe.

[rachyuk]

'The Badders.com Beach Badminton BarBeQue Bash'

Sounds good to me!!!!

[DuchyOpenBadminton]

The Badders.com Beach Badminton Barbeque Bash sounds an excellent idea. How about you all come down to Cornwall for a summer event. We have several excellent safe beaches combined with beautiful scenery closeby. I would be only too pleased to help organise/run it if it took off. Besides, it might encourage people to want to enter our Duchy Open in September after they have experienced the "beauty of Cornwall" in a social event like the Beach Badminton Bash.

[Alex]

Im on my way!!! Well up 4 beach badminton, i love diving forward for those cross court net shots across the tape!!

[DuchyOpenBadminton]

Oh well Alex, thanks for your support, that's two of us at least that are up for it!!

[Alex]

o ye definately, but we cant do it where i live, stones and bits of glass, dog dirt all over the beaches... New Brighton!!! hehe.

Alex

[rachyuk]

Cornwall sounds great Linda..hey! We could combine it with a bit of surfing too....(not on the web!)..Mind the Jellyfish!

We could have the 'Badders.com surf 'n' serve Beach Badminton BBQ Bash'...I wonder if we'd play feather or plastic?

[DuchyOpenBadminton]

Sounds a great idea Rachel - lets hope there is sufficient support and we might well be able to arrange something. Alex is certainly up for it. Haven't heard any comments from the other "Management" members of Badders.com on this yet!!!!

[ljh]

slap a steak on the barbie for me!!! sounds fantastic, le the sound of this beach badders, when and where? anyone got a surf board I can borrow?

[Alex]

am well up4 it!! this summer, be a great way for everyone to meet up!! the organisers and the main contributers!! also anyone else who fancies coming!!

alex

[Tracy]

OK Rachel & Linda - count me in - won't be wearing the 'beach volleyball' atire though!
Only problem here is .....the weather!
Just thinking that wind & shuttles don't go together - perhaps we can substitute the shuttle for something else - any ideas?

[Michael Banks]

Does anyone know what they use as a shuttle? I'm sure it would have to be some sort of plastic. Maybe even purpose built for playing outdoors.

[rachyuk]

I'm sure we can find out. I've got one of those beach badminton/garden badminton kits - big thick heavy plastic rackets (like the ones you get with Swingball)and a huge big plastic shuttle with heavy foam 'tip'. It sustains quite a bit of hitting and copes quite well in the wind.

Perhaps we should do some homework...report back here!

This idea is starting to take off....Can anyone suggest a good beach? somewhere easily accessible for most....I'm thinking Cornwall is lovely, are there sandy beaches in the midlands area? Can anyone suggest?

[Alex]

We need somewhere sunny but sheltered. And we should do it about August sometime ( i have exams before then ).

Im likin this idea now!!

Alex

[ke1th153]

it should be an olympic sport beach badminton sound good. im there!!!!!

[FeatherhitterJ]

Well Keith, Alex, Rachy, Michael B...

What happened, good idea for getting the sport noticed, which it most certainly needs to be!

It would have made a good report for a mag or something like that with a few photos, don't you think?

With regard to the mechanics, did you perhaps decide to play with a heavier shuttle (one of the manufacturers could surely come up with something), a wider court, a lower net and squash rackets, even three a side!!. It is then almost a different sport but if enough interest were to be generated you could have local tournaments, fun not serious and people.

All this back in 2002? Has it died the death.

JONNO