History of Badminton Rackets

Badminton, a game that was played in ancient Greece and Egypt, has seen a great deal of change in the years since it was officially adopted by the British in the 1860s. The rackets have changed in shape and composition to help speed up the sport.

  1. Early Badminton Rackets

    • Modern badminton evolved from a game children played in India called "poona," which came from a sport called "battledore and shuttlecock." The object of this non-competitive game was to volley the shuttlecock as long as possible with a paddle called the battledore.

    Badminton Racket Frames

    • The earliest badminton rackets had wooden frames. Players sought to have lighter-weight rackets to increase their speed on the court, and they switched to aluminum frames, and then later used carbon fiber composite materials for even lighter rackets.

    Badminton Racket Head Shape

    • The traditional oval shape of the badminton racket has given way to other shape, such as isometric and diamond, or tear-shaped. The isometric size increases the area of the racket known as the "sweet spot," which is the area of the strings where the player can deliver the most powerful hit to the shuttlecock.

    Badminton Racket Strings

    • Originally, badminton strings were made from natural animal gut. To improve string tension and also to increase the speed of the game, most players use synthetic materials like nylon which are cheaper and provide the same qualities as the natural strings.

    Badminton Racket Grip

    • The grip on the badminton racket has also moved toward the use of more synthetic materials. Polyurethane and other kinds of toweling grips help the player from losing his hold on the handle and build up its diameter so his hand is comfortable.