Most athletes have an established routine they follow in the hours before a competition. Though amateur badminton players don't require the mental focus of professional athletes, a set of regular pre-match exercises can help to improve your game and prevent injuries caused by a lack of regular activity or flexibility. Here are some basic tips on badminton attire and practice badminton drills.
Badminton Attire
Badminton is a fast game that requires a lot of flexibility. Wearing comfortable and appropriate badminton clothes will enable you to play your best. Shorts are standard in badminton. Wrist bands and head bands are recommended. Loose fitting cotton shirts are breathable and sweat absorbent. Most importantly, get a pair of badminton shoes that offer excellent traction.
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Badminton Stretching and Warm-Up
If jogging or similar activities aren't part of your regular workout routine, we recommend doing some basic leg stretching exercises before playing badminton. Badminton might seem like a simple lawn game, but it's more intensive than you'd expect. A brisk walk or jog before a match is a good way to start warming up. Follow this with some sit-down leg stretches. If you play badminton frequently, you might also consider buying a track suit or warm-up clothes to wear over your badminton attire while you're getting loose.
Badminton Practice Drills
To complete your pre-match warm-up, engage in a few badminton practice drills. If you're playing singles, try what's called shadow badminton. Footwork is a major component of badminton, so picture yourself involved in a game and run the court accordingly. This should get your legs ready in the same way that running lines does for basketball players.
If you have a doubles partner, a useful badminton practice drill is to feed one another particular types of badminton shots using multiple badminton shuttlecocks. Start with serves, and then work on badminton clears, drop shots, and drives.
