Anybody play badminton?

[no+on=noon]

Saw bunch Asian people playing at gym other night, pretty interesting

[jake25]

I do

Been playing for 8 years. (I'm 22)

[Trashman]

I play, but it's actually been a number years, since the last time. I stopped playing, due to ankle injuries incurred while playing. Like a dummy, I didn't stop playing for a while, to let them heal up, so playing over a years time with injurred ankles (using hi-top shoes and ankle braces) eventually damaged them enough that I stopped playing. I think it's permanent, because I'm still having problems. I've got about 10 years playing experience, though, starting on the high school team. I actually met my wife on the badminton courts. I've been playing racquetball and table tennis, lately, though, and since buying some orthotic insoles, have been able to move around pretty well, so as soon as my wife doesn't have school on Monday's or Wenesdays (we've got two local clubs that meet on those days), I'll probably start playing again. I'd guess I'm about a 'C' level player.

[no+on=noon]

So what is a "C" level player?

[Trashman]

A through D ratings are tournament tiers. Top tournament level players are "A" rated. I guess, if you translate that to tennis, they would be like 4.5-5.0 players. "B" level players are below them, then "C", and then "D" level players. I think there's a more specific definition, but I can't find it. At most of the badminton clubs I played at, I played with the top players. Sometimes, though, I'd go somewhere else an it was clear that I'd not being able to hang very well with some of the better players that were most likely 'B' level players.

[no+on=noon]

I don't play tennis, so I still can't understand, but thank you for explain.
So what is a "D" level player? Maybe I can figure out a "C" based on "D"

PS: is there a "E" or "F"?

[Trashman]

No, there's no E or F. I believe a D level player is somebody that's never competed in a tournament or hasn't placed a number of times in D level competition. It is possible, however, that a person is playing their first tournament, yet is able to compete at a C or B level, in which case they might win the D level competition and after doing so a few times, would be forced to play at a higher level. These are competitive ratings, though, and most likely an inexperienced person wouldn't stand a chance in any tournament at any level. I know there are more specifics to the ratings, but I've forgotten them. I don't know why I'm unable to find the info online, but I'm not. I'm sure it's there, somewhere, though.

Wikipedia has a lot of good info about the sport. Here's an interested excerpt taken from there:

"Comparisons of speed and athletic requirements

Statistics such as the smash speed, above, prompt badminton enthusiasts to make other comparisons that are more contentious. For example, it is often claimed that badminton is the fastest racquet sport.[23] Although badminton holds the record for the fastest initial speed of a racket sports projectile, the shuttlecock decelerates substantially faster than other projectiles such as tennis balls. In turn, this qualification must be qualified by consideration of the distance over which the shuttlecock travels: a smashed shuttlecock travels a shorter distance than a tennis ball during a serve. Badminton's claim as the fastest racquet sport might also be based on reaction time requirements, but arguably table tennis requires even faster reaction times.

There is a strong case for arguing that badminton is more physically demanding than tennis, but such comparisons are difficult to make objectively due to the differing demands of the games. Some informal studies suggest that badminton players require much greater aerobic stamina than tennis players, but this has not been the subject of rigorous research.[24]

A more balanced approach suggests the following comparisons, although these also are subject to dispute:

* Badminton, especially singles, requires substantially greater aerobic stamina than tennis; the level of aerobic stamina required by badminton singles is similar to squash singles, although squash may have slightly higher aerobic requirements.
* Tennis requires greater upper body and core strength than badminton.
* Badminton requires greater explosive leg strength than tennis, and badminton men's doubles probably requires much greater explosive leg strength than any other racket sport due to the demands of performing multiple consecutive jumping smashes.
* Badminton requires much greater explosive athleticism than tennis and somewhat greater than squash, with players required to jump for height or distance.
* Badminton requires significantly faster reaction times than either tennis or squash, although table tennis may require even faster reaction times. The fastest reactions in badminton are required in men's doubles, when returning a powerful smash."

[frisco]

This may not sound so macho........

But I lettered in Badminton and Golf in High School !

frisco

[gswitter]

I have an aunt in the US Badminton Hall Of Fame.

[russthetoolman]

Waaaaay back in high school, in Alaska, I was the one you had to beat to get an "A" in gym class, and no one got an "A" but me Same with Pingpong, damn, that was fun!!
I still have my racket, bought from Gary King's in Anchorage
Russ

[strinq]

Use to play like crazy.
It's an extremely popular sport here in Malaysia, land of Datuk Lee Chong Wei the current world number 1.

[Cooter]

Loved it in P.E. in high school. Haven't played since.

[arnoldr]

I used to play it, not competitively, when I was working in Singapore. Yes, it's a big thing in Asia and i think in some parts of Europe. Hopefully it picks up here in the States because it's really good exercise.

arnold r

[Kindle]

Loved it in P.E. in high school.

I remember it being one of the few co-ed sections of gym.

[Nil Einne]

I played a tiny bit in Malaysia but I was never much in to sports. AFAIK it's popular in most of SEA (perhaps not the Philippines) particularly Malaysia, Indonesia and Singapore and EA, particularly China. It also has some popularity in Denmark. China of course have been dominating the sport for the last 15 years or so. Pity Malaysia had to collapse in the Thomas Cup but at least Korea took out the Uber :-P

[red_hackle]

I used to play regularly while studying for my undergraduate degree - great game!

[da_aviator129]

Been playing ever since I was in elementary school, which was almost 10 years ago. Coincidently, I happen to be asian haha

[andersonEE]

I love to play. Unfortunately, most of the people I play with aren't that good.

[tpetsch]

Been playing ever since I was in elementary school, which was almost 10 years ago. Coincidently, I happen to be asian haha

Was of my favorite sports when I was a kid, I remember my Dad didn't like the way the lawn looked after a few weeks of it in the back yard.

[wr250z]

On my last trip to china I was treated to an exhibition of their pro badminton players...incredible speed and athleticism. Some old lady kicked my ass when I tried it out! Lotsa fun and I'd like to play but not much interest here on the east coast.

[andersonEE]

Was of my favorite sports when I was a kid, I remember my Dad didn't like the way the lawn looked after a few weeks of it in the back yard.

This happened to us with football...always had a brown patch down the center of the yard.

[InHisName]

A through D ratings are tournament tiers. Top tournament level players are "A" rated.

I'll add a few letters to the series for us common folks.

Based on that I'd rate myself a "X".

Z = one who's never ever played.
Y = played once, long ago
X = played several times, long ago
W = played sveral times, once or few times in last season.

Probably will jump to "R" or better when you actually play and win a game.

[coolmeester]

I've played many years and I used to play in tournaments also. Great game indeed! Only minus is that shuttlecocks are pretty expensive. But if you arent "pro", you can always use those plastic models which are very durable.

[Trashman]

I don't play tennis, so I still can't understand, but thank you for explain.
So what is a "D" level player? Maybe I can figure out a "C" based on "D"

PS: is there a "E" or "F"?

I previously said there was no "E" or "F", but guess what? I recently started playing again (a few months ago), and things have changed. One of them is that I see there is now an "E" and "F" division in local tournaments! They've also changed the scoring for both singles and doubles.

[espnazi]

I played for a whole semester in HS. It was the funnest PE class I'd ever had, a whole semester we played Badminton and the next semester we played Ping Pong.

[russthetoolman]

I played for a whole semester in HS. It was the funnest PE class I'd ever had, a whole semester we played Badminton and the next semester we played Ping Pong.

Same here at Chugiak High in Alaska, you had to beat me in badminton and ping pong to get an "A", no one got an "A"
Just remembered I have my custom racket from Gary Kings sporting goods on Northern Lights Blvd.

[Sugarboy]

i'm a kickass hobbo badminton player

[ManniGfaltig]

I play it since more than 20 years now on a hobby basis - just love it!