Believe it or not, I am a complete newbie at Badminton. I never played it as a kid. Hardly played a handful of times at office annual tournaments or with roomies. Somehow, this sport has not touched my life before. But 2020 is the year of the unexpected, isn’t it? So, I finally stepped out to try my hand at Badminton a couple of months ago.

I played with shared court apps (Playo) for somedays. Apps like these let you join strangers on the court and become part of new groups. Within a month, I decided to take up a trained approach to it. After only a month of coached games, here is my blog on how not to play badminton. I can definitely not write a blog on how to play it, yet.

#1 Don’t Play With Cheap Racquets

I was using a beginner pair of racquets, bought at Decathlon. Little did I know the importance of lightweight racquets in effective game. Any coach will first tell you to get a lightweight racquet from reputable brands like Yonex. The instant difference that I notice was that my swing was faster and my wrist action got better.

#2 Don’t Start Without A Coach

I am a complete DIY geek. If a technician is late, I Youtube that repair work and do it myself. A tailor bugs me and I learn to stitch my own clothes. If furniture store prices are too high, I learn to carpenter wood furniture. Youtube is an at-home teacher for many things for many of us. But not everything. The value of expertise can’t be denied. That’s why we still value college degrees over self-education. The way a coach can highlight your weaknesses and turn them into strengths, no online portal can.

#3 Don’t Grip The Racquet As You Like

I am sure different beginners have different challenges while starting with the game of Badminton. Somehow, my biggest challenge has been the right grip of the racquet. Maybe I watched too much cricket or I just played Badminton the wrong way enough times to ruin my grip completely. The first step for me has been to unlearn the wrong way and grip it the right way. The gap between thumb and forefinger needs to be aligned with the side of the racquet.

#4 Don’t Use Daily Shoes

Many courts allow canvas shoes but the standard badminton courts require non-marking shoes. Being a runner, I was concerned about wearing a hard sole for a game. Running requires soft cushiony soles. I usually associate tough soles with activities like trekking. So, it took me some time to get used to the hard nonmarking Badminton shoes.

#5 Don’t Give Long Gaps

Just like any other sport, consistency is the key. Playing occasionally and without proper warm-ups is risky. It not only gets you out of the flow but could also lead to injuries. Don’t give up if you are not able to grab certain skills of the game right away. Stay consistent and watch yourself transform.

You need to believe that you are never too old to learn anything. Please subscribe to stay inspired and keep reading for more blogs like this. Click here for my earlier blog from the habit series.