Last updated 15:56, Wednesday, 14 May 2008

ALL racket sports have a great reputation for fitness, but beware: to play racket sports safely and prevent unnecessary injuries you need to be properly prepared – and pretty fit.

nOT JUST FOR THE SUPER FIT: Badminton is a sport that can be played by all ages and all abilities

Racket games, like squash, tennis and badminton, come under the heading of multiple sprint sports, which tax all the energy systems and require a combination of skill, stamina, strength, power and reaction time.

Badminton is a real high energy, fun sport, one you should get fit to play, rather than play to get fit. Badminton courts can be found in schools, universities, leisure centres, badminton and mixed sports clubs. Shorts, T shirt or sports shirt and a warm top are all you need, as well as comfortable badminton shoes or trainers with a good sole to grip on the floor are important. Black soles to the shoes are not allowed. You can usually hire a squash racket, but if you want to buy one go to a specialist racket shop for advice and pick up as many rackets as possible to make sure the racket feels appropriately balanced for you, has the correct level of flexibility and is strong enough for the string tension that you require.

Shuttlecocks are plastic or feathered. If you are just starting plastic shuttlecocks are ideal and cheaper. They come in three speeds, fast, medium and slow. Buy medium speed to start with until you know more about the game. At the highest levels of the game the shuttle can be hit to speeds in excess of 150 miles per hour!

Badminton England is the National Governing Body of the sport in England, and has a wide development network through England. One of their key tasks is to introduce badminton to as many people as possible, at schools and sports centres, so that you can find out for yourself what an enjoyable sport it can be.

There are two distinct elements of the game – The sport where players compete in a fast game which demands running, jumping, twisting, stretching, running backwards, forwards and sideways, lunging and hand-to-eye co-ordination, plus quick reflexes, sometimes a delicate drop shot followed by a full-on smash. In a typical two-game singles match, top players will cover nearly every inch of the court, and travel more than a mile.

Then there is badminton for fun, active recreation which can be played by people at all skill levels and ages – from five to 95!

There are about 50,000 members affiliated to Badminton England, and about 2300 clubs. Badminton has something to offer everyone – so say the approximately 2 million people in England who play on a regular basis!

For further information visit www.badmintonengland. co.uk or search the Active Cumbria clubs database at www.activecumbria.co.uk for a club near you.