By Justin Ma, 7x US Junior National Badminton Champion.
Last updated September 22, 2021
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4 min read
Are you looking for badminton training equipment to boost your abilities on the court? If so, you probably know that it can be tricky to decide which ones are worth investing in.
Of course, it’s common knowledge that practice is the one surefire way to become better at this sport. But beyond that, there are some tools that can help you out on your journey.
Below, find out which badminton training equipment can help you improve your skills and give you an advantage against your future opponents.
A training rod is one of the most entertaining ways to practice badminton on your own. This tool consists of a rod supported by a weighted base that dangles a shuttle on an elastic line.
You can use a training rod to practice frontcourt, backcourt, and midcourt shots. A bonus is that it returns the shuttle to you after each hit, so you can practice any shot as many times as you’d like.
On top of that, you can make a game of it to see how many times in a row you can hit different types of shots.
If you have plenty of time to train alone, this is an excellent piece of equipment to try out. It boosts your hand-eye coordination and helps with general shot improvement.
Badminton Trainer, $95.99 on Amazon
Shuttle launchers are a little more spendy than some badminton pieces of training equipment, but there are more affordable ones on the market for personal use. Most of them are best for the outdoors, but there are a few for indoor use as well.
A beginner-friendly shuttle launcher shoots the shuttles about six to ten meters away, sending them in the same general position with every shot. And it’s battery-operated, so you can bring it anywhere that you have the space to practice.
The more expensive upgraded version of the shuttle launcher is for people that have moved past the beginner badminton stage. This one is much pricier — but if you’re ready for a more challenging game by yourself, this is a spectacular option.
The adjustments on the machine allow you to change the frequency, angle, and timing of the shuttle serves. It also has a setting to serve the shuttles to the left and right instead of to just one area. This setting can sharpen your agility while you practice different shots.
The upgraded shuttle launcher also has a rechargeable battery, so you can use it anywhere that accommodates the shuttle’s flight path. It also has a remote control so you can conveniently change the settings whenever you need to.
Gdrasuya10 Automatic Shuttle Launcher, $119.90 on Amazon
Heavy racket training is exactly what it sounds like — simply using a heavier racket to practice. And as simple as this training tool is, it offers surprising benefits.
Throwing your smashes and power shot swings with more weight will strengthen your muscles beyond what a standard racket does. And after training with a heavy racket, you’ll feel just how light and easy your regular racket is to control.
Grab the heaviest badminton racket you can handle and use it to practice. The typical weight of a training racket generally ranges from 120 to 160 grams.
This tool is great for developing strength in the shoulder and throughout the arm. All in all, it’s an incredibly useful way to add more power to your shots.
YONEX Isometric TR0 150g Training Badminton Racquet, $70.00 on Amazon
Balance trainers are a fantastic tool for practicing your balance and stability. You can also use a half ball for this type of training.
Stand on each leg for two to five minutes each morning on the stability trainer. Just try to hold your balance. That’s it!
This type of training improves your coordination and stability while strengthening the areas around the joints in your leg. Aside from that, these exercises will strengthen your core and all the muscles your body uses to stabilize itself during a match.
Overall, this badminton training equipment makes you much more agile on the court while helping you stabilize your landings after you jump.
Biofreeze TheraBand Stability Trainer Pad, $71.72 on Amazon
To reap the most rewards from using any of the tools covered in this article, choose one that addresses a weakness of yours first. For example, if you want to improve your shot power, try training with a heavier racket.
It’s also best to try one tool at a time so you can gauge how much it works for you. Like everything else in life, we all have different things that work best for our specific body type and skill set.
Training tools are a spectacular way to liven up your badminton routine and try something fun and different. So, let yourself have a good time. Make it into a game!
We all get better at the things we enjoy doing. So have fun practicing your badminton skills, and you’ll excel on the court!
