Behind the stringing desk
Three hours, one machine and a card for every racket: how a restring is done.
Will badminton hurt my knees
A common worry, answered: what helps, what to avoid and when to stop.
Adults who join our batches often ask whether badminton is bad for the knees. It is a fair question. The game involves lunges, sudden stops and jumps, and the knees take much of that load.
We are coaches, not doctors, so if you have pain or an old injury, see a doctor or physiotherapist before you start and follow their advice. What we can tell you is what we see on court, after fifteen years.
Most knee trouble we see comes from three things: the wrong shoes, poor lunging technique, and playing hard without warming up. Court shoes with good grip and cushioning matter more than any racket. A proper lunge keeps the front knee over the ankle, not past the toes, with the back foot dragging. Our coaches spend time on this in the first month for exactly this reason.
The floor matters too. Wooden courts on rubber pads give a little under your feet, which is easier on joints than cement or tiles. We sweep them twice a day so they are not slippery.
If something hurts sharply, stop and sit out. Our coaches would much rather you miss a game than push through it. Building up slowly, three sessions a week, works for most adults.
