Racket

The badminton racket is one of the most important tools a player has in the game. Badminton rackets are
much lighter than most other sports rackets because they are made from materials such as carbon fiber or
lighter metals such as aluminum. Parts of the racket include the head, throat, shaft and handle with a
maximum length of 27.77 inches and a width of 9 inches. It Strings that are stretched across the opening
of the racket in a checkerboard pattern, which acts as the hitting surface. Badminton rackets can vary
widely in cost depending on whether they are purchased as part of a basic backyard set or as more
expensive professional models.

Shuttlecock

The badminton shuttlecock, also referred to as a shuttle or birdie, acts similarly to a ball in other racket
sports. However, the design of the birdie creates more drag as it is propelled through the air due to its
feathered shape. The shuttlecock is made up of a cone shape with a hard cork at its tip. Shuttlecocks can
be made from a variety of materials -- more expensive models are actually made from feathers, and less
expensive models are made from plastic feathers. The shuttle has 16 feathers attached to the base and the
length of the feathers range between 2.44 and 2.75 inches.

Net

A mesh net divides the badminton court into two sides. A badminton net is placed lower than a volleyball
net at five feet and one inch high on the sides and five feet high in the center. The length may vary
depending on whether doubles or singles are playing, with singles reaching 17 feet and doubles reaching
22 feet. The net is 30 inches wide with a 3-inch white tape doubled over the top.

Facilities

The badminton court should be 44 feet long by 22 feet wide if playing doubles, and 44 feet long by 17
feet wide for singles. If the facility is indoors, there needs to be enough height for the shuttlecock to be
able to float across the net without hitting the ceiling. This height will vary depending on the strength of
the players.