SHUTTLEBALL: HISTORY, RULES AND MATERIALS, FIELD, VARIANTS - CULTURE VOCABULARY - 2025

The shuttleball or speed badminton, is a variation of badminton, but it is played without a net. In addition to badminton, this sport combines squash and tennis. This game was invented by the German Bill Brandes, who wanted to create an outdoor version of badminton.

Badminton has undergone many changes throughout its long history. At one time, the steering wheel was kicked. Then the rackets were introduced. Later, the network was added. Today, changes are still being made.

The shuttleball arises as a way to overcome one of the drawbacks of the traditional game of badminton: it is not suitable for playing outdoors. This is because the steering wheel is too light and moves in the wind.

This is one of the differences from badminton. The shuttleball shuttlecock is heavier. Also, the speed of the game is higher and, as said above, it is played without a network.

In itself, the object of the game is to hit the shuttlecock in the opposition square. If it falls outside the square, a point is awarded. The first player to reach 15 points wins.

History

The history of the shuttleball began in a boat. The sailor and badminton player Bill Brandes wanted to be able to play on the deck of a ship. It took this German seven years to develop a shuttlecock much lighter and faster than the standard badminton shuttlecock.

Brandes, together with a group of friends, founded a small company. In the following years, they designed special rackets. They also came up with some simple rules. Later, co-creator von Klier and his colleagues developed an indoor version with a half tennis court. This allows you to play throughout the year.

In 2001, its original name, shuttleball, was changed. It is now called speed badminton or speedminton.

Field layout

The playing field consists of two squares measuring 5.5 m (18 ft) on each side. The squares are 12.8 m (42 ft) apart. The corners of the squares can be marked with a cone.

A shuttleball kit with marker lines can also be purchased. Lines can be anchored to the ground for outdoor play. Inside, the lines can be taped to the floor at the corners to keep them in place.

In the case of double games, it is played with two adjacent courts.

Rules and materials

Service

To determine who serves first, a coin is tossed. The serve alternates between players after every three serves.

A player may serve from anywhere within his square or behind the back boundary line. When serving from inside the square, hold the shuttlecock at hip height, drop it below the hip, and contact it hitting it before it hits the ground. If served from behind the baseline, it can be served with an overhead swing.

On the other hand, in each service a point is awarded. If the game is tied at 15 points, service alternates after each point. The player who loses the game serves first in the next game.

Punctuation system

In a typical shuttleball match, the best of the five games (sets) wins. In some leagues the best of three wins. Each player must defend their square, preventing the shuttle from landing on the ground. Whoever scores 16 points with a margin of two wins the game.

As for points, these are awarded if the opponent makes a service error, allows the shuttle to touch the ground in their box or falls out of bounds, makes body contact with it or hits it twice. In the event of a 15-point tie, play continues until one player has a two-point advantage.

Field changes

Players change fields after each game or set. This change ensures that players have the same playing conditions. This is especially useful when it is very windy or on a very sunny day. If a fifth game is required to break a tie, players switch sides once one player has earned eight points.

On the other hand, if the change does not take place in time, it is carried out as soon as those involved realize the error. This does not carry any penalty. However, it must be done when the shuttle is out of play.

Rackets

The game rackets are similar to those used in squash. They weigh about 170 grams and are 58 cm long. Its frame is robust, but light. These can be aluminum, hardened aluminum, carbon composite, or pure carbon.

The tension of the strings, regular or fluorescent, is 12 to 14 kp. There are several models to meet the needs of amateur and professional players.

Steering wheel

The shuttlecock used in the shuttleball game has a special molding and is very striking. It is much faster and heavier than that used in regular badminton. This allows it to be practiced regardless of weather conditions.

Steering wheels for beginners reach 160 mph, those for professionals up to 300 mph. Fluorescent steering wheels, suitable for night games, are available on the market.

Variants

The shuttleball or speedminton has two other variants called Speeder and Black Lighting. The first is a faster version, created by using a heavier flywheel.

The other variant is played at night with the use of fluorescent equipment. Players dress in fluorescent clothing and place fluorescent light tubes and ribs in play areas. This version is played more like a social event than a true competitive game.

References

1. Top End Sports. (s / f). Speed ​​Badminton (Speedminton). Retrieved on January 28, 2018, from topendsports.com.
2. Brown, L. (2003, August 25). New «Speedminton» Craze Takes Off. Retrieved on January 28, 2018, from dw.com.
3. Frederick, S. (2009). Badminton for Fun. Minneapolis: Compass Point Books.
4. Antoniades, CB (2005, February 27). Play Speedminton. Retrieved on January 28, 2018, from washingtonpost.com.
5. Howard, MM (s / f). Rules of Speedminton. Retrieved on January 28, 2018, from healthyliving.azcentral.com.
6. Boylan Catholic High School. (s / f). Speedminton Study Guide. Retrieved on January 28, 2018, from moodle.boylan.org.
7. Canaria Speed ​​(2016). Rules of the game crossminton. Retrieved on January 28, 2018, from canariaspeed.es.
8. Jackson, L. (2014). Racket Wars: Guide Book To All The World's Racket Sports. Pennsauken: BookBaby.