Shuttlebusters

Updated Wednesday
28th July 2010

Shuttlebusters promotes and organises badminton coaching and practice groups, plus starter and taster sessions so that anyone can learn to play - or improve their game if they already play. We also organise friendly matches in addition to those run by clubs and leagues. See the News page for details of current sessions in and around Yeovil and Sherborne.

WHY BADMINTON?

Badminton is played indoors, so we can play all year round, even in the middle of winter, whatever the weather, and after dark. It's mostly skill and touch rather than power. Men and women can play at the same level, and it works fine when it's played mixed. Badminton is fun to play even when you first start, but there's always more to learn and better players to play against. The equipment needed is inexpensive (indoor sports shoes and a racquet). The cost is £3 to £5 per session - or club memberships are around £60-100 per year.

WHY SHUTTLEBUSTERS?

To play doubles you need four players. If you've got only one, two or three players then you can't play, unless you join a club with other people who want to play. Most clubs have minimum standards - league clubs want people who play competitively. You have to be good before you can join, and you can't get to be good without joining. At Shuttlebusters all standards are welcome. We just divide people into groups of similar standards. You'll get hard games, and easy games. If you're a beginner we'll teach you how to play. If you're a social player that's OK, you'll meet other social players. If you're a competitive player, then our coaches will help you improve more quickly.

Coaching means you don't have to work through the common mistakes yourself. We can tell you which things work and which things don't, and what things to try when you're trying to improve your game.

GET FIT - STAY FIT - WHILE YOU PLAY

Badminton will help you get fit and stay healthy. It's a game, not just exercise for the sake of it. It provides an aerobic workout and uses many different muscle groups for genuine fitness, flexibility and agility. Singles is the game that will test your fitness the best and do the most to improve it - but there's plenty of exercise in a game of doubles as well.

You don't have to be super-fit to play badminton and enjoy it. It's an advantage if you are, and given equal skills on both sides the quicker and more agile players with better endurance are going to win. But the game works fine at every level of ability, provided the mismatch between opponents isn't too great, and the activity WILL help improve your fitness (and motivation). At the higher levels of play the game is VERY demanding, but you don't have to be able to charge around like a mad thing in order to enjoy a game of badminton. Although it's definitely more fun if you can, and do.

SHUTTLEBUSTERS - 8PM WEDNESDAYS & FRIDAYS

If you want to take a look at playing badminton, then the practice and coaching groups on Wednesdays and Fridays at Preston Sports Centre are where to start. The cost is £5 a time (they're two hour sessions) or £49 per term (usually 16 or 17 weeks). Look out for an open evening if you want to start when there are other people joining at the same time, or come along and join any time.

Preston Sports Centre is at Preston School, in Monks Dale - the sports hall is around the back of the school, and there's parking at the back, alongside the outdoor pitch. Loan racquets are available.

VENUES - ONLINE MAPS

For an online map go to Multimap.com or Google. Then for Preston enter BA21 3JE in the postcode box and push the "Find" button. This puts you in Monks Dale, at the entrance to Preston School. For Westlands use BA20 2DD. If you zoom out, you'll see how close together the two venues are, and where they are in relation to the rest of the town. For Oxley in Sherborne use DT9 3DA.

Contact: Shuttlebusters, P.O. Box 2758, Yeovil, Somerset, BA20 2XH.            
Email: badminton@shuttlebusters.com             Phone: 07890 902005.

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