AI-generated image Getting started: how to start playing
You need less than you think. A racket, indoor shoes and a tube of shuttles, then somewhere to play and someone to play with.
The kit
A forgiving racket
Light (4U), a flexible or medium shaft and a modest price. A stiff pro frame will not make you better yet.
Best rackets for beginners 02Indoor court shoes
Running shoes are built for straight lines and roll on a lunge. Court shoes sit low and grip sideways.
Shoes buying guide 03The right shuttles
Nylon lasts much longer and is the sensible choice while you learn. Feather flies better but breaks faster.
Feather vs nylonFind a club
BWF has more than 200 member national associations, and many list affiliated clubs on their websites.12 Look for a beginners’ or “improvers” night: a coach, mixed levels and borrowed rackets for your first visit. Leisure centres often run pay-and-play sessions too.
Learn the basic rules
Rally-point scoring, best of three games, serve from the right on an even score and from the left on odd, and the shuttle must be hit below 1.15 m on the serve. That covers your first night.3 Note that games go to 15, not 21, in BWF-sanctioned play from January 2027.
First skills, in this order
AI-generated image Three questions, one shortlist
Tell us your level, how you play and what you want to spend. We match you to rackets from our database of verified specs.
What to do next: book one beginners’ session this week, borrow a racket, wear court shoes, and play doubles. You will know within an hour whether you are hooked.