When are the regular club nights?
The club’s regular club night is Monday evenings from 19:30 to 21:30 at the Sport Hall building at Trinity School, Newbury. The building is at the end of the small road that starts from the Love Lane/Church Road mini roundabout.
The club runs from the start of September through to the end of April. Typically we run around 33 club nights a year.
What about competitive play?
Our club plays in the Newbury & District Badminton Association (NDBA) league. Currently we have 2 teams playing in the Open Division. Our Home matches are played at Trinity School on Wednesdays. For Away matches, the dates and venue can vary depending on the other club. For matches there is a £5 fee to help cover the costs of court hire.
Members that are interested in competitive play can nominate themselves for a spot on the teams. Playing in league matches is optional and is not a membership requirement.
How does the club membership work?
Club membership fee is paid annually and includes registration with Badminton England. Members can attend as many of the club nights as they like throughout the year. If you join part way through the year, then we will look to pro rata the fee.
Who runs the club?
The club is run by its members. We have a committee comprised of volunteers that are elected in during the Annual General Meeting (AGM). They are then tasked with running the club for the following year. We always welcome people who are interested in giving a helping hand!
Does the club play singles or doubles?
All the games played during club nights are doubles. First to 21 points wins the game.
How are the games picked?
We use a traditional Peg Board system to select games. Each player gets given a clothes peg with their name on. The person at the start of the queue picks 3 other players who are near the start. They then play a game, afterwards everyone rejoins at the back of the queue.
What kind of shuttles do you use?
The club plays with Yehlex Magnum feather shuttles.
Can I borrow a racket from the club?
Unfortunately the club does not keep stock of any rackets. Members are expected to bring their own racket. If you’re just getting started, a racket around the £30-£40 mark is a good choice and will allow you to enjoy the game. I would discourage using rackets from any garden-home sets, as they usually make it difficult to aim your shots or generate power. This article explains in greater detail how to pick a badminton racket to suit your play style.
Do I need any other gear?
Nope, all you really need is a racket and suitable footwear. We ask that members wear non marking trainers to avoid marking the floor. Badminton specific trainers are not needed, but may be helpful if you find yourself slipping on court, or rolling your ankle from the sideways movements. Also tennis, squash and volleyball trainers are good options and may be easier to find in shops.
Is this club suitable for my child?
For juniors we recommend reaching out to the Newbury & District Juniors Club who specialize in teaching key badminton skills to juniors. More information can be found here.
I’m looking to improve, does the club provide coaching?
We have a number of experienced players (including qualified coaches) who are happy to given general guidance and informal advice. We believe this approach enhances the overall badminton experience, so that even those whose only ambition is social badminton can get more enjoyment from this great game (and possibly beat their friends!).
If you are looking for a guided learning experience, there are a number of coaches in the area that may be able to help. For example, coach Malcom Taylor runs adult coaching sessions at the Willink centre on Burghfield common on Friday evenings.
Also worth a mention, there are lots of great online resources that can help you improve specific areas of your game from serving, to smashing, to tactics. I recommend this particular YouTube channel run by Greg and Jenny Mairs, two former professional badminton players. It’s always fun to learn a new skill and test yourself at a club night!
Sound interesting, how do I get started?
We welcome people to come along to our club night and check out the club in person. Playing as a guest is the best way to get a feel for the club and an excellent way to meet the members. There is a £5 guest fee which gets deducted from the membership fee if you decide to join. Guests may play for up to 3 sessions before before membership is required.
If you are interested, please reach out to us via the contact form.