Badminton 2024: In the past few years, pickleball has become popular. A 2023 report by the Sports & Fitness Industry Association shows that it’s not just the fastest-growing sport in the U.S., but also has over 8.9 million players. The number of players has gone up by a huge 158.6% in the last three years. That’s a big increase in the number of Pickleheads, as they like to call themselves.
Pickleball is getting popular, but so is badminton. More people are interested in badminton, with searches for rackets going up by 80% and bags increasing by 105%. Pinterest Predictions says that 2024 will be the year of badminton for Gen Z and Millennials. In simple terms, badminton is going to be the trendy sport for at least the next year.
Just like pickleball, badminton is a fun sport that anyone can enjoy, and it’s great for your health too. According to Linda French, who is a two-time badminton Olympian and the CEO of USA Badminton, playing badminton gives you a full-body workout. It helps with your heart health, agility, coordination, strength, and balance. It’s like doing a total workout, and if you get into it like Monica Geller from Friends, it can be super intense. Plus, it’s affordable. All you need are some paddles, shuttlecocks, and a net— you can even use a tennis net that’s lowered a bit.
The differences between badminton and pickleball
Both pickleball and badminton need the same basic equipment: a paddle for each player, a net, and a ball (having extra balls is a good idea). However, there are differences in how they’re played. Pickleball uses a flat paddle and a ball similar to a whiffle ball, while badminton 2024 uses a smaller racket with strings, like a tennis racket, and a birdie (also called a shuttlecock) instead of a ball.
The birdie looks like a shooting star with a rubber ball on one end and plastic cone-shaped feathers on the other. Its unique design allows it to fly through the air like a bird when hit. The pickleball net is 34 inches high, while the badminton net is 61 inches (roughly 5 feet) in height.
Pickleball is faster than badminton, and the ball can bounce like in tennis. Unlike badminton, where the birdie can’t bounce, in pickleball, it’s allowed. The court sizes are the same, just drawn differently. To turn a pickleball court into a badminton court, you only need to redraw the lines. The kitchen in pickleball becomes the service line in badminton, where you can’t volley. Players score up to 11 points in pickleball, while badminton, similar to tennis, allows scoring up to 21 points.
Motivation for learning badminton
Playing badminton is a great way to have fun during your free time, whether it’s just two people or two couples. It’s similar to pickleball, and the good news is that it doesn’t cost a lot to play because the equipment is affordable. Plus, it’s really good for your health. A study from 2022 found that playing badminton regularly can make improvements in not just physical health but also mental, emotional, and social well-being.
According to Pinterest Predictions, badminton is expected to become a strong competitor, despite pickleball currently being a popular sport. Badminton already has 339 million players and 735 million fans worldwide. Joining the badminton trend in 2024 will likely make you part of a large and cool community, as the sport’s popularity continues to rise. Get ready for badminton to be the trendy sport of the moment!