Your First Time at a Badminton Club: What to Expect

Your first visit to a badminton club is easier than you might think. Book a court or a beginner session online, wear comfortable workout clothes and indoor court shoes, check in at the front desk and rent a racket if you need one. Our staff will take it from there.

Walking into any new place for the first time can feel a little awkward, especially when everyone else seems to know what they're doing. So here's exactly what happens, step by step, at any of our five clubs in the Seattle area.

How do I book my first visit?

All play at Bellevue Badminton Club is booked in advance through CourtReserve, our online booking system. There are no walk-ins, so reserve before you come. You don't need a membership to play.

There are three easy ways to start:

• Book a court and rally with friends. Grab a friend, partner or a few coworkers and reserve a court at Bellevue, Mukilteo, Redmond, Renton or Southcenter. A court holds two to six players. New to the rules? Our guide What Is Badminton, Really? covers how to play.
• Come to Badminton 101. It's a 90-minute, beginner-only social session at our Southcenter club in Tukwila where you'll learn the basics and play real games with other new players.
• Take a beginner class. Want coaching from the start? Our beginner group classes teach the fundamentals step by step, and no skills assessment is needed to sign up.

What should I wear and bring?

Keep it simple:

• Comfortable athletic clothes you can move and stretch in
• Clean indoor court shoes with non-marking soles. These are required on our courts, so leave the running shoes at home (or rent a pair at the front desk)
• A water bottle and a small towel. You'll be surprised how fast you warm up!

You don't need to buy any gear to start. Racket and badminton shoe rentals are available at the front desk, so you can try the sport before you spend a dime on equipment. Shuttlecocks are available at the front desk for first-timers. You can also bring your own tube of shuttles or buy one at the front desk.

What happens when I walk in?

Check in at the front desk. If you booked through CourtReserve, you're already on the list. This is also where you pick up rental rackets or shoes and ask any questions. Our staff are used to first-timers and are happy to point you to your court and show you the basics.

Then head to your court, stretch and warm up with some easy rallies. No one expects you to keep score right away. Just hitting the shuttle back and forth is a great start. Need a refresher on how the game works? Read What Is Badminton, Really?

Is there anything I should know about court etiquette?

A few unwritten rules make everyone's game better:

• Wait for a rally to finish before walking behind or across another court.
• If your shuttle lands on another court, give that court a shout ("Bird on court!") so they don't trip over the shuttle. A stopped rally gets a do-over. Return the favor when theirs lands on yours.
• Finish on time. Courts are booked back to back, so please be ready to wrap up when your time ends.
• Bring a new shuttle to your games. New shuttles can be placed next to the net pole pointing up to show they're new. Used shuttles go in the bins next to the court. Please don't take shuttles from another court!
• Cheer for good shots, even your opponent's. That's how friendships start here.

What if I don't know anyone?

You're in good company. Lots of people come on their own. Badminton 101 is made for solo first-timers, and it's an easy way to meet other new players.

Once you know the basics, our Mixers are the next step. You'll be matched with players at your skill level and rotate partners throughout the session, so you meet a lot of people fast.

Bringing kids? Kids Open Play lets them drop in and rotate through games too.

What comes after my first visit?

Most people leave their first visit wanting to come back. From there, you can book courts with your new badminton friends, join Mixers, take a group class to sharpen your skills or explore a membership if you start playing often. There's no pressure either way. Come for the sport, stay for the community.

Frequently asked questions