Your equipment

Crossminton gets by with little: a racket, a few Speeders, suitable shoes. Yet every piece influences how you play — and you choose most of it correctly with a few basic rules.

The Speeder is your ball. It flies heavy and fast and is far more wind-stable than a shuttlecock — but only in the right type. There are slower Speeders for getting started and for indoors, and heavier ones for outside in the wind; on some models you adjust the speed with small caps. Keep two or three ready at the start: practice material wears out, and a battered Speeder flies unpredictably.

The racket is shorter and stiffer than a badminton racket and, like it, strung. The string tension is a compromise — strung tighter gives more control, strung softer more pace out of the racket. As a beginner, the standard stringing is fine; you don't need to worry about it yet. The grip matters more: if it slips in sweat, change the overgrip. A secure grip saves energy and spares your wrist.

The shoes carry your game more than you'd think. Crossminton thrives on short, hard sideways starts — for that you need lateral support and a sole that grips. Indoors, a light, non-marking sole belongs to it; many halls insist on it. Outdoors the surface decides: on sand, clay or grass a tread grips that would only slip indoors.

The clothing should let you move freely: breathable and loose enough for deep lunges. Outdoors you match it to the weather — when in doubt, one more layer that you can take off. At official tournaments a jersey with your surname belongs to it (more on this in the tournament regulations under „Rules“).

Good equipment doesn't make you a better player. But wrong or worn-out equipment holds you back. Look it over now and then, and it will never stand in the way of your game. The following modules go through the four pieces one by one.

Lay your racket, a few Speeders and your shoes out in front of you and go through them: is the grip still grippy or does it slip in sweat? Do your Speeders suit the place where you mostly play — indoors or outside? Does your sole leave streaks on the hall floor? Note one thing you want to replace, add or try out, and take care of it before your next match.