Professional badminton is in fact one the most exhilarating sports of all time. Most NASCAR racers have trouble attaining that speed! The shuttlecock can be hit to any part of the court and even the most experienced players have trouble seeing it when it travels that fast. Professionals have suffered permanent eye damage and ruptured their Achilles tendons trying to reach the shuttlecock. Obviously, this “backyard sport” is more intense than most realize.
Tennis is considered an extreme sport on a large court. Badminton, played on a much smaller court, is not considered action-filled, though it requires running, jumping, lightning-fast reflexes, and power. In a typical two-game singles match, players will cover almost every inch of the court and travel more than a mile, not to mention hit the birdie 400 times in 20 minutes. Compared to tennis, badminton players compete for half the time, but run twice as far and hit twice as many shots.