Footwear:
Sports socks and comfortable badminton shoes or trainers with a good sole to obtain a grip on the floor are important. Black soles to the shoes are not allowed

Rackets:
These are made of various lightweight materials. Buy as good a racket as you can afford from an established producer, Yonex, Fleet, Carlton, Slazenger, and Talbot. You will find many different makes at your local sports shops. Make sure that the racket is evenly balanced between the head and the handle and the handle is thick enough for you. It should feel comfortable in the palm of your hand and easy to control the racket. If possible borrow a friends racket to try. Ask advice from a coach or badminton player.

Shuttlecocks:
These are plastic or feathered. If you are just starting plastic shuttlecocks are ideal and cheaper. They come in three speeds, fast, medium and slow. Buy medium speed to start with until you know more about the game. At the highest levels of the game the shuttle can be hit to speeds in excess of 150 miles per hours and may be changed after single points.