Badminton is a sport that has been around for centuries, and is still enjoyed by people around the world today. But who invented badminton ball? This article will explore the history of the badminton ball and the people who have been credited with its invention.
History of Badminton
Badminton has been traced back to ancient Greece, where it was known as ‘battledore and shuttlecock’. This game involved players hitting a shuttlecock back and forth with a battledore (a paddle-like object) and was popular among the upper classes. It was also known as ‘jianzi’ in China, where it was played by monks in Buddhist temples.
Modern badminton, however, is thought to have originated in British India during the mid-1800s. There, British army officers introduced a game called ‘poona’, which was played with a net and a racquet. The rules of the game were similar to modern badminton, though the shuttlecock was replaced with a ball.
Inventor of the Badminton Ball
The inventor of the badminton ball is still a matter of debate, but some historians have credited the British army officers who introduced poona as the first to use a ball as the shuttlecock. Other sources have credited British sportsman and inventor, James Sprenger, who is said to have developed the game in the late 1800s.
It is also possible that the badminton ball was created independently in different parts of the world. In the 1920s, an Englishman named Alfred Gurney developed a variation of poona that used a shuttlecock made of cork, leather and feathers. He called his version ‘Guttlecock’ and it is possible that this is the origin of the badminton ball.
Evolution of the Badminton Ball
Since its invention, the badminton ball has undergone several changes and improvements. Early versions of the ball were made of cork and leather, but by the 1930s, badminton balls were being made using a variety of materials, including rubber, nylon and plastic.
Today, badminton balls are made using a variety of materials, including nylon, plastic, and cork. The material used to make the balls is usually determined by the weight, speed and bounce of the ball. The most common type of badminton ball is made of nylon and is light and fast.
Conclusion
The invention of the badminton ball has had a significant impact on the game of badminton, making it more popular and accessible to people around the world. While the exact inventor of the badminton ball is still a matter of debate, it is likely that the British army officers who introduced the game of poona are credited with its invention. Since then, the badminton ball has undergone a number of changes and improvements, and today it is made of a variety of materials.