Learn to play badminton
A friend has invited you to do this with them.
Badminton clubs and leisure centres welcome people who have never played, and some sessions are coached from the first hit. Many leisure centres run pay-and-play doubles sessions where a host puts you into a game, so you do not need to bring a partner.
ModerateUnder £100 / $130A few weeksIndoorsWith othersUK and US
Where beginners start
Badminton Scotland says you do not need to have played before to join an adult club, and that clubs vary. Some are social, some coach and some prepare players for competition. Each club sets its own fees.
No Strings Badminton is a pay-and-play programme for adults run at leisure centres in England. At Knutsford Leisure Centre, Everybody describes it as open to players aged 16 and over of any ability. At Surrey Sports Park, the standard No Strings session is for beginner and intermediate players, and the advanced one says it is not suitable for beginners.
{'Read the listing before you go. Edinburgh Leisure runs a 60-minute Coached Badminton for Adults': 'Beginners class and asks you to bring your own racket if you can, with a few kept for emergencies.'}
Ways in compared
| Way in | Where | What you get | Cost (as last listed) |
|---|---|---|---|
| No Strings pay and play | Knutsford Leisure Centre, Cheshire (Everybody) | Social sessions, Mondays and Thursdays, 16+ of any ability | Free for members; pay-as-you-go price not listed |
| Pay As You Play, coach-facilitated | Glasgow Club Scotstoun | Three hours on Wednesdays, matched with players of a similar standard; beginners welcome | £6, or £4 concession |
| Drop-in open gym | South San Francisco High School, California | Three hours on Mondays and Wednesdays; bring your own equipment | $4 for adults |
| Adult I (Beginner) course | Seattle Badminton Club, Washington | 12 classes of 1.5 hours, Tuesdays | $636 non-members, $509 members |
At Surrey Sports Park's No Strings sessions you bring your own racket and the shuttles are provided. A turn-up-and-play No Strings session at Gosling Sports Park, Welwyn Garden City, says it is not suited to beginners.
How to start
- Look for a beginners' coaching class, or a social pay-and-play session that says beginners are welcome; some sessions are for experienced players only.
- Ask whether rackets and shuttles are provided; several venues ask you to bring your own racket.
- Wear indoor sports shoes, then use your national body's club finder once you want regular games.
Where to go
- Badminton Scotland: adult play and club finder UK
- Badminton Wales: get involved UK
- Glasgow Life: adult badminton at the National Badminton Academy UK
- USA Badminton: find a member club US
We opened these links on 9 November 2026 and found them to be what we say. Dates, places and prices are on the official page, where they stay up to date.
Plan this
Pick a day, or a month, and we will set out how to get ready, step by step, with a date and a reason for each. Courses and classes have start dates and can fill up, so the plan begins with finding and booking one. Kit comes after the first session, once you know what you need.
Questions people ask
Can I play badminton without a partner?
Yes, at most social sessions. At Surrey Sports Park's No Strings sessions a host puts players into doubles, and Glasgow's Pay As You Play matches you with players of a similar standard.
Do I need my own badminton racket?
Often. Edinburgh Leisure asks beginners to bring one if they can, and Surrey Sports Park asks No Strings players to bring a racket, with shuttles provided.
What is No Strings Badminton?
A national pay-and-play programme for adults in England, run at leisure centres. Some sessions suit beginners and some are for experienced players, so check the listing.
How much does badminton cost to play?
Glasgow Club's Pay As You Play is listed at £6 a session, and a drop-in open gym in South San Francisco at $4. A 12-week beginner course at Seattle Badminton Club is listed at $636 for non-members.
Where this comes from: Badminton Scotland, Adult play; Badminton Wales, Get involved; Everybody, What is No Strings Badminton? (Knutsford Leisure Centre); Surrey Sports Park, Adult badminton; One Welwyn Hatfield, Badminton England Adult No Strings Turn Up and Play session; Edinburgh Leisure, Adult and junior badminton coaching and courses; Glasgow Life, Adult Pay As You Play Badminton; Glasgow Life, Adult badminton; San Mateo County Health, Adult and junior badminton program (South San Francisco); Seattle Badminton Club, 2026 Session I class and fee schedule; USA Badminton, Home page and member clubs. Opened 9 November 2026.
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