Play Speedminton

(Nate Lankford For The Washington Post)

I'm not ashamed to admit a certain lack of grace when it comes to racquet sports. Given my tendency to whack the ball smack-dab into the center of the net, I've often thought tennis and badminton would be so much easier -- and, let's face it, less embarrassing -- if we didn't have to worry about clearing a pesky piece of fabric. Luckily for me, and for others who are similarly net-challenged, there's a new sport in town.

A meld of badminton, tennis and racquetball, the game of speed badminton -- which has a small but hardy cult following in Europe and is now making its way into the U.S. -- offers up a super-fast sport sans net. Known as Speedminton (a name given by the sport's equipment maker, Pro Performance Sports), the game uses a shorter, springier racquet and bouncier birdie than badminton, and can be played on almost any large, flat space, even in the pitch black (a variation that's dubbed "blackminton" in Germany, where the game originated). And of course, it's new, which means you can master it early and dole out whuppins.

WHAT TO EXPECT: To play, mark out two boxes that are 18 feet by 18 feet and are 42 feet apart (net-less tennis courts have the perfect dimensions for this). Then the fun begins: the idea is to volley between the two islands without letting the shuttlecock -- which in this game goes by the much hipper name "speeder" -- hit the ground. If you're good, play can be fast and furious (the speeder can zip more than 100 feet at up to 190 miles per hour). Even if you're not, at the very least you'll get some exercise chasing after errant hits (and you can always cheat and shorten the distance between boxes to make it more competitive).

Pro Performance Sports is in the process of trying to get the International Badminton Federation to recognize Speedminton as an outdoor alternative to badminton. Given its newness, there aren't a lot of formal rules. If you're a stickler, you might find this frustrating. But free spirits will likely find the lack of restrictions, well, freeing.

As for the game itself, if you already play any type of racquet sport, you'll have to adjust your technique. Because of the speeder's greater bounce, smaller hand movements can affect your aim, points out University of Maryland badminton club team faculty advisor Peter Teuben, who gamely tried out the sport with me.

WHAT TO BRING: Unless you're planning on jetting to Germany, you're not likely to find spare racquets and speeders to use at rec centers, so you'll have to procure your own. The standard set comes with tiny orange cones to mark out your court, but you can also make your own markers with anything that's big enough to see but small enough that it won't send you sprawling.

COST: Springing for the complete set (two racquets, three speeders, mini-cones and glow sticks for night play) will set you back a cool $59.99 at area sporting goods stores and online at www.speedminton.com or www.sharperimage.com.

Christina Breda Antoniades

WHERE TO PLAY

Once the weather warms up, you'll be able to pick a grassy spot or tote your set on your next beach trip. 'Til then, you might want to try scoring indoor space at recreation centers operated by your city or county, where you can usually gain entry on the cheap. Be forewarned: these gyms tend to fill up with scheduled sports (in fact, Fairfax and Prince George's county rec officials say they're so booked that walk-in gym time isn't usually an option). Your best bet is to call ahead -- and be flexible on when you play. If you have a choice, take your cue from badminton players and avoid rooms with all-white walls and bright overhead lights -- they make the speeder hard to see, which can result in humiliating speeder-in-the-face moments.

Arlington County: Has 14 community centers, some of which have gyms and fitness centers. Indoor space is at a premium, so you might have a better chance of getting a court if you can get a group together and arrange it in advance. More information: www.arlingtonva.usor (703) 228-4747.

Loudoun County: Has 10 community centers, some of which have gyms and offer open gym time (although scheduled activities abound). More information: www.loudoun.gov/prcs or (703) 777-0343.

Montgomery County: Has 18 community and recreation centers, most of which have indoor gyms and basketball courts that are available during open gym periods (call first; they're popular and schedules vary by community center and season.) More information: www.montgomerycountymd.gov or (240) 777-6810.

Washington: Has a network of recreation centers, some with gyms and multi-purpose rooms. More information: dpr.dc.gov or (202) 673-7647.

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