Average Reviews:
(More customer reviews)So I bought this set looking for a Christmas gift that would get the kids and wife (and me) outdoors a bit more. We live in Florida, so Christmas afternoon ought to be spent outside!
This set was an intriguing idea -- no ball to roll away and chase, no flimsy net construction needed, a racquet that seemed light and easy to swing for children.
When we went outside to play, it didn't take long to realize that it's going to take quite a bit of time to get proficient enough to actually have a 'real' game of "speedminton." Instead, we found it challenging enough to see how many times we could volley the "speeder" (birdie) back-and-forth.
Playing in any kind of wind is troublesome, even with the little wind ring that can be placed over the speeder. If you're playing in breezy conditions, find something else to do than play this game.
Just volleying the speeder back and forth was moderately fun for me and the kids (ages 6 to 12, though the 6yo really couldn't play this game, and the 8 and 10yo could barely volley more than three times in a row).
The question then remains: Is this game fun enough that we'll continue to practice with it and get to a point where it's worthwhile setting up a court and playing for points? I'd say that it's a 50/50 proposition whether my kids will want to stick with this game set. If they don't sense real improvement in a relatively short order, I think the novelty of this racket sport will soon wear off.
As far as the construction materials go, the racket seems light and rigid, and the speeders have been knocked about quite a bit and seem sturdy enough for many more games yet to come.
This isn't an expensive set, so it may well be fun to get and give it a try. If it doesn't take, you're not out too much money. If it does take, then you've gotten some exercise and fresh air that you might not have otherwise gotten.
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Combining the best of tennis, badminton and racquetball, Speedminton is a fast, competitive, and addictive racquet sport that can be played just about anywhere, any time--even at night. This four-player set includes four racquets, eight cones to set up a court, two speeder tubes with three speeder birdies, and eight packs of Speedlights for night play.
Use the Fun speeder for recreational play (great for beginners, shorter distances), then switch to the Match speeder (more speed, longer distances) when you start to improve your Speedminton skills. And when the sun goes down, your racquet doesn't have to, thanks to the Night speeder. Just press a Speedlight into the clear Night speeder head to let it glow in the dark (once inserted it will glow for up to 3 hours).
From a recreational game at the beach to an exciting volley in total darkness, you can play even without a net. Competitive match play can easily be played on a standard tennis court--simply extend the center lines to the edges to create an 18 x 18-foot square. Two matches can be played at once, or four players can play doubles.
RulesEach player stands in his square and has to defend it. Hitting back and forth he tries to get the Speeder on the ground into the opposite square. A game ends when one player reaches 16 points. If the score is tied at 15 or greater, play continues until one player has a two-point advantage. A match consists of three wins (best of five).
The players draw to decide which player serves first. Service then alternates after every three serves. Every serve counts. If the score is tied at 15:15, service alternates after each point. You may choose between the center of the playing field and the back line for each serve. You let the Speeder drop from hip level and hit it as it falls. Overhead service, either standing or with a flying jump, is only permitted from the back service line. The losing side always has first service in the next game.
Every volley counts unless it has to be repeated. Points are awarded in the following cases:
Service fault
Speeder contact with the ground
Speeder lands in playing field (or on one of lines) and cannot be returned
Speeder lands "out"
Speeder is hit twice by same player in sequence
Body contact with the speeder
If a player returns an "out" Speeder, it counts as "accepted" and play continues.
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