DIDCOT COMMUNITY BADMINTON

🏸 ALL ABILITIES WELCOME

Mixed Doubles
Badminton Club

Join Didcot's friendliest social badminton club! We run mixed doubles sessions every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evening for players of all abilities. Whether you're a complete beginner or an experienced player, you'll find competitive, balanced games here. Book your place, and we'll supply the shuttles and rackets!

Automated Matchmaking

Every session tracks statistics, automatically aligning courts so games are competitive, balanced, and rewarding.

Club Highlights & Guidelines

Mixed Doubles

High-quality mixed doubles gameplay every Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday evening.

All Abilities Welcome

A friendly, inclusive environment welcoming complete beginners through to advanced club players.

Smart Matchmaking

Our smart system uses real-time player statistics to align courts so matches are evenly balanced.

Improve Your Fitness

A great way to boost cardiovascular endurance, agility, and reflexes in a high-octane social setting.

Friendly Tips & Advice

Get supportive guidance and on-court coaching pointers from other experienced members.

Racket Hire Available

We strongly encourage bringing your own racket, but a limited number are available to hire for free.

Eco-Friendly Shuttles

We use cutting-edge synthetic feather shuttles - better for animals and the environment. Used shuttles are donated to local schools. Ask if you'd like to take some!

Flexible Session Plans

Due to popularity, walk-ins are not available. Book in advance through the app or website. Pay as you go (£5) or save with our discount credit packs.

Under 18s Welcome

We are predominantly an adult club, but younger players are welcome if comfortable playing with adults. As a guide, children over 11 with some prior badminton experience are a good fit.

Background Music

We play background music at our sessions to add to the fun! Fully licenced with PPL PRS Ltd.

How It Works

Getting started is incredibly quick & easy in three simple steps

Select a Package

Choose to pay-as-you-go (£5) or grab a value session credit pack (up to 25% savings).

Book in Calendar

Browse our Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday evening calendars. Instantly book a session with a credit. Join the waitlist if it's full!

Play!

Arrive at Willowbrook or Didcot Girls' School. We can lend you a racket if needed.

Book Session Now →

Our Venues

We play at two fantastic local venues, with 90-minute sessions accommodating up to 24 players

Willowbrook Leisure Centre

Meadow Park, Didcot OX11 7HG
Tuesdays & Thursdays
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Up to 24 Players

Automated game matchmaking, limited free racket hire, and high-quality synthetic feather shuttles included.

Didcot Girls' School

Manor Crescent, Didcot OX11 7JB
Wednesdays
7:00 PM - 8:30 PM
Up to 24 Players

Automated game matchmaking, limited free racket hire, and high-quality synthetic feather shuttles included.

Frequently Asked Questions

Everything you need to know before your first session

Is there an age limit?

We are predominantly an adult club, and our automated system pairs different players together for each game. Under 18s are welcome if they're comfortable playing with adults. As a guide, we'd suggest children over 11 with some prior badminton experience.

What ability level do I need?

Any ability from complete beginner to advanced! Our friendly volunteers and experienced players are always happy to help newcomers learn. Our matchmaking system creates balanced games so everyone gets competitive rallies.

Can I just turn up without booking?

Unfortunately, due to our popularity we cannot accept walk-ins. You must have a booking through the app or website before attending a session.

How many games will I get in a session?

Each session is 90 minutes. Our automated rotation system typically allows for between 5 and 8 games per player. With up to 24 players across 4 courts, there may be short waits between games, but these are a great chance to socialise!

What shuttles do you use?

We use cutting-edge synthetic feather shuttlecocks - they play like real feathers but are better for animals and the environment. We donate used shuttles to local schools. If you'd like to take some for practice, just ask!

Do I need to bring my own racket?

We strongly encourage bringing your own racket for the best experience. However, a limited number of rackets are available to hire for free if you need one.

What's the difference between a racket and a racquet?

Both spellings are correct! "Racket" comes from the Arabic word "rahat" (palm of the hand), while "racquet" was a later French-influenced spelling. The Badminton World Federation uses "racket", and so do we. But if you write "racquet", we won't hold it against you!

Do you book out individual courts?

No — we run a club session format, not individual court bookings. When you book, you're joining a managed session where our automated system rotates pairs across all courts. This means more variety, better-matched games, and a much more social experience!

Do you play in any leagues?

Yes! We compete in the Oxfordshire Badminton League. Visit oxfordshirebadmintonleague.co.uk for fixtures and results. League players are selected from our club members.

Are you affiliated to Badminton England?

Yes! We are an affiliated Badminton England club. This means our club meets their standards for safeguarding, coaching, and governance. Find out more at badmintonengland.co.uk.

Club News & Blog

Stay up-to-date with recent tournament notifications and badminton training tips

TRAINING TIPS

5 Key Tips to Improve Your Mixed Doubles Footwork

May 04, 2026

Footwork is the foundation of mixed doubles badminton. Our club coach shares five tactical guidelines to dominate the courts...

Read article →

Mixed doubles is fast, intense, and highly positioning-dependent. Mastering positioning and footwork is key to securing court advantages.

Tip 1: The 'Side-by-Side' defensive shape: When defending smashes, split the court horizontally to block incoming drives.

Tip 2: The 'Front-and-Back' attacking shape: When your partner smashes, move forward to control the net, forcing weak returns.

Tip 3: Keep the racket high! In mixed doubles, net play is lightning quick. Keeping your racket up ensures instant blocks.

Tip 4: Always return to the split-step base: Perform a tiny hop right as your opponent hits the shuttlecock, preparing you for immediate reactions in any direction.

Tip 5: Communicate! Call 'mine' or 'yours' early to avoid collisions.

Contact Club

Send us a message and a representative will get back to you within 24 hours.

The club assistant answers straight away and can hand you to a volunteer, who replies here and by email — usually the same day. Prefer email? hello@didcotbadminton.co.uk.