Playing badminton is like playing chess at 200 miles per hour, it requires a combination of explosive power, speed, agility and strategy. The physiological demands that badminton places on the body requires intense fitness preparation. So what training is vital to ensure high performance? In a series of interviews, sports coach for England’s national Badminton Team, Andy Alford, explores the different training methods used to enhance playing ability, and the principles behind them. This material forms part of The Open University course E217 Sport and conditioning science into practice