Badminton, Tennis, Padel & Pickleball Equipment — UK’s Specialist Racket Sports Retailer
Central Sports is the United Kingdom’s specialist racket sports retailer and an official BADMINTON England retail partner, supplying badminton, tennis, padel and pickleball equipment to players, clubs, schools and coaches across the UK. Rooted in three independent shops — Maurice Robinson Sports (1947), Central Sports (1983) and YC Sports (1983) — we are the appointed retailer of the Yonex All England Championships and one of the only UK specialists to combine a full bricks-and-mortar racket-fitting service with next-working-day national delivery from our stores in Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Cardiff and Hereford.
We stock the complete range from Yonex, Victor, Li-Ning, Carlton, Babolat, Wilson, Head, Bullpadel, NOX, Adidas, Black Crown, Selkirk, JOOLA and more, alongside performance footwear, professional restringing, custom kit-building, court accessories and team-wear. Badminton England members receive an exclusive 5% discount on standard web prices and their primary club earns 5% credit on every purchase.
Whether you are a beginner looking for your first racket, an intermediate club player upgrading equipment, or a tournament-level competitor needing precision restringing and a custom string-tension setup, our in-house experts will fit, string and ship the right kit. Speak to our team in store or by phone for personalised advice, or browse the categories below.
Racket finder
Start with your game
Every Yonex racket belongs to one of three families. Pick the job first, then the model.
Shop badminton
Everything for the court
More racket sports
Tennis, padel & pickleball
In stock now
Players' picks
Services
Specialists, not a warehouse
What you get from three independent shops that grew up serving players.
In store
Racket fitting
Try weights, balance points and flex in hand at any of our four stores, then leave with a racket strung for your game.
Find a storeExpert restringing
Professional stringing in store. Free on selected rackets.
TEAMWEARCustom club kit
Club and team kit built to order, from shirts to full squads.
CS PLUSCentral Plus+
Our loyalty programme for regular players.
MEMBERS5% for BE members
Badminton England members get an exclusive 5% discount, and your club earns 5% credit.
Our story
Three humble independents.
One specialist.
We didn't start as a chain. We started as three small, independent sports shops, opened by players: a county cricketer and his England badminton-playing wife, two badminton enthusiasts, and a Welsh Commonwealth Games player. Today they're one team, with four stores and the appointed retailer of the Yonex All England Championships.
- 1947 Maurice Robinson Sports
Opened on York Road, Kings Heath, Birmingham, by Maurice Robinson, Warwickshire and Glamorgan cricketer, and his wife Cicely, an England badminton player and Warwickshire badminton captain. The shop helped a young Ann Jones on the road to her 1969 Wimbledon title.
- 1983 Central Sports
Started by Chris Jones and Paul Cooper, two badminton enthusiasts.
- 1983 YC Sports
Founded by YC Lim: six-time Welsh national champion, Wales at the 1978 Commonwealth Games, and 2026 recipient of the Lord Brooks Award from the Welsh Sports Hall of Fame.
- Today One team
Birmingham · Milton Keynes · Cardiff · Hereford
Brands
The best in the game
Visit us
Four stores
Try rackets in hand, get them strung and talk to people who play.
Birmingham
Unit 1, The Quadrant, Summer Hill RoadBirmingham B1 2PD
Mon–Fri 10am–6pm Saturday 10am–5pm Sunday 10am–4pm
Open in Google Maps – BirminghamMilton Keynes
Bradwell Road, Loughton Lodge, Great HolmMilton Keynes MK8 9LA
Mon–Fri 12pm–8pm Sat–Sun 10am–5pm
Open in Google Maps – Milton KeynesCardiff
86–90 Crwys Road, CathaysCardiff CF24 4NP
Mon–Sat 9am–5:30pm
Open in Google Maps – CardiffHereford
4 Bewell StreetHereford HR4 0BA
Mon–Sat 9am–5:30pm
Open in Google Maps – HerefordGuides
Know your kit
What the code on your racket means
U is weight, G is grip, and the grip numbers run backwards.
PRO → PLAYSame name, different racket
What changes between Pro, Tour, Game and Play: factory, materials and flex.
SPEED 1–5Shuttles flying long?
Match the shuttle speed to your hall temperature.
FEATHERFeather shuttlecocks compared
Quality, durability and value across the leading brands.
NF 700Yonex Nanoflare 700 explained
The speed-and-precision series, model by model.
BAGSChoosing your Yonex bag
Expert, Pro, Active and Team series side by side.
Latest news
From the blog
FAQs
Frequently asked questions
Are you an official Yonex retailer?
Yes. Central Sports is the appointed retailer of the Yonex All England Championships and an official Badminton England retail partner.
Which sports do you sell for?
We are a specialist racket sports retailer covering badminton, tennis, padel and pickleball, with rackets, shoes, strings, shuttlecocks, balls, bags and clothing.
Can you restring my racket?
Yes. We offer restringing in store and by post, and restringing is free on selected Yonex rackets. Ask our team if you are unsure which string or tension suits your game.
Where are your stores?
We have four stores: Birmingham, Milton Keynes, Cardiff and Hereford. We also ship across the UK.
How do I choose the right racket?
Start with your level and playing style, then look at weight, balance and flex. Our racket finder and buying guides explain each one, and our team can advise in store.
How quickly will my order arrive?
We deliver across the UK, with next-working-day delivery available on rackets ordered before 2pm.
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