User:Robii707/sandbox

Review of Yonex Wikipedia Article / Ideas for Improvement:
The Wikipedia page on Yonex is a relatively short article, but it is on the right track to being a great article. It has a neutral tone, has language that almost everybody can understand and has a sufficient amount of information that is related to the Yonex company. One thing that I thought it lacked was a brief history of badminton in general, which I believe should be included because Yonex is one of the biggest companies that has impacted the badminton community. The article states that Yonex changed the shape of the racquet to make it more square than it is oval, and I am hoping to figure out why they did that, and how the company came to the conclusion that the more square racquet is better to use. Also, if possible, I would like to add more information on the company's founder and why he got involved in the production of badminton supplies, and how that branched out into golf and tennis supplies as well. Another point that I hope to include in this article is if there are certain badminton players' reasons for using Yonex racquets as opposed to Wilson, Victor, Carlton, and any other brand that is out there.

History of Badminton
Over two thousand years ago, the game of badminton was invented. Also known by the name Ti Jian Zi—shuttle kicking— by the ancient Chinese, there is evidence to suggest that this game has been since the first century B.C., if not earlier. Other ancient civilizations of which badminton was played were in Japan, India, Siam (now known as Thailand), Sumeria (southern Mesopotamia, which is now known as southern Iraq) and Greece. Back then, the shuttlecock—which is unique to the game of badminton— was hit either using hands or feet, but would be hit with a bat sometimes. Although there is no evidence that points to the exact time when badminton became popular, some people suspect that when people consumed fowl, there were a lot of extra feathers. Because of this, some people suspect that attaching feathers to a cork or a ball of yarn were a way to store them, which unknowingly turned into a game played for many years to come. (book)

There are pieces of woodcut illustrations dating back to the fourteenth and fifteenth centuries that showcase "peasants battling a shuttlecock to each other with rectangular wooden paddles". This game was titled "battledore"—a play off of the Old English word "batt". Even writers such as William Shakespeare and Samuel Pepys' Diary refer to shuttlecocks. During the seventeenth century, the game of "battledore-shuttlecock" was primarily for the upper-class and royalty. Badminton was also known as "federball" or "featherball" in Germany and Scandinavia. Around the eighteenth century, it traveled to America and in 1870 is when it became a competitive indoor sport. In 1992, badminton officially became an Olympic sport. [Today, badminton is known for demonstrating agility, speed, stamina, power as well as mental fitness and is played around the world.] (Yap)

Facts about Yonex
Produces racquets, clubs, shoes, shuttlecocks and other equipment for badminton, tennis and golf. (http://www.yonexusa.com/company/history/)

Company opened in 1946. in Tokyo, Japan. (http://www.yonexusa.com/company/history/)

Started to make badminton raquets in 1957. (http://www.yonexusa.com/company/history/)

Started making golf clubs out of raw carbon materials in 1982. (http://www.yonexusa.com/company/history/)

Minoru Yoneyama founds a company named after himself named after himself, Yoneyama Company, Ltd.,which produces fishing supplies, including wooden floats and fishing nets. Unfortunately, wood was replaced by plastic by competitors, resulting in the company being kicked out of this particular business. Because of this mishap, Yoneyama learned from his mistakes and vowed to "never be left behind technologically [again]". (http://www.yonexusa.com/company/history/)

The first Yoneyama brand racquet was introduced in 1961.

In 1963, Yoneyama Trading, Ltd. is established as an international badminton distributor.

In 1968, the company introduces the #7000, which is the world's first aluminum badminton racquet.

Started making tennis racquets out of aluminum in 1969. (http://www.yonexusa.com/company/history/)

1973 was when the new blue and green "YY" logo is made.

In 1974, Yoneyama Trading, Ltd. is changed to YONEX.

In 1980, the Carbonex 8, the first lightweight badminton racquet is introduced. YONEX also designed the first square tennis racquet, which was introduced this year.

In 1982, YONEX continues to make new innovations in golf clubs, making the first all-graphite driver and the first graphite-headed iron.

In 1984, YONEX became the sponsor of the All England Badminton Championships.

In 1992, the company introduces the world's first isometric badminton racquet. It was also the official supplier for equipment of the Olympic Games in Barcelona.

In 1999, for all of his dedication to the badminton community, Chairman Minoru Yoneyama was awarded with the Special Meritorious Award from the Badminton Association of England.

In 2000, YONEX was the official badminton equipment supplier of the 2000 Sydney Olympics.

2007 marked 25 years of YONEX being the title sponsor of the YONEX All England Open Badminton Tournament.

As of today, YONEX has subsidiary companies located in the United States, the United Kingdom, Germany, Canada, Taiwan and China for golf) and continues to produce sports equipment for badminton, tennis, golf, sports bikes, and other sports.

Sources:
"Facts About Yonex." Evi Technologies Ltd. Amazon, 2014. Web. 23 June 2015.

Stanton Hales, R. "Badminton--A Short History." Badminton. By Margaret Varner Bloss. Eighth ed. New York: McGraw-Hill Companies, 2001. 1-6. Print.

Team USA. "New ContentWithLeftNav." Team USA. United States Olympic Committee, 2015. Web. 23 June 2015.

Yap, Chau. "Yonex." Badminton Information. N.p., Mar. 2006. Web. 23 June 2015.

Yonex. "Yonex International." Badminton & Tennis Racquets, Golf Clubs. Yonex., 2015. Web. 23 June 2015.