RE the compulsory wearing of skirts, they tried to but it got decided against.

Not sure why there was such an uproar, I've played a session dressed in ladies badminton clothes, including skirt, and found it really comfortable (Long story).

A couple of other pieces I take for granted are stretch shorts and triple density socks.

The shorts are because of an old hamstring injury and seem to help, I don't get the ache I used to get without them.

The socks are good too, having smashed my feet to pieces playing football for twentyodd years they give a really nice bit of extra cushioning.

I have some first aid stuff in my bag too, the heat spray in particular gets used a lot by other people but it's more like the old “magic sponge” than any real medical benefit.

Spare grips, electrical tape, scissors, talcum powder, rizlas, matches, nothing I'd call essential but seem to get used quite often, mostly by other people.