Activities

Volleyball, Badminton and Throwball on the Farmhouse Lawn

17 October 2026· 5 min read· by Moinabad Farmhouses Team

Private swimming pool at AV Farm stay, Venkatapur, Moinabad

Not everyone plays cricket. A net game on the farmhouse lawn gets more people involved, and here is how to set one up in Moinabad with the right kit and timing.

A net game on the lawn is one of the easiest ways to get a whole group moving at a Moinabad farmhouse, including the people who never touch a cricket bat. Volleyball, badminton and throwball all need little more than a net, a ball or shuttle and a flat patch of grass, and they work for mixed ages and mixed abilities. The catch is that most farmhouses are set up for cricket and the pool, so a bit of planning makes the difference between a proper game and a sagging rope between two chairs.

Here is how to choose the right game for your group, what to ask the host, what to carry from the city, and how to play well in the Moinabad heat and breeze.

Which net game suits your group?

Game	Best for	Players	Space needed
Throwball	Mixed ages, families, office teams, beginners	Large teams, easily adjusted	A good-sized lawn
Volleyball	Friends and teams with some players who know the game	Six a side, or fewer for casual play	A good-sized lawn
Badminton	Pairs, couples, teens, quiet corners of the property	Singles or doubles	A smaller sheltered patch

Throwball is the most underrated of the three. You catch and throw instead of hitting, so children, grandparents and people who haven't played since school can all join in. It is a popular game in Indian schools and offices for exactly that reason.

The farmhouse at Aura villa with Box Cricket, Tolkatta, Moinabad

What to ask the host before you go

Facilities vary by farmhouse, and many listings don't mention net games at all. Message the host on WhatsApp and ask:

Is there a flat, open lawn big enough for a court, away from the pool and the house? Ask for a photo.
Are there poles or posts for a net, or a volleyball or badminton court already marked?
Do they have a net, ball or racquets guests can use?
Can we put pegs in the lawn to hold a portable net? Some caretakers are protective of their grass, and rightly so.
Is the lawn lit at night, and is it OK to play after dark?

Kit to carry from the city

Shops near the farmhouses are small, so bring everything you need from Hyderabad or Moinabad town.

A portable net with its own stand: the most useful single item, because it doesn't depend on poles.
Rope and tent pegs as a backup, plus two strong people to hold a net if all else fails.
A volleyball for volleyball and throwball. A softer volleyball is kinder to beginners' wrists.
Racquets and a tube of shuttles; shuttles get lost in hedges and fields.
Court markers: coloured rope, cones or flat discs. Avoid chalk or spray on someone else's lawn.
A pump and needle for the ball.

Marking a court on a farmhouse lawn

You don't need official dimensions. Pace out a rectangle that fits the space, leave room around the edges, and lay rope or cones along the lines. Put the net across the middle, side-on to the house so that balls fly along the lawn, not towards windows. Keep the court well clear of the pool, so nobody backpedals into the water chasing a ball. A ball heading for the pool is fetched with a net or a stick, never by diving in.

Playing with the Moinabad weather

Heat

From March to June, afternoons in Telangana are very hot. Play net games in the early morning or late afternoon and use the middle of the day for the pool or indoor games. Keep water and shade at the courtside.

Wind

A shuttlecock is easily pushed around by a breeze on open ground. If badminton turns into a lottery, move the court to the most sheltered part of the property, between buildings or near a wall, or switch to throwball, which barely notices the wind.

Rain

In the monsoon, a wet lawn is slippery. Wear shoes with grip or skip the game; a turned ankle can spoil the rest of the stay for everyone. If the lawn is soaked, ask the caretaker before playing, since a dozen players can churn up wet grass quickly, and move to an indoor game until it dries.

House rules for net games

Rotate players often so nobody sits out for long. For throwball and volleyball, change servers each point and bring in a new player each game.
Simplify the scoring for family games: first to 15, change ends at 8.
Mix the teams: one strong player and one beginner per pair in badminton doubles.
No glass near the court or pool, and no barefoot play on rough patches.
Warm up, especially the uncles who last played in college.

If you want to fold these games into a bigger competition, they make great events in a farmhouse games tournament. For groups using the day to get fit, see our fitness weekend post.

Net games for office teams and big groups

For a team outing, throwball is the safest bet: everyone can play, it is easy to referee, and it builds a surprising amount of team spirit. Run a short league with teams rotating on and off court while others cheer from the shade. The corporate outing farmhouses in Moinabad and the large-group farmhouses usually have the open lawns that this needs.

Find your court

Browse the farmhouses in Moinabad, look closely at the lawn photos, and check live availability and the full price for your dates. Before you book, send a quick WhatsApp to confirm the lawn, the poles and whether you can peg a net.