Badminton Fact Sheet
History
Badminton is a game that was very popular in England during the late 1800s. Players wore tuxedos
and gowns to play during the late 1800s. The term serve comes from when English royalty played
badminton and their servants would hit the shuttlecock to start play. In 1925, the game spread to
Canada and then to the United States. Today, there are over 45 countries that belong to the
International Badminton Federation. Badminton was introduced as a full-medal Olympic sport in
1992.
What is Badminton?
The game of badminton is an ideal sport for everyone and is considered a lifetime sport. “Badminton
is a racket sport played on a rectangular court that is divided by a net. It can either be played by two
opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles). Players score points by striking a
shuttlecock with their racket so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents’ half of the court
or when the opponents make an error and cannot play back the shuttlecock back across the net.”1
Equipment
Court, Racket, Shuttlecock
Racket
The racket has three main parts to it: the head, the neck, and the grip which consists of the handle &
butt. It is very lightweight with the maximum length of 26 ¾ inches.
1
http://usabadminton.org
Shuttlecock (birdie)
It consists of 14 to 16 feathers, or nylon or plastic mesh. The feathers extend 2 ¾ inches
from cork or synthetic base. It weighs about 1/5 ounce. They come in three speeds- fast,
medium, and slow. Medium speed is the best type to start with. The shuttlecock can
leave the racket at speed over 110 miles per hour.
Rules of Play
Players spin a racket or toss a coin to determine who get serve or side.
Doubles are played to 15 points. A match is best of three games. In a one-game match you play
to 21 points. Who ever gets to the score 1st wins. You do not need to win by two.
Serve must be made from within the serving player’s court.
A point is won by the serving team only.
Player must announce the score prior to serving, saying the server’s score first.
The shuttle must be hit underhand into the service court diagonally opposite the server.
Any shuttle hitting the line is in bounds.
In doubles, it must land in the short, wide court.
After the serve has been returned the entire court is used.
The shuttle may hit the net and land in the proper court.
In doubles the first serve is always started in the right court whenever a team acquires the serve
from its opponents.
The server will alternate service courts each time a point is made until the serve is lost.
All returns are must be made before the shuttle hits the ground.
Players change sides of the court after each game.
The winner of the previous game serves the next game.
Faults and Lets
A fault is any error that ends play. It is an infraction of the rules resulting in either the loss of serve or
points for the server.
Service Faults:
The shuttle does not cross the net, lands in the wrong court, is not hit on its base, is above the
server’s waist when hit, or is hit with an overhand motion.
The server is outside the service court, has a foot or feet off the ground, steps on a line during
the serve, or misses the shuttle while serving.
Receiving Faults:
The receiving player is not standing in the correct service court.
The receiving player moves before the serve is made.
Faults Committed During Rallies:
Shuttle touches the ground.
Opposition doesn’t return the shuttle.
Shuttle falls outside playing court.
Player blocks opponent’s play.
A player hits the shuttle more than once before returning it over the net.
A player touches the net with his or her body or racket.
A player reaches over the net to play the shuttle.
A shuttle hits a player.
A let is a stoppage of play due to violations or interference. Points must be replayed.
Lets:
Serves are taken out of turn
Serves are taken before the receiver is ready.
Types of stroke/hit:
Around the Head – Overhead forehand stroke taken when the shuttle is on the backhand side of the
body.
Backhand – Stroke made on the non-racket side of the body.
Block – Defensive interception and return of an opponent’s smash.
Clear – High shot that goes over an opponent’s head and lands close to the baseline.
Drive- Hard shot that is hit parallel to the ground and is too low for the opponent to smash.
Drop – Shot that just clears the net.
Forehand – Stroke made on the racket side of the body.
Smash – Fast, downward overhead stroke.
Underhand – Stroke that is hit upward from below shoulder level.
Resources:
USA Badminton http://usabadminton.org
Badminton tutorial “Animated guide on Badminton for Beginners”
http://assets.olympic.org/sportanimations/en/summer/BD/BD_EN.html
