BADMINTON

History
Badminton is a sport that has been around since the 16th century. The sport is played indoors
and the pinnacle comes from its Olympic events. The sport is very popular in Asian countries
such as China and India with these countries leading the way by producing some of the world’s
best players.
The game of badminton originated in Siam, China over 2,000 years ago. It was brought to
England in 1870 and was played somewhat like tennis. After being played in Canada,
badminton arrived in America and has been popular since 1929. Since 1992, badminton has
been an Olympic sport, with bird speeds reaching 100 m.p.h.

Nature of the Game

Badminton is played as a singles or doubles game (it’s also possible to play mixed doubles).
with one or two players on a side. The object of the game is to hit the shuttlecock or “bird”
back and forth with a racket across a net five feet high at its center. The bird should be hit with
such speed and accuracy that the opponent is unable to return the shot successfully. The game
can either be fast or slow paced, depending on the skill level of the players. If your opponent
manages to return the shuttlecock then a rally occurs. If you win this rally i.e. force your
opponent to hit the shuttlecock out or into the net then you win a point. You are required to win
21 points to win a set with most matches being best of 3 sets. Points can be won on either serve.

Safety/Etiquette
1. Keep a firm grip on the racket.
2. Be careful not to hit your partner with the racket.
3. Stay in your own court to avoid the possibility of collision with other players.
4. Stop play if other players enter your court.
5. Wait until there is a stop in the action to retrieve a bird from another court.
6. Be aware of the walls and the net posts.
7. Before play, agree on the boundaries and determine the first server.
8. Players call their own lines; replay the point if in doubt.
9. Shake hands after the game/match.

Facilities/Equipment/Players
There are two forms of badminton, singles and doubles (it’s also possible to play mixed doubles). Each
player is allowed to use a stringed racket (similar to a tennis racket but with the head being smaller) and
a shuttlecock. The shuttlecock is made up of half round ball at the bottom and a feather like material
surrounding the top. You can only really hit the bottom of the shuttlecock and as gravity comes into
play will always revert the ball side facing down. You may only hit the shuttlecock once before it either
hits the ground or goes over the net.
The court measures 6.1m wide and 13.4m long. Across the middle of the rectangular court is a net
which runs at 1.55m. Running along each side of the court are two tram lines. The inside lines are used
as the parameter for singles match whilst the outside line is used for a doubles match.

Equipment Maintenance
 1. Rackets are fragile. Avoid striking the floor, wall, net, posts, or your partner. Also
avoid flipping, throwing, or twirling rackets.
2. Shuttlecocks should be handled by the tips only. Birds caught in the net should be
removed carefully.
3. Rackets are returned to the proper slot and birds to the basket at the end of
each period.

Game Rules/Scoring
Players
1. Singles – one player on a side.
2. Doubles – two players on a side.
3. Mixed Doubles – one male and one female partner opposing a male and female
opponent.

Rules of Badminton
 A game can take place with either two (singles) or four (doubles) players.
 An official match has to be played indoors on the proper court dimensions. The dimensions are
6.1m by 13.4m, the net is situated through the middle of the court and is set at 1.55m.
 To score a point the shuttlecock must hit within the parameters of the opponent’s court.
 If the shuttlecock hits the net or lands out then a point is awarded to your opponent.
 Players must serve diagonally across the net to their opponent. As points are won then serving
stations move from one side to the other. There are no second serves so if your first serve goes
out then your opponent wins the point.
 A serve must be hit underarm and below the server’s waist. No overarm serves are allowed.
 Each game will start with a toss to determine which player will serve first and which side of the
court the opponent would like to start from.
 Once the shuttlecock is ‘live’ then a player may move around the court as they wish. They are
permitted to hit the shuttlecock from out of the playing area.
 If a player touches the net with any part of their body or racket then it is deemed a fault and
their opponent receives the point.
 A fault is also called if a player deliberately distracts their opponent, the shuttlecock is caught
in the racket then flung, the shuttlecock is hit twice or if the player continues to infract with the
laws of badminton.
 Each game is umpired by a referee on a high chair who overlooks the game. There are also line
judges who monitor if the shuttlecock lands in or not. The referee has overriding calls on
infringements and faults.
 Let may be called by the referee if an unforeseen or accidental circumstance arose. These may
include the shuttlecock getting stuck in the bet, server serving out of turn, one player was not
ready or a decision which is too close to call.
 The game has only two rest periods coming the form of a 90 second rest after the first game
and a 5-minute rest period after the second game.
 If the laws are continuously broken by a player then the referee holds the power to dock that
player of points with persisting fouls receiving a forfeit of the set or even the match.
Scoring

A point is scored when you successfully hit the shuttlecock over the net and land it in your
opponent’s court before they hit it. A point can also be gained when your opponent hits the shuttlecock
into either the net or outside the parameters.

1. Rally scoring allows for a point to be won by either team regardless of

which team is serving.
2. Both singles and doubles games are won with 21 points.
3. The side winning a rally adds a point to their score.
4. At 20 all, the side that gains a 2-point lead first, wins that game.
5. At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point wins that game.
6. In the third game of singles and doubles, players change sides when a side
scores 11 points.
7. A match is won by winning two out of three games.

Winning the Game

To win a game you must reach 21 points before your opponent. If you do so then you will have
won that set. If the scores are tied at 20-20 then it comes down to whichever player manages to get
two clear points ahead. If the points are still tied at 29-29 then the next point will decide the winner of
the set. Winning the overall game will require you to win 2 out of the 3 sets played.

General Rules/Regulations
1. Serving
a. The server must keep both feet in contact with the floor at the time of
the serve.
b. The bird must be contacted below the waist.
c. The racket head must be below the server’s wrist.
d. The server should not serve until the receiver is ready; the opponent is
deemed ready if a return is attempted.
e. Partners of the server and receiver may stand anywhere on the court providing
they do not obstruct the opponent’s view.
f. A bird that touches the net on the serve and goes into the proper service court
is legal.
g. If the server misses the bird on the serve attempt, it still counts. In singles and
doubles the serve would go to the opponent.

2. Serving Order – Singles

a. At the beginning of the game (0-0) and when the server’s score is even, the
serve will begin from the right service court. When the server’s score is odd,
the serve will be from the left service court.
b. If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and will then serve again
from the alternate service court.
c. If the receiver wins a rally, the receiver scores a point and becomes the new
server. They serve from the appropriate service court – left if the score is odd
and right if it is even.
3. Serving Order - Doubles
a. A team will only have one player serve, per “service”.
b. At the beginning of the game and when the score is even (0,2,4,6, etc.) the server
serves from the right service court. When it is odd (1,3,5,7, etc.) the server serves
from the left service court.
c. If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same
server serves again from the alternate service court.
d. If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving
side becomes the new serving side.
e. The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a
point when their side is serving.

4. The winners of the first game serve first in the next game.

5. Birds falling on the lines are considered good.

6. During a rally, a bird that touches the net and goes over is in play.

7. A fault (violation of rules) occurs if:

a. On the service, any part of the racket head is higher than the server’s wrist and
contact is made above the waist.
b. The service fails to cross the net or go into the proper service court.
c. The feet of the server and receiver are not in the proper courts at time of service.
d. The server hesitates or stops (feint/balk) the service motion or misses the bird.
e. The improper receiver returns the bird on the serve.
f. A bird hit into the net, under the net, against the wall or ceiling is out-of-bounds.
g. A player hits the bird before it crosses the net.
h. The bird touches a player or clothing.
i. The player touches the net while the bird is in play.
j. The bird is hit twice in succession by one/both partners.
k. The bird is held, caught, or carried on the racket when struck.
l. A player obstructs an opponent.

8. Let (a play allowed to be replayed)

a. The bird becomes caught in or on the net after passing over the net.
b. The bird hits the basketball supports or net.
c. The following situations occur before the next serve and if the offending side
wins the rally:
1. The correct server serves from the wrong court.
2. The wrong server serves from either the correct/incorrect service court.
3. The correct receiver receives in the wrong court.
Basic Skills
A. Grip
1. Forehand – with the racket head perpendicular to the floor, shake hands with
the grip so the “V” formed by the thumb and forefinger is on the top of the
handle.
2. Backhand – using a forehand grip, rotate the hand slightly so the thumb is
along and parallel to the wide side of the handle.
B. Footwork
1. Move toward the shot with short steps and end with a long stride.
2. In the ready position the racket is held high, the knees are slightly bent, and
the body weight is on the balls of the feet.

C. Strokes
By using the same motion for all shots, the opponent is unable to detect what shot you
are going to make until the bird is actually hit. A good wrist action allows more power
and control with much less effort. A forehand stroke is one from the dominant side; the
backhand stroke is from the non-dominant side. The racket is swung back, the arm is
bent with the elbow up, the wrist is cocked, and the body weight is placed on the back
foot. From this position, the stroke is made by throwing the hand at the point of contact
between bird and racket with weight being transferred to the forward foot. If possible,
shots should be made with an overhand stroke.

1. Clear – a shot used to drive your opponent away from the net or forecourt
or to slow the game. The bird should fly above the opponent’s reach and fall
within one foot of the baseline.
2. Smash – an attacking shot made at the limit of one’s upward reach and
slightly in front of the shoulder. At the moment of contact, the arm and wrist
come down forcibly.
3. Drive – A flat shot kept as low as possible and is second only to the smash as
an attacking shot.
4. Drop Shot – any shot that drops immediately after crossing the net. The
descent of the bird is controlled with little follow-through.
5. Net Shot – any shot played as near to the net as possible, controlled by wrist
and forearm. The hairpin shot is an example of a net shot.

D. Serves
1. High and deep (singles) – take a position near and on the proper side of the
center line and about four feet behind the short service line. Drop the bird on
the racket side and swing the racket forward.
2. Low and short (doubles) – take a position closer to the front service line.
The racket is swung forward with little follow-through.
3. Drive (flick) – a quick snap of the wrist in the backhand grip with the
bird held directly in front of the body. The bird travels in a direct line at
the receiver.
E. Flight Patterns (left to right)

A = underhand clear/high single serve F = hairpin net shot

B = short serve G = smash
C = underhand drop shot H = overhead drop hot
D = overhead clear I = net shot
E = high doubles serve J = drive

Playing Strategy
A. Singles – serve long most of the time. Return a high serve with a drop or clear.
Build the game plan on a basis of alternate drop and clear shots, and then
use the smash/drive as openings occur. Run your opponent from the front
to back and from side to side of the court.

B. Doubles – make shots, the return of which will leave an opening for your
partner to play a winning shot. Never play a shot that leaves your partner open
to smashes. Always make an attacking shot. This implies that all shots should
be hit down. Most serves should be short and low. Attack short serves when
receiving.
1. Side-by side – each partner is responsible for half of the playing court,
net to baseline.
2. Up-and-back – one member plays the front portion of the court, operating
from the centerline and just behind the short service line. The partner
plays the rear portion of the court from the centerline and just in front of
the double rear service line.
3. Up/back rotation – combines the two doubles’ strategies, using the side-
by-side position for defense, and up and back formation for attack.
Terminology
1. Alley – an extension of the width of the court on both sides to be used in
doubles play.
2. Backhand – any stroke made on the side of the body opposite the racket side.
3. Baseline – back boundary line.
4. Bird – the object that flies over the net, officially known as a shuttlecock.
5. Block – placing the racket in front of the bird and letting it rebound into the
opponent’s court.
6. Carry – momentarily holding the bird on the racket during the execution of a stroke.
7. Clear – a high shot that falls close to the baseline.
8. Double hit – contacting the bird twice in succession on the same stroke.
9. Doubles – a game of four players, two on each team.
10. Drive – a hard stroke that just clears the net on a horizontal plane.
11. Drop – a shot made that barely clears the net with little speed.
12. Fault – any violation of the rules whose penalty is loss of serve or the point.
13. Forehand – any stroke made on the racket side of the body.
14. Hairpin (net) stroke – shot made from below and very close to the net with the bird
just clearing the net and dropping sharply downward.
15. Home position – the ideal spot for awaiting the opponent’s return.
16. Let – a play allowed to be replayed.
17. Match – best two out of three games.
18. Odd and even courts – in singles, the right half of the court is “even” and the left half
of the court is the “odd.” When the even player is serving from the right the score is
even, and odd when serving from the left.
19. Rally – rapid returns made by players.
20. Ready position – an alert body position enabling quick movement in any direction.
21. Receiver – the player to whom the bird is served.
22. Server – the player who puts the bird in play.
23. Shuttlecock – the feathered/plastic object that is hit back and forth in badminton.
24. Singles – a game involving one player on each end of the court.
25. Sling – an untrue hit, usually because of the bird momentarily resting on the racket.
26. Smash – a powerful overhand stroke that sends the bird downward over the net.
27. Stroke – the action of striking the bird with the racket.
28. Toss/spin – the method of deciding which side will serve first at the beginning of the
match.
↓ Back Boundary Line/Baseline ↓
↓ Singles Back Service Line ↓

↑ Double Back Service Line ↑

Badminton Court

↓ Singles Sideline ↓
↓ Doubles Sideline ↓

↓ Center Line ↓

↑ Short Service Line ↑

↑ Net ↑
Left
Alley

Right

Court
Court

Service
Service
References:

www.lths.net/cms/lib/IL01904810/Centricity/domain/165/units/Badminton.pdf

https://www.rulesofsport.com/sports/badminton.html