History
An 1804 depiction of battledore and shuttlecock
An 1854 depiction of battledore and shuttlecock by John Leech
Games employing shuttlecocks have been played for centuries across Eurasia[n 1] but the modern
game of badminton developed in the mid-19th century among the British as a variant of the
earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock. ("Battledore" was an older term for "racquet".)[3] Its
exact origin remains obscure. The name derives from the Duke of Beaufort's Badminton House
in Gloucestershire,[4] but why or when remains unclear. As early as 1860, a London toy dealer
named Isaac Spratt published a booklet titled Badminton BattledoreA New Game but
unfortunately no copy has survived.[5] An 1863 article in The Cornhill Magazine describes
badminton as "battledore and shuttlecock played with sides, across a string suspended some five
feet from the ground".[6]
The game may have originally developed among expatriate officers in British India,[7] where it
was very popular by the 1870s.[5] Ball badminton, a form of the game played with a wool ball
instead of a shuttlecock, was being played in Thanjavur as early as the 1850s[8] and was at first
played interchangeably with badminton by the British, the woollen ball being preferred in
windy or wet weather.
Early on, the game was also known as Poona or Poonah after the garrison town of Pune,[7][9]
where it was particularly popular and where the first rules for the game were drawn up in 1873.[5]
[6][n 2]
By 1875, returning officers had started a badminton club in Folkestone. Initially, the sport
was played with sides ranging from 14 players but it was quickly established that games
between two or four competitors worked the best.[3] The shuttlecocks were coated with India
rubber and, in outdoor play, sometimes weighted with lead.[3] Although the depth of the net was
of no consequence, it was preferred that it should reach the ground.[3]
The sport was played under the Pune rules until 1887, when the J.H.E. Hart of the Bath
Badminton Club drew up revised regulations.[4] In 1890, Hart and Bagnel Wild again revised the
rules.[5] The Badminton Association of England published these rules in 1893 and officially
launched the sport at a house called "Dunbar"[n 3] in Portsmouth on 13 September.[11] The BAE
started the first badminton competition, the All England Open Badminton Championships for
gentlemen's doubles, ladies' doubles, and mixed doubles, in 1899.[4] Singles competitions were
added in 1900 and an EnglandIreland championship match appeared in 1904.[4]
England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New Zealand
were the founding members of the International Badminton Federation in 1934, now known as
the Badminton World Federation. India joined as an affiliate in 1936. The BWF now governs
international badminton. Although initiated in England, competitive men's badminton has
traditionally been dominated in Europe by Denmark. Worldwide, Asian nations have become
dominant in international competition. China, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South
Korea are the nations which have consistently produced world-class players in the past few
decades, with China being the greatest force in men's and women's competition recently.
Rules
The following information is a simplified summary of badminton rules based on the BWF
Statutes publication, Laws of Badminton.[12]
Court
Badminton court, isometric view
The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. Courts are usually marked for both
singles and doubles play, although badminton rules permit a court to be marked for singles only.
[12]
The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are of same length. The exception,
which often causes confusion to newer players, is that the doubles court has a shorter serve-
length dimension.
The full width of the court is 6.1 metres (20 ft), and in singles this width is reduced to
5.18 metres (17 ft). The full length of the court is 13.4 metres (44 ft). The service courts are
marked by a centre line dividing the width of the court, by a short service line at a distance of
1.98 metres (6 ft 6 inch) from the net, and by the outer side and back boundaries. In doubles, the
service court is also marked by a long service line, which is 0.76 metres (2 ft 6 inch) from the
back boundary.
The net is 1.55 metres (5 ft 1 inch) high at the edges and 1.524 metres (5 ft) high in the centre.
The net posts are placed over the doubles sidelines, even when singles is played.
The minimum height for the ceiling above the court is not mentioned in the Laws of Badminton.
Nonetheless, a badminton court will not be suitable if the ceiling is likely to be hit on a high
serve.
Serving
The legal bounds of a badminton court during various stages of a rally for singles and doubles
games
When the server serves, the shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the opponents'
court or it will count as a fault.
At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts (see
court dimensions). The server hits the shuttlecock so that it would land in the receiver's service
court. This is similar to tennis, except that a badminton serve must be hit below waist height and
with the racquet shaft pointing downwards, the shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce and in
badminton, the players stand inside their service courts unlike tennis.
When the serving side loses a rally, the serve immediately passes to their opponent(s) (this
differs from the old system where sometimes the serve passes to the doubles partner for what is
known as a "second serve").
In singles, the server stands in their right service court when their score is even, and in her/his
left service court when her/his score is odd.
In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve, but he/she changes
service courts so that she/he serves to a different opponent each time. If the opponents win the
rally and their new score is even, the player in the right service court serves; if odd, the player in
the left service court serves. The players' service courts are determined by their positions at the
start of the previous rally, not by where they were standing at the end of the rally. A consequence
of this system is that, each time a side regains the service, the server will be the player who did
not serve last time.
Scoring
Main article: Scoring system development of badminton
Each game is played to 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a rally
regardless of whether they served[12] (this differs from the old system where players could only
win a point on their serve and each game was played to 15 points). A match is the best of three
games.
If the score reaches 20-all, then the game continues until one side gains a two-point lead (such as
2422), except when there is a tie at 29-all, in which the game goes to a golden point. Whoever
scores this point will win.
At the start of a match, the shuttlecock is cast and the side towards which the shuttlecock is
pointing serves first. Alternatively, a coin may be tossed, with the winners choosing whether to
serve or receive first, or choosing which end of the court to occupy first, and their opponents
making the leftover the remaining choice.
In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game serve first. Matches are best out of three:
a player or pair must win two games (of 21 points each) to win the match. For the first rally of
any doubles game, the serving pair may decide who serves and the receiving pair may decide
who receives. The players change ends at the start of the second game; if the match reaches a
third game, they change ends both at the start of the game and when the leading player's or pair's
score reaches 11 points.
The server and receiver must remain within their service courts, without touching the boundary
lines, until the server strikes the shuttlecock. The other two players may stand wherever they
wish, so long as they do not block the vision of the server or receiver.
Lets
If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. Lets may occur
because of some unexpected disturbance such as a shuttlecock landing on court (having been hit
there by players playing in adjacent court) or in small halls the shuttle may touch an overhead
rail which can be classed as a let.
If the receiver is not ready when the service is delivered, a let shall be called; yet, if the receiver
attempts to return the shuttlecock, the receiver shall be judged to have been ready.
ANOTHER RULES OF BADMINTON
Toss
The rules of badminton states that a toss shall be conducted before a game starts. If you
win, you can choose between serving first or to start play at either end of the court. Your
opponent can then exercise the remaining choice.
Scoring system
The rules of badminton states that a badminton match shall consist of the best of 3
games. In doubles and men's singles, the first side to score 15 points wins the game. In
women's singles, the first side to score 11 points wins the game.
If the score becomes 14-all (10-all in women's singles), the side which first scored 14
(10) shall exercise the choice to continue the game to 15 (11) points or to 'set' the game
to 17 (13) points.
The side winning a game serves first in the next game. Only the serving side can add
a point to its score.
Recently BWF have been testing a new scoring format of 21 points per game on all
major Badminton competition and decided to replace the old format permanently.
Change of ends
The rules of badminton states that you have to change ends with your opponent
after finishing the first game. If a third game was to be played, you shall change
ends when the leading score reaches 6 in a game of 11 points or 8 in a game of 15
points.
Rules of Badminton - Singles
Serving and receiving courts
You shall serve from, and receive in, the right service court when you or
your opponent has scored an even number of points in that game.
You shall serve from, and receive in, the left service court when you or
your opponent has scored an odd number of points in that game.
You and your opponent will hit the shuttle alternately until a 'fault' is made
or the shuttle ceases to be in play.
Scoring and serving
You score a point and serve again from the alternate service court when your
opponent makes a 'fault' or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it
touches the surface of your opponent's side of court.
No points will be scored when you make a 'fault' or the shuttles ceases to be
in play because it touches the surface of your side of court. The serving
right will then be transferred to your opponent.
Rules of Badminton - Doubles
At the start of the game, and each time a side gains the right to serve, the
service shall be delivered from the right service court. Only your opponent
standing diagonally opposite of you shall return the service.
Should your opponent's partner touched or hit the shuttle, it shall be a 'fault'
and your side scores a point.
Order of play and position on court
After the service is returned, either you or your partner may hit the shuttle
from any position on your side of the net. Then either player from the
opposing side may do the same, and so on, until the shuttle ceases to be in
play.
Scoring and serving
If you are serving or receiving first at the start of any game, you shall serve
or receive in the right service court when your side or your opponent's
side scored an even number of points.
You shall serve from or receive in the left service court when your side or
your opponent's side has scored an odd number of points.
The reverse pattern shall apply to your partner.
In any game, the right to serve passes consecutively from the initial server to
the initial receiver, then to that initial's receiver's partner, then to the
opponent who is due to serve from the right service court, then to that
player's partner, and so on.
You shall not serve out of turn, receive out of turn, or receive two consecutive
services in the same game, except as provided in service court errors and
'lets'.
Service court errors
A service court error has been made when a player has served out of turn,
has served from the wrong service or standing on the wrong service court
while being prepared to receive the service and it has been delivered.
If a service court error is discovered after the next service had been
delivered, the error shall not be corrected. If a service court error is
discovered before the next service is delivered, the following rules apply.
If both sides committed an error, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the
error and won the rally, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and
lost the rally, the error shall not be corrected.
If there is a 'let' because of a service court error, the rally is replayed with
the error corrected. If a service court error is not to be corrected, play in that
game shall proceed without changing the player's new service courts.
Faults
The rules of badminton consider the following as faults:
- If the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court, passes through or under
the net, fail to pass the net, touches the ceiling or side walls, touches the person or
dress of a player or touches any other object or person.
- If the initial point of contact with the shuttle is not on the striker's side of the net.
(The striker may, however, follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the
course of a stroke.)
- If a player touches the net or its supports with racket, person or dress, invades an
opponent's court over the net with racket or person except as permitted.
- If a player invades an opponent's court under the net with racket or person such
that an opponent is obstructed or distracted or obstructs an opponent, that is
prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is followed over
the net.
- If a player deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or
making gestures.
- If the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution
of a stroke.
- If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player with two strokes.
- If the shuttle is hit by a player and the player's partner successively or touches a
player's racket and continues towards the back of that player's court.
- If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences under Law of
Continuous Play, Misconduct, Penalties.
- If, on service, the shuttle is caught on the net and remains suspended on top, or,
on service, after passing over the net is caught in the net.
Lets
'Let' is called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire), to halt play.
A 'let' may be given for any unforeseen or accidental occurrence.The rules of
badminton consider the following as 'lets':
- If a shuttle is caught in the net and remains suspended on top or, after passing
over the net, is caught in the net, it shall be a 'let' except on service.
- If, during service, the receiver and server are both faulted at the same time, it
shall be a 'let'.
- If the server serves before the receiver is ready, it shall be a 'let'.
- If, during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from
the rest of the shuttle, is shall be a 'let'.
- If a line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a decision, it shall be
a 'let'.
- A 'let' may occur following a service court error. When a 'let' occurs, the play since
the last service shall not count and the player who served shall serve again, except
where in situations where the Law of Service Court Errors is applicable.
Shuttle not in play
A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net and remains attached there or
suspended on top.
A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net or post and starts to fall towards the
surface of the court on the striker's side of the net.
A shuttle is not in play when it hits the surface of the court or a 'fault' or 'let' has
occurred.
Continuous play, misconduct, penalties
Play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, except
as allowed in intervals not exceeding 90 seconds between the first and second
games, and not exceeding 5 minutes between the second and third games.
Officials and appeals
The referee is in overall charge of the tournament. The umpire, where appointed, is
in charge of the match, the court and its immediate surrounds. The umpire shall
report to the referee. The service judge shall call service faults made by the server
should they occur. A line judge shall indicate whether a shuttle landed 'in' or 'out' on
the line or lines assigned. An official's decision is final on all points of fact for which
that official is responsible.
An umpire shall:
- Upload and enforce the Rules of Badminton and, especially, call a 'fault' or 'let'
should either occur.
- Give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the next
service is delivered.
- Ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress of the match.
- Appoint or remove line judges or a service judge in consultation with the referee.
- Where another court official is not appointed, arrange for that official's duties to be
carried out.
- Where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out the official's duties or play a
'let'.
- Record and report to the referee all matters in relation to continuous play,
misconduct and penalties.
- Take to the referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only. (Such appeals
must be made before the next service is delivered, or, if at the end of the game,
before the side that appeals has left the court.)
HEALTHY BENEFITS OF BADMINTON
Badminton is a game which can be easily played by people of any age group
without much difficulty. All you need is two rackets, one cork, a place and of
course, two players. You dont always need a net or a court room to play this
game. Many a times you come across people playing badminton making and
even breaking their own rules. Thats another benefit. You play it on your
own rules unless you see yourself as a badminton player. Lets have a look
on some great health benefits of playing badminton.
You dont always need a net or a court room to play this game. Many a times
you come across people playing badminton making and even breaking their
own rules. Thats another benefit. You play it on your own rules unless you
see yourself as a badminton player. Lets have a look on some great health
benefits of playing badminton.
Lets have a look on some great health benefits of playing badminton.
You Lose Weight
All of us are fascinated by the way celebrities maintain themselves. We sometimes just dream to
get into that shape one day and get rid of those extra pounds which we are carrying around. So
that we can finally wear the dress which we always dreamt of.
But we are too lazy to cut out some tasty snacks from our diet or include exercise in our daily
routine. You know what? No need of all these. Without going through all this stuff, you still can
lose weight just by playing badminton.
You can easily burn 480 calories just by playing badminton for an hour. This is regarded as the
highest among all other sports.
So if you play this game everyday just for an hour or so, you would easily loose 4kgs within a
month.
All your muscles are actively used in playing this game helping you easily burn more calories. If
we devote the same amount of time for running, then we burn only half of this, i.e. 240 calories.
You get Toned Muscles and be in Shape
Now, we all want to get rid of that belly fat we got because of those tasty treats, accompanied by
our enmity with workout and get toned muscles. Sometimes we put too much pressure on
ourselves just to think or maybe attempt to get a toned and healthy body. But it takes too much of
devotion which again, is not our cup of tea. This is exactly where badminton comes to your
rescue, yet again.
Every time you hit a shot in badminton, be it smash or even a drop, its contributing in toning
your body.
Playing badminton just for half an hour daily will help you get rid of that stubborn belly fat. Not
just belly fat, it works great for calves, butt, quads, and hamstrings as well.
Makes you Stronger
You might be surprised to know that badminton actually helps you in increasing the density of
your bone as well as it makes you stronger than before.
Actually playing badminton brings complete body into an active state. It helps in growth of those
cells that form bone. Also, it helps in compiling the calcium matrix that is responsible for
strengthening our overall complete physical appearance.
Improves Rate of Metabolism
Knowingly or unknowingly, we get a lot of toxins inside our body. We try different methods to
flush these toxins from our body, starting from drinking more water, to drinking some prescribed
juices which might taste horrible to some. Without taking so much pain, we can easily get rid of
all these toxins just by playing badminton. Actually, playing badminton makes our body
habituated of sweating naturally. This sweating makes you easily get rid of all those toxins and
makes you feel light-headed and burden-free.
Playing badminton makes our body habituated of sweating naturally. This kind of workout
sweating helps you easily get rid of all those unwanted toxins and makes you feel light-headed
and burden-free.
Improves Concentration
Imagine improving concentration without any meditation, or continuously focusing on
something when your mind is trying its level best to wander somewhere else. All you have to do
is just play badminton.
The logic behind this fact is that when you play this game, your complete concentration is on the
cork and winning. You just aim to hit it, thats it. This in turn helps you to be more focused, alert
and agile. It also prepares our body to recover from physical stress.
Can Achieve Optimum Heart Function
Heart problem is an issue which we find nowadays in almost every household. High levels of
cholesterol clog the walls of the patients heart which in turn disrupts their normal functioning of
the heart. But now we can easily control our cholesterol through badminton. That doesnt mean
you leave all your prescribed medications and quit taking proper rest, and start playing instead.
Playing badminton daily for atleast for 20-30 minutes makes your heart muscles stronger by
reducing the chances of high cholesterol level. In fact, people with pre-existing heart condition
can also improve just by playing this game but under medical supervision.
You are Less Likely to be Diabetic
Who doesnt love sweets? But many a times we restrict ourselves from delicious sweet dishes
just because we want to maintain safe distance from being diabetic. The best part is, you need not
punish yourself anymore. Again, playing badminton can solve your problem.
Playing this game for an hour decreases the blood sugar levels of our body as we know that our
body is completely engaged in a physical activity. In addition to this, it makes our liver produce
less sugar, finally making it less susceptible to diseases.
Remedy for Hypertension
People who wish to control their blood pressure without any drugs or medication should try
playing badminton. It is advised to play this game only and only if your health supports you. Any
serious health condition needs proper medical supervision along with badminton.
When we play badminton, it makes our heart rate drop a few beats per minute and this in turn,
reduces our blood pressure. This is very helpful for hypertensive people. In this way people can
easily control their blood pressure without any medications. Even if they take medications,
comparatively lesser amounts will be needed.
Improves Mental Health
Badminton is a game which will not only groom your physical health but will help you improve
your mental health as well. A person who plays badminton on a regular basis feels more fit,
strong, active, and encouraged all the time.
Basically badminton brings your complete body
into action state. It helps in the progress of different indexes of physio-psychologic functioning.
It makes people more flexible. People who play this game for an hour daily are more attentive,
adjusted and also have more active cardiovascular and neuro-humoral responses to mental stress.
Badminton can also help you overcome fewer symptoms of anxiety and depression.
Body Building
Badminton is an exercise in itself. It as a merger of other sports like running, jumping and is
completely based on fast-paced movements. It makes our body more flexible and increases our
speed.
If you want to have great body then try playing badminton for few hours. This game gives a wide
range of continuous motion to our complete body. It not only tones our legs, buttocks, arms,
shoulders, back, and stomach but the constant force applied also improves and strengthens legs
and arms.
After reading this complete article all you need to do is start playing right now. Badminton is a
very simple game with amazing health benefits. There are many more health benefits of playing
this game, but instead of reading those why dont you start playing and discover all those
benefits on your own?
