Badminton

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Overview

History
Badminton, prominently known as Shuttlecock, is an age old game that has its origin about 2000 years ago
in parts of Europe and Asia. Numerous games and pastimes evolved, usually on a continuous rebound
principle or passing between partners. Where competition was involved, codes and laws had to be agreed,
firstly at local level and then, as travel became easier, at national and then international level. Badminton
emerged as a gentle parlour game, but has developed to a level where the world’s top players are superb,
highly trained athletes. The characteristics of the modern game are created by the uniqueness of the
shuttlecock, the court area, the height of the net and the light rackets. Badminton was mostly played by the
higher society of England as a pastime and the game was mostly practiced by hitting the shuttlecock
forward and backward. Rules similar to that of today’s Badminton were written in 1893 and the modern
game was popularized in England.
Objective
The objective of badminton is similar to that of other racket games. This game can be played in three
variants; singles, doubles, and mixed doubles. A shuttle cock is shot with a wired metal rimmed racket
across the net, called a serve, to player(s) on the other side of the court who try to send it back. Each
player tries to land the shuttle cock on the opposite teams while intercepting it on their side. The cock has
to fly over the net and reach the other side once a player hits it. The shuttlecock volleys among the players
to make a rally, and they hit it with their rackets till it lands on the court or till one of the players commits a
fault. The player scores a point if the opposite player misses the shuttle. These hits can either be smashes,
slow and light, or flat and low.

Team Size
Size is no barrier for forming a badminton team. In university level or junior college level, teams can either
be of single gender or mixed. Players from a school can form many teams and participate in the
tournament. Two players of the same or different gender can form a team and participate in doubles, while
single players can participate in singles tournaments.
Playing Environment
Badminton is usually played outdoors as the shuttlecock drag is higher and it is difficult to play in windy
weather conditions. As a recreational activity Badminton can be played outdoors.
Court Dimensions
Badminton court is rectangular and is divided into two equal symmetric halves by a net suspended from two
vertical posts fixed at either sides of the court. Courts are marked for singles and doubles, as they differ in
their dimensions; the doubles court is larger in breadth than a singles court and has a shorter serve-length
dimension.

The width of doubles court is 20 feet and that of singles court is 17 feet, and both are of the same 44 feet
length. A short service line is marked on either sides of the court at a distance of 6ft 6inches from the net. A
doubles long service line runs across the breadth of the court at 13 feet from the short service line, and the
end of the court marks the singles’ long service line.
A center line parallel to the length of the court divides each side of the court into two equal halves. A net is
suspended from poles at the centre on each side of the court on double sidelines. The bottom of the net is
at a height of 5 feet 1 inch from the ground at the edges and 5 feet at the center.
Equipment and Measurements
Apart from the Badminton Racket and Shuttlecock, one would normally get to see the following equipment
when a game is on.
Badminton Racket
Modern Badminton Rackets are light in weight and don’t weigh more than 100
grams. The frame of the Racket can be made of common metals like steel or
aluminium. Sometimes rackets are made of alloys, tough carbon fiber, ceramic, or
boron. Its length does not exceed 680mm and width does not exceed 230 mm.

Shuttlecock
Sixteen feathers fixed in a cork base enveloped in a thin leather sheet make a shuttlecock. Interestingly, the
best Badminton Shuttlecocks are made from feathers from the wing of a goose. The shuttle weighs between
4.74 to 5.50 grams.

Badminton Shoes

A good pair of Badminton Shoes provide good grip, cushioning and some flexibility at the
forefoot.

Badminton Accessories
The commonly used Badminton Accessories are Grip, Badminton Clothes, Socks, Wrist Band and Head Band.

Grip
A grip made of cloth or synthetic fiber absorbs sweat and provides you a drier feel.

Badminton Clothes
Comfortable T-shirts and shorts, that don’t hinder your movement are ideal to play Badminton. A cotton
round-neck or a collar t-shirts with a pair of light shorts are usually preferred.

Socks
Wear a pair of thick cotton socks as they help to absorb sweat. They also prevent your feet from slipping
inside your shoes. Avoid wearing Nylon socks that don’t absorb sweat.

Wrist Band
If you perspire a lot, you may consider getting a wrist band that prevents your sweat from flowing to your
racket handle.

Head Band
Wear a Head Band if you wear spectacles. It prevents your lenses from getting wet and also stops the sweat
and hair from getting into your eyes while playing.
Badminton Skills and Techniques
Badminton Shots (Forehand)
There are ONLY 3 types of shots: Clearing (or Lobbing), Drop Shots and Smash. Use lobs and drops to
weaken your opponent’s footwork and then dominate the game! When you’re putting constant pressure
your opponent, you can easily win a point.
1. Badminton Clear/Lob and Underarm Forehand Clear
Learn how to lob properly and your opponent won’t be able to return a powerful shot.
2. Badminton Drop
If you connect a proper drop shot, your opponent is less likely to execute a powerful shot too.
3. Badminton Smash and Badminton Jump Smash
Do not train the smash or jump smash until you have mastered the above shots. However a
powerful smash wins a point.
Badminton Shots (Backhand Variations)
A weak badminton backhand gives your opponent the chance to dominate a match. Know the correct
technique and sources of power for a badminton backhand.
1. Badminton Backhand Clear/ Lob and Undersarm Backhand Clear
Learn this together with other badminton shots. Use a backhand clear/lob to send the shuttle to the
back of the court!
2. Backhand Drop Shot
Learn how to counter your opponents’ attack to your backhand area with a backhand drop. Execute
this properly and it can be a quality offensive shot.
3. Badminton Backhand Smash
Surprise your opponent with a powerful backhand smash! Learn the correct technique to execute
this difficult shot.
Defending
Defending a Badminton Smash
Do you want to know how to return a shot if your opponent smashes? Here are tips to defend against a
powerful smash.
Badminton Defense: Defending Smashes and Powerful Shots
A more detailed tutorial with pictures to help you improve your defense against powerful shots and
smashes.
Basic Badminton Techniques
Badminton Footwork
Move around the badminton court in an organised manner. If you have good footwork, you’ll have
extraordinary agility and you’ll be able to return every shot from your opponent!
Badminton Serve
Before learning any other shots, know the correct technique for serving first. If you can serve well, your
opponent won’t be able to give a deadly return shot.
Gripping Technique
Learn how to grip your racket correctly – the most important basic technique!
Simplified Rules of Badminton (Badminton World Federation)
Scoring System
 A match consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points.
 Every time there is a serve – there is a point scored.
 The side winning a rally adds a point to its score.
 At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins that game.
 At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins that game.
 The side winning a game serves first in the next game.
Interval and Change of Ends
 When the leading score reaches 11 points, players have a 60 second interval.
 A 2 minute interval between each game is allowed.
 In the third game, players change ends when the leading score reaches 11 points.
Singles
 At the beginning of the game (0-0) and when the server’s score is even, the server serves from the
right service court. When the server’s score is odd, the server serves from the left service court.
 If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and then serves again from the alternate service
court.
 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 their score is odd, and right if it is even.
Doubles
 A side has only one ‘service’.
 The service passes consecutively to the players as shown in the diagram.
 At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the right service
court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left court.
 If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same server serves again
from the alternate service court.
 If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving side becomes the
new serving side.
 The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their side is
serving.

Note:
 If players commit an error in the service court, the error is corrected when the mistake is discovered.
 In a doubles match between A & B against C & D. A & B won the toss and decided to serve. A to serve
to C. A shall be the initial server while C shall be the initial receiver.
Fouls
 Players should hit the shuttle only from their side of the court.
 Players should not touch the net or slide under it.
 The racket of a player should not land on the opposing team’s side.
 The shuttle should never hit players, even outside the boundaries.
 In Doubles, the shuttle shouldn’t hit a player or his clothing or his racket before his teammate hits it.
 Both feet of a player should be on the ground while serving and receiving the service.
Note that this means:
 As in singles, the order of server depends on whether the score is odd or even.
 The service court is changed by the servicing side only when a point is scored. In all other cases, the
players continue to stay in their respective service court from where they played the previous rally.
This guarantees an alternate server.
Terminologies in Badminton
1. Attacking clear − An offensive player makes this stroke when he shoots the shuttlecock deep into
the opponent’s court.
2. Backcourt − Back one thirds of the court before the boundary lines on either sides of the net.
3. Backhand − The stroke that returns shuttle cock to the left of a right-handed player and to the
right of a left-handed player.
4. Base position − A singles player tries to return to the center of the court during the play; it is also
called Base position of the player.
5. Baseline − The line that marks the boundary at the breadth of court.
6. Carry − If the shuttle gets stuck for a while in the wires before getting released, the stroke the
player makes with the racket is called a carry, sling, or throw and is considered illegal.
7. Drive − A fast shot when the shuttle flies straight over the net but close to it.
8. Drop shot − A clever shot when the player rapidly drops the shuttle close to the net to the
opponent's court.
9. Feint − Any pretend shot or movement also called as "balk" that unsettles an opponent before or
during the serve.
10. Flick − A quick wrist-and-forearm rotation that changes the course of a soft shot into a fast one and
surprises the opponent.
11. Forecourt − The front one thirds of the half court on both sides of the net, between the net and
the short service line.
12. Forehand − The stroke that returns a racket to the right side of a right-handed player and to the
left side of a left-handed player.
13. Game − A game is finished when a player or team scores enough points to win a single contest; it is
a part of a set.
14. Hairpin net shot − The trajectory of racket is hairpin shaped when a player lifts it from falling close
to the net and sends it to the other side where it drops sharply close to the net.
15. Half court shot − A low shot to the midcourt, usually used in doubles game.
16. High clear − A deep shot by a defending player to the opponent’s court.
17. Kill − The shuttlecock is shot very fast; so that, it cannot be returned.
18. Let − A minor violation of the rules when the referee allows players to replay the rally.
19. Long Service Line − In singles it is same as the boundary line at the breadth. In doubles the line is
2.5 feet inside the singles line. The serve should not go past this line.
20. Match − A series of games where a winner emerges at the end.
21. Midcourt − One third middle part of court between the net and the back boundary line on either
sides of the net.
22. Net shot − A shot hit high from the forecourt close to the net that just flings the shuttlecock over
the net and drops it sharply.
23. Passing shot − Any shot passing the shuttlecock to the opposing player or team.
24. Push shot − A slight wrist movement that gently shoots the shuttlecock.
25. Service court − The area into which a service must be delivered; this is different for singles and
doubles.
26. Short service line − The line marked at 1.98 meters from the net in service courts where player
plays in a singles game.
27. Singles sideline − The side boundary of a singles court.
28. Smash − A hard-hit overhead shot into the opponent’s court that pushes the shuttlecock
downwards very fast.
29. Wood shot − A shot with the frame of a racket.
30. Short Serve − This kind of serve is mostly used in Doubles. The shuttle cock barely clears the net
and lands close to the serve line.
31. Long Serve − This kind of serve is mostly used in Singles. The shuttlecock reaches far and deep
into the court.
QUIZ: BADMINTON d. Serve

Multiple Choice.

Read the question carefully and then True or False


circle the correct answer(s). Circle the correct answer.
1. In what two continents does badminton 1. The side that lost the game is the side
find its origins? (Circle the two correct that serves first in the next match.
choices) (True/False)
a. Africa 2. A point is scored on every rally.
b. South America (True/False)
c. Asia 3. When beginning a game of badminton
d. Europe the first serve is served on the left.
(True/False)
2. In badminton, performers play a rally
until they have reached this score.
a. 15 Labeling
b. 12
c. 21 Label on the pictures where the following
d. 20 items are. (2pts.)
3. Which one of the following is not a way
badminton can be played. 1. Doubles Court:
a. Singles a) Short service line
b. Doubles
b) Long service line
c. Squads of 4
d. Mixed doubles c) Net
4. How many times can you hit the shuttle
before you have to send it back over the
net?
a. 4
b. 3
c. 2
d. 1
5. The stroke used to put the shuttlecock
into play at the start of each rally; also
called a "service".
a. Drop Shot
b. Clear
c. Smash

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