NOTES IN HEALTH-OPTIMIZING PHYSICAL EDUCATION - 11

Badminton: A Speed Sport

What is Badminton?
Badminton is a court game in which a light feathered object (called a shuttlecock) is hit over a net by players
using light rackets.

A sport that can be played in singles, doubles and mixed doubles. A game is won when a player/s reach a
score of 21 points. In case of a deuce (20-all), one has to gain a two-point advantage over the other. But in case of a
29-all score, the first to reach 30 will win the set. A match is won by winning two out of three sets. Scoring follows a
rally point system.
It is an interesting game as well as it is beneficial because this kind of sport can enhance your fitness
components like speed, endurance and agility. The objective of the game: “Don’t let the shuttlecock fall/touched on
the ground.
Brief History and Nature of the Game
Badminton started as a children’s game in Medieval England. First known as “battledore and shuttlecock,” It
was later adopted as “Poona” in Pune, India during the British colonization of the country.
The game was launched officially as a sporting event by the Duke of Beaufort at the Badminton House in
Gloucestershire where it got its name. Gloucestershire became the base of the International Badminton Federation
(IBF), the world’s original governing body of the sport.
Founded in 1934, it is now known as Badminton World Federation (BWF). The sport was introduced at the
Barcelona Olympic in 1992.
Facilities and Equipment
I. Court
 The court is a rectangular area where badminton is played.
 The court measures 44x17 ft.(singles event) and 44x20 ft. (doubles event)
 The line shall be easily distinguishable and preferably be colored white or yellow.
II. Post
The posts are placed on the side boundary lines of the court. Each have a height of 1.55 meters from the
floor. They should be sufficiently firm to remain vertical and keep the net tight.
III. Net
The net used is 5’1” high and 20 ft. wide. It is made of fine, dark colored cord with a mesh (thickness) of not less than
15 mm and not more than 20 mm. It must be at least 6.1 meters wide and stretched from post to post. The top of the
net from the surface is 1.524 meters at the center of the court and 1.55 meters at the posts.
IV. Shuttlecock
The shuttle has 16 feathers fixed in a base.
The feathers can have a variable length from 64 mm to 70 mm, but in each shuttle, they shall be the same length
when measured from the tip to top of the base. The base shall be 25 mm to 28 mm in diameter, rounded on the
bottom.
The shuttle shall weigh from 4.74 to 5.50 grams. The shuttlecock is made up of a cone shape with a hard cork at its
tip. Shuttlecocks can be made from a variety of materials -- more expensive models are actually made from feathers,
and less expensive models are made from plastic feathers. The main racket parts are called the handle, the stringed
area, the head, the shaft, the throat and the frame.
V. Racket
The main racket parts are called the handle, the stringed area, the head, the shaft, the throat and the frame.
The handle is the part of the racket intended to be gripped by the player. The stringed area is the part of the racket
with which it is intended the player to hit the shuttle. The head bounds the stringed area. The shaft connects the
handle to the head. Throat (if present) connects the shaft to the head. The frame is the name given to the head,
throat, shaft, and handle taken together. The frame of the racket shall not exceed 680 mm in overall length and 230
mm in overall width. The stringed area shall not exceed 280 mm in overall length and 220 mm in overall width.
The Benefits of Playing the Sport
Badminton as a sport does not only provide a fun and challenging way to test one’s strength, agility,
intelligence, and sportsmanship.

The Health Benefits

1. It helps relieve stress and anxiety and promotes restful sleep.
2. It encourages a positive body image.
3. It provides opportunities for control over attitude and leadership.
4. It builds relationship and social networks.
5. It lowers blood pressure, increases good cholesterol and lessens bad cholesterol.

It also involves the Four Dimensions of Health of a Person

1. Physical Dimension
2. Emotional Dimension
3. Intellectual Dimension
4. Social Dimension

Physical Dimension
It enhances the metabolism of the body which in turn is a factor in losing weight.

Emotional Dimension
Players control their feelings during games. Since a sport is fun, the emotional well-being is improved.

Intellectual Dimension
Playing with strategies and tactics.

Social Dimension
Seen when players build good relationships. Trusting your teammate builds camaraderie and teamwork.
The Service
The stroke used to initiate play.
It is used to begin each point in the match.
It begins as a defensive play, in which you must strike the shuttle below the waist and hit upward
over the net. This makes it a defensive stroke.
Types of Service
1. Long Short Serve – bird should just clear the net and fall an inch or two beyond short service line of
opponent’s court.

2. Long High Serve – Bird travels above the receiving reach and falls within six inches of rear boundary line.

3. Drive Serve – Made by a quick flip of wrist and bird travels in a direct line to the desired spot.

THE GRIP
Correct gripping is the most vital factor in Badminton and in winning matches. The grip is made near the end
of the handle, the side panel of which should bisect the angle of the thumb and forefinger. The grip is neither tight
nor loose, but firm and pliant, strengthening as the swing progresses. It is also the basis of free effective wrist action.

Two Kinds of Grip

1. Forehand Grip
This universal grip is similar to the eastern forehand grip in tennis with the “V” formed by the thumb or index
finger on the top level of the racket grip.

2. Backhand Grip
Show the basic position of the hand in the racket except the thumb has been slightly raised along the top of
the handle. This allows the thumb to push the racket through the air and provides greater force and speed.
a. Wrist Work
 This is a swing within a swing, or the wrist flip accentuating the arm stroke.
 The wrist remains cocked on the forward swing until just before the bird is hit.
 At the time of contact between the racket and the bird, there should be a straight line from the shoulder
through the elbow and the wrist to the end of the racket.
 As the arm continues forward, the wrist continues to bend until the entire swing is completed.

b. Footwork and Position

 All shots are played with the body at right angles to the net.
 On the forehand shot, the left foot is forward or nearer the net.
 On the backhand shot, the right foot is forward or nearer the net. When the racket is swung, the weight is in
the rear foot.
 Weight is transferred smoothly to the forward foot when racket is swung forward to add power to the stroke
and have more control of it.
 Then, moving forward to where the shot is to be made, start with short steps for a quick start and end with
long strides.
 In moving to the back court, one can back-paddle, turn and run, or skip with the right foot going to the right
side or with the left foot going to the left side.

c. Body Control
 Develop the ability to get away from the bird for complete freedom of movement in extending the arm and
the racket at the moment of contact.
 It is best to meet the shuttlecock and play it as soon as possible after it has crossed the net.

d. Ready Position
 Never stand flat-footed; the weight of the body should be on the balls of feet.
 Knees should be slightly bent.
 Elbows should be held at a considerable distance away from body, and body is slightly crouched. Racket is
held with a forehand grip diagonally across the upper part of the body.

Basic Badminton Strokes

According to Point of Contact between Bird and Racket

1. The Forehand Stroke

Used when returning the bird from the right side of the body.
Note: Make a follow-through by moving the arm and the body toward the spot at which the bird is directed.

2. The Backhand Stroke

Used when returning the bird from the left side of the body.

3. The Overhand Stroke

Used when returning a high shot and in which the arm and the shoulder are fully extended.
4. Drop Shot
Any shot that drops immediately after crossing the net.
The overhand is the easiest stroke to use.
5. Net Shot
A drop shot that is played close to the net.
This should be played as near the net as possible and facing the net almost squarely.
6. Drive
A flat shot that is kept as low as possible to have the opponent run from side to side.
7. Smash
An attacking shot made with all the power and speed one can put into it.
8. Clear the Lob
A defensive shot used to keep opponent away from the net when caught off balance or out of position or
when in doubt as to what the shot should be played.
Use either the forehand or backhand grip.
 Definition of Terms

1. Ace - a good serve that the opponent is unable to hit or touch with his racket
2. Backhand - any stroke made on the side of the body opposite the racket side
3. Bird - the shuttlecock
4. Clear - a high shot which falls close to the backline. Another term for lob
5. Drive - a hard horizontal stroke that is straight and close to the net
6. Drop - a low shot close to the net made from the back court that falls or drops sharply
immediately
after crossing the net
7. Fault - any infraction of the rules resulting in loss of the server or the point
8. Forehand - any stroke made on the racket side of the body
9. Let - a bird which touches the top of the net and falls in the proper side of the court
10. Match - consists of three games, unless otherwise agreed
11. Net Flight - a shot in which the bird follows the net in a short flight
12. Rally - a heated return of the bird several times or the continuous stroking of the bird back and
forth across
13. Serve - to put the bird in play
14. Service Over - loss of service
15. Setting the Game - chasing how many points to play when the score becomes tied as in 13-all or 14-all

Prepared by:

Mrs. Carol Estrada Gavilla

Senior High School HOPE Teacher
Guimbal National High School