 What is Badminton & give the history of Badminton.

Brief History of Badminton – What is Badminton?

Badminton is one of the racquet sports requiring players to hit a shuttlecock across a net with a racket
inside a badminton court. Generally, it comes in 2 forms:

“Singles”, a 1 vs 1 game and

“Doubles”, a 2 vs 2 games.

You can play badminton in both indoor or outdoor environments, however, most of the world-class
competitions are held in an indoor area because they want to reduce the influence caused by external
factors such as wind and lights to the minimum level.

History of Badminton

Origin of Badminton

Badminton could be traced back to more than 2000 years ago to the ancient game called battledore (bat
or paddle) and shuttlecock (also called “bird” or “birdie”), similar games were played for centuries across
Eurasia countries such as Greece, Egypt, China, India, and Japan.

From the 1600s, battledore and shuttlecock was just a game involving 2 persons hitting a shuttlecock
towards each other as many times as possible before it hit the ground and it used to be an upper-class
game in Europe, including England.

Nowadays, You can still find a similar game in Japan which is called Hanetsuki, it’s a very popular new
year’s game involving a wooden paddle called hagoita and a shuttle called hane.

 What are the facilities & equipment of Badminton.

1. Badminton Racket

Badminton rackets can be made from several types of materials. Depending on the material selection,
this can result in different combinations of racket weight, balance points and string tensions. With so
many different combinations, it will take time to decide which is most suited for your playing style.

Instead of making purchases online, pop by a badminton shop. Ask for assistance and select a racket
that you feel comfortable with. Swing the racket around to get a good feel of its overall weight and grip.

Some popular badminton brands are Yonex, ProKennex, Wilson, ProTech and Li-Ning.

2. Shuttlecock

There are two types of shuttlecocks - plastic and feathered shuttlecocks.

Plastic shuttlecocks are far more durable compared to the feathered types which are commonly used.
However, plastic shuttlecocks are only recommended for beginners who are just starting out. This is
because feathered shuttlecocks are expensive and fray easily especially if the wrong technique is used.
Hence, plastic shuttlecocks are good for beginners to use for training. Plastic shuttlecocks are usually
used by young children who play badminton for recreation.

Plastic shuttlecocks tend to travel shorter distances as they are heavier. Hence, they are good for
building strength as you make the transition to feathered shuttlecocks. Most people will progress to
using feathered shuttlecocks as they are used at all competitive tournaments.

3. Badminton Shoes

Badminton shoes are designed to give you better traction and grip to stop in time to return a shot. They
should also be lightweight have good cushioning to absorb impact when you jump or land.

Regular players will find heel cups useful to prolonging the lifespan of your shoes.

Do not wear jogging shoes as they usually lack grip and traction. You might end up crashing through the
badminton net if you are unable to stop in time to receive a drop shot.

4. Badminton Attire

For casual to non-competitive players, a comfortable pair of shorts and cotton or dri-fit t-shirt is
sufficient. Some players may want to equip themselves with hand grips, wrist bands and ankle guards.

Each of these items serve a purpose and might also add a dash of colour to the entire get-up.

When it comes to badminton equipment, select what is appropriate before turning your attention to
aesthetics.

 Give the definition of terms of Badminton.

Alley - Extension of the court by l 1/2 feet on both sides for doubles play.

Back Alley - Area between the back boundary line and the long service line for doubles.

Backcourt - Back third of the court, in the area of the back boundary lines.

Balk - Any deceptive movement that disconcerts an opponent before or during the service; often called
a "feint."

Baseline - Back boundary line at each end of the court, parallel to the net.

Carry - An illegal tactic, also called a sling or throw, in which the shuttle is caught and held on the
racquet and then slung during the execution of a stroke.

Center or Base Position - Location in the center of the court to which a singles player tries to return after
each shot.

Center Line - Line perpendicular to the net that separates the left and right service courts.

Clear - A shot hit deep to the opponent’s back boundar>Nine. The high clear is a defensive shot, while
the flatter attacking clear is used offensively.
Court - Area of play, as defined by the outer boundary lines.

Drive - A fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net.

Drop - A shot hit sohly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net on the opponent’s side.

Fault - A violation of the playing rules, either in serving, receiving, or during play (see common faults
listed below).

Flick - A quick wrist and forearm rotation that surprises an opponent by changing an apparently soft shot
into a faster passing one; used primarily on the serve and at the net.

Forecourt - Front third of the court, between the net and the short service line.

Hairpin Net Shot - Shot made from below and very close to the net with the shuttle rising, just clearing
the net, and then dropping sharply down the other side. The shuttle’s flight approximates the shape of a
hairpin.

Halfcourt Shot - A shot hit low and to midcourt, used effectively in doubles against the up-and-back
formation.

Kill - Fast, downward shot that cannot be returned; a "putaway." Let - A legitimate cessation of play to
allow a rally to be replayed. Long Service Line - In singles, the back boundary line.1n doubles a line 2 l/2
feet inside the back boundary line. The serve may not go past this line.

Match - A series of games (at U.S. Olympic Festival-’93 it is three out of five), to determine a winner.
Midcourt - The middle third of the court, halfway between the net and the back boundary line.

Net Shot - Shot hit from the forecourt that just clears the net and drops sharply.

Push Shot - Gentle shot played by pushing the shuttle with little wrist motion, usually from net or
midcourt to the opponent’s midcourt.

Racquet - Instrument used by playerto hit shuttlecock Weight:About3 ounces. Length: 27 inches. Made
of: Ceramic, graphite, or boron frame; beef-gut string. Cost: $60-$175 (unstrung).

Rally - Exchange of shots while the shuttle is in play.

Serve or Service - Stroke used to put shuttlecock into play at the start of each rally.

Service Court - Area into which the serve must be delivered. Different for singles and doubles play.

Short Service Line - The line 6 l/2 feet from the net which a serve must reach to be legal.

Shuttlecock - Official name for the object that players hit. Also known as "birdie." Weight: .17-.l9
ounces. Made of: 16 goose feathers attached to a corktip covered with goat skin. Cost: $1.50-$2.00.
Usually lasts for no more than two games. The heavier the shuttlecock, the faster it flies. Flies faster in
higher temperatures and at higher altitudes.

Smash - Hard-hit overhead shot that forces the shuttle sharply downward. Badminton’s primary
attacking stroke.
Wood Shot - Shot that results when the base of the shuttle is hit by the frame of the racquet. Once
illegal, this shot was ruled acceptable by the International Badminton Federation in 1963.

 What are the Basic Badminton strokes.

1. Overhead Forehand Stroke: This is probably the most common badminton stroke, and many
beginners are usually comfortable in using this, particularly for stronger badminton shots.

2. Overhead Backhand Stroke: The stroke is slightly harder for beginners because you are required to
face your body in a backward position to shoot effectively.

3. Underarm Forehand Stroke: This stroke lets you hit low badminton shots with a lot of force, but it can
be difficult to aim in the beginning stages.

5. Underarm Backhand Stroke: It is easier to perform this stroke than the overhead backhand
stroke because you will not have to turn your body backward
 What are the Basic used in Playing Badminton.

Hold the racket properly.

In badminton, this skill is essential for the player. The way you hit the shot depends on how you catch
the racket. Wrong holding will drive the shuttlecock in the wrong direction, and your service will not be
on the mark.

To hold the racket properly, think of the grip of the racket as someone’s hand. Like a firm handshake,
hold the grip in such a way like you hold a person’s hand.

Please do not hold the racket too tightly, as it will ruin the comfort of your wrist and adversely affect
your performance. Slowly press the thumb against the grip’s wide surface and hold the racket with the
rest of your hand.

Forehand and Backhand Grip

These are both basic grips used in forehand and backhand shots. The only dissimilarity among the shots
is the position of the fingers. For forehand grip, your index finger will control the racket on top of the
stroke.

Unlike regular grips, you do not need to press the thumb against the grip’s wide surface. Near the grip of
the racket, you can rest it anywhere. As for backhand grip, your thumb will be in charge of the stroke.
Adjust your thumb against the grip’s wide surface and move your index finger towards your middle
finger. It would help if you were skilled enough to switch grips quickly.

Footwork

The Badminton game is based on speed. You have to adjust your movement according to the speed of
the movement. If you’re very good at your footwork, you’re capable of scoring points speedily.

Proper footwork will help control your side in the court. You will save time and energy while playing.
Since the footwork is correct, you will have no problem hitting fast a shuttlecock that’s coming in any
direction.

The six key pieces of footwork for badminton are positioning yourself at the net, moving to your
opponent’s backhand or forehand side, covering their mid-court and rear court.

Serving

Serving early is very crucial for you to win the rally. It would be best if you were good to serve to prevent
the opponent from firing an attacking shot. It is important to learn all kinds of badminton services not to
miss an issue after the service.

High badminton Serving

This is used when you want your opponent to go backward by tapping the shuttlecock on the court’s
back end. This will prevent your opponent from shooting a smash at you. Learn about the badminton
court dimensions.

Low badminton Serving

The low badminton serving is exploited while you need your opponent to move forward by hitting a
shuttlecock in their frontcourt. This will allow your opponent to come under the shuttle and prevent you
from making any offensive shots.

Flick serve

This is used to convince your opponent that you are hitting the low serve.

Badminton Posture
When you are going to get an incoming shot from your opponent, a badminton posture is essential.
Three types of posture are used during certain situations to take advantage of the rally. Steps to make
trends are also mentioned.

Attack

The first is an attacking posture. You have to go behind the shuttlecock, rotate your body to the side
court in an angular form, raise both your arms, move your whole body weight in the racket legs by
opening your legs wide, and hit the shuttlecock.

Defensive

The second is a defensive posture. Open your legs wide, bend your knees slightly, keep flexing your
upper body, raise both your arms, and defend. Use only when you are going to run a high clear or high
service.

Net Posture

The last one is a clear trend. You have to keep your racket foot forward and the non-racket foot
backward. Hold your racket and place it in front of your body within a small distance on top of the
weight height.

Body balance

For body balance, use a hand other than the racket and finally, use your body weight and hold it slightly
forward to get ready. Use this only when you see that your opponent will hit a net shot. Use the net kill
for a full counter-attack.