Overview and History
Badminton is a racket sport Badminton originated in
that is played on a court India in the mid-1800’s.
divided by a net five feet Its popularity increased
high. when English army officers
stationed in India transported
The game is played with a
the game to England.
shuttlecock (“bird”).
In England it was called
Can be played as singles or “badmintin”.
doubles. Eventually it spread to the
The object of the game is to United States.
hit the shuttlecock over the
net so that eventually the
opponent is unable to return
the shot.
Safety
1. Make sure to always have a firm
grip on the racket.
2. Be careful not to hit your partner
with the racket.
3. Stay on your own court.
4. Stop playing if others enter your
court.
5. If your bird goes into another
court, wait until their play stops.
6. Be careful and aware of your
surroundings (poles,walls, etc.)
7. The rackets are not toys, so no
fooling around.
Equipment
Rackets are fragile.
Avoid hitting the floor, walls, posts,
nets, and other people.
Handle the shuttlecocks carefully and
only by their rubber tips.
If birds get stuck in the net remove
them carefully so that they don’t tear.
If your assigned racket is damaged
report it to your teacher at the
beginning of class.
If you don’t, you are held responsible for
the damage and will be fined.
Make sure to return your racket to its
numbered spot and bring all the
birdies back to the teacher.
Techniques
Serve – long or short Drive – A powerfully hit forehand
Forehand or backhand stroke which just clears
the top of the net.
For right handed players: A stroke Difficult to return due to the
hit when the shuttle is on the right shuttle’s straight line trajectory.
side of the body.
Clear – A stroke which sends the
For left handed players: A stroke hit shuttle high over the opponents head
when the shuttle is on the left side and drops near the backcourt
of the body. boundary line.
Round the head – An overhead It may be hit with and overhand or
stroke played on the left or underhand stroke.
backhand side of the body. Can be used as offensive or
defensive play.
Smash – A hard hit overhand stroke
with a fast downward path. Drop Shot – The shuttle is stroked
over the net so it drops very close to
It is a main attacking stroke. the net.
Scoring
Points are scored only by the
serving side.
A point is rewarded to the
serving side whenever the
other side commits a fault.
If a fault is committed by the
serving side, the server does
not score a point and loses the
serve.
Scoring continued
Doubles
There are 15 points in a doubles game.
Singles
When the score is 13 all, the side that reached 13 first has There are 11 points in a singles
the option of “setting” the game to 5.
If the score becomes 14 all, the side that reached 14 first
game.
has the option of “setting” the game to 3. When the score is 9 all, the first
After the game has been “set”, the score is called “love all”
and the side that first scores 5 or 3 points wins the game. person to reach 9 can “set” the
The option to “set” the game must be made before the next score to 3
service is delivered after the score has reached 13 all or 14
all. If the score is tied at 10, the first
person to reach 10 can “set” the
score to 2.
Serving
Doubles Singles
Serving always starts from the right court. A player can only score while
You continue to serve as long as you score.
serving.
The serving side switches courts after each
point. Each time they score a point, they
If a fault is made by the “in” side, the switch service courts.
server loses the serve. Whenever a players score is zero or
“In” side – the side that is serving
an even number, they serve from the
The side that starts the game only has one
service for the first inning. right side service court.
Meaning, only one partner serves for the When the server’s score is an odd
first inning.
number they serve from the left side
After the first inning each side has two
serves. service court.
Meaning, each partner serves and continues
to serve as long as they score.
If a partner loses the serve, the serve goes to
the other partner.
Serving Rules
The server must keep both feet A serve that touches the net and
within the service court during the goes into the proper service area
serve. is legal.
The serve must be underhand and If the server misses the shuttle
the shuttle must be contacted entirely on the serve, it is not a
below the waist. fault and they can serve again.
The shuttle must be hit in front of If any part of the racket touches
the body. the shuttle it is considered a
serve and is a fault.
The server may not serve until the The server should announce the
receiver is ready. score before each serve.
During a serve, the partner of the If a single player is playing a
server and receiver may stand doubles team, the single player is
anywhere as long as they don’t allowed two terms of service.
obstruct the opponents view.
General Rules
Winners of the first game
must serve first in the next
game.
Teams change sides after
each game.
Any shuttle landing on the
lines are good.
During a rally, if the
shuttle touches the net and
goes over it is good.
Faults
Overhand serves – If the shuttle…
Anytime the server contacts the Hits any obstruction such as the
shuttle higher than their waist. ceiling, wall, backboard, etc.
If any part of the head of the racket Fails to go over the net.
is higher than the server’s hand
holding the racket.
Is hit by the other team before it
During the serve, the shuttle lands crosses the net.
outside the correct service court. Is not distinctively hit, but held
If the server’s or receiver's feet are momentarily on the racket.
not in the correct service court as Is hit more than once in
the shuttle is served. succession by a team.
If the player touches the net with their Hits any part of the players
racket or body. body.
Strategy
Put your opponent on the defensive.
Hit the bird so that your opponents
only possible return is an upward
direction.
Hit the shuttle with an overhand
stroke whenever possible.
Use the smash if possible.
Play to your opponents weakness.
Use a variety of shots and keep your
opponent moving.
Recover your own court position
quickly.
Systems of Play (Doubles)
Side by side – defensive positioning
Each player is responsible for one side of
the court
Good positioning to defend against a smash
Up and back – offensive positioning
One player in front half the other in back
half
This allows the team to put pressure on the
other team.
Combination – Combination of both
systems
When a team hits the shuttle in the air, they
assume side by side position to defend
against the smash
At other times they are in up and back
positions
Terminology
Alley – An extension of the width of the court by 1’6” on both sides Hand down – The loss of serve in doubles.
Used in doubles. Home position – Ideal court spot for awaiting the opponent’s return.
Back alley – Between the doubles back service line and the singles back Usually at mid court near the centerline.
service line. “In” side – Side having the right to serve.
Baseline – Another name for the back boundary line. Inning – Term of service.
Bird – Officially known as shuttlecock. Referred to as shuttle. Kill – Fast downward shot which usually cannot be returned.
Block – Placing the racket in front of the shuttle and letting it rebound into Let – Play that is allowed to be re-played.
the opponent’s side of the court. Lob – Also called a clear, high clear, or a driven clear that goes over
Carry – Holding the shuttle on the racket during a stroke. Also called a the opponent’s head.
“sling” or a “throw”. Love – No score, the score at the beginning of the game and after
This is illegal. “setting” the score.
Center or basic position – Position in which a player stands in relation to Match – Best two out of three games.
the court, net, opponent and shuttle. Mixed doubles – Games played with partners of the opposite sex.
Clear – High, deep shot to the back boundary line. “Out” side – Side receiving the serve.
Double hit – hitting the shuttle twice in the same stroke Rally – rapid returns made by players.
This is illegal. Ready position – an alert body position that allows quick movement
Doubles – Game of four players, two on each team. in any direction.
Down – Loss of serve given when when the serving side fails to score. Serve or service – act of putting the shuttle into play.
In doubles, the first side to serve at the start of the game only has Set or setting a game – Method of extending games by increasing the
one down. number of points necessary to win tied games.
Drive – A hart hit horizontal flight over the net. The player reaching the tied score first has the option of
Drop shot – A stroke hit with very little speed that falls very close to the “setting” the score.
net on the opponents side. Set up – poor shot which makes a “kill” easy.
Fault – any violation of the rules. Singles – game involving two players, on on each side of the court.
Game – A game consists of 15 points in doubles and 11 points in singles. Smash – hard hit overhead shot which forces the shuttle sharply
Hairpin stroke – Made from below and very close to the net with the downward. The main attacking stroke.
shuttle just clearing the net and dropping sharply downward. Stroke – action of striking the shuttle with the racket.
