BADMINTON- is a racket sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or

two opposing pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular
court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their
racket so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents' half of the court. A
rally ends once the shuttlecock has struck the ground, and the shuttlecock may only be
struck once by each side before it passes over the net.

History of Badminton and the development of sport

The history of badminton brings us all the way back to the mid-18th century.

The game of badminton started to become popular in India at a small town

called Poona.

When India was still a British Colony badminton was played mostly by the British
military officers.

At this point, Badminton was just a game played for fun, and it was known as
“battledore and shuttlecock” in British India instead of Badminton.

How the Name Badminton Came About?

The bat was initially referred to as “Battledore”. Battledore and shuttlecock was a rather
simple outdoor game.

Both players were just required to keep the shuttlecock in the air as long as possible,
preventing it from touching the ground.

Battledore and shuttlecock was then brought back to England where it was introduced
to the upper class community.

Eventually the game was officially introduced to the guests of the Duke of Beaufort at
his house.

Interestingly, the house was called BADMINTON. The English really

loved the game, and you can guess how the sport got its name
“Badminton”.

Historical Development of Badminton

Quick facts on the development of the sport and history of badminton:

 Official rules were developed after the game was introduced to the people in
England
 The FIRST open badminton tournament was held at Guildford, England in 1898
 The FIRST All England Badminton Championships was held the following year.
  The FIRST official Badminton World Championships was held in 1977.
 Badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992.
 The Badminton World Federation (BWF) introduced the Badminton Super
Series events in 2007 to further promote the sport.

England Produced the Best Player in the History of

Badminton
In the early 19th century, Great Britain produced many fine players.
George Thomas was probably the BEST badminton players in the history of
badminton!

He has won 21 All-England titles over his career. The largest team championships
event today, the Thomas Cup Badminton Team Championships was named after
George Thomas.

Denmark’s Dominance and their Role in the History of

Badminton

Denmark was the second country to produce top class badminton players.

Since the early 1900s, Denmark was a major threat in the All-England
Open. That was when the All-England Open was the BIGGEST tournament
before 1977.

They continued to dominate, right until today. In fact, Denmark is

known very well for bringing the standard of Badminton to a higher level
in the history of badminton.

Asia Nations Dominate

Today, badminton is known to many as an “Asian sport”.

This is because the Asian countries have been the most successful on the international
scene.

Take the biggest competition in the history of badminton (the

Olympics) for example. China, Korea, Indonesia, England and Denmark were
the only countries to win the Olympic Games for badminton.

Among the Asian nations, the Chinese have been winning the most
titles in almost every category, including the women’s category. They
were so strong that they claimed TWO clean sweeps in 2010 and 2011. They
took ALL 5 world champions’ title in both years!
Facilities and Equipment
BADMINTON COURT

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. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are of the same
length. The exception, which often causes confusion to newer players, is that the
doubles court has a shorter serve-length dimension.

Overall Court Dimensions

The overall dimensions of a badminton court is 20 feet by 44 feet. The lines along these
measurements mark the sidelines for doubles play and long service lines for singles
play.

The Net Line

The net line marks the middle of the court where the net is placed, creating a 22 feet by
20 feet area on each side of the net.

Short Service Line

The short service line is marked 6 feet 6 inches (some are marked 7 feet) from the
center line. The area inside the short service line is also called the Non Volley Zone.
Center Line
The Center Line is the line that divides the court from the Short Service Line to the Back
Boundary Line. This delineates the Left from Right Service Court.

Side Line for Singles Play

The Singles Side Line is marked 1 1/2 feet from the edge of the outer boundary
(doubles side line)

Back Boundary Line and Long Service Line for Singles

The back boundary line is the same for singles and doubles play it is the outermost
back line on the court.

Long Service Line for Doubles

The Long Service line for Doubles is marked 2 1/2 feet inside the Back Boundary Line.

The Badminton Net

The badminton net measures 5 feet tall in the center.

BADMINTON RACKET

The badminton racket is one of the most important tools a player has in the game.
Badminton rackets are much lighter than most other sports rackets because they are
made from materials such as carbon fiber or lighter metals such as aluminum.

Parts of the racket include the head, stringed area, throat, shaft and handle with a
maximum length of 27.77 inches and a width of 9 inches.

It Strings that are stretched across the opening of the racket in a checkerboard pattern,
which acts as the hitting surface.

Badminton strings for racquets are thin, high performing strings with thicknesses
ranging from about 0.62 to 0.73 mm. Thicker strings are more durable, but many
players prefer the feel of thinner strings. String tension is normally in the range of 80 to
160 N (18 to 36 lbf).

The choice of grip allows a player to increase the thickness of their racquet handle and
choose a comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or
several grips before applying the final layer.
SHUTTLECOCK

The badminton shuttlecock, also referred to as a shuttle or birdie, acts similarly to a ball
in other racket sports. However, the design of the birdie creates more drag as it is
propelled through the air due to its feathered shape.

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 shuttle has 16 feathers attached to the base and the length of the feathers range
between 2.44 and 2.75 inches.
NET
A mesh net divides the badminton court into two sides. A badminton net is placed lower
than a volleyball net at five feet and one-inch-high on the sides and five feet high in the
center. The length may vary depending on whether doubles or singles are playing, with
singles reaching 17 feet and doubles reaching 22 feet. The net is 30 inches wide with a
3-inch white tape doubled over the top.

POST
The posts are 5’11.55m high from the surface of the court and remain vertical when the
net is strained. The posts are placed on the double side lines irrespective of whether
singles or doubles is played. The posts or supports must not extend into the court
beyond the side lines.

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-shirt 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
1. GRIP
The right grip in holding the racket is really important to achieve control on shots while
avoiding the chances of a wrist injury. A proper grip will allow you to play both backhand
and forehand strokes effortlessly. Holding a racket is similar to a friendly handshake.
Just the thumb will be comfortably placed against the wider surface of the handle grip.
The rest of the hand will imitate a handshake. Remember to keep the handshake
friendly, avoiding tight grip. It will hinder the flexibility in motion and also might lead to
wrist injuries in the long term.
.
Backhand and Forehand Grip
The only difference while playing the 2 kinds of strokes is in the use of fingers.

 Push the index finger forward while playing forehand strokes.

 Push the thumb forward while playing backhand strokes.

2. STANCE
The stance is how you stand while playing badminton, both in between a rally and
before the serve. A stable and correct stance will bring a huge change in the results due
to easier movement.
There are 3 types of stance:
Attacking Stance

It is used to get into position before playing an overhead forehand stroke. To stand in
the attacking stance turn your body facing the sidelines with racket leg behind and both
legs shoulder-width apart. Now raise both racket and non-racket arm to generate the
power to attack the shuttle on its downward trajectory.

Defensive Stance
To defend the opponent’s smash, you need to be prepared with the defensive stance.
Face the body to the net and place your racket in front at waist height, slightly pointing
forward. You can keep the non-racket arm as comfortable while ensuring a better
balance.

Net Stance
This stance is to be ready for the opponent’s return after playing a net shot. To play this
shot, place your foot on the racket side forward while keeping non-racket foot at the
back. Place the racket in front of the body, slightly above waist height while raising the
non-racket arm. Shift the body weight slightly forward to be ready to pounce forward.
 3. Footwork
Footwork plays a huge role in helping with an effective and organized movement on the
court. In fact, some coaches even raise footwork to prime importance over other skills.
Tips for proper footwork

 Always remember the base (starting point).

 Move only 2-3 steps backwards.
 Shuffle only 1 step sideward.
 Move only 2-3 steps front.

4. Serve
Service is among the most basic skill that you need to master in Badminton. Also, you
should ensure to make a legal service otherwise it might lead to penalty points.

Two types of Service in badminton:

High Serve- aims at the back end corner of the opponent’s court.
Low Serve- aims to the front of the court.
5. SMASH
Is the most potent and powerful stroke in badminton which naturally turns out to be the
most familiar term to all. The shot is basically to hit the shuttle powerfully towards the
opponent’s body or downward on the court. A perfectly executed smash has no
defense.
Technically there are 3 types of smashes:
1. FOREHAND SMASH- s an overhead smash which is similar to the action
of throwing a ball.
2. BACKHAND SMASH- This is one of the toughest strokes in badminton,
and even experts face difficulty in playing the stroke. Still, it is important to
practice and get the technique to rise in the skill level. To execute this
stroke, getting the backhand grip is extremely important. Also, it is equally
important to return back to stance.
3. JUMPING SMASH- A forehand smash with a timed jump added to it
counts under jumping smash.

6. DROP SHOT
Badminton Drop Shots are delicate badminton shots that can win you points that aim at
scoring points in deception. Played with both backhand and forehand, these are used to
move the opponent to the frontcourt. This creates space in the midcourt and backcourt
for you to exploit. There are slow and fast drop shots, played judging the situation.

7. CLEAR OR LOB
The lob shot in Badminton can be imagined as a shot with an inverted ‘U’ trajectory. It is
normally played from the forecourt with an aim to lift or ‘lob’ the shuttle over the
opponent. The idea is to land it as near to the baseline as it is, at an angle that is
impossible to clear. This is similar to the drop in challenging the opponent with sudden
motion backwards this time. It can also be executed by both backhand and forehand.
This generally results in the creation of space in the front and midcourt, opening plenty
of opportunities.
TERMINOLOGIES IN BADMINTON

 Alley - side-extension of the court by l½ feet on both sides that is used for
doubles play.

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

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

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

 Bird or birdie - another name for the shuttlecock

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

 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 court.

 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.

 Half-court 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 "put away."

 Let - A legitimate cessation of play to allow a rally to be replayed.

 Long Service Line - In singles, the back boundary line. In 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.

 Racket - Instrument used by player to hit shuttlecock Weight: About3 ounces.

Length: 27 inches. Made of: Ceramic, graphite, or boron frame; beef-gut string.
Cost: $60-$175 (unstrung).

 Rally – this occurs when the players hit the bird back and forth several times
before one side scores a point

 Serve or Service – players put the shuttlecock into play for points by “serving” it
to opponents, hitting it over the net into a special part of the court near their
opponent

 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 - the name for the object that players hit, made of a ball of cork or
rubber with a crown of feathers in an open conical shape.

 Smash – when a shuttle is floated high into the air, a player has time to unleash
a powerful overhand shot straight to the floor of the opposing court

 Wood Shot - Shot that results when the base of the shuttle is hit by the frame of
the racket. Once illegal, this shot was ruled acceptable by the International
Badminton Federation in 1963.

RULES OF THE GAME BADMINTON

The Laws of Badminton and Competition Regulations in the BWF Statutes provide the
detail on every aspect of the game of badminton.
Below is a brief overview - simplified rules.

Rules

 A player must wait until his opponent is ready before serving. If the opponent
attempts a return, then he is ruled having been ready.
 The feet of both players must remain in a stationary position until the serve is
made. Your feet can not be touching the line at this time.
 It is not a fault if you miss the shuttle while serving.
 The shuttle cannot be caught and slung with the racket.
 A player cannot hold his racket near the net to ward off a downward stroke by his
opponent or to interfere with his racket.

Faults

 The shuttle, at the instant of being hit is higher than the servers waist or the head
of the racket is higher than the servers racket hand.
 The shuttle does not land in the correct service court.
 The server's feet are not in the service court or if the feet of the receiver are not
in the court diagonally opposite the server.
 The server steps forward as he/she serves.
 Any player balking or feinting his opponent before serve or during serve.
 A serve or shot that lands outside the court boundaries, passes under or through
the net, touches any other obstructions or a player’s body or clothing. The
boundary and service lines are considered in play.
 The shuttle in play is struck before it crosses the net to the striker's side of the
net. You may follow through over the net.
  A player touching the net or its supports with his body or racket while the shuttle
is in play.
 Hitting the shuttle twice in succession by a player or team.

Scoring System

o A match consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points.

o Every time there is a serve – there is a point scored.
o The side winning a rally adds a point to its score.
o At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 points lead first, wins that game.
o At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins that game.
o The side winning a game serves first in the next game.

Interval and Change of Ends

o When the leading score reaches 11 points, players have a 60 second

interval.
o A 2 minutes’ interval between each game is allowed.
o In the third game, players change ends when the leading score
reaches 11 points.

Singles

o 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.
o If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and then serves
again from the alternate service court.
o 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

o A side has only one ‘set’.

o The service passes consecutively to the players as shown in the
diagram.
o 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.
 o If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the
same server serves again from the alternate service court.
o If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The
receiving side becomes the new serving side.
o The players do not change their respective service courts until they
win a point when their side is serving.

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.

Course of action / Score Service from Server & Winner of

Explanation Service Court Receiver the rally

Love Right Service Court. A serves A

All Being the score of to C A &
the serving side is and C are B
even. the initial
server
and
receiver.

A & B win a point. A & B will change 1-0 Left Service Court. A serves C
service courts. A serves again from Left Being the score of to D &
service court. C & D will stay in the the serving side is D
same service courts. odd

C & D win a point and also right to 1-1 Left Service Court. D serves A
serve. Nobody will change their Being the score of to A. &
respective service courts. the serving side is B
odd.

A & B win a point and also right to 2-1 Right Service Court. B serves C
serve. Nobody will change their Being the score of to C &
respective service courts. the serving side is D
even.
C & D win a point and also right to 2-2 Right Service Court. C serves C
serve. Nobody will change their Being the score of to B &
respective service courts. the serving side is D
even.

C & D win a point. C & D will change 3-2 Left Service Court. C serves A
service courts. C serves from Left Being the score of to A &
service court. A & B will stay in the the serving side is B
same service courts. odd.

A & B win a point and also right to 3-3 Left Service Court. A serves A
serve. Nobody will change their Being the score of to C &
respective service courts. the serving side is B
odd.

A & B win a point. A & B will change 4-3 Right Service Court. A serves C
service courts. A serves again from Being the score of to D &
Right service court. C & D will stay in the serving side is D
the same service courts. even.

Note that this means:

o The order of server depends on the score odd or even same as in

singles.
o The service courts are 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 previous rally. This
shall guarantee alternate server.
BADMINTON OFFICIALS

The badminton officials are divided into different roles or positions:

 Referee
 Umpire
 Service judge
 Line judge

Role of the Referee

The referee is the most important official of the whole tournament.

He or she is in charge of the competition and needs to ensure that the tournament is
conducted following the Laws of Badminton (including court, rackets and
shuttlecock measurements), the regulations of the Badminton World Federation
and/or any other regulations that might be relevant in that specific competition.

The referee has the last word if there is an argument between the umpire (in charge of
the matches) and a player or team.

The referee makes sure that the facilities and the conditions to play are up to the
standards required for that specific tournament. For example, he has to check that
the badminton mats are mounted correctly so they can enhance gameplay.

Finally, the referee is also in charge of the approval of the schedule of matches and
practice (if applicable).
Role of the Umpire
The duty of the umpire is to make sure that the specific match is conducted following
the Laws of Badminton, the regulations of the Badminton World Federation and/or any
other regulations that might be relevant in that specific competition.
The umpire has control over the specific match but also needs to report any serious
acts to the referee, who is, at the end, the maximum authority of the tournament.
Outside of the major tournaments, the referee will also take the role of an umpire in
order to help with the process.
Role of the Service Judge
The service judge is responsible for making a ‘service fault’ call and to provide shuttles
to the players. Due to the way badminton is played, the serve is one of the most
important and perfected shots of the player and, especially when playing doubles,
players will bring the serve to the limit of the legality in order to gain as much advantage
as possible.
The service judge usually takes care of the shuttles, providing the players with new
shuttles whenever required.
When there is no service judge, the umpire takes the role of the service judge.
Role of the Line Judge
The line judges are responsible for indicating whether a shuttlecock landed “in” or “out”
if the shuttle lands near the lines he/she is assigned to control. Due to the fast speed of
the game and the skill of the players, this is a very challenging job and, as a result, the
line judges are the officials that usually get more pressure from the players.
Depending on the level of the tournament, there may be as many as 10 line judges
assigned to a court for a particular match. This is the number recommended by the
BWF.

When 10 line judges are available, they are positioned as follows:

 2 line judges for the short service line (one on each side of the court)
 2 line judges for the center line (one on each end of the court)
 4 line judges for the side lines (two on each side of the court). Please note that the
exact location will depend on whether a singles match is being played (and they
would follow the singles side lines) or a doubles match is being played (and they
would follow the doubles side lines
 2 line judges for the back boundary lines (one each end of the court). Please note
that, in the case of the doubles match, these line judges check both the back
boundary line and the long service line.