BADMINTON

INVENTORY - Badminton as it is played today was probably invented by British army officers in India
in the 19th century, which is also when it was first played competitively. The game is named for
Badminton, the country estate of the dukes of Beaufort in Gloucestershire, England, where it was first
played about 1873. The roots of the sport can be traced to ancient Greece, China, and India, and it is
closely related to the old children's game battledore and shuttlecock.

HISTORY - Badminton, court or lawn game played with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock.
Historically, the shuttlecock (also known as a “bird” or “birdie”) was a small cork hemisphere with 16
goose feathers attached and weighing about 0.17 ounce (5 grams). These types of shuttles may still be
used in modern play, but shuttles made from synthetic materials are also allowed by the Badminton
World Federation. The game is named for Badminton, the country estate of the dukes of Beaufort in
Gloucestershire, England, where it was first played about 1873. The roots of the sport can be traced to
ancient Greece, China, and India, and it is closely related to the old children’s game battledore and
shuttlecock. Badminton is derived directly from poona, which was played by British army officers
stationed in India in the 1860s. The first unofficial all-England badminton championships for men
were held in 1899, and the first badminton tournament for women was arranged the next year. 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. ...

BADMINTON EQUIPMENT & FACILITIES -

Racke
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, 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 rackets can vary
widely in cost depending on whether they are purchased as part of a basic backyard set or as more
expensive professional models.
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.
Facilities
The badminton court should be 44 feet long by 22 feet wide if playing doubles, and 44 feet long by 17
feet wide for singles. If the facility is indoors, there needs to be enough height for the shuttlecock to be
able to float across the net without hitting the ceiling. This height will vary depending on the strength of
the players.
Standard Length & Width of a Shuttle Court - Shuttle Court Surface
Badminton may be played on turf or on hardwood surfaces specifically constructed for sports, such as a
basketball court. Concrete surfaces and carpeted floors are associated with a higher incidence of injury in
badminton.
Shuttle Court Layout
The shuttle court is a rectangular playing area. It is marked out by 1 and 1/2-inch wide lines of chalk or
some other marking colored white or yellow.
Shuttle Court Length
The shuttle court is 44 feet long. It is bisected by a net 2 feet, 6 inches wide, the top of which is
suspended 5 feet from the surface of the court at the centerline.

Shuttle Court Width

The shuttle court playing area is 20 feet wide for doubles play. For singles play, the sidelines are 17 feet
wide.

Service Area
The service court is 15 feet, 6 inches in length, beginning at the singles service line and extending
forward to another line 6 feet, 6 inches from the net.

What Equipment Do You Need to Play Badminton? -

Court
Badminton courts measure 44 feet long by 20 feet wide with a center net line separation that creates a 22-
feet-long by 20-feet-wide area on each side. Badminton courts have boundary lines marking the 44-feet-
long by 20-feet-wide outline; these lines are the long service lines for singles play and the sidelines for
doubles play. Single side lines are marked 1 1/2 feet from the doubles sideline, or outer boundary line.
Lines on the court marked 6 1/2 feet from the center line are the short service lines. A center line running
from the short service line to the back boundary line separates the left and right sides of the court.
Net
A badminton net is 2 1/2-feet deep and is raised 5 feet high across the center of the badminton court, over
the net line. Often made from vinyl mesh, most nets have a leather or cotton top. At the beginning of the
badminton game and whenever the server’s score is an even number, servers serve the shuttle over the net
to the opposing player from the right side of the court. Servers serve the shuttle over the net from the left
side of the court when their score is an odd number. Servers serve from the opposite side of their court
when they win a rally and a point. Doubles badminton play observe the same serving rules as singles
badminton play with the exception of passing the serve. Serves pass consecutively to players opposite
each other on the badminton court.
Shuttles
Shuttlecocks, or shuttles, are the item volleyed across the net during a badminton game. Original
shuttlecocks were made from feathers, which led to the pseudonym "birds." Shuttles for backyard
badminton games are often made from plastic. The shuttles used in modern competition badminton games
are made from 16 real feathers, with a preference for goose feathers from the bird’s left wing.

Rackets
Badminton rackets are made from lightweight materials that are known for durability such as aluminum,
steel and carbon fiber. The overall length limit of a badminton racket is 26.77 inches. Standard badminton
rackets must not be wider than 9.06 inches. The strings on the racket must range from .03 inches thick.
The overall weight of the racket cannot exceed 3.2 oz.
List of Badminton Equipment –
Shuttles
Players should have several shuttles, also known as “birdies” or
“shuttlecocks,” to use in a match. You can use natural, feathered shuttles or synthetic, non-
feathered shuttles in badminton. According to the Badminton World Federation’s Laws of
Badminton, feathered shuttles should have 16 feathers fixed to a cork base. The feathers should measure
between 2 ½ and 2 ¾ inches long. The feathers’ tips should form a circle with a
diameter measuring between 2 ¼ and 2 2/3 inches. Synthetic shuttles should simulate feathers with
synthetic materials. Both feathered and synthetic shuttles should have a base that measures about 1 inch in
diameter. The shuttle should weigh about .16 to .19 oz. Players should test the shuttles for speed and
flight before each match.

Racket
Badminton rackets consist of stringed hitting surface attached to a thin shaft and a handle. The racket
must have a flat face, with a uniform pattern of overlapping strings. According to the Badminton World
Federation’s Laws of Badminton, the racket’s stringed area should not exceed 11 inches in
length or 8 2/3 inches in width. The racket’s overall length, including the handle, shaft, and face,
may not exceed 26 ¾ inches in length. The racket must not exceed 9 inches in width at its widest
point. Early badminton racket manufacturers produced only wooden rackets, but modern manufacturers
produce rackets with frames made out of aluminum alloy, titanium, steel, and composite materials.

Net
The net plays an important role in badminton matches. The Badminton World Federation’s Laws
of Badminton provide specific standards for net height, width, and construction. An official badminton
net must measure 5 feet high in the center, and 5 feet, 1 inch at the sides. The net attaches to vertical posts
on either side of the court. The net should measure 30 inches from bottom to top, and must consist of a
uniform, dark-colored mesh. The net should have a white tape running along the top to make the
net’s full height visible to players and officials.

Parts of a Badminton Racket –

Materials
Traditionally, badminton frames have been made out of wood. Although still available, wood rackets
have largely been abandoned due to the availability of lighter, more durable synthetic materials such as
carbon fiber, lightweight metal alloys and ceramics. These are used in most modern badminton rackets
today.

Frame
The body of the racket itself is called the frame. It consists of the head, the stringed area, the throat, the
shaft and the handle. According to BWF laws, the length of the frame should be no longer than 680
millimeters or wider than 230 millimeters. The weight of a fully strung frame should be within 80 and
100 grams. Frames can come in different shapes, with larger or smaller sweet spots, and can be more or
less flexible, depending on the materials used and their construction.
Head
The head of the racket is the ring of material that holds the strings in place. It can be oval or more
rounded, and has holes in its perimeter though which the strings are laced.
Stringed Area
The stringed area is made up of nylon or carbon fiber string that is interwoven to form the face of the
racket. Its dimensions, according to BWF rules, must not exceed 280 millimeters in length or 220
millimeters in width.
Throat
The throat connects the head to the shaft. It may be a separate triangular piece at the base of the head, or
may actually be integrated into the head itself.
Shaft
The shaft is the long rod between the throat and handle. Often made of a composite material such as
graphite, the shaft can be stiffer or more flexible based on the needs of the player.
Handle
The handle connects to the shaft and is used to hold the racket. The handle is covered with a material
called the grip. There are two types of grips: towel grips are good for absorbing moisture, but may need
to be changed frequently; synthetic grips are less absorbent but more durable.