BADMINTON

(A guide on its history,

hand gestures,
terminologies, court
and how it is played)
HISTORY
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it
may be played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per
side) and "doubles" (with two players per side). Badminton is often played as a casual outdoor activity in
a yard or on a beach; formal games are played on a rectangular indoor court. Points are scored by
striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the opposing side's half of the court.
Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. Play ends once the
shuttlecock has struck the floor or if a fault has been called by the umpire, service judge, or (in their
absence) the opposing side.
The shuttlecock is a feathered or (in informal matches) plastic projectile which flies differently
from the balls used in many other sports. In particular, the feathers create much higher drag, causing the
shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly. Shuttlecocks also have a high top speed compared to the balls in
other racquet sports. The flight of the shuttlecock gives the sport its distinctive nature.
The game developed in British India from the earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock.
European play came to be dominated by Denmark but the game has became very popular in Asia, with
recent competitions dominated by China. Since 1992, badminton has been a Summer Olympic
sport with five events: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed
doubles. At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness: players require aerobic
stamina, agility, strength, speed, and precision. It is also a technical sport, requiring good motor
coordination and the development of sophisticated racquet movements.

TERMINOLOGIES
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.

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.

HOW TO PLAY?
The objective of the game is simple, that is to hit the shuttle over the net so that it lands in your
opponent's court before it can be returned. You can hit the shuttle fast, slow, high, flat or low. You can
smash it with maximum power or use the most delicate touch shots.

A rally is started when the shuttle is returned. Each rally begins with a stroke known as the serve. This
gets the shuttle into play, and from then on you will be engaged in a battle to outwit your opponent by
using strokes which aim to increase your chances of winning that rally.

You can win the rally when:

- You hit the shuttle on to the ground in your opponent's court. - Your opponent makes a mistake and
hits the shuttle out of court. - Your opponent has committed a fault according to Badminton Rules.

Like tennis, Badminton can be played in singles or doubles.

COURT
HAND GESTURES