What is Badminton?

Badminton is a racket sport that is played by two or four players. A singles game involves one
person playing against another person, and a doubles game is when two players play against another
two players. Game play involves the players striking a shuttlecock over a net into the other side of the
court. Players strike the shuttlecock using a lightweight, long-handled racket.
The players hit the shuttlecock with their rackets so that it passes over the net and into the
opponents half of the court. The rally ends once the shuttlecock touches the ground: every stroke must
be played as a volley. In doubles, either player of a pair may hit the shuttlecock (except service), but
only a single stroke is allowed before the shuttlecock passes again into the opponent’s side of the court.
Players are awarded a point if the shuttlecock lands on or within the marked boundary of their
opponent’s side of the court, or if their opponent’s strike fails to pass through the net or lands outside
the courts boundary.
A rally begins with the service, in which the serving player must hit the shuttlecock so that, it
would land in the diagonally opposite service court. In doubles, only one player, the receiver, may return
the service (thereafter either player may hit the shuttlecock); the order of doubles service is determined
by the laws, which ensure that all the players shall serve and receive in turn. If the server wins the rally,
he will continue serving; if he loses the rally, the serve will pass to his opponent. In either case, the
winner will add a point to his score.
A match consist of three games; to win each game players must score 21 points (exceptions
noted below). There are five events: men’s singles, women’s singles, men’s doubles, women’s doubles
and mix doubles (a pair consisting a male and female player).

History and Development of Badminton

Badminton is widely believed to have originated n ancient Greece about 2000 years ago. From
there it spread via the Indo-Greek kingdoms to Indian and then further east China and Siam (now
Thailand). In England since medieval times a children game called Battledore and Shuttlecock was
popular. Children would use paddles (Battledores) and work together to keep the shuttlecock up in the
air and prevent it from reaching the ground. It was popular enough to be a nuisance on the streets of
London in 1854 when the magazine punch published a cartoon depicting it.
In the 1860s, British Army officers in Pune, India, began playing the game of Battledore and
Shuttlecock, but they added a competitive element by including a net. As the city of Pune was formerly
known as Poona.
About the same time, the duke of Beaufort was entertaining soldiers at his estate called
‘’Badminton House’’, where the soldiers played Poona. The Duke of Beaufort’s non-military guests began
referring to the game as ‘’the Badminton game’’, and thus the game became known ‘’Badminton’’.
In 1877, the first badminton club in the world , Bath Badminton Club, transcribed the rules of
badminton for the first time. However, in 1893, the Badminton Association of England published the
first proper set of rules, similar to that of today, and officially launched badminton in a house called
‘Dunbar’.
Court Dimension/Venue
The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. Courts are almost always marked for
both singles and doubles play, although the laws permit a court to be marked for singles only. The
doubles court is wider than the singles court, but the doubles service court is shorter than the singles
service court.
The full width of the court is 6.1m, and in singles this width is reduced to 5.18m. The full length
of the court is 13.4m. the service court are marked by a center line dividing the width of the court, by a
short service line at a distance of 1.98m from the net, and by the outer side and back boundaries. In
doubles, the service court is also marked by a long service line, which is 0.78m from the back boundary.
The net is 1.55m (5 ft 1inch) high at the edges and 1.524m (5 ft) high in the center. The net
post are placed over the doubles side lines, even when singles is played. A badminton court will not be
suitable if the ceiling is likely to be hit on a high serve.
Equipment and gear
Racket/Racquet
A racket is a vital part of equipment in badminton. Traditionally rackets were made of wood. Later on,
aluminum or light metals became the choice. Badminton rackets are composed of carbon fiber
composite (graphite reinforced plastic), with titanium composites (nanocarbon) added as extra
ingredients. Carbon fiber has an excellent strength to weight ratio, is stiff, and gives excellent kinetic
energy transfer. There are two types of racket: Isometric (square) and oval. Rackets normally weigh
between 80-95g but weight differs between manufacture, as it can affect how fast the racker can swing.
The features of a Badminton racket
A badminton racket is made up of four parts
- The head of the racket is the ring that holds the string in place.
- The strings are used to hit the shuttlecock.
- The shaft of the racket connects the head to the handle.
- The handle is used to hold the racket. It is covered in a material called grip.
Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock is also sometimes called a birdie, traditional shuttlecocks have sixteen overlapping
feathers embedded into a round, cork base which is covered with leather. Because the feathers of a
shuttlecock are very brittle, they are usually replaced lots of times in a game. That’s why plastic
shuttlecocks with rubber bases were invented and are widely used in practice and friendly matches. The
way the shuttlecock is designed makes it move through the air with the rubber base pointing forward.
This base is heavier and pointed, making it aerodynamic. This means it can move easily through the air.
When you hit the shuttlecock in a game of badminton, it is most effective to hit the rubber base. This
will usually be pointing at you already as it will have turned in the air.

Professional athletes generally use feather shuttlecocks, but for beginners and for outdoor games the
optimal choice are plastic shuttlecocks. In addition. plastic shuttlecocks are cheaper and with longer
durability compared to the ones made from feathers.

Feather Shuttlecock:

Plastic Shuttlecock:
Badminton Net
A Badminton net is a rectangular net placed in the center of the badminton court. The badminton net
is held by the two poles of specific height and length. This net is the central element of the game, and
the opponent players play on either side of the net.
Badminton Nets span the entire 20’ (6.1 m) width of the court and are placed over the doubles sidelines,
even when singles games are played. The net has a height of 5’1” (1.55 m) at the edges and sags slightly
at the center resulting in a height of 5’ (1.52 m). Badminton nets are split into a 1:1 ratio with a 30’ (76
cm) opening below the mesh and an equal surface above.

Badminton Attire:
To strike the shuttlecock in badminton, you must move around a lot. It implies you will need comfortable
clothing that allows you to move about quickly. Badminton is a sport requiring a lot of turning, reaching,
twisting, and jumping up, so putting on clothes and accessories that can flex or are elastic allows you to
move around comfortably.
here is the most basic badminton attire you will require:
A pair of badminton shoes
Ideally you should be looking for neutral shoes with a relatively thin sole which keeps you stable and
low to the ground. Cushioning throughout the foot will reduce the chance of injuries and strain when
landing from high jumps. Your badminton shoes should not slow you down.
Men’s or women’s badminton attire
Badminton players wear polyester shirts because the material is breathable and helps to regulate body
heat by releasing hot air while drawing in cool air to refresh the player. Polyester shirts are lightweight,
aiming to minimize weighing the player down. Furthermore, polyester not only draws sweat from the
player’s skin and keeps them dry, but the dries relatively quickly.
Wristbands
Wristbands help to keep sweat from dripping onto the hands and affecting grip on the racket or other
equipment. This can improve control and prevent slips.
Headbands
Headbands serve the vital purpose of keeping sweat from rolling down into a player’s eyes.
Knee sleeves
A lot of players often utilize knee compression sleeves to avoid future injury or risk of damage during a
badminton match.
What are the rules of badminton?
Here are the rules for a competitive game in badminton. When children are learning, it’s acceptable to
adapt these rules as you see fit, to ensure the game is helping them practice the right skills.
- A game can take place with either two or for players.
- An official match has to be played indoors on the proper court dimensions. The badminton net
is situated through the middle of the court and is set at 1.55m.
- To score a point the shuttlecock must hit within the parameters of the opponent’s side of the
court.
- If the shuttlecock hits the net or lands out then a point is awarded to your opponent.
- Players must serve diagonally across the net to their opponent. As points are won, the serving
area moves from one side to the other.
- There are no second serves so if your first serve goes out then your opponent wins the point.
- A serve must be hit underarm and below the server’s waist. Unlike tennis, no overarm serves are
allowed.
- Each game will start with a toss to determine which players will serve first and which side of the
court the opponent would like to start.
- Once the shuttlecock has been hit, and it is ‘live’ then a player may move around the court.
- If a player touches the net with any part of their body or racket then it is deemed a fault and their
opponent receives the point.
- A fault is also called if the shuttlecock is hit by the same player two times in a row.
- Each game is umpired by a referee on a high chair who overlooks the game. There are also line
judges who monitor if the shuttlecock lands in or not.
How are points scored in badminton?
Points are scored in different ways in badminton. It could be that:
- The opposing player has missed the shuttlecock, and it lands on their side within the marked
court area.
- When the opposition has returned the shuttlecock, but it falls outside of the marked court.
- The opposition successfully hits the shuttlecock, but it lands within their side of the court.
What is the aim of badminton?
The aim of badminton is to hit the shuttle with your racket so that it passes over the net and
lands inside your opponent’s half of the court. Whenever you do this, you have won a rally; win enough
rallies, and you win the match. Your opponent has the same goal. He will try to reach the shuttle and
send it back into your half of the court. You can also win rallies from your opponent’s mistakes: if he hits
the shuttle into or under the net, or out of court, then you win the rally.

Scoring
A point is scored when you successfully hit the shuttlecock over the net and land it in your
opponent’s court before they hit it. A point can also be gained when your opponent hits the shuttlecock
into either the net or outside the parameters To win a game you must reach 21 points before your
opponent. If you do so then you will have won that set. If the scores are tied at 20-20 then it comes down
to whichever player manages to get two clear points ahead. If the points are still tied at 29-29 then the
next point will decide the winner of the set. Winning the overall game will require you to win 2 out of
the 3 sets played.
Officiating Officials

Umpire:
The ‘main judges’ for the particular badminton game. He/she has the power to overrule any
decisions made by the service judge or line judges. The umpire is the person ensuring that the
badminton game is running smoothly and to prevent any players from delaying the game play.
Whenever a player requests to change the shuttle, the umpire will need to approve that if the change
could be made.
The umpire also looks out for faults committed around the net area such as whether a player touched
the net when returning the shuttle. Besides, the umpire is responsible to make a ‘fault’ call when the
shuttle touches the player or the player attires except for the badminton racket. In badminton, it will be
a fault/foul to a player if the shuttle touches any part of that player’s body or attire.
Service Judge:
The service judge is responsible in making a ‘service fault’ call and to provide shuttles to the players.
Line Judges:
Line judges sit beside the badminton court (right in front of every in/out line) to determine whether
the shuttle is inside or outside the boundaries of the court.
Technical skills
Strokes played from the forecourt
Serve
The serve begins a rally. Serves are subject to several service laws that limit the attacking potential
for service. The overall effect of these laws is that the server must hit in an upwards direction; ‘’tennis
serves’’ are prohibited. The serve is always cross court (diagonal).
Low serve
The low serve travels into the receiver’s forecourt, to fall on or just after the opponents short service
line. Low serves must travel as close to the net tape as possible, or they will be attacked fiercely. In
doubles, the straight low serve is most frequently used service variation.
High serve
The high serve is hit very high, so that the shuttle falls vertically at the back of the receiver’s service
court. The high serve is never used in doubles, but is commonly used in singles.
Flick serve
Although the flick serve is hit upwards, the trajectory is much shallower than the high serve.
Drive serve
Drive serves are hit flat to he back of the receiver’s service court. The drive serve is almost never
used in elite games, because it relies on the receiver being unprepared. If the receiver reacts well, then
the drive serve will be severely punished.
Netshot
A net shot is played into the opponent’s forecourt, as close to the net as possible.
Net kill
The net kill is a shot which aims to kill the shuttle into the floor very close to the opponent’s side
of the net. The trajectory is almost vertical. It is commonly used to punish a poor low serve. The net kill
is executed with a sudden, powerful ‘tapping’ motion produced by the wrist. This technique helps to
eliminate the danger of hitting the net.
Long kill
The long kill is a net kill that is not so steep and therefore travels towards the rear court. A long
kill is only used if a steeper kill cannot be played. It is similar to a net drive, but much more aggressive.
The long kill can be played when returning a poor low serve.

Strokes played from the midcourt

With the exception of the smash, all midcourt strokes are played with the shuttle either near the ground,
or about net height, or slightly higher than the nets height. If the shuttle is ever high in the midcourt, a
powerful smash will be played to finish the rally.
Drive
A drive is played when the shuttle is near net height, at the side of the player’s body. Drives pass
with pace into the opponent’s midcourt or rear court. Although drives are played with pace, very high
shuttle speed is not desirable because the shuttle will go out at the back. The trajectory of a drive is
approximately flat.
Half-court drive
A drive played from in front of the body, usually hitting the shuttle from nearer the net than an
ordinary drive.
Push
A push played from the same situation as a drive, but played softly into the opponent’s forecourt or
front midcourt.
Half-court push
A push played from in front of the body, usually hitting the shuttle from nearer the net than the
ordinary push.
Lift
A lift is played upward to the back of the opponent’s court. Midcourt lifts are most commonly
played in response to a smash or well-placed push.
Defensive lift
A lift that is hit very high, so that the players gains time for recovery to a good base position.
Defensive lifts, because of the flight characteristics of a shuttlecock, force the opponent to hit from the
extreme back of the court.
Attacking lift
A lift that is more shallowly, so that the opponent is forced to move quickly to prevent the shuttle
from travelling behind him. Attacking lifts, because of the flight characteristics of a shuttlecock, may be
intercepted slightly earlier than defensive lifts.

Strokes played from the rear court

In the rear court, most strokes are played overhead. If the shuttle has dropped low in a
player’s rear court, so that he is unable to play an overhead stroke, then he is at a great disadvantage
and is likely to lose the rally. The following strokes are all played from overhead:
Clear
A clear travel high to the back of the opponent’s rear court.
Defensive clear
A clear that is hit very high, so that the player gains time for recovery to a good base position.
Defensive clears, because of the flight characteristics of a shuttlecock, force the opponent to hit from the
extreme back of the court.
Attacking clear
A clear that is hit more shallowly, so that the opponent is forced to move quickly to prevent the
shuttle from travelling behind him. Attacking clears, because of the flight characteristics of the
shuttlecock, may be intercepted slightly earlier than defensive clear.
Smash
The smash is an offensive shot and is considered one of the most powerful in badminton. It is
played at a downward angle, making it difficult for an opponent to return.
Jump smash
A smash where the player jumps for height. The aim of a jump smash is to hit the smash at a
steeper angle. Jump smashes are most common in men’s doubles.
Dropshot
A dropshot is played downwards into the opponent’s forecourt. Dropshots are usually disguised
as smashes or clears, so that the opponent cannot anticipate the dropshot.

Tactical skills
To win in badminton, players need to employ a wide variety of strokes in the right situations. These
range from extraordinarily powerful jumping smashes to soft, delicate tumbling net returns. The smash
is a powerful overhead stroke played steeply downwards into the middle or rear of the opponent’s court;
it is similar to a tennis serve, but much faster: the shuttlecock can travel at 300km/h (186mph). this is
a very effective stroke, and pleases the crowds, but smashing is only one part of the game. Often rallies
finish with a smash, but setting up the smash requires subtler strokes. For example, a net shot can force
the opponent to lift the shuttle, which gives an opportunity to smash. If the net shot is tight and tumbling,
then the opponent’s lift will not reach the back court, which makes the subsequent smash much harder
to return.
Deception is also important. Expert players make the preparation for many different strokes look
identical, so that their opponents cannot guess which stroke will be played. For many strokes, the
shuttlecock can be sliced to change its direction; this allows player to move his racket in a different
direction to the trajectory of the shuttlecock. If an opponent tries to anticipate the stroke, he will move
in the wrong direction and may be unable to change his body momentum in time to reach the
shuttlecock. In badminton you use your wrist a lot and pressing of fingers to a full- body smashes and
clears.
Doubles:
In doubles, side has two players. Both sides will try to gain and maintain the attack, hitting downwards
as mush as possible. Usually one player will strive to stay at the back of the court and the other at the
front, which is an optimal attacking position: the back player will smash and occasionally drop the
shuttlecock to the net, and the front player will try to intercept any flat returns to the net. Typical play
involves hitting the shuttle in a trajectory as low and flat as possible, to avoid giving away the attack. A
side that hits a high shot must prepare for a smash and retreat to a side-by-side defensive position, with
each player covering half of the court. The first serve is usually a low serve to force the other side to lift
the shuttle. A ‘’flick serve’’, in which the player will pretend to serve low but hit it high to catch the
receiver off-guard, is sporadically used throughout the game. Doubles is a game of speed, aggression,
and agility.
Singles:
Player will serve high to the far back end of the court, although at the international level low serves are
now frequently used as well. The singles court is narrower than the doubles court, but the same length.
Since one person needs to cover the entire court, singles tactics are based on forcing the opponent to
move as much as possible; this means that singles shots are normally directed to the corners of the
court. The depth of the court is exploited by combining clears (high shots to the back) with drops (soft
downward shots to the front). Smashing is less prominent in singles than in doubles because players
are rarely in the ideal position to execute a smash, and smashing out of position leaves the smasher very
vulnerable if the shot is returned. At high levels of play, singles demand extraordinary fitness. It is a
game of patient tactical play, unlike the all-out aggression of doubles.
Mixed doubles:
In this discipline, a man and a woman play as a doubles pair. Mixed doubles is similar to ‘’level’’ doubles
where pairs are of the same gender. In mixed doubles, both pairs try to maintain an attacking formation
with the woman at the front and the man at the back. This is because the male players are substantially
stronger, and can therefore produce more powerful smashes. As a result, mixed doubles require greater
tactical awareness and subtler positional play. Clever opponents will try to reverse the ideal position,
by forcing the woman towards the back or the man towards the front. In order to protect against danger,
mixed players must be careful and systematic in their shot selection.

Tournament formats
Round robin
The Round robin is a tournament system used in badminton and other sports to determine the ranking
of players or teams based on their win-loss records against each other. In a round robin tournament, all
participants compete against every other participant in the tournament, ensuring that each player has
an equal opportunity to play against every other player.
Single elimination
The single elimination is often used in major international competitions, especially when there are a
large number of teams or players and the event organizers do not want the tournament to drag on for
too long. In a single elimination tournament, each player or team participates in a one-off match against
an opponent. The winner of this match advances to the next round, while the loser is immediately
eliminated from the tournament. This process continues in subsequent rounds until there is only one
player or team left, who is then declared the winner of the tournament.

Double elimination
The double elimination also known as the double defeat elimination system, is a tournament structure
that allows a player or team to continue competing even after a loss. This system is an extension of the
single elimination system, where a player or team is eliminated from the tournament after a single loss
In a double elimination tournament, a player or team is only eliminated if they lose twice. After the first
loss, the player or team enters the losers' bracket and continues to compete against others who have
also lost once. Only when they lose again in the losers' bracket are they eliminated
How to prevent injuries in badminton and use protective gear
Badminton is a sport that is suitable to be played by all kinds of people. The sport can let us relax
and exercise, and it is also a good way to strengthen our body. It is trendy in this region where you can
find badminton courts everywhere. Even though badminton is a good sport to play, it is also a sport that
you easily gets injured in. Therefore, how to prevent injuries while playing badminton become vey
important. Some amateur players said when they play its relaxing, they don’t get injured. But in fact,
whether it is an amateur or professional, you should pay attention to self-protection while playing
badminton. Before playing, you need to know some ways to prevent injuries.
Having enough warm up before playing
Warm-up before playing is essential, not just in badminton but in different kinds of sports as
well. It is best to do 25-30 minutes warm up in advance, jogging around the court is also advisable. The
correct wrist warm-up action should focus on (right-handed) right arm straight forward, palm out, and
use your left hand to move back the five fingers of your right hand to achieve the effect of stretching the
wrist joint and ligament. In addition, you should fully warm up the joints of the waist and legs, ankles,
achilles tendon, shoulders, and elbow joints
Develop the correct badminton movements
Practicing badminton correctly is very important, and mastering the correct drills and footwork
is a must. If you have the budget it is recommended to get a professional coach to help you learn the
basics and guide you. By doing so you can improve your skills and reduce the possibilities of injuries.
Choosing the right badminton court
Avoid playing at a badminton court that is slippery, hard, and uneven. Find a indoor court that
qualifies for tournament plays. These types of courts will be safe for you to play in.
Buy the right racket
Try not to buy a racket that is to heavy or with a hard middle pole. A good racket that fits your
playing style will help to keep your wrist and shoulder’s in good shape.
Wear the right shoes
Badminton requires regular and aggressive running. Therefore, buying the size that fits you
nicely is crucial. If the shoes are to big or too small, your feet may not have a good grip and can be very
uncomfortable, resulting to an injured toe or ankle.
Protective gear
Badminton is an intense sport, and you must have protective gear, especially on the wrists, waist,
and knees. These are the body parts that can get injured easily while playing. For example, the knee will
rub against the rubber floor when you hop over to save the ball. If you are wearing knee pads, it will
provide great protection for your knee.
Relax your body after playing
Sudden stop after strenuous exercise will affect the oxygen supplement and venous return,
lower blood pressure and cause adverse reaction. Therefore, do not stop your body movement
immediately after playing badminton. It would help if you do cool-down exercise to relax to rejuvenate
your body to normal slowly.