Badminton

I. Introduction

Badminton is a sport with great appeal for those of all ages, all skill levels, and those with varying degrees of physical stamina. The beginner can quickly learn to hit the shuttlecock back and forth across the net. As skill improves, the strategy of the game is mastered and the player is able to place the shuttlecock accurately. It is then that enjoyment of the game increases.

II. Scoring

  1. Only the serving side may score points.
  2. Women's singles game consists of 11 points.
  3. Men's singles, men's and women's doubles consist of 15 points.
  4. In women's singles, the player first to reach points, when the score is 9-all, may choose to play for 3 more points. Or when the score is 10-all the game may be "set" at 2 more points.
  5. After a game has been "set" the score is called "love-all" and the side which first scores 3 or 2 points, depending on what the game was "set" at, wins.
  6. In the men's singles, or games to 15 points, the game may be set to 5 when the score is 13-all. When the score is 14-all the game may be set at 3.
  7. A match shall be 3 out of 3 games. Players change sides for each game. In the third game players change sides when the leading score reaches:

                a) 8 in a game of 15.

                b) 6 in a came of 11.

III. Doubles Play 

  1. The first serve of the game always begins in the right hand service court.
  2. The shuttlecock must land in (or be played by the player in) the service court diagonally opposite.
  3. After a point is scored the serving (or "in" side) rotates courts,
  4. Only one player of the side beginning a game shall be entitled to serve in the first inning. (This is called on hand). Therefore, each partner shall serve consecutively. (2 hands)
  5. The side winning a game shall always serve first in the next game.
  6. The player served to is the only one who may receive a service. If the other player touches the shuttlecock, it is a fault and a point goes to the serving side.
  7. After the service is delivered the server and the person sered to may take any position on their own court.

IV. Singles Play

  1. The serve always takes place in the right hand service court when the score is even.
  2. The serve always takes place in the left hand service court when the score is odd.
  3. The shuttlecock must land in the service court diagonally opposite the serving court.

V. Faults

A fault made by a player on the "in" side (serving side) puts the server out; if made by a player of the "out" side (receiving side) it counts as a point for the "in" side.

It is a fault when...

  1. The birdie is stuck above the waist level or the head of the racquet is higher than the wrist when contact is made.
  2. The birdie falls into the wrong service court, or falls short of the short service line, behind the back boundary, outside of the side boundaries, or passes under the net.
  3. When the server is not in the proper serving court.
  4. When a player reaches over the net or touches the net with his or her body or racquet. 
  5. When a player hits the birdie twice or holds it with the racquet.
  6. When a server balks.

VI. Terms

  1. Hand- a double game is played in hands, which refers to turns of serving for the individuals on a side. Each side has 2 hands- when the first person on a side is serving, the term "first hand" is used. When the second person on that side serves the term "second hand" is used.
  2. Innings- both sides have one turn at serving in each inning.
  3. Let- if in service or during a rally, a birdie, after passing over the net, is caught in or on the net, it is a let. When a let occurs, the play since the last service shall not count and the player who served shall serve again.

VII. Strokes

  1. Clear- A deep, high shot with a rapidly ascending flight. An overhead clear is a shot taken with an overhead stroke, timed so as to contact the shuttle a little in front of the body. An underhand clear is an underhand stoke with the shuttle aimed high, to drop just within the back boundary line of the opponent's court.
  2. Driver- a hard, horizontal stoke which just clears the4 net.
  3. Smash- A powerful downward stoke, the kill shot of the game. An overhead attacking stroke used to hit the shuttle downward, hard, at the most acute angle possible.
  4. Drop Shot- strokes in which the shuttle falls just over the net to the floor. May me an overhead or an underhand shot.
  5. Net shot- type of a drop shot. A hairpin shot which has a short flight made from close to the net. Ideally the shuttle should cross the net close to the net tape and fall close to the other side of the net. 

VIII. Court

  1. In doubles the serving court is short and wide. It's boundaries are the short serving court is short and wide. It's boundaries are the short service line to the doubles line: the center line to the doubles side boundary line.
  2. In singles the serving court is long and narrow. It's boundaries are the short service line to the back boundary line: the center line to the singles side boundary line.
  3. After service the court extends to the net in both doubles and singles. The singles court remains long and narrow but the doubles playing area becomes long and wide.

(See diagram of court below)

Badminton Vocabulary

Ace- a serve that completely eludes the opponent

Clear-(lob) a high deep shot

Down- loss of service when the server or the serving side fails to score

Drive- a fast hard hit, parallel to the ground

Fault- an attempted service or return which fails short, hit the nets, or lands outside the playing area.

Inning- A side's turn at serving

Let- Permitting the serve to be made over.

Match- Two out of three points.

Rally- Hitting the shuttle back and forth across the net.

Smash- A powerful stroke, the kill shot of the game.

Baseline- Back line of the court parallel with with the net.

Game- 11,15, or 21 points.

Hairpin- A shot made near the net net which drops just over the net.

"In" side- serving side

"Out" side- receiving side

Match- two out of three games

Service- Stroke which begins the play for a point or score.

Service line- Lines parallel to net from which area serves are made.

Throw- An indistinct hit, usually caused by catching the feathers in the strings. (This is considered a fault)

Drop- A shot made from back court which barely clears the net, dropping sharply.

Backhand- Any stroke made on the side of the body opposite the racket side.

Bird- The shuttlecock

Round the head stroke- A high stroke over the head to hit a bird o the offhand side.

Setting the game- Choosing how many points play when the score becomes a tie.

Short serve- A serve that scarcely clears the net and lands barely inside the opponent's court.

Smooth or rough- The two sides of a racket; end stings used when spinning the racket for the choosing of sides or service.

Make-up quiz