Badminton

Badminton Terms

Alley - extension of the court by 1-1/2 feet on both sides for doubles play Back Alley- Area between the back boundary line and the long service line for doubles.

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

• Carry- An illegal tactic, also called a sling or a 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 opponents back boundary line. The high clear is a defensive shot, while the flatter attacking clear is used offensively.

out of 3 games.

• Drive- A fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net.

• Drop-A shot hit softly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net on the

ad drive.

opponent's side.

• Fault- A violation of the playing rules, either in serving, receiving, or during play.

• 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.

• Long Service Line- In singles, the back boundary line. In doubles a line 2-1/2 feet inside the back boundary line. The serve may not go past this line.

• Match- A series of games 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 then falls rapidly.

• Racquet (Racket) - Instrument used by the player to hit the shuttlecock. Weight about 90 grams (3 oz). Length 680 mm (27 in). Made from metal alloys (steel/aluminum) or from ceramic, graphite or boron composites. Generally strung with synthetic strings or natural gut.

• Rally- Exchange of shots while the shuttle is in play.

Serve (Service) - Stroke used to put the shuttlecock into play at the start of a rally.

• Service Court- Area into which the serve must be delivered. Different for singles and doubles play.

• Short Service Line- The line 6-1/2 feet from the net which a serve must reach to be legal.

• Smash-Hard-hit overhead shot that forces the shuttle sharply downward.

Badminton's primary attacking stroke.

Badminton Rules

Court and Equipment

• Court size for singles - 44 feet long x 17 feet wide

• Court size for doubles - 44 feet long x 20 feet wide

• Net height - 5 feet

• Shuttlecocks - Also known as birdies or birds. One type has feathers with a cork base, and the other is plastic with a rubber base.

• Rackets - Made of lightweight material like wood, plastic or metal.

Object of the game

The object of the game is to hit the shuttlecock back and forth over a net without permitting it to hit the floor in bounds on your side of the net.

Some general rules and terms

1. A player may not touch the net with a racket or history body during play.

2. A birdie may not come to rest or be carried on the racket.

3. A birdie may hit the net on its way across during play and the rally can continue.

4. Two types of scoring: Rally scoring (every serve is a point, Traditional scoring (must serve to score).

5. A player may not reach over the net to hit the shuttlecock.

6. A loss of serve is called a side out in.

7. Official games are played to 21 points and a match is 2 out of 3 games.

8. Some types of shots are the lob, drop shot, smash and drive.

Serving

1. A coin toss, spin of the racket, or hitting birdie into the air can be used to determine who will serve first.

2. The serve must travel diagonally (cross court) to be good.

3. A serve that touches the net and lands in the proper court is a good serve. A serve that is totally missed may be tried again.

4. The racket must make contact with the birdie below the waist on a serve.

5. The head of the racket must be below that handle of the racket a contact on a serve.

6. The server and receiver shall stand within their respective service courts until the serve is made.

7. All lines are considered in bounds.

8. In singles, when the server's score is an even number, the serve is taken from the right side. When the server's score is an odd number, it is taken from the left. (Serving in a doubles game is different)