Side-Arm Serves In Badminton: Legal Or Not?

are side arm serves legal in badminton

The service, or the act of hitting the shuttlecock with a racquet over the net to the opponent's side, is a crucial part of a badminton player's gameplay. There are several rules that govern what constitutes a legal serve in badminton. One such rule is that the serve must be hit in an upward direction, with an underarm hitting action. This means that side-arm serves are legal in badminton, as long as the shuttlecock is not contacted above the waist.

Characteristics Values
Side-arm serves legality Legal, provided the shuttlecock is not contacted above the waist
Service motion One continuous forward motion without pausing
Feet position Both feet must be in contact with the ground and cannot be touching any court lines
Service area Server can stand anywhere in their half of the court
Shuttlecock height Should be below 1.15 metres from the court surface when hit
Scoring A point is scored if the serving or receiving side wins the rally; first to 21 with a 2-point lead wins the game
Serving side Determined by a coin toss; server for each point is determined by the cumulative points of the player/side

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Side-arm serves are legal, but with restrictions

Side-arm serves are indeed legal in badminton, but there are several restrictions that must be followed for the serve to be considered legal. Firstly, the shuttlecock must be hit in an upward direction, with an underarm hitting action. This means that the server's arm should move in a forward, continuous motion, swinging upwards from below the waist. No overarm serves are allowed, and the shuttlecock must be struck below the waist. The waist is considered an imaginary line coinciding with the server's lowest rib.

Additionally, the server must have some part of both feet in contact with the ground during the serve. The feet cannot be touching any of the court lines, but the server can stand anywhere within their half of the court, including the tramlines. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) also specifies that the serve must be initiated from the correct service court, depending on the current score. If the score is even, the server starts from the right service court, and if it is odd, they serve from the left court.

It is important to note that a let serve, where the shuttlecock touches the net but lands in the proper service court, is considered a valid serve. However, if the shuttlecock gets stuck in the net or exceeds the boundaries of the court, it is considered a fault. The server must also ensure there is no undue delay once both players are ready for the service.

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The bird cannot be contacted above the waist

In badminton, a side-arm serve is legal as long as the shuttlecock, also known as the bird or birdie, is not contacted above the waist. This rule is in place to ensure that the serve is made with an underarm hitting action, as overhead serves are not allowed.

According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF) Laws of the Game, the whole shuttle must remain below the server's waist at the moment of contact with the racket. Specifically, the waist is considered an imaginary line around the body, level with the lowest part of the server's bottom rib. This means that the shuttle can be served from slightly higher than the top of the shorts but not by much.

The server must also ensure that the racket shaft and head are pointing in a downward direction when hitting the shuttle. This means that the serve must be made with an upward motion, swinging the racket head from below the waist. Both feet must be in contact with the floor when the shuttle is struck, and the serve must be delivered in one continuous forward motion.

By adhering to these rules, players can ensure that their side-arm serves are legal and avoid faults during a match. It's important to note that while there is no time limit for serving, players can be faulted for taking too long, and a let serve may be called if the birdie touches the net but lands in the proper service court.

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The serve must be hit in an upward direction

To ensure a legal serve in badminton, the player must hit the shuttlecock in an upward direction, using an underarm hitting action. This means that the player's racket must swing upwards from below the waist. The entire shuttlecock should be below the server's waist when hit by the racket. This rule is based on the server's rib height, with the waist considered an imaginary line coinciding with the server's lowest rib.

The underarm serve is a natural motion for most beginners, as the shuttlecock must go over the net, making an underhand serve the most intuitive action. This is in contrast to sports like lawn tennis, where serving is typically done overhand.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has announced a new service law involving a fixed height for the shuttle. The new rule states that the shuttle should be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court when hit by the server's racket.

It is important to note that the server must also follow other rules to ensure a legal serve. For example, both feet must be in contact with the ground during the serve, and the player must stand within the serving court without touching any boundary lines.

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No overarm serves are allowed

In badminton, the rules of serving are quite specific and differ from other racquet sports. Serving is a crucial part of a player's gameplay, and a good understanding of the rules is essential.

Firstly, it is important to note that no overarm serves are allowed in badminton. The serve must be hit in an upward direction, with an underarm or side-arm hitting action. This means that the shuttlecock must be struck below the waist, with the racket head swinging from below the waist. The waist is considered an imaginary line at the level of the server's lowest rib. This rule ensures that the serve is not too powerful and maintains a level playing field.

The server must also have part of both feet in contact with the ground during the serve. This rule applies to both the server and the receiver, who must remain stationary until the shuttlecock is struck. The players can stand anywhere on their side of the court, as long as they do not touch the boundary lines or impede the sight of their opponent.

The service must also be one continuous motion without any pauses. This means that there should be no stopping at the backswing or multiple forward and backward movements before striking the shuttlecock. A correct service is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket, sending it over the net to the opponent's side without touching the net or going out of bounds.

It is worth noting that the Badminton World Federation (BWF) has introduced new service rules, including a fixed height for the shuttlecock at 1.15 metres from the court surface when struck by the racket. These rules aim to standardise serving and ensure fair play for all participants.

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The serve must be one continuous motion

To ensure a legal serve in badminton, the player must follow a set of rules. One of these rules states that the serve must be one continuous motion. This means that once the player begins their backswing, they cannot pause or stop during the serving action.

  • Stopping at the backswing and then moving forward.
  • Moving forward and backward multiple times before striking the shuttle.

It is important to note that the duration of the serve is also crucial. While there may be debates about a server taking too long, the focus should be on executing a proper and legal serve without undue delay once both the server and receiver are ready.

The continuous motion of the serve is an important aspect of the game, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted flow from the backswing to the forward movement and strike of the shuttle. This rule is in place to maintain fairness and consistency in the serving action, preventing players from gaining an advantage through deliberate pauses or excessive delays.

In summary, adhering to the "one continuous motion" rule in badminton serving is essential for compliance with the sport's regulations. By avoiding pauses and maintaining a steady forward motion, players can ensure the integrity of their serves and the overall flow of the game.

Frequently asked questions

Yes, side-arm serves are legal in badminton, provided that the shuttlecock is hit below the waist.

The serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion, with part of both feet in contact with the ground. The shuttlecock must go over the net and land inside the boundaries of the court.

An illegal serve in badminton includes stopping at the backswing and then moving forward, moving forwards and backward multiple times before striking the shuttle, or hitting the serve above the waist.

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