Amanda Knapp
Badminton is a popular sport with a passionate global fan following. Serving forms a crucial part of a badminton player's drill. The rules of serving in badminton are quite intricate and differ slightly between singles and doubles matches. The rules regarding the positioning of the player, the number of motions, and the angle of the racket are all important to follow to ensure a fair game. The server must stand diagonally opposite their opponent without touching the boundary lines, and the serve must be executed in one continuous motion. The serve must also be hit underarm, with the racket angled downward, and the shuttlecock below the waist. A correct service is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's side, without it getting stuck in the net or going out of bounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Service rules | The shuttlecock must be hit over the net to the opponent's side without touching the net or going out of bounds. |
| The shuttlecock should be struck below the waist, with the entire shuttlecock below 1.15 meters from the court surface. | |
| The server's feet must be in contact with the court surface, not touching any lines. | |
| The base of the shuttle (the cork) must be struck first. | |
| The serve must be one continuous motion without stopping or pausing. | |
| There is no time limit, but players can be faulted for taking too long. | |
| In singles, the server starts from the right service court and serves from the right on even points and the left on odd points. | |
| In doubles, the court is shorter and wider, and the rear "tramlines" are out of bounds until the serve is returned. | |
| The first point is served by the team that wins the coin toss. | |
| The winning side gets the next serve. | |
| Scoring rules | Matches are best of three games to 21 points, with a two-point difference required to win. |
| If the score reaches 29-29, the first team to get 30 points wins. | |
| A point is awarded if the shuttlecock touches the ground in the opponent's court or goes out of bounds, hits the net, or is struck twice by the same player. | |
| Players must wait for the shuttlecock to cross the net before playing a shot. | |
| Touching the net with the body or racket results in a point for the opponent. |
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What You'll Learn
Serving rules in badminton
Positioning
Players on either side can take up any position on their side of the court, as long as they do not obstruct the sight of the server or receiver. In doubles, partners can position themselves strategically without impeding the serve.
Service Height
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) introduced a service height rule in 2018 to ensure fairness in high-level tournaments. The shuttlecock must be struck below 1.15 meters (3.77 feet) from the court's surface. This regulation limits power and creates a level playing field. In non-BWF tournaments, the traditional rule of hitting the shuttle below the waist applies.
Service Motion
The serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion. The BWF Laws of the Game prohibit undue delay in the delivery of the service once both the server and receiver are ready. Additionally, the serve must be hit "underarm," with the racket head and shaft angled downward, and the shuttle must be below the waist at contact.
Service Area
The server must stand behind the service line within their designated service court. The service must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half-court and over their front service line, which is the first horizontal line closest to the net.
Scoring and Faults
A point is awarded for every rally won. If the shuttlecock hits the net but goes over and lands past the service line, the server wins the rally. If it hits the net and lands short or wide of the court, the receiver wins the point. If the shuttle lands on the line, it is considered in. The first side to reach 21 points with a two-point difference wins the game, and a match consists of three games.
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Positioning yourself for a serve
Serving in badminton is a crucial aspect of the game that sets the tone for each rally. A well-executed serve can give you an advantage right from the start. To position yourself for a serve, there are several key factors to consider:
Footwork and Stance
Footwork and stance play a vital role in achieving a powerful and accurate serve. Start by standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, placing your non-racket foot slightly forward. This provides a stable and balanced stance, which is crucial for generating power. Distribute your weight evenly between both feet, with your knees slightly bent, to ensure stability and balance during the serve. As you initiate the serve, use your non-racket foot to push off quickly, generating momentum and transferring energy into the shot.
Grip and Hand Position
A relaxed yet firm grip on the racket handle is essential, offering both flexibility and control. Positioning your hand slightly higher on the handle gives you more power and accuracy during the serve. The backhand grip is commonly used for serving in badminton. Hold the shuttlecock loosely in your non-racket hand, slightly above your head, and use a gentle upward motion to release it, creating a vertical trajectory.
Warm-up and Mental Preparation
Warming up your body before serving is crucial for injury prevention and muscle preparation. Engage in light cardio exercises like jogging or jumping jacks, followed by dynamic stretches focusing on your arms, shoulders, and wrists. Mental preparation is equally important. Visualize yourself executing perfect serves and maintain a positive mindset. Develop a pre-serve routine to help you relax, focus, and enter a state of flow before each serve.
Tossing Technique
The toss is critical to a successful serve. Practice a consistent and accurate toss to ensure proper timing and contact with the shuttlecock. Aim for a consistent toss height to maintain control and execute various serving techniques.
Target and Strategy
Consider your opponent's weaknesses and your strengths when deciding on your serving strategy. Aim for strategic placements that can put your opponent on the defensive from the start. Practice serving to different areas of the court, such as deep corners, short drops, or body shots, to keep your opponent guessing.
Doubles Positioning
In doubles, positioning is about how you and your partner cover the court. When attacking, adopt a formation with one player in the rear court and the other towards the front of the court. The rear player covers most shots to the rear court, playing smashes or drop shots, while the forward player covers replies to the net or midcourt. When defending, both sides tend to start in a side-by-side position to cover the full width of the court.
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The importance of a good serve
Serving in badminton is a crucial aspect of the game and sets the tone for each rally. A good serve can give you the advantage right from the start. A correct service is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's side, ensuring that the shuttlecock remains below the waist of the server. The serve must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half court and over their front service line.
A good serve has a clear objective and is a strategy for the next shot. For example, serving to the back of the court is basic, but a good serve would be adjusting the height so that the shuttle is just out of your opponent's reach, forcing them to move to the baseline to return it. This gives them less time to set up a powerful smash. A good benchmark to aim for is 8/10 successful serves. Once you can consistently serve well, you can start to analyse your serves and your opponent's returns to identify patterns and develop counter-strategies.
The type of serve you use will depend on your opponent's weaknesses and your strengths. You can practice serving to different areas of the court, such as deep corners, short drops, or body shots, to keep your opponent guessing. The basic types of serve are the high serve, short serve (or low serve), flick serve, and the unofficial drive serve.
To enhance your serving skills, it's important to focus on proper preparation. This includes warming up with light cardio and dynamic stretches, as well as mental preparation and visualisation. A stable and balanced stance is also crucial for a powerful serve. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, placing your non-racket foot slightly forward, and distribute your weight evenly. As you begin your serve, push off from your non-racket foot to generate momentum.
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Illegal serves
Serving is an important part of a badminton player's gameplay. A correct service is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's side without the shuttle getting stuck in the net or going out of the court's bounds. Here are some rules regarding illegal serves in badminton:
Feet Position
Both feet must be in contact with the floor when striking the shuttlecock, and they must not be touching any court lines.
Striking the Shuttlecock
The cork of the shuttlecock must be struck, not the feather. The shuttlecock must be struck below the waist of the server. The whole shuttlecock should be below 1.15m from the surface of the court at the instant it is hit.
Direction of the Shuttlecock
The shuttlecock must pass over the net and land inside the boundary lines of the opponent's service court. If the shuttlecock hits the net but lands short of the service line or wide of the court, the receiver wins the point.
Service Court Errors
If a service court error is discovered, the error must be corrected when the shuttlecock is not in play, and the existing score shall stand.
Other Illegal Serves
Other illegal serves include the shuttlecock touching any person or object outside the court, being caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke, being hit twice in succession by the same player, or being hit successively by a player and their partner.
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Serving in singles vs doubles
Serving plays a crucial role in a badminton player's gameplay. The service rules for singles and doubles are essentially the same, but there are some differences in strategy and gameplay.
In singles, the player who serves first in a game does so from the right side of the service court. If the server has an even number of points, they continue to serve from the right; if they have an odd number of points, they serve from the left. The singles service boxes are slightly longer, with a boundary line at the back of the court. In singles, defence is more about positioning and footwork than speed. Offence is also more straightforward, as you don't need to coordinate with a partner.
In doubles, the player who serves first also starts on the right. However, they continue serving from the right as long as their team keeps scoring, only switching sides with their partner when they lose a point. The doubles court has wider sidelines to make room for both players, and the long service line is closer to the net. In doubles, the attack formation usually involves one player covering the backcourt and the other the front. The backcourt player uses offensive shots to stay unpredictable, while the frontcourt player intercepts shots and increases pressure using body shots, drops, and net kills. It's important to communicate with your partner and stay mindful of their positioning.
In both singles and doubles, a correct service involves hitting the shuttlecock with a racket over the net to the opponent's side without it getting stuck in the net or going out of bounds. The shuttlecock should be below waist height when hit, and the server's feet should be in contact with the court surface. The first forward movement of the server's racket head initiates the service.
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Frequently asked questions
The correct service in badminton is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent’s side without it getting stuck in the net or going out of bounds. The player must have some part of their feet in contact with the court surface, without touching any lines, and the shuttlecock should be below the waist when hit. The serve must also be done in one continuous motion.
The server and receiver stand on diagonally opposite sides of the court without touching the boundary lines. The server starts from the right service court and will continue to serve from the right side for every even point and from the left side for every odd point.
If the shuttlecock hits the net but continues over and lands past the service line, the server wins the rally. If it hits the net and lands short of the service line or out of bounds, the receiver wins the point.
