Andrew Pace
The service rules in badminton singles are slightly different from those in doubles. The player's stance, serve type, and strategy all influence how far one can serve in singles badminton. The server must stand in their serving court, with no part of their body touching the lines, and their opponent must do the same. The server must also ensure there is no undue delay once both players are ready. The serve must be one continuous motion, and the shuttlecock should be struck below the waist. The server can stand further back to cover lifts to the back or stretch forward to serve, depending on their strategy. Taller players may have an advantage in reaching farther, but a good flick serve to the backline is more important. Professionals often use short backhand serves or high-toss serves, but some prefer long forehand serves to push their opponents to the baseline.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Height of the serve | 1.15m or below the server's waist/lowest rib |
| Foot placement | Both feet must be in contact with the ground and not touching any lines on the court |
| Serving style | Short backhand, high-toss, or long forehand |
| Serving side | Determined by coin toss; right side for even points, left side for odd points |
| Opponent's position | Cannot stand at the service line; must be further back to cover lifts to the back |
| Serving strategy | Serve to the middle to make it harder for the opponent to hit corners |
| After the serve | Get ready immediately and anticipate a flat, long push to your deep corner |
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What You'll Learn
Footwork and stance
When serving, your base position should be adjusted depending on where you are aiming to serve. For example, if you are serving to the right sideline, your stance should be on the left half of the court, with perhaps your right foot touching the middle line or even further to the side. This will enable you to serve short. However, if you wish to serve in the middle, you can plant yourself along the middle line, a little further back. This will force your opponent to hit out from you to reach your corners.
The staggered stance is beneficial when returning a serve, as it allows you to anticipate a short serve more quickly. When adopting a staggered stance, your non-dominant foot should be furthest forward. This stance can be used to move to any corner of the court and allows players to move further and faster, especially towards the net. To move towards the net, you then move your non-dominant foot up behind and slightly closer to the corner, so the back leg is slightly crossed behind the front leg. Then, move the racket leg forward in the direction of the shuttle and extend the racket arm out in front of your body.
To move back towards the backhand side, take your dominant foot back first, followed by your non-dominant foot, which should be placed behind the dominant foot. This will allow you to move back towards the backhand side.
The ready position is another important stance in badminton. In this position, a player's feet should be square or slightly staggered, depending on what the player finds most comfortable. If a player opts for the staggered position, their dominant foot should be furthest forward. The feet should be spread about shoulder-width apart, with the knees slightly bent, and the player's weight on the balls of their feet. The racket should be held up in front of the player's body but slightly over to the backhand side. This stance allows players to move sharply in the direction that the shuttle is travelling and enables them to move from side to side and front to back more quickly.
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Serve height
The height of a serve in badminton is an important consideration for players. The rules of the game specify that the entire shuttlecock should be below the server's waist when it is hit by the racket. This rule ensures that the serve is not too high and that the waist is considered an imaginary line coinciding with the server's lowest rib.
While the official rules mandate a serve below the waist, the optimal height for a serve in singles badminton depends on various factors, including the player's strategy, their opponent's position, and their own height and footwork capabilities. For instance, taller players may have an advantage when reaching for shots after a low serve, but ultimately, it comes down to serve accuracy and foot speed.
Some players opt for low serves in singles, as it limits their opponent's options for an aggressive return. A low serve forces the opponent to play upwards, reducing the force of their return shot. Additionally, a well-executed low serve can eliminate body shots and make it harder for the opponent to push the shuttlecock deep into the server's court.
On the other hand, some players prefer high serves, especially if they have a strong backhand clear or drop shot. A high serve can be advantageous when combined with good footwork and anticipation, allowing players to quickly move into position for the next shot. Serving high can also be a tactical choice to prevent the opponent from taking the serve early and pushing it deep into your court.
The height of the serve can also depend on the server's position on the court. If serving to the sideline, standing on the opposite side of the court can provide a better angle and make it harder for the opponent to hit the corners. For players who struggle with backhand shots, serving from the middle can be a good strategy, as it forces the opponent to hit the shuttlecock outwards, giving the server more time to react.
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Serve length
The serve is a crucial part of a badminton player's gameplay. The rules of serving in badminton are the same for singles and doubles. The player must strike the shuttlecock or bird with their racket, sending it over the net to their opponent's side. The shuttlecock must not get stuck in the net or exceed the boundaries of the badminton court. The server must also ensure that some part of their feet is in contact with the court surface, without touching any of the court lines.
The distance of the serve is not explicitly mentioned in the rules, but it is clear that serving high and far is advantageous in singles. This is because it pushes the opponent to the baseline and gives the server more space to work with. A high serve also makes it harder for the opponent to attack the serve aggressively.
However, serving short in singles can also be a valid strategy. A short serve can prevent the opponent from taking an attacking position and restrict them to playing upwards. A short serve can also be used to set up a high serve later in the game, creating variation and keeping the opponent guessing.
The server can stand anywhere on their side of the court, as long as they do not impede the sight of the receiver. This means that the server can choose to stand further back to cover lifts to the back or stand closer to the net for a more ambitious serve. The angle and distance of the serve can be varied to suit the opponent's position and playing style.
Overall, the length of the serve in badminton singles can vary depending on the player's strategy and their opponent's position and playing style. The server must experiment with different lengths and angles to find what works best in different situations.
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Serve speed
While there is no definitive answer to how much serve speed matters in badminton, it is clear that serving strategy is important. The speed of a serve will impact the quality of the shot, but it is also important to consider the accuracy and placement of the shot, as well as the ability to disguise your intentions from your opponent.
The speed of a serve will be influenced by the technique and ability of the player, as well as the type of serve they choose to use. For example, a high-toss serve will allow more time to strike the shuttlecock with greater force, resulting in a faster serve. On the other hand, a short backhand serve, often used by professionals, may be slower but is effective at initiating play. A faster serve may also be advantageous in singles, where it can be used to push your opponent to the baseline and create space for the next shot.
It is also important to vary the speed of your serves to keep your opponent guessing. If you consistently serve at high speed, your opponent will be able to anticipate and prepare for this. A slower serve can be used to surprise your opponent and force them to lift the shuttlecock, giving you the advantage for the next shot.
The speed of your serve will also depend on your opponent's position. If they are standing close to the net, a faster serve may be more effective at forcing an error or a weak return. However, if they are standing further back, a slower serve with more spin or placement may be more effective.
Finally, it is worth noting that the speed of your serve is not the only factor in determining the outcome of a point. The placement of your serve is crucial, as serving to the corners or using spin can create advantageous angles for the next shot. The ability to disguise your serve and vary the speed and placement will also keep your opponent guessing and prevent them from anticipating your shots.
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Service rules
Serving is a crucial part of a badminton player's gameplay. Here are the service rules for singles badminton:
Positioning
The player who serves first in a game shall do so from the right side of the service court on which they begin the match. If the server has won an even number of points during a game, they will continue to serve from the right side. If they have won an odd number of points, they will switch to serving from the left side.
In singles, you generally want to stand further back from the net, especially when serving. This is because you'll want to be able to cover any faster lifts to the back. You can stand anywhere in your half of the court, including the tramlines, as long as you are not touching any of the lines or are outside the playing court.
If your serve is towards the singles sideline, your base should be on that side. For example, if you are serving right to right outside, you would be standing fully on the left half of the court, perhaps with your right foot touching the middle line or even further to the side. However, it may be easier to serve towards the middle, as this will require your opponent to hit out from you to hit your corners.
Striking the Shuttlecock
When striking the shuttlecock, part of both feet must be in contact with the ground. You cannot move or lift either foot off the ground until the shuttlecock has been struck. This rule applies to both the server and the receiver, who must have both feet in contact with the ground until the shuttlecock has been struck.
The entire shuttlecock should be below the waist of the server at the instant it is hit. The waist is considered to be an imaginary line coinciding with the server's lowest rib.
Backswing and Continuous Motion
Once you begin your backswing, the serve must be one continuous motion. At no point during the serving action can you pause. Examples of illegal serves include stopping at the backswing and then moving forward, or moving forward and backward multiple times before striking the shuttlecock.
Undue Delay
There is no time limit on serving, but players can be faulted for taking too long. The BWF Laws of Badminton state that "neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server and receiver are ready".
Scoring
A point is scored if the serving side or the receiving side wins the rally. A rally is defined as a series of shots exchanged between either team until the shuttlecock touches the ground, hits the net, or goes out of bounds of the court. 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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Frequently asked questions
A correct service in singles badminton is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent’s side without the shuttlecock getting stuck in the net or going out of bounds, with some part of their feet in contact with the court surface. The entire shuttlecock should be below the waist of the server when hit by the racket.
In singles badminton, you want to stand further back compared to doubles, as you'll need to cover faster lifts to the back. Serving short is a common strategy, as it prevents your opponent from having an attacking position. Serving high and far is also a valid strategy, as it forces your opponent to play upwards.
The player serving first in a game shall do so from the right side of the service court. If the server has won an even number of points during a game, they shall continue serving from the right side. If the server has won an odd number of points, they shall serve from the left side for the subsequent point. Both the server and receiver must have some part of their feet in contact with the ground until the shuttlecock has been struck, and their feet cannot be touching any lines on the court. The serve must be one continuous motion, with no pauses.
