Andrew Pace
Badminton is a fast-paced indoor racket sport that requires a variety of serves to win rallies. Matches are played as the best of three games, with each game played to 21 points. While there is no official time limit for a serve, players can be faulted for taking too long. The serve must be one continuous motion, without any pauses during the serving action. In singles, the court dimensions are 13.41m by 5.18m, with the tramlines out of bounds. In doubles, the court expands to 6.1m wide, and these tramlines are in bounds. The aim of a high serve is to make the shuttle land at the back of your opponent's court, requiring the server to stand in the front corner of their service court.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Court dimensions for singles | 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide |
| Court dimensions for doubles | 13.41m (44ft) long and 6.1m (20ft) wide |
| Service court dimensions | 3.96m (13ft) long and 2.59m (8.5ft) wide |
| Racket and shaft angle | Angled in a downward direction |
| Shuttle contact point | Below the waist |
| Service motion | One continuous motion |
| Service stance | Stand sideways so that the side of the body faces the net |
| High serve | Hit in a high, long, and diagonal manner so that it reaches the back end of the opposite court |
| Low serve | Can be effective |
| Serving side | The winning side gets the next serve |
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What You'll Learn
Foot placement rules
Badminton is a fast-paced sport that requires quick reactions and strategic footwork. Here are the foot placement rules to follow during a badminton match:
Foot Placement During Service
Badminton has specific rules regarding foot placement during the serve. Both the server and receiver must have both feet in contact with the ground when striking the shuttle. Neither player is allowed to move or lift either foot off the ground until the shuttle has been hit. Additionally, players cannot have their feet touching any of the court lines during the serve or receive. They can stand anywhere in their half, including the tramlines, as long as they are not touching the lines or stepping out of the playing court.
Foot Placement for Balance and Movement
Maintaining balance is crucial in badminton footwork. Keep your knees flexible to improve your speed and agility. Avoid standing with your legs completely straight and rigid. Use your free hand (the one not holding the racket) to help maintain balance. Keep it wide open to prevent falls and injuries. When lunging for the shuttle, it is better to take a half-lunge or a shorter step with the non-racket leg to maintain balance and quickly adjust your position.
Base Position and Court Coverage
Your base starting position should be in the center of the court. This central position allows you to react quickly to shots on either side of the court. After hitting the shuttle, return to this central position to prepare for your opponent's next move. If you are tall or have a long stride, you may only need one or two steps to reach the center, and two more steps to reach the forecourt if necessary. Always maintain good posture and hold your racket in the ready position as you move forward.
Footwork Techniques
Think about your footwork strategy before the match to gain an advantage. Quick and efficient footwork is essential in badminton. Watch the shuttle as it leaves your opponent's racket and push off with the foot farthest from your desired direction to move swiftly. This technique helps you reach the shuttlecock quickly and execute your shot efficiently.
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Striking the shuttle
Firstly, it's important to get your grip right. The faster you can grip the racquet, the more power you can put into the smash. This grip should be followed by a flicking motion, ensuring a smooth follow-through after hitting the shuttlecock. It's also crucial not to smash it with full power unless you are confident in your angles, as you don't want to hit it apart!
To execute a powerful smash, you need to jump into the air and smash the shuttlecock hard, taking into account the angle and your landing position, which should be inside the court. You can add more power to your smash by extending your arm in mid-air and utilising your thumb, shoulder, and wrist. Take a deep breath, and release your stress as you hit the shuttlecock.
To improve your technique, you can practise your swing. Start by straightening your arm with the racquet just past your shoulder, simulating the position during a swing. Hang a shuttlecock at the sweet spot of your racquet head, and then practise swinging and aiming to hit the shuttlecock.
In a game, you might not always be able to hit the shuttlecock at its highest point, but if you're trying to break a bad habit and relearn, this is a good place to start. Additionally, keep a step behind the shuttle to ensure you're in an ideal position to make proper contact.
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Continuous motion
To serve in badminton, players must follow a set of rules. The first rule is that the serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion. This means that once the player begins their backswing, the racket must continue moving forward until the shuttle is struck. It is not permitted to stop at the backswing and then move forward or to move forwards and backwards multiple times before striking the shuttle. Both feet must also be in contact with the ground when the shuttle is struck, and neither foot can be lifted off the ground until the shuttle has been hit. The feet must not be touching any of the court lines.
The service motion is considered to begin with the forward motion of the racket. This means that leaning the upper body forward while serving is allowed, as long as the feet remain stationary. However, it is recommended that players keep their body stationary while serving.
In addition to the rules regarding the service motion, there are other rules that players must follow when serving. For example, the base of the shuttle, known as the cork, must be struck first when serving. This rule was implemented to prevent players from gaining an advantage by hitting the feathers first and creating a large amount of spin on the shuttle. The whole shuttle must also be below 1.15 meters from the court surface when it is struck by the server's racket.
In terms of the scoring system in badminton, the winning side gets the next serve. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side achieves a two-point lead. If the score reaches 29-29, the first team to score 30 points wins.
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Serve direction
Serving in badminton is a crucial aspect of the game, as it occurs at the start of every rally. The direction of the serve can impact the flow of the game and the opportunities available to the server and their opponent. Here is a detailed guide to the serve direction in badminton:
The court is divided into four service courts, with a line running down the middle to split the left and right service courts. The service court used depends on whether you are playing singles or doubles and the side of the court depends on your score. In singles, the server stands 2-3 feet behind the short service line, which is the line closest to the net.
When serving, the player must strike the shuttle, also known as the birdie or shuttlecock, below 1.15 meters from the surface of the court, according to the BWF Laws of Badminton. This rule was implemented in 2018 to improve the application of service laws in tournaments. The old rule stated that the shuttle must be below the server's waist at the instant it is hit.
For a forehand low serve, the server bends their wrist back and pushes gently, resulting in the shuttle just clearing the net. This is the most common type of serve as it limits the opponent's swing. A forehand high serve involves swinging the racket in a wide arc, hitting the shuttle high so that it drops near the back of the opponent's court.
It is important to vary your serves to keep your opponent guessing. For example, you could use a high serve followed by a low hit to mix up the pace and direction of the game. Additionally, the server must follow specific rules, such as having both feet in contact with the floor when striking the shuttle and not touching any court lines.
In terms of the length of service, in badminton, the winning side gets the next serve. If the game reaches a score of 20-20, the game continues until one side achieves a two-point lead. If the score reaches 29-29, the first team to score 30 wins.
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Toss and hit rules
The unique feature of badminton is its use of a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie, which is a cone-shaped projectile made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The birdie is hit back and forth with rackets across a net, and there are specific rules governing the serve.
In badminton, the birdie must be hit below waist height when served, and the server must stand in their service court, either right or left, depending on their points. In singles, the server starts from the right service court and will continue to serve from that side every time they have an even number of points. When a player has an odd number of points, they serve from the left. In doubles, the server starts on the right-hand side and keeps serving and alternating sides with their teammate as long as they keep winning points.
The server must hit the birdie diagonally into their opponent's service box, and both players must remain stationary until the serve is made. The service court is 3.96m (13ft) long and 2.59m (8.5ft) wide, with a line down the middle to split the left and right service courts. There is also a doubles service line 0.76m (2.5ft) in from the baseline.
In both singles and doubles, the player who did not initially serve for each team will only assume the service once their side has won a point as the receiving side. The winning side always gets the next serve, and players are required to change ends under specific conditions, such as at the conclusion of the first game and when a certain score is reached in the third game.
Faults
A fault occurs when a player fails to hit the shuttlecock over the net or when it lands outside the boundary of the court. Each side can only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net, and a player cannot strike it again in a new movement or shot.
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Frequently asked questions
A badminton game is played for the best of 3 games, with each game lasting until a player or team reaches 21 points. If the score reaches 29-29, a sudden death point is played to determine the winner.
There is no official time limit for a serve in badminton. However, players can be faulted for taking too long to serve. The serve must be one continuous motion, with no pauses.
In badminton, the winner of the coin toss can choose to serve first or receive first. The first server of the game serves from the right service box. For the rest of the game, the player or team serves from the left or right box, depending on their score. If the server's score is an even number, they serve from the right box, and if it's an odd number, they serve from the left box.
Throughout the entire serving motion, both feet must be in contact with the ground. The player cannot lift either foot off the ground until the shuttle is struck.
