Ayrton Oneill
Badminton is a fast-paced racket sport that is particularly popular in Asia and Europe. The rules of the game are set by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and include specific guidelines for serving. In badminton, players get one serve per point, and the serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion. The birdie, or shuttlecock, must be hit below waist height, and the server must strike the cork, not the feathers, to prevent creating excess spin. The rules also dictate that the server and receiver must have both feet planted on the ground and must not be touching any court lines.
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Only one serve per point
In badminton, players get only one serve per point. This is in contrast to tennis, where the server has two chances to serve. The server in badminton must follow several rules when serving. For example, both feet must be in contact with the floor when striking the shuttle, and the shuttle must be hit below waist height. The player must also serve diagonally into their opponent's service box.
The rules around serving in badminton have been a source of confusion for club players. This is partly due to the evolution of the sport's rules. Before 2005, badminton was played under "traditional rules," which were more complicated and included separate rules for men and women. The International Badminton Federation introduced a 21-point rally format to simplify the rules and reduce the time it took to finish a game.
Under the old rules, players could only score a point when they served, leading to a "service over" call. This is no longer the case, as the winner of the rally now scores a point, regardless of who served. This change may have contributed to the confusion around the number of serves allowed in badminton.
It's worth noting that a let can be called in certain situations, which may result in a serve being replayed without changing the score. For example, if the receiver is not ready when the service is delivered, a let may be called, unless they attempt to return the shuttlecock. Other reasons for a let include disturbances such as a shuttlecock landing on the court from another game or touching an overhead rail in small halls.
While the basic principle is one serve per point, understanding the nuances of the rules and the situations that may lead to a "let" being called is essential for playing badminton effectively.
Who Dominates the Western Conference in Pro Basketball?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The rules of serving
Serving in badminton comes with a set of strict rules that players must follow. Here are the key rules to remember:
One Serve Per Point
Players get only one serve per point in badminton, unless a "let" is called. This means that if the serve is faulty or disrupted in some way, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. A let may be called due to unexpected disturbances, such as the shuttlecock landing on the court or touching an overhead rail in small halls.
Serving Motion
The serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion. Players cannot stop at the backswing and then move forward, nor can they move forward and backward multiple times before striking the shuttle. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) rules state that "neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of service once the server and receiver are ready." While there is no time limit, players can be faulted for taking too long to serve.
Foot Position
When serving or receiving, both feet must be in contact with the floor and must not touch any of the court lines. The player must be stationary until the serve is made. Additionally, the server must strike the cork of the shuttle, not the feathers, and the whole shuttle must be struck below a height of 1.15 meters.
Service Rotation
In singles, the server starts from the right service court and will serve from that side whenever they have an even number of points. They switch to the left service court when they have an odd number of points. In doubles, the server starts on the right and continues serving from that side, alternating with their partner, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins a point, they gain the serve, and the player who did not initially serve for that team will then serve once their side wins a point as the receiving side.
Scoring
A point is scored on every serve and is awarded to the side that wins the rally. The winning side gets to serve the next point. In competitive matches, the first side to reach 21 points wins the game, and matches are typically played as the best of three games. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side achieves a two-point lead.
Duke Wins ACC Basketball Tournament, Claims Crown
You may want to see also
Explore related products
![LED Badminton, [10 Pack] Colourful Shuttlecock Dark Night Goose Feather Glow Birdies Lighting Outdoor Indoor Sport Activities(10PCS)](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/711k2q6g9YL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
Scoring a point
To score a point, the birdie (shuttlecock) must hit the ground in the opponent's half of the court, including the lines. A point can be conceded if a shot goes outside the court boundaries, if the birdie hits the net or passes through/under it, or if a player strikes the birdie twice with their racket.
The server starts from the right service court and will serve from that side every time they have an even number of points. The player serves from the left every time they have an odd number of points. In badminton doubles, the server will start on the right-hand side and keep serving, while alternating sides with their teammate, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins the point, they assume the serve.
The birdie must be hit below waist height, with players serving diagonally into their opponent's service box. Both players must remain stationary until the serve is made. The base of the shuttle (the cork) must be struck first when serving. The whole shuttle should be struck below 1.15m from the surface of the court. The serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion. Both feet must be in contact with the floor when striking the shuttle, and neither player should be touching any of the court lines.
Basketball Transition: Adult-Sized Balls for Kids' Growth
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Foot placement
To answer the first part of your query, in badminton, there is one serve allowed per point, unless a let is called.
Now, onto foot placement. When serving in badminton, both feet must be in contact with the ground and cannot be touching any of the court lines. The server can stand anywhere within their half of the court, including the tramlines, provided they are not touching any lines or standing outside the playing court.
For a forehand serve, the dominant foot, which is usually the right foot for right-handed players, is placed forward. This is less common in doubles, where players may opt for a square stance with their feet level, allowing them to quickly move sideways to cut off returns.
For a backhand serve, the non-dominant foot is placed forward. This provides better balance, reduces the risk of hitting your own leg with the racquet, and allows for easier serving away from the body. Serving with the non-dominant foot forward also enables the player to quickly establish a stable stance after the serve, with the racquet up and ready to receive a return.
Some players may choose to vary their foot placement depending on the situation. For example, in mixed doubles, a player might adjust their stance by placing the left foot forward when serving from the left and the right foot forward when serving from the right. Ultimately, the choice of foot placement depends on the player's comfort, style, and strategic considerations.
The Real Rock: Basketball Wives Star's Life
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The shuttle's flight path
In badminton, each player gets one serve per point, unless a let is called. The shuttlecock, also known as the birdie, is a high-drag projectile with an open conical shape. It is made from either feathers or plastic embedded into a rounded cork or rubber base. The shuttlecock's cork-first orientation and aerodynamic stability are due to its shape.
The quality of feathers matters, with pure natural cork being preferable to synthetic cork or wood. Properly humidified feathers enhance the shuttle's speed and durability, while dry feathers are brittle and cause the shuttle to wobble. Saturated feathers, on the other hand, cause the shuttle to fly too far and fast. The weight of the shuttlecock also impacts its flight, with heavier shuttles falling shorter and decelerating more quickly.
Environmental factors such as temperature, humidity, and altitude also affect the shuttle's flight path. Higher temperatures and humidity cause the shuttle to move faster as the air becomes less dense, resulting in fewer air particles for the shuttle to push through. Higher altitudes have similar effects due to lower air pressure and fewer air particles.
Where to Watch ISU Basketball Tonight
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Players only get one serve attempt in badminton.
The birdie or shuttlecock must be hit below waist height, with players serving diagonally into their opponent's service box. The whole shuttlecock should be below 1.15m from the surface of the court when hit.
At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts.
If the shuttlecock hits the ceiling or any other fixtures above the court, the point is awarded to the opposing player.
A badminton game is typically played to 21 points, but if the game is tied at 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to reach 30 points wins.
![LED Shuttlecock Badminton, [6 Pack] 6 Color Shuttlecock Dark Night Goose Feather Glow Birdies Lighting for Outdoor Indoor Sport Activities](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/616awj4d+UL._AC_UL320_.jpg)
