Helena Frye
Badminton is a racquet sport that has been around since the 16th century. It is played with racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The aim of the game is to score points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock over the net and within the boundaries of your opponent's half of the court. The first side to reach 21 points wins a game, and the first team to win two games wins the match. Badminton can be played with two or four players, with either one player per side (singles) or two players per side (doubles). The badminton court is rectangular and measures 6.1m by 13.4m, with a net situated in the middle at a height of 1.55m.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 or 4 |
| Objective | Score points by hitting the shuttlecock over the net |
| Equipment | Rackets, shuttlecock, net |
| Court dimensions | 6.1m wide and 13.4m long |
| Net height | 1.55m |
| Scoring | First to 21 points wins a game; two games wins a match |
| Service | Serve diagonally across the net from the right service court |
| Faults | Opponent fails to return the shuttlecock or hits it into the net or out of bounds |
| Strategy | Plan shots in advance, hit the "sweet spot" on the shuttlecock |
| Physical demands | Fast feet, balance, coordination, agility, strength, precision |
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What You'll Learn
Rules of the game
Badminton is an indoor sport played with a racquet and a shuttlecock. The objective of the game is to hit the shuttlecock over a net and land it inside the boundaries of your opponent's court. The sport can be played between two players (singles) or four players (doubles).
The badminton court is rectangular and measures 6.1m in width and 13.4m in length. A net runs across the middle of the court at a height of 1.55m. The court boundaries differ for singles and doubles matches. In singles, the court is thinner, with the outside 'tramlines' being out of bounds. In doubles, the full width of the court is in play, and the tramlines are considered 'in'.
To start the game, a coin toss is used to decide which team will serve first and which side they will play on. The first serve comes from the right half of the court to the diagonally opposite court. During the game, players serve from the right box if their score is even and from the left box if their score is odd. If the shuttlecock hits the net but goes over, play continues as normal. If it hits the net and lands short of the service line or wide of the court, the receiving side wins the point. Players are only allowed to strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net or hits the ground. If a player touches the net while the shuttlecock is still in play, a fault is called and the point is awarded to the opponent.
A point is scored when the shuttlecock is hit over the net and lands within the parameters of the opponent's court. A point can also be gained if the opponent hits the shuttlecock into the net or outside the court boundaries. Matches are typically played as the best of three games, with each game going up to 21 points. To win a game, there must be a margin of two points, and if the score reaches 29-29, a sudden death point is played to determine the winner.
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Court specifics
The badminton court measures 6.1m wide and 13.4m long. For singles matches, the court is 5.2m wide. The net should be positioned in the middle of the court at a height of 1.55m, or 1.52m where it dips in the middle, and 5 feet (1.5 m) above the ground. When playing singles, the inside lines are used, whereas the outside lines are used for doubles matches. The extra 1.5m on the left and right sides of the court are considered fair game for serving and returning in doubles.
Each side of the court has a right and left service court. The server must serve from one service court to the service court diagonal from it. In singles, the server starts from the right service court and will serve from that side every time they have an even number of points. They will serve from the left every time they have an odd number of points. 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. If the receiving side wins the point, they assume the serve.
After the shuttlecock is successfully served, each team's entire court becomes fair game. The shuttlecock must stay within the bounds of the singles or doubles court.
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Serving
There are five key serving rules in badminton for both doubles and singles. Firstly, both feet must be in contact with the floor when striking the shuttlecock. Secondly, your feet must not be touching any of the court lines. Thirdly, you must strike the cork, not the feathers, of the shuttlecock. Fourthly, the shuttlecock must be hit below waist height. Fifthly, the whole shuttle must be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court when struck by the server's racket. This last rule was introduced by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) in 2018 to prevent players from gaining an advantage by hitting the feathers first and creating excessive spin.
If the shuttlecock strikes any fixtures above the court, such as lights or beams, it is up to the venue or tournament director to determine whether it is a let or a fault. It is good practice to clarify these rules before the start of the game.
Once the shuttlecock is served, the entire court becomes fair game, and players can score points when their opponent commits a fault. A fault can occur if a player fails to serve the shuttlecock over the net, or if the shuttlecock does not land within the bounds of the court. 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 but lands short or wide, the receiver wins the point.
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Scoring
The scoring system in badminton is relatively simple. A point is scored when the shuttlecock, or "birdie", lands inside the opponent's court. If a returned shuttlecock hits the net or lands outside the court, the opponent gets a point. The first side to 21 points wins a game, and a match is the best of three games.
In singles, the server starts from the right service court and will serve from that side every time they have an even number of points. If their score is odd, they will serve from the left court. In doubles, each player has a service court, and the serve stays with one person until the opponents win a rally. If the score is even, the player with the right service court will serve; if it's odd, the player with the left service court will serve.
If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one player or team is ahead by two points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first to get their 30th point wins.
A player wins a rally when they strike the shuttlecock and it touches the floor of the opponent's side of the court, or when the opponent commits a fault. The most common type of fault is when a player fails to hit the shuttlecock over the net or it lands outside the boundary of the court. Players must wait for the shuttlecock to cross the net before playing a shot, and they can't strike it twice in a row.
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Footwork and movement
Badminton is a fast-paced game that requires quick reflexes and agile footwork. Here are some tips to improve your footwork and movement on the court:
Footwork is essential in badminton, and players need to be quick and agile to cover the court effectively. It is important to maintain a wide stance, with your feet shoulder-width apart, to provide a solid base for movement. This helps you to reach shots and maintain balance, enabling you to quickly change direction. You should always be on the balls of your feet, ready to push off in any direction.
The ready position is a good starting stance to be in when receiving serve. Position yourself in the centre of the court, with your body facing the net. Bend your knees slightly and keep your weight distributed evenly on both legs. This stance allows you to quickly move towards either the forehand or backhand side of the court to return the shuttlecock.
When moving towards the shuttlecock, always try to take small, quick steps. This will help you to maintain balance and react quickly to your opponent's shots. Large steps can make you unstable and slow down your movement. You should also try to move in a zig-zag pattern, keeping your body sideways to the net. This helps you cover more ground and reach shots that are played to the sides.
Sideways movement is crucial in badminton. When moving sideways, keep your feet close together and shuffle along the court. This type of movement helps you maintain balance and quickly change direction. Practice moving sideways along the tramlines, touching the lines with your feet as you go.
When moving backwards, take small steps backwards rather than turning and running. This helps you maintain awareness of your opponent's shots and prevents you from losing balance. It is also important to practice your footwork drills to improve your agility and speed. Focus on improving your reaction time and ability to change direction quickly.
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton can be played by two players (singles) or four players (doubles).
Points are scored when a player commits a fault, for example, by hitting the shuttlecock into the net or out of bounds. A point is also scored after every serve. The first side to 21 points wins a game, and the match is won by the first team to win two games.
The badminton court is 44 feet (13.4 m) long and 17 feet (5.2 m) wide for singles matches, and 20 feet (6.1 m) wide for doubles matches. The net is positioned halfway across the court at 5 feet (1.5 m) high.
Beginners should focus on developing good footwork, practicing basic shots such as the clear, drop shot, smash, and net shot, and mastering the forehand and backhand grips and strokes.
