Kristian Ferrell
Badminton is a racket sport that can be played with two or four players. The aim of the game is to score points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock over the net and into your opponent's half of the court. The first team to win two games wins the match. Before you start playing, it's important to get familiar with the court and the rules of the game. To improve your gameplay, you can practice basic drills and techniques, such as the overhead forehand stroke and the forehand serve. Getting coaching or watching YouTube channels such as 'Badminton Insights' can also help you avoid bad habits and improve your skills.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 or 4 |
| Objective | Score 21 points by hitting the shuttlecock over the net |
| Court dimensions | 44 ft (13.4 m) long x 20 ft (6.1 m) wide for doubles; 44 ft (13.4 m) long x 17 ft (5.2 m) wide for singles |
| Net height | 5 ft (1.5 m) |
| Serving rules | Hit upwards with an underarm action, below the waist; serve from one service court to the diagonal service court |
| Footwork | Stand with legs shoulder-width apart for better movement; lunge forward and stretch to improve flexibility |
| Racket swings | Practice forehand and backhand strokes, both overhead and underhand |
| Rally | Hit the shuttlecock once before it goes over the net; let it fall to the floor if you think it will land out |
| Faults | Failing to hit the shuttlecock over the net or landing it outside the court |
| Learning | Get coaching to avoid bad habits; watch YouTube channels like 'Badminton Insights' |
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What You'll Learn
Know the rules
Badminton is played either one player against one player (singles) or two players against two players (doubles). In doubles, either player can hit the shuttlecock; you do not have to take turns. The only exceptions are the first two shots of the rally. In mixed doubles, a man and a woman play against another man and woman.
The aim of the game is to score points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock over the net and landing it inside your opponent's half of the court. You can also win points, or rallies, from your opponent's mistakes. For example, if they hit the shuttlecock into or under the net, or out of the court, then you win the rally. If you think your opponent's shot is going to land out, then you should let it fall to the floor. If you hit the shuttlecock instead, then the rally continues. A rally is over when the shuttlecock touches the ground.
The badminton court is 44 feet (13.4 m) long by 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. If you're playing singles, you play on the part that is 44 feet (13.4 m) long but only 17 feet (5.2 m) wide. The net should be positioned halfway across the court, 5 feet (1.5 m) above the ground. When playing doubles, the extra 15 feet (1.5 m) on the left and right side of the court are considered fair game for serving and returning.
To start a rally, someone has to hit the shuttlecock first. The server must stand inside a service court, and the receiver must stand inside the diagonally opposite service court. The serve must travel into the diagonally opposite service court. For example, if the server is standing in their left service court, the receiver will be standing in their left service court, which is also where the serve must go. If the serve is going to land outside the service court, then the receiver should let it fall to the floor. If they hit the serve, then the rally continues even if the serve had been going out. The server and receiver must stay inside their service boxes until the server hits the shuttlecock with their racket.
A point is scored after every serve. In doubles, each team only has one "service". If the serving side commits a fault, then the receiving side gets a point and the serve shifts to that side. If the serving team serves and the receiving side commits a fault, then the serving team moves from one service court to the other and continues to serve.
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. A player serves from the left every time they have an odd number of points. Each player will retain serve for as long as they keep winning points. In doubles, the server will start on the right-hand side and keep serving, while alternating sides with their teammate, so long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side takes the point, they assume the serve. Going forward, the player who did not initially serve will only assume the serve once their side has won a point as the receiving side.
The first side to 21 points wins a game. If the score is 20-20, a side must win by two clear points to win the game. All singles and doubles matches are the best of three games.
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Understand the aim of the game
The aim of badminton is to be the first player or team to score 21 points. Points are scored by successfully hitting the shuttlecock with a racket so that it passes over the net and lands inside the opponent's half of the court. This is known as winning a rally. Rallies can also be won if the opponent fails to hit the shuttlecock back into your half of the court or if they hit it into or under the net, or out of the court. Each side can only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net.
The badminton court measures 44 feet (13.4 m) long by 20 feet (6.1 m) wide. If you're playing singles, you play on a court that is 44 feet (13.4 m) long and 17 feet (5.2 m) wide. The net should be positioned halfway across the court at a height of 5 feet (1.5 m) above the ground. When playing doubles, the extra 15 feet (1.5 m) on either side of the court are considered fair game for serving and returning.
The serve must be hit in an upwards direction with an underarm action and must be hit below the waist. To be exact, the rules define this to be a height level with the lowest part of your ribcage. The service courts are smaller box shapes inside the court. The badminton court has a line down the middle, extending from the back to near the net; this is the centre line. At the front of the court, the centre line is met by another line, the front service line, which together form a T shape.
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Learn the basic strokes
The first thing a beginner should learn is how to perform the four basic shots. These are the overhead forehand, overhead backhand, underhand forehand, and underhand backhand. The overhead forehand is the easiest and simplest to perform and is often used when serving and returning lob shots. To execute this shot, throw the shuttlecock into the air, then as it falls back down, pull your arm behind your head and strike it when it is a few inches above eye level. The overhead backhand is less commonly used but is still essential to learn. It is used to return high shots that are passed to the weaker side of your body.
The non-racket arm is important for maintaining body balance. Your swing should be one smooth downward motion. Perform a full-arm swing to generate maximum power. After making contact with the shuttle, follow through with the swing. Avoid exerting too much strength into your forehand stroke, as this will result in poor technique and a loss of body balance. Instead, gently swing your racket and gently flick your wrist upon making contact with the shuttle.
The backhand stroke for badminton is different from the backhand in tennis or squash. The correct technique is about generating power. To perform a good badminton backhand stroke, use the backhand grip and make a complete backhand swing to generate the power to hit strong backhand shots. Wrist action contributes a lot of power to your shots, so practice flicking your wrist to generate power.
It is also important to practice your footwork. This will help you move throughout the court and set up for shots. There are three main types of footwork: the shuffle, used to move from side to side; the lunge, an approach action used to get to shots; and the retreat, a backward movement to return to your original starting position.
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Practise serving
Serving is an essential component of badminton. It is important to consistently get the shuttle into your opponent's court on a serve. Here are some tips for practising your serve:
Footwork
The rules of badminton state that you must keep at least some part of both feet on the ground while serving. Your back left foot will naturally lift as you swing the racket, but be sure to keep your toes on the ground. You are not allowed to drag your foot along the ground during the serve, but you can pivot.
Positioning
Stand inside a service court, not touching any boundary lines. If any part of your body touches a service line, your team will be at fault and your serve will not count. The service court you use will depend on whether you are playing singles or doubles and the side of the court will depend on your score. If you are playing singles, stand 2-3 feet (0.61-0.91 m) behind the short service line, which is the line closest to the net.
Basic Underarm Backhand Serve
Point both feet forward with the racket leg a little ahead. Hold your racket in your forearm, with the head of the racket below your waist. Hold it with a loose backhand grip. Hold the shuttle by the feathers with the non-racket hand in front of the racket's face. The shuttle's feathers must face the top part of the net. Take your racket slightly behind you to generate momentum and hit the shuttle with a flick of the wrist.
Forehand Low Serve
This is the most common serve in badminton. Bend your wrist back and push gently. A low serve will hit just over the net and limit your opponent's swing, increasing your chances of scoring.
Forehand High Serve
Swing the racket in a wide arc to hit a forehand high serve. This serve will make your opponent return the shuttle from the farthest point in the court, so the return will be weak.
Variations
Once you understand the basics, you can easily mix up your serves. For example, you might use a high serve so the shuttle will land at the back of the court, followed by a low hit that will land near the net.
Look at your Opponent
Beginners tend to only look at the shuttle when serving. Remember to look at your opponent. You will get an idea of their strategy and appear ready to play tough.
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Footwork and positioning
Footwork is an important aspect of badminton. It can be the difference between losing and winning a point. Badminton players tend to make lots of sprints and runs, so having proper footwork and positioning is key.
Base Position
Your base starting point should be in the centre of the court. This is the point you should always return to after hitting the shuttlecock (or birdie). This is because the approximate centre of the court gives you the best position to react to whichever side your opponent chooses to strike the shuttlecock.
Movement Strategy
It is important to be constantly ready as your opponent can strike or change the game at any second. There are several ways to react to each shot or smash, and you need to be able to react quickly. The basic idea is to always play the shuttlecock from the highest point possible. This is because it is very difficult to play a threatening shot when it is falling downward.
Forward Movement
The fastest way to move forward is by running after your starting phase. If you're tall or have a long step, you'll only need to take one or two steps before reaching the centre of the court. Whatever the number of steps, always move forward with good posture and hold your racket in the ready position.
Backward Movement
When you need to get to the backcourt, your footwork is important. A late arrival could lead to a point loss. If the shuttlecock drops below net level, it usually becomes difficult to play a good shot, even for skilled players. Getting behind the shuttlecock gives you more stability and options.
Drills
To improve your footwork, you can work on drills such as lunges, chasse steps, and split steps. When you feel confident in these, you can move on to running steps, net kill, China jump, scissor jump, and more.
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Frequently asked questions
The objective of the game is to score points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock over the net. The first team or player to get 21 points wins the game.
You can have either two or four players on a badminton court: one player on each side, or a team of two players on each side. One-against-one is called singles, and two-against-two is called doubles.
The serve must be hit in an upwards direction, with an underarm hitting action. The shuttlecock must be hit below the waist, at a height level with the lowest part of your ribcage. Each side can only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. A point is added to a player's score when they win a rally. 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.
Focus on the fundamentals and proper technique first. Get coaching or watch YouTube channels like 'Badminton Insights' to avoid developing bad habits. Practice footwork by standing with your legs shoulder-width apart and lunge forward to improve flexibility. Practice drills with a partner to improve your skills.
