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Badminton is a fun and inclusive sport that can be played recreationally or competitively. It's a great addition to PE classes as it offers flexibility and is suitable for students of all fitness levels. The basic rules are simple: it can be played with two or four players, either in singles or doubles matches, and the aim is to score points by successfully hitting a shuttlecock over the net. To get started, players should learn the correct stance and footwork, as well as how to hold the racket and serve. Once the fundamentals are covered, more advanced techniques such as different types of shots can be introduced.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 or 4 |
| Objective | Score points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock over the net |
| Court dimensions | Singles: 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide; Doubles: 6.1m (20ft) wide |
| Net height | 1.55m (5ft 1in) at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) in the middle |
| Serve | Must pass the short service line (1.98m/6.5ft from the net) and land in the service box |
| Scoring | Played up to 21 points; the first side to reach 21 wins a game; a point is scored on every serve |
| Winning condition | Win by 2 points; if the score reaches 29-29, the first to get the 30th point wins |
| Gameplay | Players change ends under specific conditions, such as at the conclusion of the first game and when one side reaches 11 points in the third game |
| Techniques | Overhand strike, backhand grip, footwork, stance, swings, drop shots, smash shots |
| Equipment | Racquet, shuttlecock |
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What You'll Learn
Rules and regulations
Badminton is a fast-paced racket sport that can be played either as singles or doubles. The aim is to hit a shuttlecock, or shuttle/birdie, over a net and into the opponent's court.
The game always begins with a toss to decide which side gets to serve first and which side of the court they will take. The shuttlecock is then struck with the racket and must land within the other team's half of the court to score points. Each side gets one chance to hit the shuttlecock. A point is scored when the shuttlecock touches the floor of the opponent's side of the court or when the opponent commits a fault. A player cannot strike the shuttlecock twice from the same side of the court. A point is also conceded if the shuttlecock hits the net or passes through/under it, or if a player touches it with their body or clothing. The shuttlecock must be hit below waist height, with players serving diagonally into their opponent's service box.
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 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, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side takes the point, they assume the serve. The serve must be struck upward with an underarm motion.
A match consists of the best of three games, with each game played to 21 points. If the game is tied at 20-20, players must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first player or team to score 30 points will win the game. Players should change ends after the first and second games. In the third game, the change of ends occurs when one side reaches 11 points.
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Footwork and stance
While waiting to return a shot, stay on your toes and move your feet up and down in tiny motions to position yourself. Avoid being flat-footed or lazy with your hand movements. Instead, make small adjustments with your feet until the shuttle is in the perfect position to strike.
To practice your footwork, try the following exercises:
- Squat jump: Put both hands at your back, bend your knees, and then jump as high as you can. Do this in sets of 10 reps to strengthen your knees and core.
- Agility ladder: Use an agility ladder to perform a variety of footwork exercises.
In addition to footwork, grip is also important. For the forehand grip, hold the racket with your non-playing hand, pointing the handle toward you with the racket face perpendicular to the floor. Place your hand on the handle as if shaking hands, looking for a V shape between your thumb and index finger. For the backhand grip, start with the forehand grip and then turn the racket clockwise, moving the V shape to the right. Put your thumb against the back bevel of the handle for more leverage and power.
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Grips and swings
The easiest way to learn the forehand grip is to pretend you are shaking someone's hand, forming a 'V shape' with your index finger and thumb. Your fingers should be loose around the grip. The forehand grip is useful for net shots, lifts, drives, kills, and blocks. However, it is difficult to master due to the need for pronation on every shot, except for net shots.
The backhand grip is performed with the thumb on top of the wider section of the grip, with the strings facing the floor and ceiling. The backhand grip is not used for backhand shots in the rear court. To perform the bevel grip, start in the backhand grip and move the racket head so that the strings are facing diagonally and the thumb is on the ridge. The bevel grip is used for backhand rear-court shots, such as clears, drops, and smashes.
The panhandle grip is the most natural grip for beginners as it is easy to hit overhead shots with. It is used for late backhand rear-court shots, retrieving a net cord on the backhand side, and some net kills or drives.
To improve your grip, it is recommended to practice holding the racquet correctly as much as possible, even when you are not playing. This will help the grip feel more comfortable and natural. Additionally, it is important to practice changing grips without a shuttle first and then adding movement. When practicing swings, start with smaller swings and focus on hitting the target without going full power.
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Serving techniques
Serving is an essential component of badminton. The badminton serve is the shot selected to begin the point. The serve must be hit from behind the service line and travel diagonally from one side of the court into the opponent's opposite service box. Both players must remain stationary until the serve is made.
- Practice your footwork. Badminton is similar to squash in that success is largely dependent on footwork. Stay on your toes and make small movements with your feet to position yourself to return the shot.
- Master your grip. The grip is how you hold your racket and it will impact every stroke. There are two basic grips in badminton: one for the forehand and one for the backhand. For a forehand grip, hold the racket with your non-playing hand, pointing the handle toward you with the racket face perpendicular to the floor.
- Practice the forehand strokes and backhand strokes. The main strokes in badminton are the forehand and the backhand, similar to tennis. You will need a light, quick wrist to effectively strike the shuttlecock.
- Practice the short serve. This can be used in singles or doubles and will catch your opponent off guard.
- Try the "fake" low serve. When you stand in a low serve position, your opponent will expect a low serve. However, flick your wrist harder so that the shuttlecock flies high and goes to the back of the court.
- Practice the high serve. Stand sideways with the side of your body facing the net and your racket arm relaxed. Hold the shuttlecock with its head facing downwards so that it will drop straight down. Let go of the shuttlecock and swing your racket arm upwards, twisting your waist so that your body faces the net. Flick your wrist in the direction you want the shuttlecock to land.
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Singles and doubles
Badminton can be played as singles or doubles. In singles, there are two players competing against each other. In doubles, two pairs of players form teams and compete against each other, resulting in a game of four players. All singles and doubles matches are the best of three games. The first side to 21 points wins a game. A point is scored on every serve and awarded to whichever side wins the rally. The winning side gets the next serve. If the score is 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to get their 30th point wins.
In singles, a badminton court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide. The width extends to 6.1m (20ft) in doubles. The net is 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) high where it dips in the middle. A serve must pass the short service line, which is 1.98m (6.5ft) from the net. There is also a doubles service line 0.76m (2.5ft) in from the baseline. That means each service court is 3.96m (13ft) long and 2.59m (8.5ft) wide.
In doubles, the scoring system can be a little confusing as there are two players in a team who can serve. A badminton game always starts from the right-hand side. The order of the server depends on the score being odd or even. If both pairs decide that one player will deliver the first serve, the score is 0-0. Since 0 is an even number, the player serves from the right side of the court. The players then continue to stay in their respective service courts. From this method, alternate servers are guaranteed.
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 team-mate, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side takes the point, they assume the serve.
Badminton is a sport that can be offered as a recreational, competitive, or hybrid unit. It is a great addition to PE, offering flexibility, inclusivity, and fun. Students do not have to be in great shape to play. By playing badminton, they will improve their conditioning a little bit, but the unit is more about participation, skill acquisition, strategy, and cognitive retention.
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Frequently asked questions
The objective of badminton is to score points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock (also known as the birdie) over the net.
Badminton can be played with either two or four players. In singles, there are two players competing against each other. In doubles, two pairs of players form teams and compete against each other, resulting in a game of four players.
In singles, a badminton court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide. The width extends to 6.1m (20ft) in doubles. The net is 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m high (5ft) in the middle.
Some basic badminton techniques include the forehand and backhand grip, footwork, stance, swings, and different types of shots such as the overhead or smash shot, net shot, and drop shot.
In badminton, a point is scored on every serve and is awarded to the side that wins the rally. The first side to reach 21 points wins a game, with a two-point advantage required. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to score 30 points wins.
