Amanda Knapp
Badminton is a racquet sport played with racquets and a shuttlecock, which is a feathered or plastic projectile. The sport is played with each player hitting the shuttlecock once before it passes over a net, with points being scored when the shuttlecock lands within the boundaries of the opposing side's court. The most common forms of the game are singles and doubles, with the latter being played with two players per side. To play badminton doubles, you must first choose between an attacking formation, where one player stands in front of the court and the other stands at the back, or a defensive formation, where both players stand side by side. The shuttlecock is then served diagonally to the opponent's court. For long serves, the shuttlecock should be hit high towards the back line, forcing the opponent to move back to return the shot. Communication between partners is also key to winning rallies.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 4 (2 per side) |
| Court dimensions | 13.41m (44ft) long and 6.1m (20ft) wide |
| Net height | 1.55m (5ft 1in) at the ends, 1.52m (5ft) in the middle |
| Service rules | Serve diagonally to the court opposite your position; serve must pass the short service line, 1.98m (6.5ft) from the net |
| Footwork | Both feet must be touching the ground when serving |
| Strategies | Attacking or defensive formations; hit shuttle at highest point; net kills |
| Scoring | Best of three games; first to 21 points wins; if 20-20, play to 30; if 29-29, first to 30 wins |
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What You'll Learn
Court and formation setup
The badminton court for doubles is different from singles. The doubles court is wider but shorter, with different service boxes and lines. The service courts are wider and shorter, with the 'short and fat' diagonal service area. This means that the receiver can stand further forward and attack the short serves aggressively. The centre line runs perpendicular to the net and down the middle of each side, separating the two service boxes. The doubles sidelines are the outermost lines, perpendicular to the net. The short service line is the line closest to the net and runs parallel to it, covering the width of the court. The doubles long service line is the second-to-last line near the back of the court, also parallel to the net.
When it comes to formation setup, there are two main options: an attacking formation and a defensive formation. In the attacking formation, one player stands in front, known as the "setter", and the other stands behind. The setter's role is to secure the net position and apply pressure from the net area, forcing lifts from the opponent. In the defensive formation, both players stand side by side, each covering their respective sides of the court. This formation is used when executing a high lift or high clear. It is important to be able to switch between these formations fluidly during a game.
Communication is key in doubles badminton. It is important to be aware of your partner's position on the court at all times to avoid confusion and collisions. Shouting "yours" or "mine" during rallies can help to avoid miscommunication. It is also crucial to work together to retrieve the shuttle and maintain pressure on your opponents.
When serving, the shuttle must be hit diagonally to the court opposite the server. The server's feet must be touching the ground, and the shuttle must be hit from below the waist. The serve must fall into the 'short and fat' area diagonally opposite the server, with the side tramlines in play but the rear tramlines out.
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Serving rules
Serving is an important part of a player's gameplay in badminton. Here are the rules for serving in badminton doubles:
Positioning
The player serving must have some part of both feet in contact with the court surface while ensuring that their feet are not touching any of the court lines. The players on either side can stand anywhere on their side of the court, including the tramlines, as long as they do not touch any lines or are outside the playing court. They must also not impede the sight of the server or receiver.
Striking the shuttle
The shuttlecock must be struck below the waist of the server. The shuttlecock should always be hit from below the waist, and the base of the shuttle (the cork) must be struck first, not the feathers. The whole shuttle must be struck below 1.15m. The serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion.
Scoring
A point is scored on every serve and is awarded to whichever side wins the rally. The winning side gets the next serve. The first side to reach 21 points, with a two-point difference, wins the game, and a match consists of three games.
Timing
There is currently no time limit for serving in badminton, but players have been faulted for taking too long. According to the BWF Laws of Badminton, "neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server and receiver are ready".
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Footwork and movement
There are several different types of footwork and movement drills that you can practice to improve your speed, endurance, and court positioning. One such drill is the 'In to Out, Out to In' shuttle run pattern. This involves placing five shuttlecocks in one corner of the court and moving them one by one to each of the other five corners, leaving the original corner empty. Then, in the second half of the drill, you move them back to the original corner. This is an endurance drill that can be performed at high intensity to improve your endurance and leg strength.
Another drill is the 'Back to Front/Front to Back' pattern. This involves moving shuttlecocks from the back of the court to the front while maintaining proper footwork. This routine simulates the movement when you want to follow up a smash at the back of the court with a quick movement to the front, or when you need to move quickly from the front of the court to the back. It is recommended to perform this drill at 100% of your speed for 6-10 sets of 10 birds.
Shadow exercises are also a great way to improve your footwork. This involves someone on the other side of the net pointing to where an imaginary shuttlecock is flying, and you move to that position and swing as if hitting the shuttlecock. You then return to the base position in the center of the court. This allows you to practice different varieties of shots and improve your movement speed.
In terms of general movement on the court, it is important to be able to move quickly from your ready position as soon as your opponent strikes the shuttlecock. Watch the shuttlecock as it leaves your opponent's racket and push off with the foot that is away from the direction you want to move in. Keep your feet low to the floor to prevent wasted movements. For deep shots, turn your body sideways so your chest is facing the sideline closest to the shuttlecock. Your final movement will be with your racket-side foot for shots close to the net.
Flexibility is also important for badminton footwork, as you will often need to lunge forward to the front of the court. Performing stretching exercises can help improve your flexibility.
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Communication and strategy
To begin, partners should decide on their playing formation. They can choose between an attacking formation, where one player is in front of the court and the other is in the back, or a defensive formation, where both players stand side by side. The attacking formation is generally recommended as the ideal setup for partners.
When serving, the shuttlecock must be served diagonally to the court opposite the server. For instance, if the server is standing on the left side of their side of the court, they must serve to the right side of the opponent's court. The server must also ensure that some part of both feet is touching the ground when serving.
Partners can employ strategies such as hitting the shuttlecock at its highest point to set up a smash or net kill for their partner. A net kill involves changing the position of your hand and performing a short swing rather than a larger swing. To execute a net kill correctly, place your thumb behind the badminton handle, ensuring only the pad of your thumb is touching the handle. Before the shuttle arrives, position your racket up, and make sure your racket is on top of the shuttle when you hit it downwards.
Additionally, partners should be mindful of their positioning on the court. The server and receiver must remain within their service courts without touching the boundary lines until the server strikes the shuttlecock. The other two players may stand wherever they wish, as long as they do not obstruct the vision of the server or receiver.
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Scoring and winning
Scoring in badminton is achieved by striking the shuttlecock, or birdie, with the racquet and landing it within the boundaries of the opponent's half of the court. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. 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. 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. Other faults include touching the net with your body or racquet, striking the shuttlecock twice with your racquet, and failing to wait for the shuttlecock to cross the net before playing a shot.
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 takes the point, they assume the serve. The player who did not initially serve for each team will only assume the serve once their side has won a point as the receiving side. The serve must pass the short service line, which is 1.98m (6.5ft) from the net, and it must land in the opponent's service box. The shuttlecock must also be below 1.15m from the surface of the court when struck by the server's racquet.
A full game is typically played up to 21 points, with variations such as 15 and 7 used for quicker games. If the score reaches 20-20, the first player or pair to achieve a two-point lead wins. Matches are typically best out of three games, with the winning pair needing to win two games. In the third game, players switch sides when one side reaches 11 points.
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton doubles is a variation of the badminton sport where two players form a team and play against another team of two players.
The server must serve the shuttle diagonally to the court opposite theirs. For instance, if you are on the left side of the court, serve the shuttle to the right side of the opponent's court. The shuttle must pass over the short service line on the opponent's court, and the server must remain within their service court until they strike the shuttlecock.
Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. 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. The first side to score 21 points wins, with a two-point difference required if the game goes beyond 20 points.
One strategy is to use an attacking formation, where one player is in front of the court and the other is at the back. Communicating with your partner is also key. Talk to each other and maintain an open line of communication throughout the game.
The width of a badminton court for doubles is 6.1m (20ft), whereas the length remains the same as in singles at 13.41m (44ft).
