Kristian Ferrell
Badminton is a sport that has been around since the 16th century, with the modern game developing in the mid-19th century among British officers in India. The rules were first drawn up in 1873 in Pune (then known as Poona), and the sport was launched officially in England in 1893. Today, it is governed internationally by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The rules are as follows: the game can be played as singles or doubles, with each side allowed to strike the shuttlecock only once before it passes over the net. The first side to 21 points wins a game, and a player wins a rally when they strike the shuttlecock and it touches the floor of the opponent's side of the court. Points can also be awarded if a player commits a fault, such as hitting the shuttlecock into the net or out of the court boundaries.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 1 vs 1 or 2 vs 2 |
| Number of games | 3 |
| Winning score | 21 points |
| Tie-breaker | First to 30 points if 29-29 |
| Winning margin | 2 clear points if 20-20 |
| Equipment | Shuttlecock, racquet |
| Shuttlecock weight | 4.74-5.5g |
| Shuttlecock length | 62-70mm |
| Shuttlecock base diameter | 25-28mm |
| Shuttlecock feather tip diameter | 58-62mm |
| Net contact | Not allowed with body or racquet |
| Serving | Diagonal, below waist height |
| Service box | Right box for even points, left for odd points |
| Change of ends | After first and second games |
| Rally | One stroke over the net |
| Fault | Shuttlecock hits net, goes out of bounds, fails to cross net, touches body or racquet, hits ceiling |
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Scoring System
The scoring system in badminton is designed to be fast-paced and dynamic, with players scoring points in rallies and games played to a certain score. Here is a detailed breakdown of the scoring system:
Scoring Points
During a rally, the side that wins the rally scores a point. To win a rally, the side must hit the shuttlecock onto the floor of their opponents' court. If the shuttlecock touches the floor inside the boundaries of the court, the hitting side wins the rally. If a player commits a fault, such as hitting the shuttlecock out of bounds or failing to return it, the opposing side wins the rally and scores a point.
Serving
A player serves to start each rally and must do so from the right service court when their score is even and the left service court when their score is odd. The server and receiver must stand in their respective service courts, and the server must hit the shuttlecock below waist level without touching the net.
Scoring a Game
A game is usually played to 21 points, and the player or pair who reaches 21 points first wins the game. However, if the game reaches a 20-20 tie, the game continues until one side establishes a two-point lead, at which point they win the game. For example, if the score reaches 20-20 and then progresses to 23-21, the side with 23 points wins.
Matches
A badminton match typically consists of the best of three games. Each game has a short break of up to 5 minutes, and there is a longer break of 2 minutes between the first and second games for players to change sides of the court. If there is a third game, there is another 2-minute break, and players change sides again.
Doubles
In doubles, the rules are similar, but the court has a You may want to see also The server must hit the shuttlecock in an underarm fashion, meaning the server's racket head and shaft must be angled in a downward direction, and the shuttlecock must be below the waist when struck. In elite competitions, the shuttlecock must be below 1.15 metres from the floor when hit. Both feet of the server should be in contact with the ground, and no part of the feet should be touching any lines or court boundaries when serving. The serve must be one continuous motion, and players are not allowed to cause undue delay in delivering the service. If the shuttlecock hits the net but still goes over to the opponent's side, play continues as normal, and there is no let, unlike in tennis. If the shuttlecock hits any fixtures above the court, such as lights or beams, it is up to the tournament director or home club to determine whether it is a fault or a let. This can also be agreed upon with the opponent before the start of the game. You may want to see also The shuttlecock, or birdie, is central to the game of badminton. The objective of the game is to hit the shuttlecock over the net and land it inside your opponent's side of the court. The opponent, in turn, tries to prevent this from happening. The shuttlecock is usually made of goose feathers, which is considered the best quality for tournaments. It can also be made of plastic, which is more durable and affordable, but does not fly as well. Yonex is the most well-known brand for shuttlecocks, with other brands including Victor, Li Ning, Aerosense, and RSL. There are several rules pertaining to the shuttlecock in badminton. Firstly, it can hit the net as long as it passes through and falls within the opponent's side of the court. If it gets caught in the net, it is considered a "let", where the rally is replayed without any change in the score. If the shuttlecock hits the ceiling, it is counted as a fault. Additionally, there are rules regarding serving the shuttlecock. The serve must be done diagonally across the net to the opponent's side, and it must be done underarm and below the waist. Overarm serves are not allowed. During serving, both players must stand within their service courts with both feet on the ground, without touching the lines. The server's position depends on their score: if they have an even number of points, they serve from the right service court, and if they have an odd number, they serve from the left. Faults related to the shuttlecock include failing to hit it over the net, landing it outside the court, or hitting it twice in one rally. Distracting your opponent or catching the shuttlecock are also considered faults. You may want to see also Serving faults Serving faults are a common occurrence in badminton, with many rules surrounding the service. Firstly, the whole shuttlecock must be below the server's waist when hit by the racket, with the shaft and racket head pointing downwards. The server must also ensure that part of both feet is in contact with the ground when striking the shuttlecock, and they cannot move or lift either foot until this is done. The server must stand within their service court without touching the boundary lines, and they cannot pause between the backswing and forward swing of their shot. This pause is sometimes used to upset the receiver's timing, but it is against the rules and will result in a fault. There should also be no undue delay in the delivery of the service once the server and receiver are ready. Hitting faults When hitting the shuttlecock, players must ensure that it travels over the net and lands inside their opponent's court. If the shuttlecock hits the ceiling or walls, it is a fault and the player loses the rally. Players are also not allowed to hit the shuttlecock twice in succession or catch and hold it on their racket before slinging it forward. Invasion faults Players must also be careful not to invade their opponent's court over the net with their racket or body, except when following through with a stroke. They must also ensure that they do not invade their opponent's court under the net in a way that causes obstruction or distraction. Equipment faults In addition to faults made by players, equipment faults can also occur. For example, if the shuttlecock gets stuck on top of the net in wheelchair badminton, it is considered a fault. You may want to see also Badminton can be played either 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. The most prevalent varieties of the game are singles (with one player per side) and doubles (with two players per side). 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. In doubles, the serving and receiving rules are the same as in singles. A badminton match is the basic contest in badminton between opposing sides, each of one or two 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. The shuttlecock, also known as the birdie, is badminton's unique "ball". It is cone-shaped and made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The shuttlecock is hit with a racket. You may want to see also Badminton can be played either 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. There are five types of badminton games: men's singles, men's doubles, mixed doubles, women's singles, and women's doubles. A point is won if the shuttlecock, also known as the birdie, hits the ground on the opponent's half of the court, including the lines. A point is conceded if a shot goes outside the court boundaries, if the shuttlecock hits the net or passes through/under it, or if a player strikes the shuttlecock twice with their racket. Players must not touch the net with their body or racket, and they should remain stationary until the serve is made. The shuttlecock must be hit from below waist height, and each side can only strike it once before it passes over the net. 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 to serve next. If the score reaches 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first to score their 30th point wins.Starting an AAU Basketball Program: A Beginner's Guide
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