Kristian Ferrell
Badminton is an indoor racquet sport that is believed to have originated in Greece about 2000 years ago. It is played with a racquet and a shuttlecock, with the objective being to hit the shuttlecock over a net and have it land in the designated areas of the opponent's court. The sport has two forms: singles and doubles (including mixed doubles). A typical badminton court is 6.1m wide and 13.4m long, with a net running across the middle at a height of 1.55m. Matches are usually played as the best of three games, with each game being played until one player or pair reaches 21 points. Points can be scored by successfully hitting the shuttlecock into the opponent's court or if the opponent hits the shuttlecock into the net or out of bounds.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Origin | Greece |
| Year of Origin | 16th century |
| Playing Style | Singles, Doubles, or Mixed Doubles |
| Number of Players | 2 or 4 |
| Court Dimensions | 6.1m x 13.4m |
| Net Height | 1.55m |
| Scoring | 21 points to win a set |
| Number of Sets | Best of 3 |
| Points per Rally | 1 |
| Points to Win a Game | 2 clear points if tied at 20-20; 30 points if tied at 29-29 |
| Winning Condition | Opponent's shuttlecock touches the floor on your side of the court or opponent commits a fault |
| Faults | Failing to hit the shuttlecock over the net, landing outside the court, shuttlecock hitting the ceiling, deliberate distraction, catching and flinging the shuttlecock with the racket, hitting the shuttlecock twice |
| Officials | 1 referee and 6 officials for singles, 8 for doubles |
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What You'll Learn
Scoring system
The scoring system in badminton is relatively simple. Points are scored when the shuttlecock (also known as a "birdie") lands in the opponent's court. A point is awarded regardless of which side served. The first side to 21 points wins, but a game must be won by two clear points. So, for example, if the score reaches 20–20, the winning score could be 22–20, but not 21–20. If the score reaches 29–29, then the first side to reach 30 points wins. This rule is intended to prevent games from dragging on too long.
In singles, the serve alternates between the players, while in doubles, it alternates between teams. In both singles and doubles, the server must stand within their service court and hit the shuttlecock diagonally across the net to the opponent's service court. The receiver always stands in the service box diagonally opposite the server. So, if the server is in the left service court, the receiver will be in the right service court, and vice versa.
The side that wins a rally also gets the next serve. If a player forgets whether they served or received first, they can usually figure it out by thinking about their position on the court. For example, if you know that your partner just received in the right service court and that they were serving last time, then you must be serving from the left service court.
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Court size
The badminton court is rectangular and usually laid on a wooden floor with synthetic mats used as the surface of the court. The mats must be clean and well-maintained to prevent damage to the shuttlecock. The court is divided into halves by a net, which stands 1.55 metres (5 feet 1 inch) high at both ends and 1.524 metres (5 feet 1 inch) high in the centre. The full length of the court is 13.4 metres or 44 feet, and the width depends on whether you are playing singles or doubles. The width for doubles matches is 6.1 metres or 20 feet, and for singles matches, it is 5.18 metres or 17 feet.
The service courts are marked by a centre line that divides the width of the court and by a short service line at a distance of 1.98 metres or 6.5 feet from the net. There is also a long service line, which is 0.76 metres or 2.5 feet from the back boundary, specifically for doubles matches.
The badminton court dimensions are important to understand as they can make the difference between winning and losing. The court must also meet minimum ceiling height requirements to allow players to execute shots without hindrance.
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Serving rules
Serving is a crucial part of a badminton player's gameplay. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has laid down specific rules for serving to ensure fairness in the game.
The shuttlecock must be hit below 1.15 metres (3.77 feet) from the court's surface. This rule, introduced in 2018, is used in BWF tournaments to limit power and level the playing field. In non-BWF tournaments, the traditional rule of hitting the shuttlecock below the waist applies. The waist is considered an imaginary line coinciding with the server's lowest rib. The shuttlecock should not get stuck in the net or exceed the boundaries of the court. The player must also ensure that no undue delay occurs once both the server and receiver are ready.
Before serving, the player must stand behind the service line within their designated service court. The player must then hit the shuttlecock with their racket, ensuring that some part of their feet is in contact with the court surface. The player cannot move or lift either foot off the ground until the shuttlecock is struck. The feet cannot touch any of the lines on the court or be outside the playing court.
The first serve of the game is determined by a coin toss. The player who serves first does so from the right side of the service court. The server's position alternates between the right and left sides of the service court depending on whether they have won an even or odd number of points.
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Faults
Contact Faults
Contact faults occur when the shuttlecock comes into contact with any object or person other than your racket. The shuttlecock should not touch your shoes, shin, shirt, or any other part of your body or clothing. Even if it goes over the net, your opponent will still win the point if you commit a contact fault. To avoid contact faults, it is important to stay flexible and light on your feet, which is why stretching and warming up are essential.
Service Faults
Service faults occur when the service is not executed correctly. The service must be performed below the waist and in an upward motion. It must also be served to the opposite side of the opponent's court. For example, if you are positioned on the left side of the court, you must serve the shuttle to the right side. During the serve, the player's feet must be on the ground and inside the court's boundary line.
Service-Receiving Faults
Service-receiving faults occur when the shuttle is served to the receiver. Any movement by the receiver, no matter how slight, can result in a fault. This includes shifting their feet or making any gestures. Distracting the opponent through trash-talking or gesturing is also considered a service-receiving fault.
Foot Faults
Foot faults occur when a player's feet are not positioned correctly during gameplay, especially during the serve or when returning shots. This includes stepping on the service line or outside the service court while serving, lifting the foot off the ground before striking the shuttlecock during a serve, or failing to maintain proper foot positioning within the court boundaries during play.
Double Hit Faults
A double-hit fault occurs when a player hits the shuttlecock twice in succession with their racket during a single stroke or action. This can happen unintentionally, such as when the shuttlecock rebounds off the racket unexpectedly.
Behavioural Faults
Behavioural faults include using offensive language or gestures, displaying unsportsmanlike behaviour such as arguing with the referee, intentionally distracting the opponent, or delaying the game unnecessarily.
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Equipment
Badminton is played with a shuttlecock and a racket. The shuttlecock is made up of a half-round ball at the bottom and a feather-like material on top. The bottom of the shuttlecock is the only part that can be hit, and it will always revert to having the ball side facing down due to gravity. The racket is stringed and similar to a tennis racket but with a smaller head.
The badminton court measures 6.1m wide and 13.4m long. A net runs across the middle of the rectangular court at a height of 1.55m. Two tram lines run along each side of the court. The inside lines are used as parameters for singles matches, while the outside lines are used for doubles matches.
Badminton players should wear comfortable badminton shoes.
The game is umpired by a referee on a high chair who has an overview of the game. Individual singles matches require a total of six officials: an umpire who is in charge of the match, court, and its immediate surroundings, and four line judges (two for each side of the court positioned at the baseline) who indicate whether a shuttlecock has landed 'in' or 'out'. Doubles matches require a total of eight officials, with an additional two line judges sometimes added (one for each side of the court positioned at the doubles service line).
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton can be played with two players (singles) or four players (doubles).
A point is scored when a player hits the shuttlecock over the net and lands it in their opponent's court, or when their opponent commits a fault.
Faults include hitting the net, touching the shuttlecock with your body, or hitting the shuttlecock into the net or outside the court.
To win a game, you must be the first player or team to reach 21 points. If the score reaches 20-20, a player or team must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first player or team to score the 30th point wins.
