Helena Frye
Badminton is a high-speed indoor racket sport that was introduced at the Olympics in 1992. It is played on a rectangular court that measures 20 x 44 feet and is separated into two halves by a net. The basic contest in badminton is between opposing sides, each consisting of either one or two players. The aim of the game is to hit the shuttlecock, also known as the birdie, into the opponent's half of the court. A point is won if the shuttlecock hits the ground in the opponent's half, including the lines. A point can be conceded if the shuttlecock goes out of bounds, hits the net, or is struck twice by the same player. The service must be hit diagonally into the opponent's half, and players must wait for the shuttlecock to cross the net before playing a shot.
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Court dimensions
The badminton court is rectangular and measures 20 x 44 feet. The court is divided into halves by a net, with each player or pair occupying one side of the court. The lines marking out the court should be easily distinguishable and are preferably coloured white or yellow. These lines form part of the area they define, and the posts should be 1.55 metres in height from the surface of the court.
The service courts, where players serve from, are located on each side of the court and measure 3.96m (13ft) long and 2.59m (8.5ft) wide. During service, the server and receiver must stand at diagonally opposite ends without touching the boundary lines. The server must also ensure that no part of their foot is touching the service line or other court boundaries when the serve is hit.
The shuttlecock, or birdie, must be hit below waist height, and the serve must be diagonal into the opponent's service box. In singles, the server starts from the right service court when they have an even number of points and from the left when they have an odd number of points.
The court boundaries differ for singles and doubles matches. In singles, the court is thinner, with the wide outside 'tramlines' out of bounds. In doubles, the court is full width, and these tramlines are considered 'in'.
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Serving rules
Serving plays a crucial role in the game of badminton. Here are the detailed rules for serving in badminton:
Positioning
The server and receiver must stand at diagonally opposite sides of the court without touching the boundary lines. The server must have both feet in contact with the floor, with no part of their feet crossing the lines or touching the other court boundaries.
Direction and Technique
The shuttlecock must be served diagonally into the opponent's half court, landing in their front service box. The server's racket head and shaft must be angled in a downward direction, and the shuttlecock must be struck below waist height. This underarm serve is unique to badminton, differentiating it from sports like tennis.
No Second Serve
Unlike tennis, badminton does not offer a second serve. If the shuttlecock hits the net but continues over to the opponent's side, the play continues as normal.
Alternating Sides
In singles, the server starts from the right service court when their score is even and from the left when it is odd. In doubles, the side serving alternates with each won point, ensuring that each player within the pair gets a chance to serve.
Starting a Serve
The server should wait for the receiver to be ready before initiating the serve. The first forward movement of the server's racket marks the start of the service.
Scoring and Serving
The winner of the coin toss at the beginning of the match decides who serves first and which side of the court they prefer. In the next game, the side that won the previous game serves first. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side gains a two-point lead. If the score reaches 29-29, the side that scores the 30th point wins.
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Scoring system
The scoring system in badminton is relatively simple, but there are a few intricacies to keep in mind. Matches are typically played as the best of three games, with the first side to reach 21 points declared the winner of a game. It is important to note that a two-point lead is required to win, meaning the game continues if the score reaches 20-20. If the score reaches 29-29, a sudden-death point is played to determine the winner of the game.
A point is awarded to the winner of each rally. A rally begins with a serve and continues until a point is scored. The service must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half-court and over their front service line. The server must strike the shuttlecock, or 'birdie', below waist height, and both feet should be in contact with the floor, without touching any lines. The server must also ensure that the shuttlecock is below 1.15 metres from the floor when struck.
If the shuttlecock hits the ground inside the opponent's court, the player or team wins the rally and is awarded a point. A point can be conceded if the shuttlecock goes out of bounds, hits the net, or passes through or under it. If a player strikes the shuttlecock twice with their racket, or if they touch the net with their body or racket, a point is also conceded to the opponent. In wheelchair badminton, if the shuttlecock is caught on the net and remains suspended, or if it passes over the net and gets caught, a point is conceded.
During the match, players switch sides of the court after each game and again when a player or team first scores 11 points in the third game. The winner of a game serves first in the next game.
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Faults and 'lets'
Faults and lets are an integral part of badminton, and players should be aware of them to avoid making mistakes and losing points. A fault is when a player breaks any predefined rule of badminton, intentionally or unintentionally, and they are penalised for it. Rallies usually end with a fault, and the player who makes the fault loses the rally. For example, hitting the shuttle out or failing to get the shuttle over the net on your serve or return results in a fault.
There are five major types of faults in badminton: contact, double hit, service, service received, and over the net fault. A contact foul occurs when the shuttlecock comes into contact with any object or person other than the player's racket. A double-hit foul happens when a player hits the shuttlecock twice in a row or simultaneously with their teammate. Service faults, also known as service faults, occur when the player serving makes a mistake, such as not executing the serve below the waist or in an upward motion, or failing to serve to the opposite side of the court.
The receiver of the serve can also make faults, such as staying out of the service box or moving during the serve. If the receiver hits the shuttle before it crosses the net, it is considered a fault, and they will be penalised. Additionally, players should avoid touching the net with their body or racket during the game, as it will result in a fault.
Lets in badminton are used to halt the play when there is a hazard or disagreement. For example, if the shuttlecock could be stepped on, a player can call "let" or "stop" to pause the game and prevent injuries. Players can also call for a let if they are not ready for the serve, but they must not abuse this rule as it would be considered an undue delay, resulting in a fault. In the case of disputes over the legality of serves or shuttle landings, the player with the best view should make the decision, and if there is still disagreement, a let can be played.
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Officials
The following officials are responsible for upholding the rules of badminton:
Umpire
The umpire is in charge of the match, the court, and its immediate surroundings. They report to the referee and can overrule the decision of a line judge if they believe a wrong call has been made.
Referee
The referee is in overall charge of a tournament or championship and is responsible for upholding the Laws of Badminton and Competition Regulations in the BWF Statutes. They also handle any appeals on questions of law.
Service Judge
The service judge calls service faults made by the server. In elite BWF competition, service height measuring devices are used to ensure that the shuttle is below 1.15 meters from the floor when struck.
Line Judge
Line judges indicate whether a shuttle landed "in" or "out" on the lines assigned to them. There are usually four line judges in a match, two on each side of the court positioned at the baseline.
Home Official
When playing at a venue with structures above the court, it is the responsibility of the home official to determine what is considered a "let" or a "fault" if the shuttlecock strikes any fixtures above the court.
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Frequently asked questions
The badminton court shall be a rectangle marked out with lines 40 mm wide. The lines marking out the court should be easily distinguishable and preferably coloured white or yellow. The posts shall be 1.55 metres in height from the surface of the court. The service must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half court and over their front service line.
The shuttlecock, also called the birdie, is the badminton's unique "ball". It is cone-shaped and formed using feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The shuttlecock must be hit below waist height and a point is won if it hits the ground in the opponent's half of the court. A point is conceded if the shuttlecock hits the net or passes through it, or if a player strikes it twice with their racket.
Matches are the best of three games, with each game played to 21 points. A point is awarded to the winner of each rally. Games must be won by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, a sudden death point is played to determine the winner.
