Kristian Ferrell
Badminton is a racquet sport played with racquets and a shuttlecock (also known as a birdie) that is hit back and forth across a net. The sport is typically played with either one player per side (singles) or two players per side (doubles), though larger teams are possible. Points are scored by using a racquet to hit the shuttlecock and landing it within the boundaries of the opposing side's half of the court without it touching the floor. The shuttlecock is made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base, giving it a unique flight pattern compared to other racquet sports. The sport is believed to have originated in British India in the 19th century and is now particularly popular in Asian countries, including China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, and India.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Sport type | Racquet sport, indoor, outdoor |
| Equipment | Rackets, shuttlecock (feathered or plastic), net |
| Court dimensions | 13.4m (44 feet) long, 5.18m (17 feet) wide for singles, 6.1m (20 feet) wide for doubles |
| Net height | 1.5m (5 feet) |
| Number of players | 2 or 4 (singles or doubles) |
| Scoring | Points are scored by hitting the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the boundaries of the opponent's half of the court. Each game is won by two clear points, except if the game reaches 29-all, then a single sudden-death point is played. |
| Game duration | Approximately 40 minutes, consisting of three sets |
| Governing body | Badminton World Federation (BWF) |
| Origins | Derived from the game "Poona" played by British Army officers in India in the 1860s; the modern game developed in the mid-19th century |
| Olympic sport | Yes, since 1992 |
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What You'll Learn
Badminton is a racquet sport
The sport is played on a rectangular court that is divided into two halves by a net. The length of the court is 44 feet (13.4 metres) and the width is 17 feet (5.2 metres) for singles matches, and 20 feet (6.1 metres) for doubles matches. The net is placed 5 feet (1.5 metres) off the ground. The rules of badminton allow for a court to be marked for singles only, but doubles courts are usually also marked for singles play. The service courts are marked by a centre line dividing the width of the court, a short service line at a distance of 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres) from the net, and the outer side and back boundaries.
The shuttlecock is a cone-shaped projectile made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The feathers create more drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly. The shuttlecock's top speed is higher than the balls used in other racquet sports, making badminton the fastest racquet sport in the world. The feathers of the shuttlecock are arranged so that it always flies cork-first once struck until it is hit again. The shuttlecock weighs between 4.74 and 5.5 grams and is between 62 and 70 millimetres long.
Badminton is believed to have originated from a game called "Poona" that was played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s. The Bath Badminton Club was established in 1877 and introduced new rules to the game. The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's first badminton tournament, were held in 1899. The formation of the Badminton Association of England in 1893 and the International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation) in 1934 further standardised the rules and regulations of the sport.
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It uses a shuttlecock, also called a birdie
Badminton is a racquet sport that uses a shuttlecock, also called a birdie, which is made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The feathers create more drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate faster than a ball. This gives the shuttlecock a higher top speed compared to balls in other racquet sports, making badminton the fastest racquet sport. The shuttlecock's flight gives badminton its distinctive nature, and the sport is named accordingly in some languages, such as German "Federball" (feather-ball).
The use of the shuttlecock is what sets badminton apart from other racquet sports like tennis or pickleball, which use balls. The birdie is cone-shaped and always flies cork-first. It is made up of 16 feathers and is between 62-70mm long, weighing between 4.74 and 5.5g. The tip of the feathers should form a circle with a diameter of 58-62mm, while the base is 25-28mm in diameter and rounded.
The game of badminton developed from an earlier game called "battledore and shuttlecock", with roots in British India. The exact origins of badminton are unclear, but it is believed to have originated from a game called "poona", played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s. The Bath Badminton Club, established in 1877, introduced new rules to the game, and the formation of the Badminton Association of England in 1893 helped to standardise the rules and regulations.
In badminton, players use their rackets to serve the shuttlecock and send it over the net to their opponent. The goal is to keep the shuttlecock from landing on your side and to manoeuvre it so that it lands within the boundaries of your opponent's side, scoring you a point. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes back over the net, and play ends when the shuttlecock touches the floor or ground, or if a fault is called.
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It's played on a rectangular court
Badminton is a racquet sport played on a rectangular court using racquets to hit a shuttlecock—a cone-shaped projectile made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base—back and forth over a net. The sport is played either as singles, with one player per side, or as doubles, with two players per side.
The rectangular court is divided into halves by a net that is stretched across the width of the court. The full length of the court is 44 feet (13.4 metres), while the width varies depending on whether it is being used for singles or doubles. For singles, the width is 17 feet (5.18 metres), and for doubles, the width is increased to 20 feet (6.1 metres). The net is placed 5 feet (1.5 metres) off the ground.
The game is played by volleying, which involves hitting the shuttlecock back and forth over the net without letting it touch the floor or ground within the boundaries of the court. Points are scored by successfully landing the shuttlecock within the opponent's half of the court. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes back over the net. A point is awarded to the player or team that wins the rally, and the winning side gets the next serve.
Badminton is often played casually outdoors in yards or on beaches, but professional games are played on indoor courts. The sport is popular worldwide, especially in Asian countries such as China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, and India.
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It's an indoor sport
Badminton is a racquet sport that is played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock—a cone-shaped projectile made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base—across a net. The sport is played either as singles, with one player per side, or as doubles, with two players per side.
Although badminton is often played casually outdoors in backyards, on beaches, or on lawns, the sport is typically played indoors at a professional or competitive level. The rectangular court is divided into halves by a net and is usually marked for both singles and doubles play. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are of the same length. The full width of the court is 6.1 metres (20 feet), and in singles, this width is reduced to 5.18 metres (17 feet). The full length of the court is 13.4 metres (44 feet). A clear space of 4 feet (1.3 metres) is needed around the court.
Badminton is a fast-paced game that requires excellent dexterity and quick reaction times. It is also a technical sport that demands good motor coordination and sophisticated racquet movements. The shuttlecock's feathers create much higher drag, causing it to decelerate more rapidly than balls used in other racquet sports. This gives the sport its distinctive nature, and in some languages, it is named after this feature, such as the German "Federball", which translates to "feather-ball".
The modern game of badminton is said to have developed in the mid-19th century among British officers stationed in India, deriving directly from the local game of "Poona". The Bath Badminton Club was established in Bath, England, in 1877, and introduced new rules to the game. The formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 further standardised the rules and regulations of the sport.
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It's an Olympic sport
Badminton is an Olympic sport. It made its debut as a demonstration sport at the 1972 Olympic Games in Munich, but it was not officially included in the Olympic programme until the 1992 Games in Barcelona, with men's and women's singles and doubles events. The mixed doubles event was introduced at the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games.
Olympic badminton consists of a group stage and a single-elimination tournament. Each match is played as the best of three games, with each game played up to 21 points. Rally scoring is used, meaning a player does not need to be serving to score. A player must win by two points or be the first to reach 30 points.
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The sport takes its name from Badminton House, the home of the Duke of Beaufort in Gloucestershire, England. The Duke is credited with bringing an early version of the game called Poona back from India in 1873 and introducing it to his guests. The Bath Badminton Club was established in 1877 and introduced new rules to the game. The formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 marked a significant step in standardising the rules and regulations of the game.
Badminton can be played with larger teams, but the most common forms are singles (with one player per side) and doubles (with two players per side). Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the other team's half of the court, within set boundaries. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. The shuttlecock is a feathered or in informal matches, plastic projectile that flies differently from the balls used in many other sports.
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton is a racquet sport played with racquets and a shuttlecock (also called a birdie). Players hit the shuttlecock back and forth over a net, aiming to land it within the boundaries of their opponent's side of the court.
Badminton is most commonly played as either "singles" (one player per side) or "doubles" (two players per side). However, it can also be played with larger teams.
The rectangular badminton court is 44 feet (13.4 meters) long and 17 feet (5.2 meters) wide for singles matches, and 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide for doubles matches. The net is placed at the centre of the court and is 5 feet (1.5 meters) high.
The shuttlecock is cone-shaped and made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. It is faster in flight than the balls used in other racquet sports, making badminton the fastest racquet sport in the world.
