Amanda Knapp
Badminton is a racquet sport that has been around since the 16th century and was first played with 1 to 4 players on each side. However, it was soon established that a game between two or four players in total worked best, with the most common forms being singles (one player per side) and doubles (two players per side). The aim of the game is to score points by successfully hitting a shuttlecock—a feathered or plastic projectile—over a net and within the boundaries of the opponent's half of the court. Matches are typically played as the best of three sets, with each set requiring 21 points to win.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 or 4 |
| Objective | Score points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock over the net and within the set boundaries in the opponent's half of the court |
| Equipment | Racquets, shuttlecock, net, rectangular court |
| Court dimensions | 6.1m wide and 13.4m long; net height: 1.55m |
| Scoring | A player or pair must win 2 out of 3 games (of 21 points each) to win the match |
| Service rules | Must be hit underarm and below the server's waist; no overarm serves allowed; must serve diagonally across the net to the opponent's service box |
| Faults | Hitting the net with any part of the body or racquet, failing to hit the shuttlecock over the net, hitting out of bounds, hitting the shuttlecock twice |
| Shuttlecock composition | Feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base; 62-70mm long and weighing 4.74-5.5g |
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Scoring points
Badminton is played with rackets, with players hitting a shuttlecock back and forth over a net. Scoring points in badminton is straightforward, with a player or team receiving a point whenever they win a rally, regardless of the current score. The first player or team to reach 21 points, and be ahead by at least 2 points, wins the game. If the score reaches 29-all, then the game is won by the first side to gain a 2-point lead.
A rally is the period of play between the serve and the end of the play, when the shuttlecock either touches the ground or a fault is committed. If the server wins the rally, they gain a point and continues serving. If the receiver wins, they gain a point and becomes the new server. The server and receiver alternate ends at the start of each game, and also when the server's score becomes an even number.
A player or team must win by 2 clear points, so if the score reaches 20-all, then the game continues until one side has a 2-point lead. At this point, the game ends. If the score reaches 29-all, the game continues until one side has a 3-point lead, at which point they win the game.
In a match, the first player or team to win 2 games wins the match. If the match is a 'best of 3', the first to win 2 games out of 3 is the winner. In a 'best of 5', the first to 3 games wins. In either scenario, there is no requirement for a 2-point lead to win the match.
In doubles play, the serving pair may only serve once, and then the serve passes to the receiving pair. The server always stands on the right side of the court, and the serve must be hit from this side, crossing diagonally to the receiver on the other side. The server and receiver must remain in this position until the shuttlecock is hit, at which point either player may move to cover the court.
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Faults
Service Faults
Service faults, also known as contact faults, occur when a player is serving. A service fault can occur if the service is not executed below the waist or with an upward motion. A service fault can also occur if the player does not serve to the opposite side of the opponent's court. For example, if a player on the left side of the court serves to the left side instead of the right, it is a fault. Another common service fault is an "undue delay", which happens when there is an unnecessary delay in service once the server and receiver are ready for the rally. The service must be a single continuous forward motion, and any pause between backswing and forward swing is considered a 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. Common foot faults include 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, and 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 or when players on the same team hit the shuttlecock consecutively before it goes over the net. This can happen unintentionally, such as when the shuttlecock rebounds off the racket unexpectedly. Double hits are illegal in badminton and will result in a point for the opponent.
Net Faults
Net faults occur when a player fails to get the shuttlecock over the net during a serve or return. It is also a fault if any part of the player's body or racket touches the net during the match.
Other Faults
Other common faults in badminton include hitting the shuttlecock out of bounds, making contact with the shuttlecock with something other than the racket, and displaying unsportsmanlike behaviour, such as using offensive language or intentionally distracting the opponent.
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Singles and doubles
Badminton can be played either as singles or doubles. In singles, there is one player per side, whereas in doubles, there are two players per side. In a single rally, there will be two players playing with each other, whereas in a double rally, there will be four players in total, with two pairs.
The badminton court is bigger for doubles than for singles. In singles, a badminton court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide. For doubles, the width extends to 6.1m (20ft). The net is 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m high (5ft) in the middle. A serve must pass the short service line, which is 1.98m (6.5ft) from the net. There is also a doubles service line 0.76m (2.5ft) in from the baseline.
The scoring system is the same for both singles and doubles. The first side to 21 points wins a game, with a two-point difference needed to win. A point is scored on every serve and is awarded to whichever side wins the rally. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to get their 30th point wins. Matches consist of three games, and the first side to win two games wins the match. The winning side gets the next serve. The sides are required to change ends after each game. If a third game is required, they should also change ends when one side reaches 11 points.
The service rules are slightly more complicated in doubles. The player who serves first does so from the right side of the service court and continues to do so each time their side gathers an even number of points. A serve after an odd number of points is executed from the left service court. In doubles, the server will start on the right-hand side and keep serving, alternating sides with their teammate as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side takes the point, they assume the serve.
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Court dimensions
The dimensions of a badminton court are crucial to the sport, as they determine the area of play and the placement of various lines that are relevant to the rules of the game. The court is rectangular and divided by a net into two equal rectangles. The total width of a badminton court is 20 feet, and the total length is 44 feet. This length is further divided into two equal halves of 22 feet each, separated by a net. The net is placed directly over the middle of the court, stretching from sideline to sideline. It stands at a height of 5 feet 1 inch (1.55 metres) at the ends and dips slightly to 5 feet (1.52 metres) in the middle. The poles supporting the net are also 5 feet 1 inch (1.55 metres) high, while the mesh net itself has a height of 2.6 feet (0.79 metres).
The badminton court has two playing areas or service courts on either side of the net, which are further divided vertically down the middle, resulting in four service courts. Each service court measures 12.72 feet (3.88 metres) long and 8.3 feet (2.53 metres) wide. The short service line, which is often used as a reference point for serving, is 6 feet 6 inches (1.98 metres) from the net. It links the net to the sideline and creates the left and right service courts. There is also a long service line, which is located 2 feet 6 inches (0.76 metres) from the back boundary line and is used for the doubles service. In singles play, the service line for both singles and doubles is 22 feet from the net, and the court width is reduced to 17 feet.
The court must also have a clearance area of at least 1 metre on the sides and 1.5 metres from the back boundary line to ensure the safety of athletes and spectators. The surface of the court should be smooth, level, and provide a good grip to avoid injuries. While various flooring options are available, synthetic mats or wooden floors are commonly used, with synthetic flooring being considered safer and more comfortable for players.
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Shuttlecock specifications
In the sport of badminton, a shuttlecock (also known as a bird or birdie) is used instead of a ball. It is a high-drag, aerodynamic projectile that has an open conical shape. The base is made of rounded cork or rubber, and the top is made of feathers or a synthetic alternative. The feathers overlap, with approximately 16 feathers in total, and it is preferable to use feathers from either the right or left wing, avoiding mixing feathers from different wings. This design gives the shuttlecock an overall length of 3.35"-3.75" (85-95 mm), with a head diameter of 0.98"-1.1" (25-28 mm) and a feather diameter of 2.28"-2.68" (58-68 mm). The mass of a shuttlecock is between 0.167-0.194 oz (4.75-5.5 g).
The shuttlecock's unique design and weight distribution cause it to fly with the cork end first, regardless of its initial orientation. This stability is essential for the fast-paced nature of badminton, where players aim to hit the shuttlecock over the net and into their opponent's court to score points. The rules of badminton dictate that a player must only hit the shuttlecock once before it goes over the net or hits the ground. Faults can occur if the shuttlecock is hit into the net or out of bounds, or if the serving player does not hit the shuttlecock with their racket above waist height.
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net.
Badminton can be played with one player per side (singles) or two players per side (doubles).
The court is rectangular and measures 6.1m wide and 13.4m long. The net is situated in the middle and is set at 1.55m high.
Points are scored by successfully hitting the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the boundaries of the opponent's court.
A fault occurs when a player fails to hit the shuttlecock over the net or if it lands outside the boundaries of the court. A fault is also called if a player touches the net with any part of their body or racquet.
