Amanda Knapp
Badminton is a racquet sport played with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie. The objective of the game is to score points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock over the net and within the boundaries of the opponent's half of the court. The first player or team to reach 21 points wins the game, and to win the match, a player or team must win two games. Badminton is often played casually outdoors, but professional games are played on a rectangular indoor court. The sport is governed internationally by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) and is considered the world's fastest racquet sport.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Governing Body | Badminton World Federation (BWF) |
| Number of Players | 2 or 4 |
| Game Format | Best of 3 games, with each game played up to 21 points |
| Point Format | A point is scored when a player wins a rally by striking the shuttlecock and landing it in the opponent's half of the court, or when the opponent commits a fault |
| Faults | Failure to hit the shuttlecock over the net or landing outside the boundaries of the court |
| Court Dimensions | 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide for singles; 6.1m (20ft) wide for doubles |
| Net Height | 1.55m (5ft 1in) at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) in the middle |
| Serve | Must pass the short service line, 1.98m (6.5ft) from the net, and be served diagonally into the opponent's service box |
| Change of Ends | After the first game and at 11 points in the third game |
| Equipment | Lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock (made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base) |
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What You'll Learn
Scoring
Players must serve the shuttlecock diagonally into their opponent's service box, and the serve must pass the short service line, which is 1.98m (6.5ft) from the net. The shuttlecock must also be hit below waist height. If a player strikes the shuttlecock twice with their racket, a point is conceded to the other side. A point is also conceded if the shuttlecock hits the net or passes through or under it, or if it lands outside the boundary of the court. Players must also be careful not to touch the net with their body or racket, as this also results in a conceded point.
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 wins the point, they assume the serve. In singles, the badminton court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide. The width extends to 6.1m (20ft) in doubles. The net is 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) high where it dips in the middle.
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Faults
Contact Faults
Contact faults occur when the shuttlecock comes into contact with any object or person other than a player's racket. This includes instances where the shuttlecock touches the ceiling, walls, or the player's clothing.
Double Hit Faults
Double hit faults occur when a player hits the shuttlecock consecutively, either by themselves or simultaneously with a teammate.
Service Faults
Service faults are common and can occur due to various reasons, such as failing to hit the shuttlecock below the waist, stepping on or over the service line before hitting the shuttlecock, serving from an incorrect position or outside the service court boundaries, or using illegal service actions like a flick or double motion to deceive the opponent.
Service Received Faults
Service received faults occur when the receiving player is not ready for the service, or when there are delays in the service delivery.
Over the Net Faults
Over the net faults occur when the shuttlecock fails to clear the net, either during the serve or during rallies.
It is important to note that understanding and avoiding these faults are crucial for maintaining fair play and ensuring a smooth and competitive badminton match.
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Badminton equipment
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The equipment required to play badminton includes:
Racquets
Racquets are used to strike the shuttlecock and are the primary piece of equipment for playing badminton. The weight, shaft flexibility, and balance of a racquet are important factors in determining its suitability for a player.
Shuttlecocks
The shuttlecock is a feathered or plastic projectile that is hit back and forth with racquets. The speed of a shuttlecock can vary, and there are techniques to adjust its speed.
Nets
A net is suspended between two standards, and points are scored when the shuttlecock touches the floor on the opponent's side of the net.
Court
Badminton can be played casually outdoors or on a beach, but professional games are played on a rectangular indoor court.
Accessories
Other accessories that can be used for badminton include specialised clothing, shoes, and bags.
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Badminton history
Badminton is believed to have originated over 2000 years ago, but the modern game can be traced back to the mid-19th century, specifically among British officers stationed in India in the 1860s. The sport was first played in Gloucestershire, England, at the country estate of the 9th Duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, around 1873. The sport is named after this Badminton estate.
In India, badminton was initially known as "Poona," derived from the city of Poona (now Pune). The first rules for the game were drawn up in Poona in 1873, and by 1875, officers returning home had established a badminton club in Folkestone, England. The Bath Badminton Club, founded in 1877, introduced new rules to the game, and the formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 further standardised the rules and regulations of the sport. The BAE launched the sport at a house called "Dunbar" in Portsmouth in 1893 and organised the first badminton competition, the All England Open Badminton Championships, in 1899.
The early badminton rackets were made of a single piece of wood with animal gut strings. Players wrapped a piece of clothing around the handle for comfort. Over time, lighter rackets made of aluminium or steel became popular, and carbon fibre revolutionised racket construction in the 1950s. Today, rackets are made of graphite composite, which offers both control and power.
Shuttlecocks have also evolved significantly. Initially, they were crafted from unrefined bird feathers attached to a cork or rubber base, but today, synthetic shuttlecocks are commonly used in tournaments. The modern shuttlecock is cone-shaped, with 16 feathers, a length of 62-70mm, and a weight between 4.74 and 5.5 grams.
The rules of badminton have also undergone revisions over the years. The scoring system changed in 2001, transitioning from a 15-point format, where only the serving side could score, to a rally point system up to 21 points, requiring a two-point lead to win. The service rules have been modified as well, with a rule introduced in 1983 allowing overhead serves, which was later changed in 2006.
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Badminton court
The badminton court is a rectangular surface divided in half by a net. The court size varies depending on whether a singles or doubles match is being played. For singles, the court is 13.4 metres (44 feet) long and 5.18 metres (17 feet) wide. For doubles, the width is extended to 6.1 metres (20 feet). The net is 1.55 metres (5 feet 1 inch) high at the ends and 1.52 metres (5 feet) high in the middle. The service courts are divided by a centre line and are set back from the net by a short service line of 1.98 metres (6.5 feet). There is also a doubles service line 0.76 metres (2.5 feet) in from the baseline.
The court should be surfaced with safe materials, including wood, synthetic, or rubber flooring. The shuttlecock, or "birdie", is hit over the net to score points. The birdie is cone-shaped and made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. It is 62-70mm long and weighs 4.74-5.5 grams.
A badminton match is typically played as a best-of-three format, with each game played up to 21 points. If the score reaches 29-all, the next point scored wins the game. Players must change ends after the first game and, if required, after the second game. In the third game, players change ends when one side reaches 11 points.
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Frequently asked questions
A badminton match is played as the best of three games.
To win a badminton game, a player or team must be the first to reach 21 points.
If both teams reach 20 points, one team must win by 22 points, and so on. If the game continues to be close and both teams reach 29 points, the first team to reach 30 points wins.
A fault is when a player fails to hit the shuttlecock over the net or it lands outside the boundary of the court.
