Helena Frye
Badminton is a game that involves two players or teams of two players hitting a shuttlecock back and forth with rackets. The aim is to hit the shuttlecock 'in-bounds'—that is, inside the boundary lines of the court—and to cause your opponent to hit the shuttlecock 'out-of-bounds'. The boundary lines are of two types: the serving line and the back boundary line. The back boundary line is a line that the serve must not go past. In singles, this is the back boundary line. In doubles, the line runs 2.5 feet inside the back boundary line.
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What You'll Learn
Singles vs. doubles
The back boundary line in badminton is the outer line at the back of the court. If the shuttlecock lands outside this line, it is out, and a point is awarded to the receiver. Now, onto the differences between singles and doubles in badminton.
The rules of badminton are largely the same whether you are playing singles or doubles. However, there are some key differences in tactics and gameplay. In singles, the game is a solo battle, where you must outmaneuver and outlast your opponent. Footwork and positioning are crucial in singles defence, as you must cover the entire court yourself.
In doubles, the game combines the speed, power, and court coverage of two players, so different strategies come into play. The attack formation usually involves one player covering the backcourt and the other the front. The backcourt player will use offensive shots such as half smashes, full smashes, and drives. Doubles also require communication and playing to your teammate's strengths. You must also keep track of service rotation, i.e. who is serving and from which side.
The court size also differs between singles and doubles. The doubles court has wider sidelines (6.1m or 20 ft) to accommodate both players, whereas the singles court is narrower (5.18 m or 17 ft).
The type of shots you play will also differ between singles and doubles. In doubles, hard blind smashes are less effective than half smashes aimed at the body, hip, armpit, or shoulder areas. This allows your front partner to return a weak reply from your opponent. In singles, you can vary your shots more, playing a combination of slow and fast drops.
Overall, badminton offers something for everyone, whether you prefer the independence of singles or the teamwork of doubles.
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Scoring
Points can only be scored by the player or team serving, and a serve must be diagonal and cross the court to be considered good. If the server wins the rally, they gain a point; if the receiver wins the rally, they gain the right to serve but no points are scored. A serve that touches the net but lands in the proper court is called a "let serve" and is replayed, while a missed serve may also be retaken.
The server and receiver must stand within their respective service courts, bounded by the short service line, centre line, sideline, and back boundary line, until the serve is made. The service court dimensions are 15.5 feet by 8.5 feet. The back boundary line is the line at the back of the court, parallel to the net, and the sideline is the side boundary line running lengthwise on each court. In singles, the sideline designates the out-of-bounds for singles play, while in doubles, the boundary line is 2.5 feet inside the back boundary line.
In terms of scoring shots, a clear is a defensive shot hit deep into the opponent's court, while an attacking clear is a flatter shot used offensively. A drop shot is a soft shot that falls rapidly and close to the net, while a smash is a hard-hit overhead shot that forces the shuttlecock sharply downward. A drive is a fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net, and a kill is a fast downward shot that cannot be returned.
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Serve rules
Serving rules are an essential part of any badminton match. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has set specific service rules to ensure fairness in the game. Here are the key rules that govern the serve in badminton:
Positioning
The server must stand behind the service line within their designated service court. The player's feet must be inside the court, and they cannot touch any lines on the court during the serve. This rule applies to both the server and the receiver.
Shuttlecock Height
A rule introduced in 2018 by the BWF states that the shuttlecock must be struck below 1.15 meters (3.77 feet) from the court's surface. This rule limits the power of the server, creating a level playing field. In non-BWF tournaments, the traditional rule applies, where the shuttlecock should be hit below the server's waist. The waist is considered an imaginary line coinciding with the server's lowest rib.
Net Contact
It is illegal to touch the net with your body or racket before or during the serve. Doing so will result in a fault.
Distractions
Any action that distracts the opponent during the serve is illegal. This includes delaying the serve unnecessarily once both the server and receiver are ready. While there is no set time limit for the serve, players have been faulted for taking too long.
Footwork
During the serve, both feet of the server and receiver must be in contact with the ground. Neither player is permitted to move or lift their feet until the shuttlecock has been struck.
Doubles Service Rules
In doubles, the boundary line is referred to as "short and wide" during the serve. If the shuttlecock lands outside the inner line but inside the outer line, the serve counts, and the point is awarded to the server. Once the serve ends, the boundary becomes the full court, including the whole outer line.
These serve rules highlight the strategic importance of the serve in badminton. By adhering to these rules, players can leverage their serves to shape the outcome of the game.
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Court size
The size of a badminton court depends on the type of game being played. The court is rectangular and divided in half by a net. The length of a standard badminton court is 13.40m (44 feet) for both singles and doubles matches. However, the width differs between the two formats.
For singles matches, the width of the court is 5.18m (17 feet). The boundary line for singles is called "thin and long". If the shuttlecock lands outside the boundary, the point is awarded to the receiver.
For doubles matches, the width of the court is extended to 6.1m (20 feet). The boundary line for doubles is referred to as "short and wide". When serving, if the shuttlecock hits outside the inner line but inside the outer line, the serve counts and the point is given to the server. Once the serve ends, the boundary becomes the full court, and the outer line becomes the boundary.
The badminton court should be surfaced with safe flooring materials such as wood, synthetic mats, or rubber. The court must also have a clearance area of at least 1m on the sides and 1.5m from the back boundary line to ensure the safety of athletes and spectators.
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Shot types
The lines surrounding a badminton court are called boundary lines. If the shuttlecock lands outside the boundary line, the point is awarded to the receiver. If it lands on the line, the hitter gets the point.
Now, let's dive into the various shot types in badminton:
Service
The service is the first shot of every rally. The most common style is to hold the shuttlecock with your non-racket hand, let it drop, and then flick it with your racket to send it over the net. It's important to adhere to service rules, such as not delaying the service once you move your racket backward and ensuring a fluid movement.
Clear
The clear shot is a defensive shot aimed at sending the shuttlecock high into the air to land at your opponent's backcourt. This shot is used when you need time to get back to your base or don't have a clear opportunity to win the point.
Drive
The drive is a powerful shot angled downward. It can be used when the shuttlecock is high in the air, and you want to quickly return it to your opponent's court.
Drop
The drop shot is a delicate shot played close to the net. The aim is to hit the shuttlecock downward toward your opponent's forecourt, just over the net. The closer the shuttlecock drops to the net, the harder it is for your opponent to return.
Smash
The smash is an aggressive shot intended to end the rally and win the point. It is a powerful overhead strike aimed at driving the shuttlecock steeply downward into your opponent's court.
Net Shot
Net shots are played close to the net and are used to create opportunities and dominate the front court. The net lift, a type of net shot, sends the shuttlecock high up toward your opponent's baseline.
Net Kill
The net kill is a shot that ends a rally. It is often used when your opponent plays a poor-quality net shot that is too high.
Learning these different shot types early in your badminton journey will make you a more versatile and unpredictable player. You can practice them individually and then combine them to develop your unique style and tactical advantage.
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Frequently asked questions
The back boundary line is one of the lines surrounding a badminton court that defines the area of play. It runs parallel to the net at the back of the court.
If the shuttlecock lands on the line, the hitter gets the point. If it falls outside the line, the receiver gets the point.
No, in singles, the back boundary line is the line the serve must not go past. In doubles, the line runs 2.5 feet inside the back boundary line.
