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Badminton is a racquet sport played with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock, which is also known as a birdie. The sport is played both casually and professionally, with singles and doubles matches being the most common forms of the game. Badminton is played indoors on a rectangular court with a net running through the middle, and players score points by striking the shuttlecock and landing it within their opponent's half of the court. The sport is believed to have originated in India in the 1860s, and it has since gained immense popularity worldwide, especially in Asia and Europe.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of Sport | Racquet/court/lawn |
| Equipment | Rackets, shuttlecock |
| Shuttlecock Material | Feathers, plastic, synthetic foam, natural cork, leather |
| Racket Material | Aluminum, steel, graphite, carbon fiber |
| Court Dimensions | 6.1m by 13.4m |
| Net Height | 1.55m |
| Number of Players | 2 (singles), 4 (doubles) |
| Scoring | A point is scored on every serve and awarded to the side that wins the rally; first to 21 points wins a game; if the score is 20-20, the game is won by 2 clear points |
| Service | Rackets must be pointing in a downward direction to serve; the shuttlecock must be hit below waist height |
| Fault | Called if a player distracts their opponent, the shuttlecock is caught in the racket and flung, the shuttlecock is hit twice, or if the player breaks the laws of badminton |
| Popularity | Badminton is one of the most popular sports in the world, especially in China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, England, Denmark, and India |
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Scoring points
A point is won if the shuttlecock, also known as a "birdie", hits the ground in the opponent's half of the court, including the lines. A point can also be conceded if a shot goes outside the court boundaries, if the shuttlecock hits the net or passes through or under it, or if a player strikes the shuttlecock twice with their racquet. If the shuttlecock gets stuck in the net, the referee may call "let", resulting in a redo of the point. Players must wait for the shuttlecock to cross the net before playing a shot, and while they can follow through over the net, touching the net with their body or racquet results in a point for the opponent.
Deception is an important aspect of the game, helping players gain time and trick their opponents. For example, a net shot can force the opponent to lift the shuttlecock, which gives an opportunity to smash it down. If the net shot is tight and tumbling, then the opponent's lift will not reach the back of the court, making the subsequent smash much harder to return.
The service also presents its own array of stroke choices. The server can choose a low serve into the forecourt (like a push), or a lift to the back of the service court, or a flat drive serve. Lifted serves may be either high serves or flick serves. Once players have mastered these basic strokes, they can hit the shuttlecock from and to any part of the court, powerfully or softly as required.
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Faults
Service Faults
Service faults are very common, and players tend to make them often. A service fault occurs when the server does not execute the serve below the waist or in an upward motion. It is also a service fault if the player is positioned on the left side of the court and does not serve the shuttle to the right side of the opponent's court. During the service, the racket head must be pointing downwards when striking the shuttlecock. If the racket head is pointing upwards or sideways, it is considered a service overhead fault, resulting in a lost rally or point.
Double Hits
Double hits are considered illegal in badminton. This occurs when a player hits the shuttlecock twice in succession or when a player and their teammate make contact with the shuttle simultaneously. Any attempts at hitting the shuttlecock a second time in a row are known as a double-hit foul, resulting in a point for the opponent.
Touching the Net
Touching the net with the racket, body, or clothing while the shuttlecock is in play is considered a fault. This also includes touching the boundary lines of the service courts when serving or receiving.
Obstructing the Opponent
Obstructing the opponent's shot or movement is a fault. This can include blocking their swing or intentionally distracting them.
Behavioural Fouls
Behavioural fouls include using offensive language or gestures, displaying unsportsmanlike behaviour such as arguing with the referee, and delaying the game unnecessarily. Repeated offences or instances of unacceptable behaviour can result in disqualification by the umpire.
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$19.92
Shuttlecock testing
Shuttlecocks, also known as birdies, are an essential component of badminton. They are feathered or plastic projectiles that fly differently from the balls used in other racquet sports. The quality of the shuttlecock is important, as premium materials like goose feathers and cork are becoming rarer, leading to a noticeable decline in the quality of feathered shuttlecocks.
When choosing shuttlecocks, it is crucial to consider factors such as flight path quality, consistency, price, and durability. The speed of the shuttlecock is particularly important, as it determines how far it travels and how quickly it decelerates. Shuttlecocks are classified into speed categories ranging from 75 (slowest) to 79 (fastest). The playing conditions, such as temperature and altitude, can also impact the speed of the shuttlecock.
To test a shuttlecock for the correct speed, you can perform the following steps:
- Hit a full underhand stroke that makes contact with the shuttlecock over the back boundary line.
- The shuttlecock should be hit at an upward angle and in a direction parallel to the sidelines.
- A shuttlecock of the correct speed will land between 530 mm and 990 mm short of the other back boundary line.
If the shuttlecock is landing before the specified zone, it indicates that the shuttle speed is too slow. In this case, you can try folding the feathers inwards or adding a small piece of blu-tack inside the shuttlecock to increase the speed. Conversely, if the shuttlecock is landing beyond the zone, the speed is too fast, and you can adjust it by folding the feathers outwards or tipping the feathers.
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Badminton shoes
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The most common forms of the game are "singles" and "doubles". Badminton is often played casually outdoors, but professional games are played on a rectangular indoor court.
Badminton is a fast-paced sport that involves rapid direction changes and sudden movements. Badminton shoes are an important part of the equipment needed to play the game. They protect against injuries and falls, and help players move faster and more securely around the court.
When playing badminton, players are likely to slide as they move from side to side, so badminton shoes should offer support and protect the ankles. The shoes should also have good cushioning to reduce the chance of injuries and strain when landing from jumps, and to reduce pressure on the knees. The cushioning in badminton shoes should be thinner, softer, and a little extended compared to that in running shoes, to allow for the proper movement of the feet.
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Badminton strokes
Badminton is a racquet sport played with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock. The aim is to strike the shuttlecock with a racquet and land it within the set boundaries of the opposing side of the court. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net.
The service in badminton has its own array of stroke choices. The server can choose a low serve into the forecourt (like a push), a lift to the back of the service court, or a flat drive serve. Lifted serves may be either high serves, where the shuttlecock is lifted very high, or flick serves, where the shuttlecock is lifted to a lesser height but falls sooner.
The power of any badminton shot is directly related to how well a player can perform their stroke. For example, the clear shot is a lobbing technique where the shuttlecock is hit high in the air and lands in the opponent's backcourt. This is one of the easiest badminton techniques and is considered the most important, especially in singles games. Another shot is the drive shot, a basic flat shot that is played directly over the net. It is a powerful, quick counter-attacking shot that is easy to execute and is commonly used in doubles games. To execute the shot, the racket should be held with the head facing straight ahead, locking the wrist as the shuttle is hit.
The drop shot is a strategic shot used when the opponent is near the backcourt. It is meant to look like a drive, but only a small amount of force is used to push the shuttle over the net. The main objective of the drop shot is to force the opponent out of position or to vary the pace of the game. The smash is considered the most powerful shot in badminton and is usually played on the forehand. Rallies often finish with a smash, but subtler strokes are required to set it up. For example, a tight and tumbling net shot can force the opponent to lift the shuttlecock, which gives an opportunity to smash. Deception is also an important aspect of the game, helping players gain time and trick their opponents.
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton can be played in singles or doubles. In singles, two players compete against each other, and in doubles, two pairs of players form teams and compete, resulting in a game of four players. There is also mixed doubles, where the pairs of players are made up of one male and one female player.
The court measures 6.1m wide and 13.4m long. A net runs across the middle of the rectangular court at a height of 1.55m.
Points are scored by successfully hitting the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the boundaries of the opponent's court. A point can be conceded if the shuttlecock goes outside the court boundaries, hits the net, or is hit twice by the same player.
