Amanda Knapp
Badminton is a sport that can be played as a singles (1 vs 1) or doubles (2 vs 2) game. The basic rules for serving in doubles are the same as in singles, with some variations. The player who serves first does so from the right side of the service court and continues to do so each time their team's score is an even number. If the team's score is an odd number, they serve from the left service court. The receiver must stand on the alternate service court, and the pair who wins the point becomes the server for the subsequent point. The serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion, with part of both feet in contact with the ground. The base of the shuttle (the cork) must be struck first when serving, and the whole shuttle must be below the waist of the server at the instant of being hit. The serve is a crucial part of a player's gameplay, and professional doubles players tend to favour the low serve as it is more difficult for opponents to attack.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Objective | Gain the first attack |
| Serve type | Low serve, flick serve, wide serve, short backhand serve, high-toss serve, long forehand serve |
| Serving rules | Player must strike the base of the shuttle (the cork) first, entire shuttle must be below 1.15m from the court surface or below the server's waist, serve must be a forward continuous motion, part of both feet must be in contact with the ground, feet cannot touch any court lines, serve diagonally from the right-hand box for an even score and from the left-hand box for an odd score |
| Scoring rules | A point is scored when the shuttlecock is grounded in the designated court area on the opponent's side, the serving side or receiving side wins the rally, the side that wins the point serves for the next point, a game is played to 21 points with a two-point difference or variations such as 15 and 7 |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
The objective of the server
In a doubles game, the server has a simple objective: to gain the first attack. To achieve this, the server must choose serves that pressure the opponents to lift (or clear) the shuttlecock or force them to play a weak shot, such as a loose net shot. It is important to note that the server should not expect to win a rally outright on the serve. Instead, creating the opportunity for your partner to attack is considered a successful serve.
To execute an effective serve, the server must consider various tactics and techniques. One popular tactic is to utilise the low serve, which is a favourite among professional players. The low serve is advantageous because it is harder for the opponent to attack compared to other serves. It is the only serve that starts to fall below net height immediately after crossing the net, limiting the opponent's attacking options. Serving straight is also recommended as it restricts the opponent's angles of attack. For example, if you serve straight, any net shots or pushes from your opponent must pass through your hitting area, giving you a good chance to intercept them.
Another tactic to consider is occasionally using the flick serve in conjunction with the low serve. While the flick serve is not as effective as the low serve, using it intermittently can prevent your opponent from anticipating your low serve. By mixing up your serves, you keep your opponent guessing and slow down their reaction time.
In terms of technique, there are specific rules that govern the serving action in badminton. Firstly, the serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion, and both feet must remain in contact with the ground until the shuttle is struck. The server can stand anywhere in their half, including the tramlines, as long as they do not touch any court lines or go out of bounds. Additionally, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) stipulates that the base of the shuttle (the cork) must be struck first when serving to prevent excessive spin. Furthermore, the entire shuttlecock should be below the waist level of the server when struck, promoting a downward hitting action.
In summary, the objective of the server in badminton doubles is to gain the first attack by employing tactical and technically sound serves. By using a combination of low serves, straight serves, and occasional flick serves, the server can pressure the opponent into playing weaker shots, creating opportunities for their partner to attack. Adhering to the serving rules and techniques will also ensure a legal and effective serving action.
SEC Basketball: Who Will Be Crowned Champion?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Tactics for serving
The basic tactic for serving in doubles is to gain the first attack. To achieve this, you should choose serves that pressure your opponents to lift or clear the shuttlecock, or play a weak shot that you can then kill. A successful serve will give your partner the opportunity to attack, and that is the most you can expect.
Professional doubles players tend to favour the low serve as it is harder to attack than other serves. This is because it starts to fall below net height immediately after crossing the net, limiting your opponent's attacking options. When playing a low serve, it is best to play it straight to the service T as it takes the least time to cross the net and limits your opponent's angles of reply.
While the wide serve is a popular choice as players feel they are attacking empty space, it is more of an illusion as you are giving your opponent good angles of attack. It is best used as an occasional variation to keep your opponent guessing.
To prevent your opponent from anticipating your low serve, it is useful to play an occasional flick serve. This will force your opponent to be ready for both types of serve, physically and mentally.
In mixed doubles, it was traditional for the woman to start the match by serving or receiving. However, in modern games, whoever has the best serve or return should start to gain a competitive advantage. When the man is serving, the woman should stand in front of him to start the rally with the man at the back and the woman at the front. The woman should not stand too close or too far from the net and should have her racket up at around net height to be early onto the third shot.
Some other general tactics to consider are serving short and accurate, finding and exploiting your opponent's weaknesses, and keeping calm and confident throughout the game.
High School Hoops: Who's Winning the Basketball Battle?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Rules for serving
Serving in badminton doubles can be tricky, but here are the rules to help you get it right.
Foot Placement
The server must have part of both feet in contact with the ground and the court surface when striking the shuttlecock. Neither foot should be touching any of the court lines. This rule also applies to the receiver.
Service Side
The player who serves first does so from the right service court. After each point, the same player will continue to serve from the right side after gathering an even number of points. After an odd number of points, the serve comes from the left service court. The receiver must stand on the alternate service court.
Service Rotation
The pair who wins a point becomes the server for the subsequent point. The players on either side can take up any position on their side of the court, as long as they do not block the sight of the server or receiver. No player on the receiving side shall receive two consecutive services in the same game.
Striking the Shuttlecock
The whole shuttlecock should be below the waist of the server at the instant it is struck. The base of the shuttle (the cork) must be struck first, not the feathers, to prevent excessive spin. The first forward movement of the server's racket head should initiate the service, with no undue delay once both players are ready.
Diagonal Serve
The shuttlecock must be served diagonally and reach the opponents' service box in their half of the court. It can hit the top of the net, but only if it reaches the service boundaries.
Business, Basketball, and the Wisdom of Will Rogers
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Scoring in doubles
The basic objective of serving in doubles badminton is to gain the first attack. Tactics include choosing serves that pressure opponents to lift or clear the shuttlecock or play a weak shot, such as a loose net shot. Professional players often use the low serve as it is more difficult for opponents to attack.
The scoring system in badminton doubles is relatively simple. Each pair wins points together, with a point being scored on every serve. The first pair to reach 21 points wins the game. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side achieves a two-point lead. If the score reaches 29-29, the first pair to reach 30 points wins.
The match is the best of three games, so the first side to win two games wins the match. In club badminton, the game usually ends at 21 points, and players are chosen for the next game.
The receiver's position is determined by the server's score. If the server's score is odd, they serve from the left court; if even, they serve from the right. The receiver will stand in the diagonally opposite service court. The serving pair chooses who serves first, and the receiving pair chooses who receives.
It is good practice to say the score out loud to your opponent before each rally to prevent disputes. The server's score is always stated first. For example, if you are serving and have 10 points to your opponent's 15, the score is 10-15.
Whenever you win a rally, you get to serve next. So, if your opponents were serving in the last rally, the serve passes to you. If you were serving, you keep serving.
Badminton's New Era: China's Dominance Ends
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Footwork during serving
The Basic Stance and Footwork: When serving in doubles, the server should maintain a balanced stance with their feet shoulder-width apart, ensuring that some part of both feet remains in contact with the ground. This provides a stable base for executing the serve. It is important not to lift either foot off the ground until the shuttlecock is struck to avoid a fault. The server can stand anywhere in their half of the court, even in the tramlines, as long as their feet are not touching any court lines.
Serving Techniques: The primary objective of the server in badminton doubles is to gain the first attack. This can be achieved by employing different types of serves, such as the low serve, which is a favourite among professional players as it limits the opponent's attacking options. The straight low serve is particularly effective as it takes less time to cross the net and restricts the opponent's angles of reply. Serving straight at the receiver's front foot can also be disconcerting, making it challenging for them to decide between a forehand or backhand return.
Variations and Tactics: While the low serve is a powerful tool, it's important to vary your serves occasionally to keep your opponents guessing. The flick serve, for instance, can be used intermittently to prevent your opponents from anticipating your low serves. This serves to limit their attack options. Additionally, serving wide can create the illusion of attacking open space, but it also opens up your court to straight replies, so it should be used sparingly as a variation.
Rules and Regulations: It's essential to adhere to the serving rules in badminton doubles. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) specifies that the serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion, with the base of the shuttle (the cork) struck first to prevent excessive spin. The shuttlecock should be struck below waist height, and the entire shuttle must be below 1.15 meters from the court surface. While there is currently no official time limit for serving, players can be faulted for taking too long.
In summary, footwork during serving in badminton doubles involves maintaining a steady stance with proper foot placement, adhering to rules about continuous motion and striking height, and employing a variety of serving techniques to gain the first attack and keep your opponents off-balance.
USA Basketball Gold: Licensing Fees' Steady Rise
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The basic strategy for serving in doubles badminton is to gain the first attack. This can be achieved by choosing serves that pressure your opponents to lift (or clear) the shuttlecock or play a weak shot, such as a loose net shot.
The basic rules for serving in doubles badminton are as follows:
- The player who serves first does so from the right service court.
- A serve after an even number of points is also from the right service court, while a serve after an odd number of points is from the left service court.
- The receiver must stand on the alternate service court.
- The pair who wins the point becomes the server for the subsequent point.
- The serve must be delivered in a forward continuous motion.
- At least part of both feet must be in contact with the ground when striking the shuttle.
- The whole shuttle must be below the waist of the server when hit by the racket.
Some common types of serves in doubles badminton include the low serve, the flick serve, and the wide serve. The low serve is the most commonly used serve by professional players as it is more difficult for the opponent to attack. The flick serve is used occasionally to prevent the opponent from anticipating the low serve. The wide serve is also used occasionally as it gives the opponent good angles of attack.
