
Badminton is a popular sport played with a unique 'ball' known as a shuttlecock or birdie. The rules of badminton are straightforward, and the game starts with a coin toss. The referee flips the coin, and the player who calls it correctly gets to choose whether to serve or receive first or pick a side. The first to two games wins the match, with each game being won by the first side to 21 points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first team to 30 wins. Now, let's dive into the three ways to start a badminton match.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 (singles) or 4 (doubles) |
| Number of games | Best of 3 |
| Number of points to win a game | 21 (or 30 if score reaches 29-29) |
| Scoring | A point is scored on every serve and awarded to the winner of the rally |
| Serving | Serve diagonally to the opponent's half court; underarm; server and receiver must have both feet in contact with the floor |
| 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; 1.52m (5ft) in the middle |
| Equipment | Rackets, shuttlecock |
| Shuttlecock dimensions | 62-70mm long; 4.74-5.5g in weight |
| Shuttlecock material | Feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base |
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What You'll Learn

The match starts with a coin toss
The side that wins the coin toss and decides to serve first will have a slight advantage as they will have the opportunity to set the pace and tone of the game. Serving first can also help a team gain an early lead and build momentum. On the other hand, choosing to receive first can also be a strategic decision as it gives the team the chance to observe their opponents' serving style and get a sense of the pace and spin of the shuttlecock. This can help them adjust their game plan accordingly.
During the serve, the server must stand with both feet behind the back boundary line, also known as the end line, of the court. They can then serve the shuttlecock, or birdie, to the diagonal service court of their opponents. The shuttlecock is hit with the racquet and must pass over the net without touching it. It should also land inside the boundaries of the opponent's service court.
The shuttlecock is a unique feature of badminton, as it is not a ball but a cone-shaped object made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. This design gives it a distinct flight pattern, and understanding how to control and predict its movement is crucial in badminton.
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The winner of the toss chooses to serve or receive first
One of the three ways to start a badminton match is the toss, where the winner gets to choose whether to serve or receive first. In badminton, a match is played as the best of three games, with each game played up to 21 points. The first side to 21 points wins the game. A point is scored on every serve and is awarded to the side that wins the rally. The winning side gets to serve next.
If the winner of the toss chooses to serve first, they will start the match by serving the shuttlecock to the other player or team in the diagonal service court. The server will start from the right service court and will serve from that side each time they have an even number of points. The player switches to the left service court and serves from that side when they have an odd number of points. Each player will continue to serve as long as they keep winning points.
If the winner of the toss chooses to receive first, they will start the match by being served to by their opponent in the diagonal service court. The receiving player will return the shuttlecock to the server's diagonal service court. The receiver will then become the server for the next point, starting from the right service court if they have an even number of points or the left service court if they have an odd number of points.
By choosing to serve or receive first, the winner of the toss can gain a slight strategic advantage. Serving first allows the player to set the tone of the game and control the pace in the initial rally. On the other hand, choosing to receive first gives the player the opportunity to observe their opponent's serving style and strategy before serving themselves. Ultimately, the decision depends on the player's preference, their strengths, and their strategy for the match.
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The first serve is made from the right-hand service court
To start a badminton match, players must serve the shuttlecock to the other player or team on the opposite side of the court. The first serve is always made from the right-hand service court.
In a game of badminton, there are two service courts on each side of the court. These are the right and left service courts. The player must serve from one service court to the service court diagonal from it. In singles, the server always starts from the right service court and will serve from that side every time they have an even number of points. If the player has an odd number of points, they will serve from the left service court. Each player will continue to serve as long as they keep winning points.
In doubles, the server will always start on the right-hand side and keep serving from that side, alternating with their partner, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins the point, they will then take over serving. The player who did not initially serve will then serve once their side has won a point as the receiving side.
It is important to note that in badminton, players are only allowed one try per serve. The only exception is if the shuttlecock hits the net and falls into the opponent's court, which is called a 'let', and you get another try.
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Players can only hit the shuttlecock once per turn
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie, across a net. The shuttlecock is a cone-shaped projectile made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. It is important to note that in badminton, players are only allowed to hit the shuttlecock once per turn.
This rule applies to both singles and doubles matches. In singles, there are two players competing against each other, while in doubles, two pairs of players form teams and compete against each other, resulting in a game of four players. Regardless of the match format, each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net.
The rationale behind this rule is to promote continuous play and prevent one player or team from gaining an unfair advantage by repeatedly hitting the shuttlecock without allowing the opponents a chance to respond. By limiting each side to a single strike per turn, the game encourages quick reactions, strategic shot placement, and well-timed volleys.
It is worth noting that there is an exception to this rule known as a "let." A let occurs when the shuttlecock hits the net and falls into the opponent's court. In this case, the side that hit the shuttlecock is allowed another try. However, if the shuttlecock passes under or around the net to the player on the other side without being hit, it is considered a fault.
Adhering to the rule of allowing each side only one strike of the shuttlecock per turn is essential for fair play in badminton. It ensures that the game flows smoothly, challenges players' skills, and maintains a balanced competition between the opponents.
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A point is scored when the shuttlecock goes out of bounds
Although there is no direct mention of the three ways to start a badminton match, the sources reveal that a badminton match is played as the best of three games, with each game played up to 21 points. The first side to 21 points wins a game, and a point is scored on every serve, awarded to whichever side wins the rally. The winning side gets to serve next. If the score reaches 20-20, one side must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to get their 30th point wins.
Now, about the shuttlecock, or birdie, going out of bounds:
Badminton is played with a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie, which is cone-shaped and made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The shuttlecock is hit back and forth across a net by players using racquets. A point is scored when a player hits the shuttlecock and it lands within the boundaries of the opponent's half of the court. If the shuttlecock goes out of bounds and does not land within the set boundaries, then a point is scored for the opponent. This is considered a fault.
The shuttlecock must be hit only once by each player or team during their serve. The only exception is if the shuttlecock hits the net and falls into the opponent's court, which is called a "let," and the player gets another try. If the shuttlecock hits any fixtures above the court, such as lights or basketball hoops, it is up to the tournament director to determine if it is a let or a fault.
In singles matches, the court is thinner, with the outer 'tramlines' considered out of bounds. In doubles, the court is full width, and these tramlines are considered inbounds. The service must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half court and over their front service line.
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