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Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. It is played either as singles, with one player per side, or doubles, with two players per side. The game is popular in backyards and recreational spaces, and also as a professional sport in tournaments. The sport is said to have originated in British India in the 1860s, derived from a children's game called battledore and shuttlecock, or Poona.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 (singles) or 4 (doubles) |
| Equipment | Net, shuttlecock, badminton racket |
| Objective | Hit the shuttlecock over the net with the racket and land it within the opposing side's half of the court |
| Scoring | A point is scored if the shuttlecock lands within the opposing side's half of the court; first to 21 points wins a game; best of three games wins the match |
| Court dimensions | 13.4m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide for singles, 6.1m (20ft) wide for doubles |
| Net height | 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) high where it dips in the middle |
| Serve | Must be below waist height and diagonal; served from the right service court at the start of the game and when the serving side has an even number of points; served from the left service court when the serving side has an odd number of points |
| Faults | Shuttlecock hits the net or passes through/under it; shuttlecock hits outside the court boundaries; player strikes the shuttlecock twice with their racket; player touches the net with their body or racket |
| Variations | Ball Badminton, Air Badminton, Crossminton, Pitton, Peteca, Indiaca |
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What You'll Learn
Badminton is a racquet sport
The sport is typically played on a rectangular court, with the net placed in the centre. The court dimensions vary depending on whether singles or doubles are being played, with the doubles court being wider than the singles court. The equipment needed for a game of badminton includes a net, shuttlecocks, and badminton racquets. The shuttlecock, also known as a "birdie", is a feathered or plastic projectile that flies differently from the balls used in other sports. Its lightweight composition makes badminton a fast-paced game.
Badminton is believed to have originated from a children's game called "battledore and shuttlecock", which was played in British India during the 1860s. The sport was introduced to the UK by British Army officers stationed in India, and it was initially called "Poona". The rules of the modern game were codified in Great Britain, and the Bath Badminton Club, established in 1877, introduced new rules that further shaped the sport.
Badminton is often played casually outdoors, but professional games are typically played indoors on a rectangular court. It requires excellent dexterity and quick reactions, and good motor coordination. At higher levels of play, badminton demands excellent fitness, including aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed, and precision.
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It's played with a shuttlecock
Badminton is a racquet sport that is played with a shuttlecock, also known as a "birdie". The aim of the game is to hit the shuttlecock back and forth over a net using a racquet, ensuring it lands within the boundaries of the opponent's half of the court. Points are scored when the shuttlecock touches the ground in the opponent's court or when a fault is called. The shuttlecock is a feathered or plastic projectile, with feathers creating more drag, resulting in a faster-moving game.
The use of a shuttlecock is what sets badminton apart from other racquet sports like tennis or pickleball, which use spherical balls. The shuttlecock's lightweight composition makes badminton a fast-moving game, with the highest racquet sport speed in the world. The feathers on the shuttlecock create higher drag, causing it to decelerate more rapidly. This unique feature of the shuttlecock gives badminton its distinct character and has influenced the sport's name in certain languages, such as German "Federball", which translates to "feather-ball".
The game is played with two players (singles) or teams of two players (doubles), and each side uses racquets to strike the shuttlecock. Points are scored by successfully landing the shuttlecock within the opponent's half of the court. Each side can only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net, and play ends if the shuttlecock touches the floor or a fault is called. Faults include the shuttlecock touching the net or passing under it, striking the shuttlecock twice with the racquet, or touching the net with the body or racquet.
Badminton courts are rectangular and divided into halves by a net. The standard court size for singles is 13.4 metres (44 feet) long and 5.18 metres (17 feet) wide, while the doubles court is wider at 6.1 metres (20 feet) but maintains the same length. The net is typically 1.5 metres (5 feet) high, with specific height variations at the ends and middle. The service courts are marked by a centre line and a short service line, with the outer boundaries completing the markings.
The game of badminton originated from a children's game called "battledore and shuttlecock", which was played in India as early as the 18th century. The game was later introduced to British Army officers stationed in India in the 19th century, who brought it back to the United Kingdom. The rules were standardised, and the sport was named "badminton" after the estate of the Duke of Beaufort in Gloucestershire, England, where it was played.
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Singles and doubles formats
Badminton is a racquet sport played with racquets and a shuttlecock. While it can be played in larger teams, the most common forms are singles (one player per side) and doubles (two players per side). The rules of the game remain the same across both formats, but the tactics and strategies differ.
The main difference between singles and doubles is the size of the court. The doubles court is wider to accommodate two players on each side. The singles court measures 13.4m (44ft) in length and 5.18m (17ft) in width, while the doubles court is 13.4m (44ft) long and 6.1m (20ft) wide. The singles service boxes are also slightly longer than those in doubles.
In singles, defence is more about positioning and footwork than speed. Players need to be able to cover their backcourt and frontcourt effectively, anticipating their opponent's shots. Doubles, on the other hand, is about combining the speed, power, and court coverage of two players. Attacking strategies in doubles usually involve one player covering the backcourt and the other covering the front. The backcourt player uses offensive shots like smashes and drives, while the frontcourt player intercepts shots and puts pressure on the opposition with body shots, drops, and net kills. The players also need to communicate well and play to each other's strengths.
The service rules are largely the same for both formats, with a few differences. The server is determined by a coin toss, and the player who serves first does so from the right side of the service court. If the server has won an even number of points, they continue to serve from the right for the next point; if they have won an odd number of points, they switch to serving from the left. In doubles, the basic service rules are the same, but it becomes more complicated when factoring in the BWF's laws.
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Scoring rules and point system
Badminton is a racquet sport played with racquets and a shuttlecock. The aim is to hit the shuttlecock over a net and land it within the boundaries of the opposing side's half of the court. The scoring rules and point system in badminton have evolved over time, with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) making changes to standardise and improve the game. Here is an overview of the scoring rules and point system in badminton:
The Original Scoring System
The original scoring system in badminton dates back to as early as 1873. A match consists of the best of three games, with each game having specific point targets. In men's singles and doubles, each game is played up to 15 points, while ladies' singles is played up to 11 points. In the traditional scoring system, only the serving side could score points. Additionally, a single game could be played to 21 points to determine the match.
Rally Point Scoring
In 2005, the BWF experimented with a new scoring system called "rally point scoring". This system aimed to regulate playing time and simplify scoring for viewers. Under this format, either side can score a point during a rally, regardless of who is serving. The games were also lengthened, with matches played to 21 points across the board, including ladies' singles. This system was officially adopted by the BWF in 2006.
Current Scoring System
The scoring system has continued to evolve, with the BWF reviewing it in 2014 due to increasing match lengths. They endorsed a "3 x 15 (setting to 21)" scoring system, where each game is played up to 15 points, and the match is the best of three games. If the score reaches 20–20, the game continues until there is a two-point difference, with 30 points being the maximum. This scoring format helps prevent matches from becoming excessively long, especially at higher levels of play.
Doubles Scoring
In doubles, the scoring rules differ slightly. Each pair wins points together, and the serving pair chooses who will serve first. The server's position depends on the score being odd or even, with odd scores requiring service from the left court and even scores from the right court. When the receiving side wins a rally, the serve passes to them, but their service courts remain the same.
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Badminton's history and origin
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock back and forth over a net. The most common forms of the game are \"singles\" (with one player per side) and \"doubles\" (with two players per side).
History and Origin
Badminton is believed to have been invented in 1873 in Gloucestershire, England, by the Duke of Beaufort, who brought the game back from India. The sport is named for the Badminton House, the estate of the Duke of Beaufort in Gloucestershire. The exact origin remains obscure, but it is believed to have been derived from the ancient game of battledore and shuttlecock, played in ancient Greece, China, and India. The game was further influenced by a children's game called "battledore and shuttlecock" or "Poona," played in India in the 18th century. In the 1860s, British army officers stationed in India brought the game back to the UK and introduced it to their colleagues.
In 1877, the Bath Badminton Club was established in Bath, England, and introduced new rules to the game. The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world's first badminton tournament, were held in 1899. The formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 marked a significant step in standardizing the rules and regulations of the sport. These developments laid the foundation for badminton's global expansion.
The rules of the modern game were codified in England, but competitive men's badminton has traditionally been dominated in Europe by Denmark. Worldwide, Asian nations have become dominant in international competition, with China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, India, and Japan consistently producing world-class players.
Over the years, the rules and equipment of badminton have evolved. The first badminton rackets were made of a single piece of wood and animal guts for strings. Later, players used lighter aluminium or steel rackets, until carbon fibre revolutionised racket construction in the 1950s. Today's rackets are made of graphite composite, and the strings are made of hybrid nylon. Shuttlecocks have also undergone a transformation, with natural feather shuttlecocks being replaced by synthetic ones in recent years.
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton is a racquet sport played with racquets and a shuttlecock (also called a birdie).
Badminton is played with two players (singles) or two pairs (doubles). Players use their racquets to hit the shuttlecock over a net and land it within the boundaries of the opposing side's court. Points are scored when the shuttlecock touches the ground in the opponent's court.
There are several variations of badminton, including ball badminton, air badminton, crossminton, and piton.
To play badminton, you need a net, shuttlecock, and badminton racquets.
