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Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. The shuttlecock, also known as the birdie, is cone-shaped and made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The rules of badminton specify that the serve must fall into the 'short and fat' area diagonally opposite the server. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are the same length. The service area in singles is 24.4m2, while in doubles it is 24.2m2. The type of serve can vary, with low serves, high serves, flick serves, and drive serves being the most common. A low serve travels a shorter distance than a high serve, which targets the farthest corner of the opponent's court.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Court dimensions | 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide for singles; 6.1m (20ft) wide for doubles |
| Service court dimensions | 3.96m (13ft) long and 2.59m (8.5ft) wide |
| Shuttlecock dimensions | 62-70mm long; weighs 4.74-5.5g; tip of feathers creates a circle with a diameter of 58-62mm; cork/rubber base is 25-28mm in diameter |
| Serve types | Low serve, lift serve, flat drive serve, flick serve, high serve/long serve |
| Low serve | Served into the forecourt, requiring the receiver to take extra steps forward |
| Lift serve | Served to the back of the service court, can be high or flick |
| Flat drive serve | Fast and flat, travels to mid-to-far end of service receiving area |
| Flick serve | Fast and offensive, travels upwards towards far service line |
| High serve/long serve | Travels high and deep into receiver's back court, landing near the back service boundary |
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What You'll Learn
Doubles court service rules
In badminton, the rules for serving differ slightly between singles and doubles matches. While the basic service rules remain the same, the doubles service rules are slightly more complicated. Here are the rules specifically for serving in a doubles match:
Starting Position
The server will always start on the right-hand side of the court. This is the same for both teams.
Alternating Sides
The server will keep serving from the same side, alternating with their teammate, as long as they keep winning points. So, if Team 1 starts serving from the right, their next serve will be from the left, and vice versa for Team 2.
Switching Servers
If the receiving side wins a point, they then become the serving side. The player who did not initially serve for each team will assume the service once their side has won a point as the receiving side.
Odd-Even Rule
The server will serve from the right side of the court if they have won an even number of points during the game. If they have won an odd number of points, they will serve from the left side.
Correct Service
A correct service is when the shuttlecock is hit by the player with their racket over the net to the opponent's side without touching the net or going out of bounds. At the moment of impact, the shuttlecock should be below the server's waist.
Court Dimensions
The badminton court for doubles is wider than for singles. In singles, the court is 13.41m long and 5.18m wide, while in doubles, the width extends to 6.1m. Each service court is 3.96m long and 2.59m wide.
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Singles court service rules
The service rules for a badminton singles game are as follows:
Firstly, the dimensions of a badminton court for singles play are 13.41m (44ft) in length and 5.18m (17ft) in width. The service courts (of which there are two on each side) are 3.96m (13ft) long and 2.59m (8.5ft) wide.
Before the game begins, a coin toss determines which player will serve first. The first server will always serve from the right service court. After this, the server will alternate service courts depending on their score. If a player has an even number of points, they serve from the right service court; if they have an odd number of points, they serve from the left service court. This process repeats for the duration of the game.
Both players must remain stationary until the serve is made. The shuttlecock should be struck with an underhanded motion, and the entire shuttlecock must be below the server's waist at the point of impact. The shuttlecock should be served diagonally into the opponent's service box. The server must also have some part of their feet in contact with the court surface.
A point is scored when the shuttlecock touches the ground inside the court boundaries, and the winning side gets the next serve. The first side to 21 points wins the game, but the winning margin must be at least two points. If the score reaches 29-29, the game continues until one side has a one-point margin.
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Flick serve
While I cannot comment on which serve travels the least amount of distance in badminton, I can provide some information on the flick serve.
The flick serve is a type of serve in badminton that is often used by players who prefer a more defensive playing style. It is useful for getting the opponent into the back court, which can then lead to a front-back formation while defending. However, this strategy may be risky against more skilled opponents who can simply smash the shuttlecock to the side, making it challenging to return the shot.
Some badminton players have expressed their preference for the flick serve, stating that they use it frequently, about 60% of the time. This is often because it compensates for their weakness in low serving. However, relying too heavily on the flick serve may become predictable and less effective over time.
When executing the flick serve, it is important to vary your techniques and keep your opponents guessing. Combining the flick serve with other types of serves, such as the backhand and forehand serves, can help keep your strategy unpredictable and increase your chances of winning points.
While the flick serve can be a valuable shot in your arsenal, it should be used judiciously and complemented with other serves and strategies to ensure a well-rounded and adaptable playing style.
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Drive serve
A drive serve, also known as a flat serve, is a fast, offensive serve that travels to the mid-to-far end of the service-receiving area. It is similar to a low serve or flick serve in terms of setup, but the angle of the racket face differentiates it from the flick serve. The objective of a drive serve is to be flat and fast, resembling the flight pattern of a typical drive.
The drive serve is a high-risk, high-reward play that can be used in both singles and doubles matches, but it is most effective in doubles due to the shorter service boundary and the receiver's positioning. The element of surprise is crucial in the drive serve, as it can catch the opponent off guard, resulting in a weak service return or mishit. This serve is particularly effective against players with slower reaction speeds, such as tall opponents with lengthy limbs.
To execute a drive serve effectively, it should be aimed at the opponent's body or backhand area, restricting their range of motion and forcing a loose return. The serve should be hit hard, low, and flat, with the shuttle held around waist level and most of the body weight on the dominant (rear) foot. The racket should be held in a handshake grip, with the non-dominant foot in front, and the wrist and hand cocked during the backswing.
The drive serve is best used as a surprise weapon when opponents have become accustomed to other types of serves, such as the low serve or flick serve. It adds variety to the match and can disrupt the rhythm of the game. However, it requires precise execution, as a poorly executed drive serve may result in a weak return or mishit, setting the opponent up for a consecutive offensive play.
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Low serve
The low serve, also known as a push, is a fundamental type of badminton serve. It is a shot that travels a minimal distance, landing in the forecourt of the opponent's service box. The low serve is executed with a similar setup to the flick serve and drive serve, but differs in its power and trajectory.
To perform a low serve, the server must strike the shuttlecock with their racket, using a full underhand stroke. This stroke makes contact with the shuttlecock over the back boundary line, hitting it at an upward angle and in a direction parallel to the sidelines. The low serve does not require as much wrist strength as the flick serve, which is a more offensive shot that travels upwards towards the far service line.
The low serve is a useful tactic in singles matches. When an opponent is forced to move forward to return a low serve, it increases the likelihood that their return will be a lift. This gives the server more options to control the rally with their next shot. The low serve can also be used to maintain an offensive position, which is advantageous as it is easier to score points in badminton when on the offensive.
The low serve is one of the four fundamental types of badminton serves, along with the lift serve, the drive serve, and the flick serve. The lift serve can be either a high serve or a flick serve, depending on the height and fall of the shuttlecock. The drive serve, also known as a flat serve, is a fast and offensive shot that travels to the mid-to-far end of the service receiving area.
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Frequently asked questions
The low serve travels the least distance in badminton. It is a serve that is played into the forecourt, similar to a push shot.
A low serve is used to make the receiver take extra steps forward to return the shot. This causes the shuttle to drop in height, increasing the likelihood of the receiver lifting the shuttle, giving the serving side more options to control the rally on their next shot.
The setup of a low serve is similar to a flick serve and a drive serve. It is executed with a wrist action to transmit power into the shuttlecock at the point of contact.
The other fundamental types of serves in badminton are the flick serve, the drive serve, and the high serve.
