BADMINTON

- is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net. Although it may be
played with larger teams, the most common forms of the game are "singles" (with one player per
side) and "doubles" (with two players per side). Badminton is often played as a casual outdoor
activity in a yard or on a beach; formal games are played on a rectangular indoor court. Points
are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the opposing side's
half of the court.
Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. Play ends once the
shuttlecock has struck the floor or if a fault has been called by the umpire, service judge, or (in
their absence) the opposing side.
The shuttlecock is a feathered or (in informal matches) plastic projectile which flies differently
from the balls used in many other sports. In particular, the feathers create much higher drag,
causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly. Shuttlecocks also have a high top speed
compared to the balls in other racquet sports.
The game developed in British India from the earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock.
European play came to be dominated by
Denmark but the game has become very popular in
Asia, with recent competition dominated by China. Since 1992, badminton has been
a Summer Olympic sport with five events: men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles,
women's doubles, and mixed doubles. At high levels of play, the sport demands excellent fitness:
players require aerobic stamina, agility, strength, speed, and precision. It is also a technical
sport, requiring good motor coordination and the development of sophisticated racquet
movements.

HISTORY OF BADMINTON
Games employing shuttlecocks have been played for centuries across Eurasia but the modern
game of badminton developed in the mid-19th century among the British as a variant of the
earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock. ("Battledore" was an older term for "racquet".) Its
exact origin remains obscure. The name derives from the Duke of Beaufort's Badminton
House in Gloucestershire, but why or when remains unclear. As early as 1860, a London toy
dealer named Isaac Spratt published a booklet titled Badminton BattledoreA New Game but
unfortunately no copy has survived. An 1863 article in The Cornhill Magazine describes
badminton as "battledore and shuttlecock played with sides, across a string suspended some five
feet from the ground".
The game may have originally developed among expatriate officers in British India, where it was
very popular by the 1870s. Ball badminton, a form of the game played with a wool ball instead of
a shuttlecock, was being played in Thanjavur as early as the 1850s and was at first played
interchangeably with badminton by the British, the woolen ball being preferred in windy or wet
weather.
Early on, the game was also known as Poona or Poonah after the garrison town of Pune, where it
was particularly popular and where the first rules for the game were drawn up in 1873. By 1875,
returning officers had started a badminton club in Folk stone. Initially, the sport was played with
sides ranging from 14 players but it was quickly established that games between two or four
competitors worked the best. The shuttlecocks were coated with India rubber and, in outdoor
play, sometimes weighted with lead. Although the depth of the net was of no consequence, it
was preferred that it should reach the ground.

The sport was played under the Pune rules until 1887, when the J.H.E. Hart of
the Bath Badminton Club drew up revised regulations. In 1890, Hart and Bagnel Wild again
revised the rules. The Badminton Association of England published these rules in 1893 and
officially launched the sport at a house called "Dunbar" in Portsmouth on 13 September. The BAE
started the first badminton competition, the All England Open Badminton Championships for
gentlemen's doubles, ladies' doubles, and mixed doubles, in 1899. Singles competitions were
added in 1900 and an EnglandIreland championship match appeared in 1904.
England, Scotland, Wales, Canada, Denmark, France, Ireland, the Netherlands, and New
Zealand were the founding members of the International Badminton Federation in 1934, now
known as the Badminton World Federation. India joined as an affiliate in 1936. The BWF now
governs international badminton. Although initiated in England, competitive men's badminton
has traditionally been dominated in Europe by Denmark. Worldwide, Asian nations have become
dominant in international competition. China, Denmark, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, and South
Korea are the nations which have consistently produced world-class players in the past few
decades, with China being the greatest force in men's and women's competition recently.

FACILITIES
Badminton Court Dimensions
The overall dimensions is 20 feet by 44 feet, marking the sidelines for doubles play and long
service lines for singles play.
The Net Line
The net line marks the middle of the court where the net is placed, creating a 22 feet by 20 feet
area on each side of the net.
The Badminton Net
The top of the badminton net is hung 5 feet above in the center net line.
Short Service Line
The short service line is marked 6 feet 6 inches from the center line. The area inside the short
service line is also called the Non Volley Zone.
Center Line
The Center Line is the line that divides the court from the Short Service Line to the Back
Boundary Line. This delineates the Left from Right Service Court.
Side Line for Singles Play
The Singles Side Line is marked 1 1/2 feet from the edge of the outer boundary (doubles side
line)
Back Boundary Line and Long Service Line for Singles
The back boundary line is the same for singles and doubles play it is the outermost back line on
the court.
Long Service Line for Doubles
The Long Service line for Doubles is marked 2 1/2 feet inside the Back Boundary Line.

 EQUIPMENT
Racquets
Badminton racquets are lightweight, with top quality racquets weighing between 70 and 95
grams (2.5 and 3.4 ounces) not including grip or strings. They are composed of many different
materials ranging from carbon fibre composite (graphite reinforced plastic) to solid steel, which
may be augmented by a variety of materials. Carbon fibre has an excellent strength to weight
ratio, is stiff, and gives excellent kinetic energy transfer. Before the adoption of carbon fibre
composite, racquets were made of light metals such as aluminum. Earlier still, racquets were
made of wood. Cheap racquets are still often made of metals such as steel, but wooden racquets
are no longer manufactured for the ordinary market, because of their excessive mass and cost.
Nowadays, nanomaterials such as fullerene and carbon nanotubes are added to racquets giving
them greater durability.
There is a wide variety of racquet designs, although the laws limit the racquet size and shape.
Different racquets have playing characteristics that appeal to different players. The traditional
oval head shape is still available, but an isometric head shape is increasingly common in new
racquets.
Strings
Badminton strings are thin, high performing strings with thicknesses ranging from about 0.62 to
0.73 mm. Thicker strings are more durable, but many players prefer the feel of thinner strings.
String tension is normally in the range of 80 to 160 N (18 to 36 lbf). Recreational players
generally string at lower tensions than professionals, typically between 80 and 110 N (18 and
25 lbf). Professionals string between about 110 and 160 N (25 and 36 lbf). Some string
manufacturers measure the thickness of their strings under tension so they are actually thicker
than specified when slack. Ashaway Micropower is actually 0.7mm but Yonex BG-66 is about
0.72mm.
It is often argued that high string tensions improve control, whereas low string tensions increase
power. The arguments for this generally rely on crude mechanical reasoning, such as claiming
that a lower tension string bed is more bouncy and therefore provides more power. This is in fact
incorrect, for a higher string tension can cause the shuttle to slide off the racquet and hence
make it harder to hit a shot accurately. An alternative view suggests that the optimum tension for
power depends on the player: the faster and more accurately a player can swing their racquet,
the higher the tension for maximum power. Neither view has been subjected to a rigorous
mechanical analysis, nor is there clear evidence in favour of one or the other. The most effective
way for a player to find a good string tension is to experiment.
Grip
The choice of grip allows a player to increase the thickness of their racquet handle and choose a
comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or several grips before
applying the final layer.
Players may choose between a varieties of grip materials. The most common choices
are PU synthetic grips or toweling grips. Grip choice is a matter of personal preference. Players
often find that sweat becomes a problem; in this case, a drying agent may be applied to the grip
or hands, sweatbands may be used, the player may choose another grip material or change
his/her grip more frequently.
There are two main types of grip: replacement grips and over grips. Replacement grips are
thicker, and are often used to increase the size of the handle. Over grips are thinner (less than
1 mm), and are often used as the final layer. Many players, however, prefer to use replacement

grips as the final layer. Toweling grips are always replacement grips. Replacement grips have an
adhesive backing, whereas over grips have only a small patch of adhesive at the start of the tape
and must be applied under tension; over grips are more convenient for players who change grips
frequently, because they may be removed more rapidly without damaging the underlying
material.
Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock (often abbreviated to shuttle; also called a birdie) is a high-drag projectile, with an
open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen overlapping feathers embedded into a
rounded cork base. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material. Synthetic shuttles
are often used by recreational players to reduce their costs as feathered shuttles break easily.
These nylon shuttles may be constructed with either natural cork or synthetic foam base, and a
plastic skirt.
Badminton rules also provide for testing a shuttlecock for the correct speed:
1. To test a shuttlecock, hit a full underhand stroke which makes contact with the shuttlecock
over the back boundary line. The shuttlecock shall be hit at an upward angle and in a direction
parallel to the side lines.
2. A shuttlecock of the correct speed will land not less than 530 mm and not more than 990 mm
short of the other back boundary line.
Shoes
Badminton shoes are lightweight with soles of rubber or similar high-grip, non-marking materials.
Compared to running shoes, badminton shoes have little lateral support. High levels of lateral
support are useful for activities where lateral motion is undesirable and unexpected. Badminton,
however, requires powerful lateral movements. A highly built-up lateral support will not be able
to protect the foot in badminton; instead, it will encourage catastrophic collapse at the point
where the shoe's support fails, and the player's ankles are not ready for the sudden loading,
which can cause sprains. For this reason, players should choose badminton shoes rather than
general trainers or running shoes, because proper badminton shoes will have a very thin sole,
lower a person's centre of gravity, and therefore result in fewer injuries. Players should also
ensure that they learn safe and proper footwork, with the knee and foot in alignment on all
lunges. This is more than just a safety concern: proper footwork is also critical in order to move
effectively around the court.

TERMINOLOGIES
Ace
In badminton game terms the word 'ace' refers to a player winning an outright point from a serve
and one was not touched or returned by the receiver. Ace originated from the history of
badminton when it used to mean any point had been scored.
Air Shot
Playing an air shot refers to a stroke where the shuttle is missed completely. Similar to the 'airball' in basketball rules, the miss occurs most often when the player takes their eyes off the shot
just before impact.

Alley (side alley)

The alley is an 18 inch section which is found between the singles and doubles sidelines on a
badminton court and there is one on each side. Basically, the alley badminton term represents
the tramlines which are used only for doubles matches.
Angle of Attack
The badminton definition of the phrase 'angle of attack refers to the trajectory of the shuttle
after it leaves the racket.
Angle of Return
The typical angle of return for the shuttle is formed by several ranges of possible returns from a
given position on the court.
Around-the-head Shot
This is accepted as an advanced shot where a player reaches to his backhand side from around
the head to make a forehand strike on the shuttle. Take care with this shot because it may leave
you off-balanced and vulnerable to a counter attack.
Attacking Clear
Attacking clear is a term used to describe a positive and somewhat aggressive stroke hit deep
into your challenger's court. It is a variation of the traditional clear shot achieved by driving the
bird over the net with a flatter trajectory and with a hard stroke.
Back Alley (rear alley)
The back alley is a term used for the area on both ends of the court between the singles and
doubles service line.
Back Boundary Line
There are different terminologies in badminton for court boundary markings. The back boundary
line marks the rear ends of the playing area and the service zone in singles play.
Backcourt
If you are active in the backcourt area you are playing in the area of the boundary lines in the
back third of the court.
Backhand
Badminton backhand strokes are usually delicate shots played in front of the body and close to
the net. Right handed players play the backhand stroking from the left of the body or vice versa
for left-handers.
Backhand Grip
The most common backhand grip is used to provide a player with an option to strike the shuttle
with his backhand.
Balance Point
On a badminton racket the center of mass is calculated from the bottom of the grip. The racket
will be head-heavy when the measurement of this number is higher.
A standard balance point measures around 300mm (for the unstrung racket and specific grip
size). Adding string to the racket and grip wrap changes the balance point.
Balk (baulk or feint)
The word 'balk' has several different terminologies in badminton such as feinting, swerving or
deceiving. But basically it refers to a serve that deceives an opponent and usually results in a
poor return.
Base Position
Badminton terminologies include a phrase called the base position which also has a title of
center position. When you are playing a singles game, your overriding objective is to return each
shot to the relative safety in the center of the court where the base position is located.
Baseline
There are two baselines in badminton terminology - one in each half of the court. Each baseline
is situated parallel to the net and at the very back boundary.
Basic Strokes
There are three different terms in badminton for a stroke played from either the forehand or
backhand. The strokes are called under-arm, shoulder-high, and overhead.
Battledore

The ancient and historical game of 'Battledore and Shuttlecock' was a 16th century recreation
where players hit a ball back and forth to each other even before the game of badminton existed
as a modern sport.
Bird (birdie)
Bird or birdie is a name commonly used for the shuttlecock used in badminton terms.
Bird On
In badminton terminology the cautionary call of 'bird on' often occurs when a shuttle lands on
your court from an adjacent playing court. As a rule, 'bird on' results in a let.
Block Return
The badminton term 'block return' is a shot dropping steeply from a block shot around the net
and has very little follow-through because it is played with a swift flick of the wrist.
Brush
The brush is a power-generated point-winning shot played at speed and high above the net.
Butt
The butt is the enlarged end of the shaft that prevents the player's hand from slipping off the
handle.
Carry (sling or throw)
A carry was formerly an illegal stroke and often called a throw or sling. If you carry the shuttle it
means you did not hit it properly but caught and held it on the racket before slinging the
execution of the shot. The codified rules of badminton generally consider a carry to be a legal
tactic providing it was clearly a single forward stroke.
Centre Line
The center line separates the two service boxes (left and right service zones) and marks a
perpendicular central line from the net to the rear baseline. It is the line dividing each court half
into two sides.
Changing Ends
The players should change ends at the completion of each game and when the leader scores six
points (11-point game) or eight points (15-pointer) in the third game.
Clear
Clear shots term defines strokes which are played from the back of the badminton court to the
rear of the opponent's half.
Closed Face
In badminton terms closed face refers to a situation where the racket face points downward.
Cork
The head of the shuttle is traditionally made of cork.
Cork Tip
The cork tip is the rounded base of the shuttlecock which may also be made of synthetic
materials.
Court
A badminton court is mostly used indoors and it should provide a synthetic or hardwood surface
offering good traction with clear and defined outer boundary lines.
In singles badminton the court size 17 x 44 feet and 20 x 44 feet for doubles matches.
Cross-court Shot
A cross-court shot is one that crosses the center line.
Cross Strings
Racket cross strings run perpendicular to the shaft and there are around 21 - 23 crosses on
a badminton racket.
Dab
The definition of a dab shot in badminton is a crisp downward stroke using minimal backswing
with excessive follow-through played in the forecourt. The shot must be played with good body
position with a flexible arm and wrist. It is executed primarily with fast action in the fingers but
with limited finger movement.
Danish Wipe
A 'Danish Wipe' shot is a hybrid backhand stroke - a combination of a lob and a drive. It is used
to play a lofty shuttle from far ends of the court. The racket is swept down deep to knee height
and then up and under the shuttle and finishing with a strong follow-through.

Dead Bird
Hitting a shuttle out of play is called a dead bird and one of the funny badminton terms.
Deception
Deception is an important part of game tactics by hiding what shots you intend to play, either
through very quick motions or misdirection before contact.
Defence
Playing defencively generally means hitting shots upwards similar to the shots played when
serves are executed upward.
Defencive Clear
The defencive clear shot is played high and deep in an attempt to gain time or slow the pace of
the rally.
Diagonal
Essentially diagonal is a term used to describe badminton doubles rules for player positions. Two
players divide the court on a diagonal as opposed to right angles (as in front-and-back or side-byside).
Divorce Area
In badminton terminology the divorce area refers to a narrow rectangle 8-11 feet from the net. It
is situated between the rear-court and fore-court players and between the sidelines. The phrase
originated from mixed gender games when irate husbands would berate over-enthusiastic wives
when they clashed rackets in this section of the court.
Doubles
Doubles matches have two players on each team and on opposing sides (total of four
players). Badminton doublesgames use the larger-sized court.
Double Hit
The double hit is a shot contacting the receiver's racket twice, either by one player or by both
players. A double hit by two players is always a fault. The rules surrounding a double hit by a
single player are more nuanced. If two strokes are used then the double hit is a fault. If a single
stroke is used then historically a fault was called, but today the shot is legal.
Doubles Sideline
The doubles sideline marker denotes the court inbound width of 20 feet used for doubles
matches (two teams of two players).
Doubles Service Court
The service court for doubles games is an area measuring 44 x 20 feet.
Drive (serve)
Driving the shuttle fast and low, almost horizontal in flight over the net, is called a drive. The
drive serve is played as flat as possible (clearing the net) and hit hard to fall at the back of the
service court - a deceptive alternative to regular short and long serves.
Drop Serve
The badminton drop serve (similar to toss serve) is played by dropping the shuttle to fall before
hitting it and is used in forehand serves.
Drop Shot
A drop shot refers to one hit with finesse and softly so it falls sharply in your opponent's court
and close to the net.
Equipment
The list of badminton equipment is not necessarily a huge expense but choosing the right gear
will definitely enhance your playing experience. As a rule, the badminton umpiring
equipment and clothing is provided by the tournament coordinators and sponsors but the match
officials and line judges may need to bring their own gear kit and paraphernalia if not.
Event
Badminton events are the disciplines which players may enter and compete in tournament play.
The standard events are mens/womens singles, mens/womens doubles, and mixed Doubles.
Fast Drop
Fast drop is a variation of a normal drop shot where a player strikes the shuttle harder to give the
opponent less time to react.
Fault

Badminton faults are violations of the codified rules and regulations while serving or receiving
the shuttle and during normal play. A player commits a fault in badminton when the shuttle;
Lands outside the court or out of bounds
Passes underneath the net or fails to pass over the net
Contacts any side walls or ceiling
Touches a players body or their clothing
Is hit two or more times by the same player or by both doubles partner before returning it over
the net
A fault also occurs if a player strikes the shuttle on the wrong side of the net. Touching the net or
the posts by any means is also considered a fault.
Feather Shuttle (feathers or crown)
A feather shuttle is one with a skirt comprised of bird feathers (duck or geese feathers) or
synthetic materials. Sixteen individual feathers are attached to the skirt of the shuttlecock tip to
stabilize it and make it aerodynamic.
Feint
A feint is also called a balk. It is any deceptive move that fools or dummies an opponent
disconcertingly before or during the serve.
First Serve (first hand)
A rule change to rally scoring occurred in 2006 which altered doubles play team members to
serve in succession.
Flick
Surprising your opponent by using a flick describes a quick wrist-and-forearm rotation technique.
The flick deceptively changes an apparent soft shot into a much faster and often a winning
passing shot.
Flick Serve
A flick serve is an advanced service shot taken from the backhand position and arched over the
opponent toward the long-service line. This shot requires a developed forearm and wrist to
generate the power and quickness to catch the receiver off guard.
Flight
The difficulty or skill level of an event in a tournament usually designated by the letters A, B, C
and D. Flight A would be the most advanced level.
Flight Path
The badminton expression of 'flight path' refers to the trajectory taken by a shuttle after the
stroke. The shuttle's flight path is seen by many as a distinguishing trademark between cheap
plastic shuttles and professional feathered shuttlecock.
Follow-through
Follow-through describes the path of the racket following its contact with the shuttle. It is an
important technique of producing controlled strokes and predictable shots.
Foot Fault
A foot fault is a service fault made by a player in which he oversteps the boundary of the service
court.
Footwork
When you have mastered good footwork in badminton it means you will reach the shuttlecock
early in the fastest time and using the shortest distance. Footwork is a principle reason why
professionals have less injuries and make badminton look effortless and graceful.
Forecourt (front court)
The forecourt area is the front third of the court. It is the region between the short service line
and the net.
Forehand Strokes
Playing a shot to the right side of the body is a forehand stroke for a right-handed player and vice
versa for a left hander.
Forward Swing
The forward swing is a term referring to the racket movement towards the shuttle.
Frame
Frame refers to the racket frame to which the stringing is attached.
Free Point

Losing a point on a serve, with no actual effort made by the opposer, is termed 'giving away a
free point'. Free points are similar to unforced errors in tennis rules and should be kept to a
minimum.
Front and Back
In badminton expressions, 'front and back' is a doubles game player position whereby one
partner is on front of the other and close to the middle line, as a rule.
Frying Pan Grip
A quirky badminton term which describes a racket grip rotated 90 degrees from the traditional
hand position. The head is parallel to the net in a frying pan grip with the front of the racket
facing the net.
Game
A game is part of an uncompleted set and typically when one player or doubles team has
amassed enough points to win a single contest but not necessarily the whole match.
Game Point
Either the word 'game' or 'point' should be announced when serving for a game-winning point out of courtesy. Game point refers to the situation where one player can win the game if he wins
the current rally.
Game (set)
A 21-point series with a required two-point margin of victory. If a game goes past 21 points it
ends when one team either goes up by two points or reaches 30.
Graphite
Graphite is actually an allotrope of pure carbon. Graphite is used in the construction of most
modern badminton rackets because it is generally lightweight and strong.
Grip
The grip is a term for the material covering the handle of racket and is used for better comfort
and control.
Gut
Gut fibers, gathered from intestinal parts of sheep and cows, and were used before it became
acceptable to use synthetic strings.
Hairpin Net Shot
As the name may suggest a hairpin net shot resembles the shape of a hairpin. It is made from
below and very close to the net. The hairpin shot send the shuttle rising sharply near to the net
and then drops abruptly downwards on the other side.
Half-court Shot
A half-court shot is mostly effective in the doubles game. The shot is hit low towards the
midcourt.
Hammer Grip
Hammer grip is another one of those quirky badminton expressions describing the way some
beginners grab the racket over tightly (like grabbing a hammer).
Handle
The handle refers to the end portion of a racket (opposite the head) and it is the part where a
player takes hold. It is the part of the shaft that the player grips to control the racket.
Head (face)
The head is a part of badminton equipment. It is the main oval face portion of the racket which is
comprised of the frame with stringing and attaches to the shaft.
Help
The word 'help' is rarely heard in professional tournaments but it is sometimes used
in badminton doubles ruleswhere one partner shouts 'help' if he is in trouble and needs help from
his partner to make the next shot.
High Clear
The high clear is a variation of a normal clear shot that arches high toward the opponents
baseline. This shot is intended to allow a team or player to reset defensively or to disrupt the
opponents timing.
High-lift
The high-lift is also called the high clear. The phrase refers to a defensive shot hit high and
extremely deep into the challengers back court area.

History of Badminton
The history of the badminton game originated as 'battledore and shuttlecock' in Greece and
mainland Asia from the period of ancient civilization around 2,000 years ago.
Holding a Shot
This technique is often used to delay hitting the shot deliberately to observe the opponent's
preparation or reaction.
Hybrid Stringing
Hybrid stringing is having a racket made with two different types of string used for the mains and
crosses.
In-play
In England badminton game terms the shuttlecock is in-play unless;
It hits the floor or goes outside the court markings
It contacts the ceiling or a players body
It gets stuck in the net or fails to drop
It hits post or the net and finishes on the same side as the hitter
Interval (time break)
An interval refers to either the 60-second period of rest that occurs when the score reaches 11
for the first time in a game or the 120 second break in between games. Players are permitted to
leave the court during this time.
Jump Smash
The badminton jump smash is accepted as the most powerful shot in badminton and it is
performed in mid-air. Players use the jump smash instead of the normal smash because of its
steeper angle and higher level of power.
Kill
The kill is a fast downward shot that cannot easily be returned to your court and usually ends a
rally.
Left Service Court
The left service court box marks the boundary to the left side of each player when facing the net.
Length of Play
Play is continuous until the game is won by a player or a team. The international rules of
professional badmintonmatches usually allow five minutes rest period between game two and
three.
Let
A 'let' is a legitimate call which halts normal play and allows a rally to be replayed. 'Lets' occur
when;
The shuttle fails to drop from the net
A player contacts the net or post with his body or racket
A player obstructs their opponent's stroke or premature serves
A shuttle lands on your court from adjacent court (bird on)
Certain ceiling obstruction interference or unsighted line calls
Lift
A lift is a variation of a clear shot that is produced by an underhand stroke and arched high to
allow time for better defensive positioning.
Line Judge (linesman)
A line judge, in terminologies related to badminton, is a pre-approved, unbiased individual who is
responsible for determining whether or not shots land inside of the court boundaries and should
inform the umpire when a fault is committed. A linesman is one of ten officials who ensure that
the shuttlecock remains inside the lines of play.
Locked Wrist
Having a locked wrist is a badminton expression for players with an inflexible wrist. This often
results in the racket handle held parallel with the forearm or sometimes pointing downward.
Long Serve
Playing a long serve is one which typically is a high lofty shot that lands close to the back line.

Long Service Line

Serves take place from the long service line and it marks the back of the service zone for doubles
matches. The long service lines should measure 21 feet back from the net for a singles match
and two feet closer for doubles.
Love (luv)
Love is a term used to denote zero scores in badminton terminology. Each competitor begins at
zero (love-all) and remains at love until they score points.
Lunge
Lunge refers to a vital part of footwork that has a player reach with the racket-side leg as you
strike the shuttle.
Main
The 'mains' are a terms for the racket strings which run parallel to the shaft. As a rule most
rackets will have a total of 22 mains.
Markings
White or yellow 40 mm wide court markings section the different zones of the badminton playing
area.
Match
Quite simply a match refers to a series of badminton games to determine a clear winner.
Match (point)
Either word should be announced when you are serving for a match-winning point - out of
courtesy.
Men's Doubles
Mens doubles is a match comprised of two teams with two male players on each team.
Midcourt (home)
The midcourt term designates the optimal home position of the middle third of the court. It is
halfway between the back boundary line and the center net.
Mixed Doubles
Mixed Doubles is a match comprised of two teams with one male and one female player on each
team. Level Doubles is a game where two paired players are of the same gender.
Net
Players hit a feathery shuttlecock over a net. Nets are loosely stitched dividers which are
stretched across the middle of the court at a height of 5 ft. England badminton nets stretch
across the center of the court between two posts.
The official net height measures 2.5 feet deep and the top of a badminton net is five feet high or
1.524 meters from the floor.
Net Drop
A net drop is a basic badminton net shot where a player simultaneously receives a drop shot and
then returns one back.
Net Fault
Net fault occurs if any player touches the net with his body, the racket, or any of your apparel
during play.
Net Return
A net return shot creeps over the net and drops abruptly to the ground on the other side.
Offence (attack)
Playing offensive shots are those generally hit downward and the team on the offense is the one
hitting downward.
One-piece Racket
A one-piece badminton racket is constructed with a single and continuous piece of material.
Multiple piece rackets would have separate head, shaft, t-joint, and grip joined together at a later
stage.
On-guard Stance
The badminton phrase refers to the alert position being taken by a player in readiness of the bird
being hit by the opponent.
Open Face Racket
A term referring to the way a racket faces upwards.
Overhand Shot

The overhand shot is taken with a downward arm and wrist motion.
Overhead Shots
Playing the racket into the shuttle above a players head is called an overhead shot.
Overhead Smash
The overhead smash is an aggressive powerful shot played steeply downwards usually from high
in the air.
Pace
The pace of a game simply refers to the speed of a shot or rally.
Panhandle Grip
Panhandle grip is a variation of the natural grip. The palm faces the fat part of the handle as the
thumb and fingers grasp the thinner sides. The panhandle grip is normally used for drive shots
and allows greater range with forehand drives.
Passing Shot
A passing shot passes travels passed the opposing player or team.
Patty-cakes
Patty-cakes is a term describing the way some beginners stand relatively immobile trading halfpaced drives until one misses.
Plastic Shuttle
A type of shuttle with a skirt made of plastic.
Placement
The word placement refers to the location where a shuttle is aimed on the court.
Poaching
Poaching in a game is the action of taking shots which would normally be returned by your
partner in doubles badminton rules. It is often done either through over-enthusiasm, greed, or
lack of confidence in your partner's ability.
Pop-up
A pop-up shot is one played slowly with a high lift to the forecourt.
Position of Readiness
The position of readiness is usually towards the middle of the court and means that each player
is prepared to play the next shot quickly or respond with a return pass.
Post
The post is a vertical bar used to stretch the net by means of white tape.
Press
The history of badminton game shows that a press was used to stop the head warping from
moisture when racket heads were made of wood or bamboo. Rackets were kept in a press usually
consisting of two wooden trapezoidal frames held together with bolts and thumb-nuts to help
prevent this happening.
Pre-stretch
Pre-stretching means pulling the racket string to tension and letting it relax before starting to
string.
Push Shot
The push shot is a gently played shot created by pushing the shuttlecock with a little extra wrist
motion than normal.
Qualifications
If you want a qualification, Badminton England currently offers the UKCC endorsed Level 1, Level
2, and Level 3 Certificates in Coaching Badminton.
Racket (racquet)
What are the badminton game terms for the different parts of the racket? The large stringed area
with a frame is called the head which is connected to the handle by the shaft.
You should choose the best badminton racket for your game based on the string tension, its
weight, flexibility, balance, and the size of the hand grip.
The racket used to strike the shuttlecock is lighter and narrower than a tennis racket (about 3
oz.) and the head measures about 9 inches long and 11 inches wide.
Racket Foot
The racket foot refers to the strong playing foot which is usually the right foot for a right handed
player and the left foot for a left hander.

Rally
In terminologies of badminton a rally is a series of passes and exchanged shots which begin with
a serve and the rally finishes when the point is won.
Rally-scoring
Rally-scoring refers to the manner of scoring in which a point is awarded for every rally.
Receiver (receiving side)
The receiver is the player who receives the shuttlecock put into play by the server and then
returns the openingstroke made by the server, both in singles and doubles.
Rotation
Rotation is the movement or interaction which allows doubles partners to attack or defend
effectively as a team.
Rough Side
In badminton equipment terms the rough side refers to the side containing the trim loops of the
racket and being opposite to the smooth side.
Round-the-head Shot
A round-the-head shot is a funny badminton phrase referring to an overhead shot which is played
with a forehand swing but on the backhand side.
Rush a Serve
Rushing a serve describes very quick movement forward when receiving a low serve. The aim of
which is to move to the net fast enough to attack the serve.
Safety
The health and safety regulations in badminton help you to avoid, or limit, the most common
injuries and accidental mishaps which players may suffer while playing shuttlecock.
Scorekeeper
In terminologies related to badminton a scorekeeper is a pre-approved, unbiased individual who
is responsible for scoring a match.
Scoring
Womens badminton games are usually scored up to 11. Games tied at 9-9 or 10-10 usually move
into a love-all set situation where winner is the first player to win the next two or three points.
Mens singles and doubles normally play to 15. Only a serving player or team in womens and
mens badminton scores a point. The best of three games decide the match winner.
Server
The server starts the rally by hitting the shuttlecock over the net to the court area of their
opponent. The server and the receiver stand diagonally opposite each other as the shuttlecock is
served into play.
Service (right to serve)
The service is the initial stroke which starts play when the receiver is stationary and begins a
rally. The badminton serve is taken from left-hand side of the court for odd points (e.g. 1, 3, 5,)
and the right-hand side for even points.
The non-server is allowed to stand anywhere on his side of the net during a doubles game. The
server must strike the base of the shuttle first contacting it below the server's waist in a
continuous motion.
Service Court
The service court is the area into which you must deliver the service which in fact is different for
singles than in doubles games.
Service Fault
A service fault is any violation or illegal tactic that occurs during service for either team.
Service Judge
A badminton service judge is a pre-approved, unbiased individual who is responsible for calling
service faults. Service judges are the officials who monitor the execution of the serve, player
position, and the arrival of the shuttlecock in the appropriate zone.
Setting
Setting in badminton means to extend a game by a set number of points beyond the normal
finish.
Shaft
The shaft is the elongated part of the racket that ends at the beginning of the head.

Short Service Line

The short service is the front boundary line of the singles and doubles service zones and
measures six feet or 1.98 meters from the net on both sides of the court. It denotes the area
beyond which all serves must land.
Shot
'CLEAR, DRIVE, DROP, SMASH' are four shot terms related to badminton. Learn these 4 shot
techniques and discover why and when beginners should use these top offensive and defensive
strokes. As a rule, all shots played in badminton are termed as offensive or defensive strokes and
we explain the methodology behind four of the most popular.
Shoulder-high Shots
When the racket hits the shuttle above the players shoulder and usually to the side it is called a
shoulder-high shot.
Shuffle (skip)
The shuffle is a primary part of your footwork technique which occurs when you slide your feet to
move around the court.
Shuttlecock (shuttle)
Badminton terminology has the name 'shuttlecock' which is used to describe the 'bird or birdie'.
This refers to the projectile of a feathered (14 to 16 feathers) cork object sent back and forth
over the net in competitions.
Shuttlecocks are made of 16 real or synthetic feathers attached to a cork base. Different weights
of shuttlecocks determine their flight and speed through the air.
Side-by-side
Side-by-side refers to the defensive doubles position where both players are at midcourt and on
either side of the center line.
Singles
A game of badminton where one individual plays against one other player.
Singles Sideline
The singles sideline is a line which marks the in-bound court width playing area of 17 feet for
singles games (two players).
Singles Service Court
The service court for doubles games is an area measuring 44 x 17 feet.
Skirt
The skirt is the part of the shuttle that is either plastic or feather and fans out like a lady's skirt.
Slice
A slice is the curved flight of the shuttle which is created by striking it with an angled face of the
racket during contact.
Smash (kill shot)
A smash is an overhead kill shot hit so hard that it forces the shuttle to drop sharply downwards
into the opponent's court. The smash or kill shot is a decisive power move and seen as an
aggressive tactic during play.
Stab
The stab is a shot intended to drop the shuttle steeply and tight to the net on the side of your
opponent.
Stance
A stance is the position of your body and feet while you are waiting for the opponent to hit the
shuttle.
Starting the Match
Who starts the match is decide by a coin toss or a spin of a racket. The winner chooses between
serving and receiving first.
Straight Games
A straight game means winning in consecutive games with no lost games.
Strings
Strings are the thin, synthetic pieces of material that are weaved through the frame and used to
propel the shuttle.
Stringing

The stringing is a term referring to the surface of interlaced strings of synthetic or natural fiber
that is used to strike a shuttlecock.
Stroke
In simple badminton terms a stroke is the movement of your racket with the intention of hitting
the shuttle.
Sweetspot
The sweet spot of a badminton racket is the center section of the stringing where the response is
uniform and hence offers maximum playability.
Synthetic (shuttle)
A synthetic shuttle is a small plastic cone that is sturdier than the feathered shuttlecock and is
usually used for training. As a rule it weighs about 0.2 ounces which is the same as the feathered
shuttlecock.
Tape
The tape refers to a three-inch solid strip running along the top of the net. According to
the official badminton rules the tape is usually white to provide a highly visible reference.
Tension
Racket tension describes the force used to pull on string while stringing a racket.
Test Mark
These are two small marks on a court indicating the range into which a proper speed shuttle will
land during testing.
Throat (t-joint)
The section of the racquet that connects the head to the shaft is termed the throat - or T-joint.
Older, lower-end models typically have a visibly separate t-joint, while newer, higher-end models
incorporate it into the racket.
Tipping the Shuttle
Tipping means adjusting the speed of a shuttlecock by bending the tips of the feathers.
T-junction
The T-junction refers to the intersection of the center line and the short service line and is
typically used as a reference point for short serves and as a base for net play.
Top Slice and Tumble
Similar to tennis, the top slice and the tumble aim to drive the shuttle looping downward tightly
over the net.
Toss a Coin
Players usually toss a coin to determination who serve or from which side.
Toss Serve
A toss serve occurs when the server throws the shuttle up or to the side and lets it fall before
hitting it.
Tramline
Tramline refers mostly to the boundary lines themselves or to the Alleys (side tramline and rear
tramline).
Tumble Drop Shot
A tumble drop shot is a variation of a normal drop shot that causes the shuttle to flip, end over
end.
Umpire
The umpire is the official responsible for applying the basic badminton regulations, ensuring that
the match runs smoothly, and rules on contentious points. A service judge and a line judge may
also assist badminton umpires.
Underhand
Underhand refers to any shot taken with an upward arm and wrist motion.
Up (go up)
Go Up is often a call made between doubles partners indicating that one partner would like the
other to move to the forecourt resulting in a front-and-back position.
Videos
Click here to watch seven minutes of badminton video footage including competitive singles and
doubles matches.
Waist

Even though the shuttle must be below the waist at time of service, the height of the elbow
(when standing upright) is more visible than the waist and remarkably close to the codified rules
and regulations of badminton.
Walls
Walls is a term used to define the minimum distance from the baseline perimeter to the nearest
surrounding wall. Regular badminton match wall distance is five feet from the baseline and four
feet from the sideline. Competitive international badminton matches extends this distance to the
closest wall to 7.5 feet from the baseline and 7.2 feet from the sideline.
White Tape
White tape refers to a strip of tape with a cord passing through it which is attached to the posts
to suspend the badminton net.
Wood Shot
When the shuttle hits the frame of the racket legally instead of the strings and it is called a wood
shot.
Yonex
Yonex is a badminton racket manufacturer which achieves precise control and function by
creating ultra-lightweight strong and stable racquets.
Z - Zone
Inter Zonal Badminton Championship occur between some regions for competitive tournaments.
BASIC RULES
Court
Badminton court, the court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. Courts are usually
marked for both singles and doubles play, although badminton rules permit a court to be marked
for singles only. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are of same length.
The exception, which often causes confusion to newer players, is that the doubles court has a
shorter serve-length dimension.
The full width of the court is 6.1 metres (20 ft), and in singles this width is reduced to
5.18 metres (17 ft). The full length of the court is 13.4 metres (44 ft). The service courts are
marked by a centre line dividing the width of the court, by a short service line at a distance of
1.98 metres (6 ft 6 inch) from the net, and by the outer side and back boundaries. In doubles, the
service court is also marked by a long service line, which is 0.76 metres (2 ft 6 inch) from the
back boundary.
The net is 1.55 metres (5 ft 1 inch) high at the edges and 1.524 metres (5 ft) high in the centre.
The net posts are placed over the doubles sidelines, even when singles is played.
The minimum height for the ceiling above the court is not mentioned in the Laws of Badminton.
Nonetheless, a badminton court will not be suitable if the ceiling is likely to be hit on a high
serve.
Serving
The legal bounds of a badminton court during various stages of a rally for singles and doubles
games
When the server serves, the shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the opponents'
court or it will count as a fault.
At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service
courts (see court dimensions). The server hits the shuttlecock so that it would land in the
receiver's service court. This is similar to tennis, except that a badminton serve must be hit
below waist height and with the racquet shaft pointing downwards, the shuttlecock is not allowed
to bounce and in badminton, the players stand inside their service courts unlike tennis.
When the serving side loses a rally, the serve immediately passes to their opponent(s) (this
differs from the old system where sometimes the serve passes to the doubles partner for what is
known as a "second serve").

In singles, the server stands in their right service court when their score is even, and in her/his
left service court when her/his score is odd.
In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve, but he/she
changes service courts so that she/he serves to a different opponent each time. If the opponents
win the rally and their new score is even, the player in the right service court serves; if odd, the
player in the left service court serves. The players' service courts are determined by their
positions at the start of the previous rally, not by where they were standing at the end of the
rally. A consequence of this system is that, each time a side regains the service, the server will
be the player who did not serve last time.
Scoring
Main article: Scoring system development of badminton
Each game is played to 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a rally
regardless of whether they served (this differs from the old system where players could only win
a point on their serve and each game was played to 15 points). A match is the best of three
games.
If the score reaches 20-all, then the game continues until one side gains a two-point lead (such
as 2422), except when there is a tie at 29-all, in which the game goes to a golden point.
Whoever scores this point will win.
At the start of a match, the shuttlecock is cast and the side towards which the shuttlecock is
pointing serves first. Alternatively, a coin may be tossed, with the winners choosing whether to
serve or receive first, or choosing which end of the court to occupy first, and their opponents
making the leftover the remaining choice.
In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game serve first. Matches are best out of
three: a player or pair must win two games (of 21 points each) to win the match. For the first
rally of any doubles game, the serving pair may decide who serves and the receiving pair may
decide who receives. The players change ends at the start of the second game; if the match
reaches a third game, they change ends both at the start of the game and when the leading
player's or pair's score reaches 11 points.
The server and receiver must remain within their service courts, without touching the boundary
lines, until the server strikes the shuttlecock. The other two players may stand wherever they
wish, so long as they do not block the vision of the server or receiver.
Lets
If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. Lets may occur
because of some unexpected disturbance such as a shuttlecock landing on court (having been
hit there by players playing in adjacent court) or in small halls the shuttle may touch an
overhead rail which can be classed as a let.
If the receiver is not ready when the service is delivered, a let shall be called; yet, if the receiver
attempts to return the shuttlecock, the receiver shall be judged to have been ready.
OFFICIAL OF BADMINTON
Technical Officials
Technical Officials (TOs) are a critical part of the game and the BWF is committed to developing
and maintaining skilled and well qualified TOs for its signature events and for the sport at the
international level.
The BWF is also committed to developing training materials / guidelines for referees, umpires and
line judges and ensuring fair and transparent processes of assessment,nomination for BWF major
tournaments.
The coordination and management of TOs for the BWF is the responsibility of the Events
Committee, supported by the Technical Officials Commission and the staff in the Events
Department.

Roles and responsibilities - Referee, BWF appointed Tournament Director and

Technical Delegate
In BWF major events, SS and GPG the referee will work closely with the BWF appointed
Tournament Director (appointed by the BWF Secretariat to each Tournament), and in multi-sports
events the referee will work with one or more TDs and the relevant BWF Staff. It is the
responsibility of all to share information, cooperate, and share responsibility, as every decision
may be crucial and will have to stand up to scrutiny. Any mistake may reflect badly on badminton
in an international and exposed environment.
Referee is in overall charge of the tournament competition. The referee shall ensure that the
tournament is conducted in accordance with the Laws of Badminton, the Rules and Regulations
of the BWF and any other regulations pertinent to the specific competition. He/she shall ensure
that the players are given facilities (including practice) and playing conditions of an adequate
standard and safety, approval of the programme of play and practice schedule, ensuring an
appropriate transport setup and overall monitoring of matters related to the fair an proper
conduct the tournament for the players. The referee shall also ensure that there is an adequate
panel of technical officials of requisite ability and appropriate international representation.
The BWF Tournament Director is in charge of the commercial aspects including the
presentation of the game. When the sporting and commercial/presentational areas touch, there
will be a grey area, where it is important that common solutions are found and defended towards
any outside party. The order of play for the last rounds is typically a such area, where good
cooperation is crucial. The BWF Tournament Director will have the final decision in matters
affecting the implementation of BWF commercial and media rights contracts including the
presentation of the field of play. The BWF Tournament Director will provide the referee with a
recommendation based on consultation with the various stakeholders (broadcasters, hosts etc.)
on the order of play on televised courts, which the referee shall normally follow.
All parties shall always work within the boundaries of the regulations.
The Technical Delegate, TD. In Multi-Sport Games the OC will ask for the appointment of a TD.
There may be regulations concerning the TDs role and responsibilities in the Games statutes and
they may vary from one Multi-Sport Games to another. Generally, the TD will take over the
activities concerning preparation of the badminton event of the Multi-Sport Games, which a
referee would normally take responsibility for. The TD should keep the referee (when appointed,
often much later than the TD) informed about major issues related to the preparation of the
event. The TD will then hand over responsibility for the delivery of the event to the referee in
connection with the Team Managers meeting, which will be conducted by the Referee. The TD will
keep close contact with the referee during the event and advice on any matter, in particular with
relation to protocol, to the OC and to other sports.
The TD will liaise closely with the BWF Events Chair, Secretary General, Events Director and the
relevant Events Department Team in connection with the general preparations of any Multisports
Event on a World, Continental and Regional level. Any overall principle matters outside the
normal oversight of technical matters should be referred to the BWF Secretariat and appropriate
replies should be sent from the BWF Secretariat. The roles and delegations between the TD and
the Events Staff team will be coordinated and decided from time to time and may vary
depending on the nature of the Multisports Event
Umpire
The Umpire has authority over a particular match and shall be in charge of the court and its
immediate surrounds. The Umpire shall ensure the match is conducted in accordance with the
Laws of Badminton, the Rules and Regulations of the BWF and any other regulations pertinent to
the specific competition. The Umpire makes rule calls regarding service faults and other player
faults or lets. The Umpire keeps the match score which he or she announces after each point.
The Umpire also keeps a record of any incidents of misconduct and reports them to the Referee.
The Umpires jurisdiction shall exist from entering the court before the match until leaving the
court after the match and they shall report to and act under the authority of the Referee.

Umpire Training Manual (January 2015) - Click on link HERE.

Umpire Training Tips (June 2015) - Click on link HERE.
Umpire Scoring Tablet - Instruction Manual - Click on link HERE.
Linejudge
The linejudge is responsible for a service, side or baseline during a particular match and decides
whether the shuttle has landed in or out of court. Linejudges call the shuttle in or out using
the appropriate verbal call and hand signals. If they are unsighted they signal to this effect and
the Umpire shall make the decision or if no decision can be given a let shall be called.
There is currently no Accredited / Certificated categories for Line Judges. All invitations for Line
Judges are sent to Continentaion Confederations who then nominate Line Judges for BWF events,
copying in their respective Member . These nominations are forwarded to the Events Committee
who make appointments for events
Technical Officials Levels
The BWF has two levels of Referees and Umpires together with an Assessment Panel for each.
FUNDAMENTAL SKILLS OF BADMINTON
To be a good badminton player, you need to develop your basic skills. You should understand
how to hold the racket, serve and return the shuttlecock, and move around the court. You will
also need to be familiar with the basic rules of badminton, which are governed by the Badminton
World Federation. Once you understand the fundamental skills and rules of badminton, you can
work toward mastering the game.
Serving
Serve the shuttlecock with your nondominant side closest to the net -- so if you are right-handed,
your left side would face the net. Hold the shuttlecock in your nondominant hand and your racket
in your dominant hand. Hold the shuttlecock just below shoulder height and draw your racket
back on your dominant side, at knee height with your wrist cocked. Drop the shuttlecock and
quickly draw your racket forward, swinging underhand, to strike it as you shift your weight
forward. Hit the shuttlecock at knee height, snapping your wrist as you do so.
Clearing
Clearing is a technique used to return the shuttlecock, with an emphasis on simply getting the
shuttlecock back on your opponent's side rather than scoring. Clearing underhand uses the same
technique as a serve -- the only difference is that you need to move to the shuttlecock instead of
dropping it to the desired position. To clear overhand, draw the racket over your shoulder and
shift your weight back. Then draw it over your shoulder, shifting your weight forward as you
strike the shuttlecock at an upward -- or open-faced -- angle. You can also clear with a backhand,
using the backside of your racket on the opposite side of your body.
Other Skills
Other return methods are focused on scoring. To smash the shuttlecock, use the same technique
as an overhand clear but strike the shuttlecock at a downward -- or closed-faced -- angle, aiming
the shuttlecock at the floor on your opponent's side. A drive is a hard shot intended to score.
Drive the shuttlecock using a quick hit with minimal arc, leading the shot with your elbow. The
racket should hit the shuttlecock straight on, resulting in a hard, straight shot. Use a drop shot to
gently hit the shuttlecock over the net and block incoming shuttlecocks to keep them on your
opponent's side. Between shots, move around the court with your knees bent to keep a low
center of balance, allowing you to react quickly to the play.
Scoring
Badminton matches consist of the best of three games -- meaning that a player or team needs to
win two games. Each game is played to 21 points. A point is awarded every time there is a serve,

either to the server or the defender. A point is awarded to the opposing player or team if a player
or team lets the shuttlecock land in play on his side, or if he hits it out of play on the opponent's
side.
Singles Play
In singles play, the server serves from the right service court when his score is even and the left
service court when his score is odd. So if the server has 2 points, for example, he would serve
from the right of the court -- when his score increases to 3 points, he would switch and serve
from the left. If the server scores, he gets to serve again. If the defender scores, he becomes the
server.
Doubles Play
Doubles play features two players on either team. Each half of the court is divided into two
service courts, which each player serves from. The players do not switch service courts unless a
point is scored. The serving team serves from the right when the score is even and from the left
when the score is odd. If the serving team scores, then they will serve again; the same server will
serve, switching to the alternate serving court. If the defending team scores, they will become
the servers.