BADMINTON
ORIGIN AND DEVELOPMENT
Badminton was first known as “Poona” and was first seen in India. English army officers learned the game there and introduced it
into England sometime between 1870 and 1880. Little enthusiasm was shown for the sport until the Duke of Beaufort launched it at
his home, “Badminton,” at Gloucestershire. Badminton was brought to Canada in the 1890’s and to the United States shortly
thereafter. As a result of its present popularity, the American Badminton Association, which now controls the sport and sanctions all
badminton tournaments, was formed.
NATURE OF THE GAME
Badminton can be very adaptable to allow for a more leisurely paced game. It is one game that can be played fast or slow, hard or
easy, in or out of doors; by men, women, and children, young or old. When competitively played, badminton requires a great deal of
speed, endurance and power. Team play of partners in a doubles game and the deception involved in the game demand the utmost in
cooperation, concentration, and initiative in the use of strokes. It is an especially fine game for mixed doubles because the woman can
play the net successfully while the mean covers the remainder of the court.
PLAYING COURTESIES
Like tennis, badminton emphasizes sportsmanship and playing courtesies. Following are a few hints on how to conduct oneself in
badminton.
1. If in doubt about the bird’s landing, always call it in favor of the opponents.
2. Spin racket for the choosing of courts and service
3. One never “rides or taunts” his opponent in badminton.
4. If there is any question of your fouling at the net, be sure to call it on yourself. Your opponent should be a good sport
and disagree if there is some doubt in his mind.
5. If there is any question about your throwing of a bird, be quick to call it a throw.
LAWS OF THE GAME
1.
2.
3.
4.
Twenty-one points constitute the usual game. But you have to win by at least 2 points unless you reach 30-29. Since 30 is
the upper limit the game is won by whoever has 30.
The service must be delivered to the diagonal service court. A bird that lands on a line is considered good. In singles the
bird must land in the long, narrow court and in doubles in the short, wide court. A let serve is one in which the bird touches
the top of the net, but lands in the proper service court and is served over. It is a fault unless it lands in the service court.
Only one service (trial) per player is allowed per inning (not like tennis, where two trials are allowed), unless the bird is
missed entirely. The service starts in the right-hand court at the beginning of the game when the score is 0-0, but thereafter
service is made from the right-hand court only when the score is even (for that side) and from the left-hand court when the
score is odd (for that side). When the serving side wins a rally, the same person serves again but from the other service court.
That same person continues to serve until the opponents win a rally and get to serve. In doubles, receivers do not change
courts, therefore the server does not serve to the same person twice in a row. When the receiving side wins a rally (and a
point) they serve from the proper court based on the score and where they were when receiving the pervious serve.
It is a fault (loss of point for either side and loss of service for the serving team) when:
a) Service is illegal, i.e., the bird is struck, when above the waist or the head of the racket is higher then the hand when
hit.
b) Service or played shot lands outside the specified court, passes through or under the net, or hits a player or
obstruction outside the court
c) If server or receiver steps out of his proper court before delivery of serve or feints in any way before the service.
Only the person served to may return the bird.
d) A player reaches over the net to hit a bird (he may follow a shot over).
e) A player touches the net with his racket or any part of his body.
f) A player hits the bird twice or momentarily holds or throws it with his racket.
g) A player fails to return the bird to the opponent’s proper court. (He cannot hit, catch, or be struck by a doubtful bird
and call “out” as permitted in some sports.)
h) The server steps forward as he serves.
i) In a doubles serve, a player may not “unsight” the server.
TERMINOLOGY
Backhand – Any stroke made on the side of the body opposite the racket side.
Bird – The shuttlecock.
Clear – A high shot (or lob), which falls to the back line.
Cross-court shot – A shot in which the bird crosses the net at a short diagonal, usually close to the net.
Drive – A hard driven stroke, which just clears the net and does not rise high enough for an opponent to smash.
Driven clear – A drive, which goes to, the backcourt, but not high enough for an opponent to kill.
Driven serve – The flight of a serve similar to a drive. Used best in the right-hand court to a right hand player.
Drop – A shot made from the backcourt, which barely clears the net, drooping sharply. A smash or clear shot is
usually faked.
Fault – Any infraction of the rules whose penalty is the loss of the serve or the point.
Forehand – Any stroke made on the racket side of the body.
Hand-out – The loss of the serve.
Let – A bird, which touches the top of the net but falls good.
Net Flight – A shot in which the bird follows the net in a short flight.
Rally – A heated return of the bird several times, such as rallying for serve.
Receiver – The player to whom the bird is served.
Round the head stroke – A high stroke over the head to hit a bird on the offhand side.
Server – The player who puts the bird in play.
Setting the game – Choosing how many points to play when the score becomes tied.
Short serve – A serve that scarcely clears the net and lands barely inside the opponent’s court.
Shuttlecock – The feathered (or plastic) object, which is batted back and forth in badminton.
Smash – The most powerful overhead stroke that sends the bird downward over the net.
Throw – A shot in which the bird is carried or thrown by the racket.