What is the Origin of Badminton?

Badminton is an ancient sport that was played in Asia, India and China, and Europe
more than 2000 years ago. Originally it was played with what was known as a
battledore and shuttlecock which gave it, its name then before a net was introduced for
its play in India in the mid-1800s.

Of course, the game of badminton has changed a fair amount since then and the
equipment has become a little more sophisticated, but the premise remains the same.
Two or four people, a badminton court with a net, badminton rackets or paddles, and a
shuttlecock or ball.

In India, badminton was known as Poona or Poonah, and the official badminton rules
were drawn up in Pune, India, in 1873.

It took another 100 years for badminton to be introduced at the Olympic Games as a
demonstration sport, and thereafter another 20 for it to be a recognized Olympic sport.
Today badminton is played worldwide but it is important to remember the history of
badminton and its origin.

Let’s look at the old names for Badminton

 Battledor
 Shuttlecock
 Poonaor Poonah or Poonah
Battledor was one of the older names for Badminton and it literally means Bat or
Paddle.

In ancient times a battledore was a wooden paddle that was used for washing clothes,
as well as for beating or stirring. Clearly the implementation was adapted so that it could
be used for the sport. Battledor was one of the original English names for badminton
and today a Battledor is known as a badminton racket.

A shuttlecock is a ball, and this name is still used today. It is made up of a cork that has
feathers attached to it, forming a cone shape.

Today a shuttlecock is made of plastic, although in the olden days it was made from
cork and real feathers.

A shuttlecock is light enough to be hit with a racket (bat) and to easily be airborne and
stay airborne. A shuttlecock is much lighter than a tennis ball.
Poona or Poonah, or just Poonah as mentioned above, was the original game given to
badminton in India, in the city of Pune.

It was a game that was played and enjoyed by British army officers stationed in India,
which is how it is thought to have spread to England. One can almost imagine the
British soldiers, all very smart and colonial, playing Badminton in India.

They would play on the grass, in front of gorgeous heritage homes or palaces, wearing
their full army regalia. The name Badminton was eventually settled on as the game
became more widely played in England.

Although the origin of Badminton is not England, the name is English. The Duke of
Beaufort lived in Gloucestershire and the sport took its name from Badminton House
where the game was first played. Today, Gloucestershire is the home of the
International Badminton Federation, formed in 1934, a Federation that is almost 100
years old.

It is interesting to note that while Badminton, Battledor, was played in Ancient Greece
and China, much of the history of badminton is attributed to India and the British Army
officers who played in India, bringing the sport back to England.

The game was initially one played by the more upper-class English people,
remembering that the English were very much governed by class, but today Badminton
is a sport for all people.

History of the Game

 Invented in India in a version called Poona.

 British army officers learned the game about 1870.
 In 1873 the Duke of Beaufort introduced the sport at his country estate,
Badminton, from which the game derives its name.
 In 1887 the Bath Badminton Club was formed; it was replaced in 1893 by
the Badminton Association of England, which codified the rules that still
govern competitive play.
 Military personnel introduces badminton to Vancouver in the late 1890s.
 Badminton Canada was founded in 1921, with the first national
championships being held in Montreal.
 Canada is one of nine founding members of the International Badminton
Federation in 1934.
 Badminton is included in the 1972 Munich Olympics as a demonstration
sport.
 Jamie Paulson of Calgary wins a gold medal in men’s singles at the 1970
Commonwealth Games in Edinburgh, Scotland.
 In 1992, six Canadians contest badminton as a full medal sport at
Barcelona Olympics.
 
In which country did badminton originate?

The game is named after Badminton, the country estate of the dukes of Beaufort in
Gloucestershire, England, where it was first played about 1873. Originating in
ancient Greece, China, and India, it is closely related to the old children’s game
battledore and shuttlecock.

Where did badminton originate in India?

The modern game of Badminton originated in the city of Pune in India and was
originally known as ‘Poona’. The first pioneers of the game in Europe were British
Army officers stationed there. The game was played in 1873 in a place called
‘Badminton House’ in England, from where it got its name.

Who first invented badminton?

Invented in India in a version called Poona. About 1870, British army officers learned
the game. In 1873 the Duke of Beaufort introduced the sport at his country estate,
Badminton, from which the game derives its name.

Racket

The badminton racket is one of the most important tools a player has in the game.
Badminton rackets are much lighter than most other sports rackets because they are
made from materials such as carbon fiber or lighter metals such as aluminum. Parts of
the racket include the head, throat, shaft and handle with a maximum length of 27.77
inches and a width of 9 inches. It Strings that are stretched across the opening of the
racket in a checkerboard pattern, which acts as the hitting surface. Badminton rackets
can vary widely in cost depending on whether they are purchased as part of a basic
backyard set or as more expensive professional models.

Shuttlecock

The badminton shuttlecock, also referred to as a shuttle or birdie, acts similarly to a ball
in other racket sports. However, the design of the birdie creates more drag as it is
propelled through the air due to its feathered shape. The shuttlecock is made up of a
cone shape with a hard cork at its tip. Shuttlecocks can be made from a variety of
materials -- more expensive models are actually made from feathers, and less
expensive models are made from plastic feathers. The shuttle has 16 feathers attached
to the base and the length of the feathers range between 2.44 and 2.75 inches.

Net
A mesh net divides the badminton court into two sides. A badminton net is placed lower
than a volleyball net at five feet and one inch high on the sides and five feet high in the
center. The length may vary depending on whether doubles or singles are playing, with
singles reaching 17 feet and doubles reaching 22 feet. The net is 30 inches wide with a
3-inch white tape doubled over the top.

Facilities

The badminton court should be 44 feet long by 22 feet wide if playing doubles, and 44
feet long by 17 feet wide for singles. If the facility is indoors, there needs to be enough
height for the shuttlecock to be able to float across the net without hitting the ceiling.
This height will vary depending on the strength of the players.

Standard Length & Width of a Shuttle Court

British troops stationed in India in the 18th century brought an Indian child's game called
Poona back to England. There it was first played and popularized at Badminton, the
Duke of Beaufort's country estate. The sport of badminton is played on a shuttle court.
Somewhat of a cross between volleyball and tennis, it uses a net, lightweight rackets
and a shuttlecock -- originally a cork ball with feathers attached. Badminton can be
played by two or four players, inside or outside. Today, the Badminton World Federation
sanctions the Badminton Super Series, which brings pro players from around the world
together in competition.

Shuttle Court Surface

Badminton may be played on turf or on hardwood surfaces specifically constructed for

sports, such as a basketball court. Concrete surfaces and carpeted floors are
associated with a higher incidence of injury in badminton.

Shuttle Court Layout

The shuttle court is a rectangular playing area. It is marked out by 1 and 1/2-inch wide
lines of chalk or some other marking colored white or yellow.

Shuttle Court Length

The shuttle court is 44 feet long. It is bisected by a net 2 feet, 6 inches wide, the top of
which is suspended 5 feet from the surface of the court at the centerline.

Shuttle Court Width

The shuttle court playing area is 20 feet wide for doubles play. For singles play, the
sidelines are 17 feet wide.
Service Area

The service court is 15 feet, 6 inches in length, beginning at the singles service line and
extending forward to another line 6 feet, 6 inches from the net.

List of Badminton Equipment

Shuttles

Players should have several shuttles, also known as “birdies” or

“shuttlecocks,” to use in a match. You can use natural, feathered shuttles
or synthetic, non-feathered shuttles in badminton. According to the Badminton World
Federation’s Laws of Badminton, feathered shuttles should have 16 feathers
fixed to a cork base. The feathers should measure between 2 ½ and 2 ¾
inches long. The feathers’ tips should form a circle with a diameter measuring
between 2 ¼ and 2 2/3 inches. Synthetic shuttles should simulate feathers with
synthetic materials. Both feathered and synthetic shuttles should have a base that
measures about 1 inch in diameter. The shuttle should weigh about .16 to .19 oz.
Players should test the shuttles for speed and flight before each match.

Racket

Badminton rackets consist of stringed hitting surface attached to a thin shaft and a
handle. The racket must have a flat face, with a uniform pattern of overlapping strings.
According to the Badminton World Federation’s Laws of Badminton, the
racket’s stringed area should not exceed 11 inches in length or 8 2/3 inches in
width. The racket’s overall length, including the handle, shaft, and face, may not
exceed 26 ¾ inches in length. The racket must not exceed 9 inches in width at its
widest point. Early badminton racket manufacturers produced only wooden rackets, but
modern manufacturers produce rackets with frames made out of aluminum alloy,
titanium, steel, and composite materials.

Net

The net plays an important role in badminton matches. The Badminton World
Federation’s Laws of Badminton provide specific standards for net height, width,
and construction. An official badminton net must measure 5 feet high in the center, and
5 feet, 1 inch at the sides. The net attaches to vertical posts on either side of the court.
The net should measure 30 inches from bottom to top, and must consist of a uniform,
dark-colored mesh. The net should have a white tape running along the top to make the
net’s full height visible to players and officials.

Official Badminton Net Height

By:Beth Rifkin
Published: 05 December, 2018
The Badminton World Federation mandated the official net height in 1934 and it has not
changed since. The universally accepted net height, for singles and doubles play, is 5
feet in the center and 5 feet, 1 inch at the poles, which are situated just outside the
court's doubles lines. Players must clear the net with the shuttle within the confines of
the singles or doubles lines for the play to be considered good.

Parts of a Badminton Racket

By:Frank Whittemore
Published: 31 October, 2018

The object of the game of badminton is to hit a small device that resembles a rubber
ball with a ring of feathers attached to it, called a shuttle, back and forth across a raised
net using a racket. The badminton racket is lightweight yet strong. Once made of wood,
these rackets are now made of high-tech materials. The Badminton World Federation
(BWF) defines the laws that determine the parts, form, shape and weight of badminton
rackets for competition use.

Materials

Traditionally, badminton frames have been made out of wood. Although still available,
wood rackets have largely been abandoned due to the availability of lighter, more
durable synthetic materials such as carbon fiber, lightweight metal alloys and ceramics.
These are used in most modern badminton rackets today.

Frame
The body of the racket itself is called the frame. It consists of the head, the stringed
area, the throat, the shaft and the handle. According to BWF laws, the length of the
frame should be no longer than 680 millimeters or wider than 230 millimeters. The
weight of a fully strung frame should be within 80 and 100 grams. Frames can come in
different shapes, with larger or smaller sweet spots, and can be more or less flexible,
depending on the materials used and the construction.

Head

The head of the racket is the ring of material that holds the strings in place. It can be
oval or more rounded, and has holes in its perimeter though which the strings are laced.

Stringed Area

The stringed area is made up of nylon or carbon fiber string that is interwoven to form
the face of the racket. Its dimensions, according to BWF rules, must not exceed 280
millimeters in length or 220 millimeters in width.

Throat

The throat connects the head to the shaft. It may be a separate triangular piece at the
base of the head, or may actually be integrated into the head itself.

Shaft

The shaft is the long rod between the throat and handle. Often made of a composite
material such as graphite, the shaft can be stiffer or more flexible based on the needs of
the player.

Handle

The handle connects to the shaft and is used to hold the racket. The handle is covered
with a material called the grip. There are two types of grips: towel grips are good for
absorbing moisture, but may need to be changed frequently; synthetic grips are less
absorbent but more durable.

Handles and Heads

Racket head frames are typically either the classic oval or an isometric shape. The
string bed is usually woven with 20 to 22 gauge strings with a tension between 20 and
30 pounds. While some designs have a throat section connecting the head's frame to
the shaft, others have the shaft directly attached to the frame. The shaft connects the
head, or throat, to the handle.
SIDELINE

The first rule on the Laws of badminton, rule 1.1, states that the lines of a badminton
court must be 40 millimeters wide. In the measurements that you can see on the
image below, the 40 millimeters is also included in the total distance. So, for example,
you can see that the side line for doubles is 0.46 meters away from the side line of
singles.

The 9 Skills You Need to Play Badminton

Image credit: Photo by Frame Harirak on Unsplash

To be good at any sport you need to master the basics. Mastering the basic techniques
and skills allows you to play consistently and improve. Badminton is a very beginner-
friendly sport but difficult to master. Anybody can learn and master the basic skills for
Badminton.

So what are the basic skills you need to play Badminton? Here are nine basic skills
you need to learn to play Badminton:

 Knowing how to warm up properly

 The basic forehand and backhand grip
  The basic six corners footwork
 The split step or the ready stance
 The basic shots
 Perception and anticipation
 Hand-eye coordination
 Rhythm and timing
 Tactical and strategic thinking

This list is just the basics and doesn’t cover any advanced skills and tactics. There is a
lot to master even with these basic skills. Some of these skills are harder to master than
others and some have different levels of mastery. If you want to master these skills then
read on.

Knowing how to warm up properly

Warming up is a combination of skill and a bit of know-how. Players of any level should
know how to warm up properly before stepping on court for a match. We wrote an in-
depth article on warming up properly for Badminton. It’s so important to do a full warm-
up before playing to help avoid injuries. It’s also important because you’re ready to go
right from the start of the match. You won’t need to get four-five rallies into the game
before you feel like you’ve finally got in gear.

Warm-ups don’t have to take that long either. You can perform a solid warm-up in less
than five minutes. Here are some simple routines that really get the blood pumping:

 High speed skipping for five minutes (try to go fast without losing consistency and
tripping over the rope)
 A simple set of jumping jacks, squats, burpees, lunges and knee tucks each for
one minute
 Jog around the hall at a quick pace for five minutes

You get the idea, anything that gets you moving without overstretching. It should get
your heart pumping and as my coach used to say; “you should have little beads of
sweat from the forehead”.

The basic forehand and backhand grip

Learning the forehand and backhand grip is a fundamental skill. It’s so important to get
this right as it’s the building blocks to learning every shot in Badminton. The basic
forehand and backhand grip is easy to learn, you can practice getting the hold right sat
at home. Practice swapping from forehand to backhand whilst sat on the couch at
home.

The forehand grip is much like shaking somebody’s hand. Both in the way you hold the
racquet and in how tight you hold it. You want to hold the racquet loosely, gripping the
racquet too tight can lead to injuries like tennis elbow. It also makes it very difficult to hit
the shot smoothly as you’re tensing up your muscles.

The backhand grip is for some people easier to get right. You simply take the forehand
grip and roll the thumb over so it sits flat on the grip rather than along the edge. The use
of the thumb makes it easier to stabilize the grip compared to the forehand.

We have a more in-depth guide on how to hold a Badminton racquet which covers

forehand and backhand grip as well as some less used ones.

The basic six corners footwork

Footwork is crucial in Badminton. It’s been known that some coaches in China only
teach beginners footwork from the beginning. They don’t teach any racquet skills until
the player has mastered the basic footwork. They do this because it’s impossible to play
good shots if you cannot reach the shuttle. In Badminton, once the shuttlecock touches
the floor the rally is over so you need to be able to cover the court in order to play well.

I wouldn’t go as far as they do in principals but I still believe footwork is one of the most
important aspects of playing Badminton. Footwork can get very technical and complex
but right now we’re just going to cover the basic footwork patterns in short. We have
more full and detailed guides coming soon around footwork drills and breakdowns.

If you can master these six pieces of footwork for Badminton then you’re off to a good
start. The six pieces of footwork are:

 Travelling to the forehand side of the net

 Travelling to the backhand side of the net
 Covering the forehand mid-court
 Covering the backhand mid-court
 Moving to the forehand rear-court
 Moving to the backhand rear-court

Badminton Exercises channel on YouTube has a great video on covering the six
corners of the court. It’s worth watching in full.

The split step/the ready stance

The split step is a technique used to get ready for the next shot. It’s used not only in
Badminton but in sports like Tennis as well. It’s the basis of building good footwork and
speed around the court. We have a great article detailing everything about the split step,
make sure to read it in full.

Let’s summarise why the split step is so important. A good split step is for a Badminton
player what a good start out of the blocks is for a runner. If you don’t have a good split
step you’ll be playing catch up to your opponent.
So how do you do the split step? It’s simple but can be tricky to master. When you
return to your base position on court you want to make a slight jump in the air and land
with your feet apart. You want to time the landing of your feet just after your opponent
hits the shuttle. That way you can land the split step and immediately push off to the
next shot.

The basic shots

There are so many varieties of shots in Badminton. Variants of shots include slicing the
shuttle, tumbling the shuttle or hitting it at different angles with different swings. But they
all have one original basic shot. For beginners here is a list of basic shots you should
master first.

 The serve (forehand or backhand)

 The lift (sometimes called a lob)
 The net shot
 The block
 The drop shot
 The smash
 The clear

That’s eight shots in total. It’s quite a lot when you’re just starting out and they can all be
played backhand and forehand. These seven shots cover the majority of situations
you’ll face in a match. Master these and you’ll have a good base in which to build on
and start learning more advanced shots and variations.

Hand-eye coordination

It only comes with practice but having good hand-eye coordination is essential for
Badminton. You can’t play Badminton if you can’t connect the racquet and shuttle. The
best way to improve hand-eye coordination for Badminton is to play lots of Badminton.
Who would have thought?!

Seriously though, playing and training will improve your hand-eye coordination
significantly but there are exercises you can do at home alone or with another person to
improve your hand-eye coordination. Here are some examples.

Playing catch

Playing catch is a simple but effective way to improve hand-eye coordination. All you
need is a ball, you could do this with a shuttlecock too. Practice throwing and catching
with someone else or bounce the shuttle or ball of a wall at different angles and catch it
again.

Catching an object focuses your eyes on a single object travelling. It requires

concentration and spatial awareness. It’s so simple but so effective.
Juggling

So not a skill for those with little patience, juggling is a difficult skill to master but for
good reason. Juggling requires incredible hand-eye coordination, even just by learning
to juggle you’re improving your hand-eye coordination without having mastered the skill.
It’s something you can do anywhere with a couple or more balls or shuttles.

When you master juggling two items then you can move onto three then four etc.
Adding more objects or changing the objects improves your hand-eye coordination even
more. You have to track each item in the air and feel how you threw the last one. It’s
also a great party trick to have in the bag.

Exercising your eyes

Believe it or not but there are specific exercises that you can do to exercise your eyes!
They basically help strengthen the muscles in and around your eyes. They mainly help
with focusing your vision which in turn will help with your hand-eye coordination. Some
examples of eye exercises are.

 Focus change
 Near and far focus
 Figure eight

HealthLine.com has a great article covering this in-depth. They’re quick and easy to do
and if you did them for only five minutes a day you’d see a difference.

Rhythm and timing

If you watch the top players in the world like Lin Dan, Lee Chong Wei and Kento
Momota etc, they seem to cover the court so easily. They make every shot look
effortless and smooth. They have little to no break in their footwork and look to glide
around the court. They have honed their rhythm and timing for playing Badminton over
years of training and match play.

Lee Chong Wei has impeccable timing with his footwork and if you watch the video
below you can see how rhythmic his movement is.

When you play Badminton, especially singles, getting a natural rhythm while you play is
key to developing good footwork and creating consistency in your play. When we dance
we use the music as our rhythm and that helps us relax and get into the flow. When
playing Badminton you need to be able to find a rhythm of play that suits you. This can
only come from playing a lot of purposeful practice and playing matches.

Timing is similar but relates more to hand-eye coordination. Your timing will naturally
improve the more Badminton you play. It’s important to have good timing so you can hit
shots cleanly, a split-step at the right moment and so you can position yourself to hit the
shuttle at the optimal time.

Perception and anticipation

These two skills become much more important the better you get at Badminton. It’s the
difference between just getting your opponents shot back and intercepting or countering
your opponents next shot. Perception means:

“The ability to see, hear, or become aware of something through the senses.”

For Badminton, this has lots of meanings. Being able to see where your opponent is in
relation to the rest of the court, being able to hear if they’re panting and getting tired, the
examples go on and on. It’s about how you perceive the current situation playing out
during a match. Being more aware.

Anticipation is a little different. Anticipation means:

“The action of anticipating something; expectation or prediction.”

For Badminton, anticipation means reading your opponents’ next move before they play
it, to change your stance in preparation for the next shot and to advance your position
before the play has been made.

Anticipation is a very important skill in Badminton because if you can read your
opponents’ next shot then you can gain the upper hand in the rally, the game, and the
match. It’s not easy to learn this skill as everyone plays differently, no two players play
the same. One player might play a certain shot when they’re in trouble and someone
else might play an entirely different shot.

You see top players Hendra Setiawan and Lin Dan do this very well. Before their
opponent has played their shot they’re already anticipating their next move. Watch this
video below and watch how Lin Dan changes the positioning of his feet in order to move
faster to the next shot. As you can see he doesn’t always get it right but is able to
recover and stay in the rally.

Tactical and strategic thinking

There are many ways to win a game of Badminton. Players and coaches use different
tactics and strategies to win a match. Tactics are the shots we make, the set plays we
try to repeat and the choices we make when backed into a corner. Tactics are the small
steps and choices within each rally.

Strategies are the overall plan for playing a match, they’re the long term plan. Strategy
in Badminton is creating a plan on how you’ll win. An example strategy for a singles
player might be to get their opponent to play a high lift so they can get back and smash.
An example strategy for a doubles player might be to get to the front as fast as possible
to intercept the shuttle early or kill it. These are basic examples.

The elite players will have multiple strategies for when the opponent starts countering
their strategy. I feel it’s always best to keep things simple when it comes to tactics and
strategies. If you’re beating your opponent then there is no need to change anything. If
you’re losing then you need to change something.

Why is it important to learn about tactics and strategies? Taking a quote from Sun Tzu
and the Art of War, a book we recommend for every Badminton payer to read.
“The general who wins the battle makes many calculations in his temple before the
battle is fought. The general who loses makes but few calculations beforehand.”

If you plan on how you’re going to win the match or plan how you’re going to cope with
your opponents’ big smash then you’re already a step ahead. You need to learn how to
harness your best shots to gain the initiative and win points. It’s partly visualization if
you can visualize how you can win then you’re more likely to win.

BADMINTON TERMINOLOGIES
Attacking clear − An offensive player makes this stroke when he shoots the
shuttlecock deep into the opponent’s court.
Backcourt − Back one thirds of the court before the boundary lines on either sides of
the net.
Backhand − The stroke that returns shuttle cock to the left of a right-handed player and
to the right of a left-handed player.
Base position − A singles player tries to return to the center of the court during the
play; it is also called Base position of the player.
Baseline − The line that marks the boundary at the breadth of court.
Carry − If the shuttle gets stuck for a while in the wires before getting released, the
stroke the player makes with the racket is called a carry, sling, or throw and is
considered illegal.
Drive − A fast shot when the shuttle flies straight over the net but close to it.
Drop shot − A clever shot when the player rapidly drops the shuttle close to the net to
the opponent's court.
Feint − Any pretend shot or movement also called as "balk" that unsettles an opponent
before or during the serve.
Flick − A quick wrist-and-forearm rotation that changes the course of a soft shot into a
fast one and surprises the opponent.
Forecourt − The front one thirds of the half court on both sides of the net, between the
net and the short service line.
Forehand − The stroke that returns a racket to the right side of a right-handed player
and to the left side of a left-handed player.
Game − A game is finished when a player or team scores enough points to win a single
contest; it is a part of a set.
Hairpin net shot − The trajectory of racket is hairpin shaped when a player lifts it from
falling close to the net and sends it to the other side where it drops sharply close to the
net.
Half court shot − A low shot to the midcourt, usually used in doubles game.
High clear − A deep shot by a defending player to the opponent’s court.
Kill − The shuttlecock is shot very fast; so that, it cannot be returned.
Let − A minor violation of the rules when the referee allows players to replay the rally.
Long Service Line − In singles it is same as the boundary line at the breadth. In
doubles the line is 2.5 feet inside the singles line. The serve should not go past this line.
Match − A series of games where a winner emerges at the end.
Midcourt − One third middle part of court between the net and the back boundary line
on either sides of the net.
Net shot − A shot hit high from the forecourt close to the net that just flings the
shuttlecock over the net and drops it sharply.
Passing shot − Any shot passing the shuttlecock to the opposing player or team.
Push shot − A slight wrist movement that gently shoots the shuttlecock.
Service court − The area into which a service must be delivered; this is different for
singles and doubles.
Short service line − The line marked at 1.98 meters from the net in service courts
where player plays in a singles game.
Singles sideline − The side boundary of a singles court.
Smash − A hard-hit overhead shot into the opponent’s court that pushes the
shuttlecock downwards very fast.
Wood shot − A shot with the frame of a racket.
Short Serve − This kind of serve is mostly used in Doubles. The shuttle cock barely
clears the net and lands close to the serve line.
Long Serve − This kind of serve is mostly used in Singles. The shuttlecock reaches far
and deep into the court.

Rules of Badminton
 A game can take place with either two (singles) or four (doubles) players.
 An official match has to be played indoors on the proper court dimensions. The
dimensions are 6.1m by 13.4m, The net is situated through the middle of the
court and is set at 1.55m.
 To score a point the shuttlecock must hit within the parameters of the opponents
court.
 If the shuttlecock hits the net or lands out then a point is awarded to your
opponent.
 Players must serve diagonally across the net to their opponent. As points are
won then serving stations move from one side to the other. There are no second
serves so if your first serve goes out then your opponent wins the point.
 A serve must be hit underarm and below the servers waist. No overarm serves
are allowed.
 Each game will start with a toss to determine which player will serve first and
which side of the court the opponent would like to start from.
 Once the shuttlecock is ‘live’ then a player may move around the court as they
wish. They are permitted to hit the shuttlecock from out of the playing area.
 If a player touches the net with any part of their body or racket then it is deemed
a fault and their opponent receives the point.
 A fault is also called if a player deliberately distracts their opponent, the
shuttlecock is caught in the racket then flung, the shuttlecock is hit twice or if the
player continues to infract with the laws of badminton.
 Each game is umpired by a referee on a high chair who overlooks the game.
There are also line judges who monitor if the shuttlecock lands in or not. The
referee has overriding calls on infringements and faults.
 Let may be called by the referee if an unforeseen or accidental circumstance
arose. These may include the shuttlecock getting stuck in the bet, server serving
out of turn, one player was not ready or a decision which is too close to call.
 The game has only two rest periods coming the form of a 90 second rest after
the first game and a 5 minute rest period after the second game.
 If the laws are continuously broken by a player then the referee holds the power
to dock that player of points with persisting fouls receiving a forfeit of the set or
even the match.