Badminton Study Guide for Barrington Physical Education Classes

Badminton is a racket sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands in their opponents' half of the court. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. A rally ends once the shuttlecock has struck the floor. Since 1992, badminton has been an Olympic sport with five events: men's and women's singles, men's and women's doubles, and mixed doubles.

BASIC RULES Each game is played to 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a rally. A match is the best of three games. At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts. The server hits the shuttlecock so that it would land in the receiver's service court. A badminton serve must be hit below the waist height and with the racquet shaft pointing downwards. When the serving side loses a rally, the serve immediately passes to their opponent's. 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.

BASIC RULES When the server serves, the shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the opponents' court or it will count as a fault. If the score reaches 20-all, then the game continues until one side gains a two point lead (such as 24–22), up to a maximum of 30 points (30–29 is a winning score). In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game serve first. Matches are best out of three.

BASIC STROKES Badminton offers a wide variety of basic strokes: All strokes can be played either forehand or backhand. A player's forehand side is the same side as their playing hand: for a right-handed player, the forehand side is their right side and the backhand side is their left side.

Long or High Serve The Long Serve is used during singles play to move your opponent as far back in court as possible, thus opening up his court. Played with a forehand underarm action. Stand two to three feet behind the short service line. Relax your body and bent your knees slightly. Lead with your non-racket leg and place your racket leg behind. Bring your racket back to almost your shoulder level then swing it forward following the rhythm of the stroke. Hold the shuttle by the feathers and let it drop slightly in front of you. Hit it with the flat face of your racket and follow through until your racket reaches the non-racket side of your head.

Short or Low Serve The short serve is used when you want your opponent to lift the shuttle. It is commonly used during doubles. Stand two to three feet behind the short service line. Relax your body and bent your knees slightly. Lead with your non-racket leg and place your racket leg behind.\ Bring your racket back to your waist level then start your forward swing. Hold the shuttle by the feathers and bring it closer to meet the racket instead of dropping it in front. Contact the shuttle at a higher point but still below your waist line. If you normally use high serve during singles, mix the low serve in occasionally. You might be able to catch your opponent off-guard if you can execute it well.

Smash The smash is used to force the shuttle sharply downward into the opponents court. The attacking stroke in Badminton. Play with a forward, overhend shot. Strike the shuttle high overhead, and follow through with a downward motion of the arm.

Drop Shot A soft shot that lands just over the net on the opponents court. Usually executed when standing close to the net. Can be use with forehand or backhand delivery.

Faults If the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court, passes through or under the net, fail to pass the net, touches the ceiling or side walls, touches the person or dress of a player or touches any other object or person. If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player.

Court Lines