Badminton

1 Overview

Badminton is a racket sport played by hitting a shuttlecock (birdie) over a net, either in singles (1v1) or doubles (2v2). A rally ends when the shuttlecock lands on the floor within the court boundaries or a fault is committed. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) governs international play. Badminton is the fastest racket sport in the world -- shuttle speeds can exceed 200 mph in professional play.

2 Court and Equipment

• Court size: 44 feet x 20 feet (doubles); 44 feet x 17 feet (singles)
• Net height: 5 feet 1 inch at the posts; 5 feet at center
• Service lines: Short service line (6.5 feet from net); long service line for doubles (2.5 feet inside the back boundary); singles uses the full back boundary for serves
• Shuttlecock: Feather or nylon "birdie" weighing 4.74 to 5.50 grams
• Racket: Light frame (typically carbon fiber) with strung head

3 The Serve

• The server must serve diagonally into the opponent's service box.
• The entire shuttlecock must be below the server's waist (naval height) at the moment of contact -- no overhead serves.
• The racket head must be below the server's racket hand at the moment of contact.
• Both the server's and receiver's feet must be in their respective service courts and not touching any lines during the serve.
• The serve must be a continuous motion -- no feinting or pausing mid-serve.

4 Gameplay

1. The side that wins a rally scores a point and serves next.
2. The server serves from the right service court when their score is even; from the left when odd.
3. In doubles, partners alternate hitting during a rally -- you cannot hit the shuttle twice in a row. Either partner can hit any shot during the rally (no defined positions mid-rally).
4. The shuttlecock may only be hit once per side before going over the net.
5. A match is best of 3 games. The side that wins 2 games wins the match.

5 Scoring (Rally Point System)

Modern badminton uses rally point scoring: every rally results in a point regardless of who served.

• Each game is played to 21 points.
• A side must win by 2 points (e.g., 22-20, 23-21).
• If the score reaches 29-29, the next point wins (no advantage).
• If a side reaches 11 points first in a game, there is a 60-second interval.
• Between games, there is a 2-minute interval. Players switch ends.
• In the third game, players switch ends when either side reaches 11 points.

6 Faults

A fault ends the rally and awards a point to the other side. Common faults:

• Shuttlecock lands outside court boundaries
• Shuttlecock passes under or through the net
• Shuttlecock is hit twice by the same side (double hit)
• Player touches the net with racket or body during play
• Player reaches over the net to hit the shuttle (except as follow-through after contact on your side)
• Serve above waist height
• Service fault (wrong court, feet off ground, etc.)

7 Strategy Guide

Control the Net

The net player in doubles controls the front court. Tight net shots (shuttlecock barely clearing the net and dropping steeply) force opponents into defensive positions. Whoever wins the net battle usually wins the rally.

Use the Full Court

Move opponents with deep clears to the back corners, then attack with drop shots to the front. The diagonal from deep back corner to opposite front corner is the longest distance on the court -- exploit it.

Smash When the Shuttle is High

A smash (overhead power shot angled steeply down) is the primary finishing shot in badminton. Only attempt it when the shuttle is high enough above the net to angle down sharply. A flat smash from mid-court often goes into the net or out of bounds.

Serve Low in Doubles

In doubles, serve low and short to the service line to prevent the receiver from attacking immediately. A high serve in doubles gives the receiver an easy smash opportunity.

8 FAQ