BADMINTON

Badminton is played with a Badminton racquet and a bird or shuttlecock:

The Service:

1. The server must stand with both feet within her service court until her racquet hits the bird. Any violation is called a fault.

2. The server must serve into the diagonally opposite court.

3. Faults on Service:

a) stepping over or touching any boundary line before the bird has been hit.

b) the head of the racquet is above the waist when the bird is hit.

c) the bird is hit more than once.

d) hitting the bird with any part of the racquet and then not having it cross the net.

e) the bird touches any part of the body during service.

f) NOT A FAULT IF YOU SWING AND MISS WHILE SERVING.

g) it is a fault if the bird goes outside the court but not a fault if it falls on any of the boundary lines.

h) it is a fault if the bird falls short of the service court into the area between the short service line and the net.

4. The receiver must stay in her service court until the server's racquet hits the bird.

5. Faults receiving and playing:

a) The receiver faults if he hits the bird before it crosses the ne

b) It is a fault if a player hits the net with his racquet or any part of his body.

c) After the serve, if the bird hits the top of the net and still lands within the proper playing area it is considered in bounds.

7. The first serve of every game is from the server's right hand court. If a point is won on the serve, the next service is from the left court. If a point is won on the serve, the next service is from the left court and so on changing courts after each point is made.

8. In doubles play in the FIRST INNING only one player of the team may serve. If the server faults the serve then goes to the other team - to the player in the right hand court.

THE LANGUAGE OF BADMINTON

ALLEY -extension of the court by 1 1/2 ft. on both sides for doubles play.

BACK ALLEY-area between the back boundary and long service line.

BADMINTON-the game as we know it today derived its name from the village of Badminton in England. It was here in the early 1860's that the game was introduced by some army officers who had brought it back from India. The original name is thought to be Poona.

BALK -any deceptive movement which disconcerts an opponent before during a serve. Often called a feint. Illegal.

BIRD -the object used instead of a ball. Originally all were made with real bird feathers. Officially known as a shuttle cock and commonly called a shuttle.

CARRY -momentarily holding the shuttle on the racquet during the execution of a stroke. Also called a throw or sling. Illegal.

CLEAR -high, deep shot hit to the back boundary line.

COMBINATION DOUBLES FORMATION -often called rotation play because the couple

rotates from side-by-side positions to up-and- back depending on whether they are in an offensive or defensive pos.

COURT -area of play. In singles the court is 44 ft. by 17 ft. In doubles it is 20 ft. by 44 ft. The net is 5 ft. high at centre and 5 ft. 1 in. at the posts. The short service line is 6 1/2 ft. from the net and the long service line is 19 1/2 ft. from the net.

CROSSCOURT SHOTS -shots hit diagonally from one side of the court to the other

DOUBLE HIT-hitting the shuttle twice in on the same stroke. Illegal.

DRIVE -a fast and low shot which makes a horizontal flight pattern over the net.

DRIVEN SERVE-quickly hit serve with a flat trajectory.

DROPSHOT -finesse stroke hit with very little speed, which falls close to the net on the opponent's side.

FAULT -any violation of rules.

FLICK -speeding up the shuttle with a quick wrist action. Useful in stroking from below the level of the net, thereby surprising an opponent by quickly changing a soft shot into a faster passing shot.

GAME -a game consists of 15 points.

GAME BIRD -game winning point.

INNING -term of service. Time during which a player or side holds service

IN SIDE -side having the right to serve.

KILL -fast downward shot which usually cannot be returned. A put-away.

LOVE -no score.

LOVE-ALL -no score. Also used after a game has been set.

MATCH -best two out of three games.

MATCH POINT -match winnning point.

NO SHOT -Badminton etiquette requires a player to immediately call "no shot" when he has faulted by carrying, slinging, or throwing the bird.

POONA -some historians believe the original name for Badminton.

READY POSITION -an alert body position enabling quick body movement in any

direction.

ROUND-THE HEAD SHOT -stroke peculiar to badminton. An overhead stroke played on the

left side of the body. The contact point is above the left shoulder.

RUSH THE SERVE -quick spurt to the net in an attempt to put away a low serve simply by

smashing the shuttle down into the opponent's court. Used mostly in doubles.

Short quick steps rather than long strides are best suited to movements in any direction. They permit a quicker stopping and turning and correction of position in relation to the bird when misjudgments occur.

DOUBLES GAME - SCORING AND FIRST SERVE

Players: four players, two on one side of the court against the other two.

Toss: before play starts, the opposing sides spin a racquet to the side.

1. serving first

2. not serving first

3. court

the side losing has choice of remaining options.

GAME:

- a game of doubles is 15 pts.

- except if the score is 13 all, the side first reaching 13 has the option of "setting" the game at 5 additional points.

- if the score is 14 all, the side first reaching 14 has the option of "setting" the game at 3 additional points.

- the score is called 0-0 love all and the winner is the side scoring the number of set points 5 or 3.

- a side can choose not to set

- match - best of three 15 pt. games.

- players change courts at the end of each game, the winner serves first in the following game.

- if a 3rd game is necessary, the players change courts when the leading score reaches 8.

FIRST SERVE AND SCORING

Court: short and fat for the serve

long and fat for play

Serve: -In doubles, each partner has the opportunity to serve except at the beginning of each

game when only the partner starting in the right court may serve.

-The game starts 0-0 "love all" with one down (each side has 2 downs each inning

except at very first of the game)

Score: Only the side serving can score - when the serving side wins the rally, one point is scored

Start of Play:

- game starts with the player in the right hand court serving

to opponent in the diagonally opp. right hand courts.

- if A's side wins the rally, A1 continues to serve but from the left hand court to the other opponent in the diagonally opposite left hand court.

- he continues to serve from alternate courts (and win points until he loses the rally)

SECOND SERVE AND SERVES FOLLOWING

When the first member of the side loses his serve (one down) then the second partner B1 starts his service (except when the side starts out at 1 down in the beginning of the game).

- the partner B1 serves from the court other than from which his partner last served.

- when B1 loses his serve, the side is 2 down and the service crosses over to the opposing side which now has the opportunity to score points (they have 2 downs) - The player on the right starts to serve first.

- when the score is even, you are in the same court as when you started.

Singles Strategy - Advanced

Serve: High and Deep

- to score, you must serve well

high and deep so opp. is back as far as possible

try to serve to back hand if possible - near centre line

Clear:

- good length is important

clear to corners and make your opponent run

Vary the serve:

- short serve when opponent is not in good position or he/she is slow to move up.

- always use the same preliminary swing.

1. after every stroke, move to home

2. use a clear when you are in a bad position - defence

3. slow the game down - be patient

4. smash when you want to keep the attack

5. play your opponent's backhand

6. the object is to get your opponent running - place the bird accurately in the corner

7. try to anticipate your opponent's next serve so you're ready to move there.

8. meet the shuttle early, at the highest level you can: then you'll be hurrying your opponent's return.

STRATEGY FOR DOUBLES PLAY

KEY: ATTACK

TEAMWORK

Two systems for Doubles Play: Sides and

Up and Back

1. SIDES: divide the court in two

anything on one side is mine, anything on the other is yours.

Disadvantages: opponents just work on one player: he/she gets tired from running up and back.

2. UP AND BACK: The player receiving or serving plays up to the net, the other partner plays back.

Disadvantages: The back receiving or serving plays up to the net the back player will have to chase from side to side to return birds in the corners.

Therefore, a combination of the two systems is best.

DEFENSE: partners play side by side, midway down the court.

i.e. when you are hitting up.

OFFENSE: partners play up and back: one partner hits down from the back of the court and

the other partner plays up to the net ready to return any loose returns made by the

opponents.

i.e. when you are hitting down.

POSITION: a player should bounce on his/her feet like a boxer and have his/her racquet cocked ready for any return and to dart in any direction.

SERVE: don't make it the same all the time.

use surprise: vary the direction, height and direction and speed.

always have the same preliminary swing no matter what the serve is and be confident and don't hurry the serve.

TEAMWORK: be aware of your partner's position

if you can't score a point, play the bird so your partner can score the point.

set the play so your partner can use a speciality he/she might have.

ATTACK: be hitting down as much as possible force your opponents to take a defensive position and hit up to you so you can easily put the bird away.

BADMINTON HINTS

The average badminton players can improve their game considerably by watching the better player compete, watching the individual strokes, how the player position themselves on the court, the value of variety in attack and how every opportunity is taken immediately it offers itself.

Get the correct grip for yourself and pupils. Shake hands with the handle as illustration. Do not grip too hard, this tends to bind the wrist, and in badminton the wrist is used extensively.

Learn to serve well as points cannot be won unless you are serving. In singles use a high deep serve to the opponent's baseline, with maybe a few short serves or drive serves: this will help confuse your opponent. Mix up your returns with drop shots, deep clears to both corners, smashes down each side or straight at your opponent's body. Move the opponent around from the front to back, always or (mostly) to the furthest point from his or her position.

In doubles, serve a low serve which just clears the net, the opponents will then have to lift it up to you, this will put you on the attack, learn to give the odd flick serve, this helps to stop them from rushing your serves and helps to keep them honest. In the doubles game, play up and back until the bird is cleared from your side then play side by side until you can attain the attacking position.

Keep the bird in front of you at all times. This means some anticipating and backing up. In clears and smashes hit the bird with your arm and racquet length away from your body. The racquet, wrist and arm should form a straight line at contact with the bird.

BADMINTON STROKES

Smash, Return Smash, Short Serve

SMASH

-use when the bird is high and fairly close to the net.

-move into position so that the bird may be hit well above the head in front of the body.

-left side to the net.

-racquet is swung back and up behind the head.

-contact the bird at the height of your reach as you swing forward and down with your

racquet.

-snap the wrist vigorously.

-transfer your weight forward as your shoulder follows straight through behind the shot.

RETURN SMASH

-keep your eye on the bird

-pivot to the right and allow the bird to go past your body

-let it hit the racquet and bound off

-don't swing at the bird

*Get your body out of the way.

SHORT SERVE

-used mainly in doubles play

Holding the bird:

-hold the bird loosely in the left hand between thumb and fingers.

-the cork faces the floor.

-left arm is extended (elbow bent slightly) at shoulder level and across the body so that the shuttle will fall slightly to the right side.

STROKE

-right foot is forward

-the racquet is back at waist height, elbow slightly bent

-the wrist is not cocked because the racquet head must be below the wrist for a serve

-swing the racquet forward to contact the shuttle in front and there is very little wrist

action

- you push through towards the net

-very short follow through

-the shuttle should just skim the top of the net and drop below the net once it reaches the

other side

BACKHAND DRIVE

Use: -as for forehand, but bird is approaching on left side:

Stance: - Full arm's distance from point of contact

-Right side to net: right foot crossed over and ahead of the left foot.

Stroke: a)Swing arm back until back of right shoulder is toward net: head of racquet

slightly above wrist.

b)Swing forward, arm parallel to floor, shoulder height, wrist leading, racquet head

above wrist.

c)Snap wrist forward strongly: transfer weight and follow through.

Common Faults:

a)Leading with the elbow.

b)Hitting the bird too close to body, too far in front or behind.

c)Hitting bird with wrong side of racquet (and faults common to forehand drive).

LONG SERVICE

Use: To allow server time to "get set" for the return - to force receiver to back court, getting him out of position - to keep opponent waiting, making it difficult for him to judge, time and return.

Stance: Right foot forward - enabling server to reach farther out in front of the body making it easier to reach the back court with a high serve. Hold bird preferably by the cork.

Stroke: A strong, circular underswing with much of the power coming from the wrist.

a)With racquet a little below waist, swing racquet forward slightly (windup).

b)Sweep racquet back with face parallel to floor, wrist leading drop the bird as the

forward swing is begun.

c)Turn racquet from wrist as it passes legs: a moment before contact, snap wrist.

d)Follow through as far as possible, transferring weight to forward foot, and turning the

right shoulder forward.

Common Faults:

a)Making intended placement obvious to the receiver.

b)Striking bird too soon (and other faults common to short service).

SMASH

Use: When the oncoming bird is high - arm plus racquet length above the shoulders (to be used when not too far from the net).

Stance: Move into position so that the bird may be hit well above the head in front of the body –

left side to the net.

Stroke: a)Circle arm back and up and hit down on the bird with all your strength.

b)Snap your wrist.

c)Carry body weight through with stroke.

Common Faults:

a)Facing net instead of turning side to it.

b)Failure to use whole body weight and to transfer weight.

c)Failure to get into good position to make the "kill" or timing it too late, so that the bird

is not hit at the highest possible point.

Returning the Smash: Keep your eye on the bird. Pivot to the right and allow the bird to go just

past the body. Let it hit racquet and bound off. Do not stroke the bird.

The main difficulty in returning a smash direct body, is in getting the body

out of the way.

Common Faults:

a)Failure to use wrist snap.

b)Swinging the arm from the elbow joint rather than the shoulder.

c)Hitting the bird too close to the body, too far in front, too far behind.

d)Failure to transfer weight and follow through.

BACKHAND CLEAR

Use: To return a bird approaching the left side of the body.

Stance: a)Pivot into position from which the bird may be hit at full extension of the arm.

b)Have the right side to the net, with the right foot forward.

c)Crouch low with weight on back foot.

Stroke: a)Keep well away from the bird and stroke at the full reach of the arm and the racquet.

b)Shift grip slightly - the thumb moves up and the finger down.

c)Swing the arm back and up from the shoulder with the elbow relaxed.

d)The head of the racquet should be kept above the wrist with the face at right angles to

the floor.

e)In bringing the racquet forward, keep the wrist ahead of the racquet.

f)Transfer the weight forward: rotate the body and shoulders and follow through not

upward but straight out to make a level forward swing.

Common Faults:

a)Hitting the bird with the wrong side of the racket.

b)Failure to use the wrist throughout the stroke.

c)Swinging the arm from the elbow rather than the racquet.

d)Hitting the bird too close to the body, too far front, too far behind.

e)Facing the net: eyes off the bird.

f)Failure to transfer weight and follow through

OFFICIATING

Umpire -Should be at the net, outside the sidelines, preferably elevated so that the net is below

eye-level, with a clear view of the whole court.

Procedure: Check service for:

-correct player serving

-feet stationary and not on lines

-delivery of bird (bird below waist when hit and head of racquet below hand and in clear

view of receiver)