BADMINTON STUDY GUIDE

GAME PLAY

To decide who will serve first, players can mutually agree, toss a coin, or use the shuttle. Using the shuttle, it is hit straight upwards by either player and the side the base of the shuttle points to on landing gets the choice of starting or the side they want to begin on.

The "winner" cannot choose both to begin service and his/her preferred side of the court. Depending on the first choice, the opponent gets to select the other.

KEEPING SCORE

As with most games, badminton is won and lost by points being scored. In class we will play our singles games to 11 points, and our doubles games to 21. In regulation badminton the game is played to: 11 points for women’s singles,

15 points for men’s singles,

15 points for women’s doubles, and

21 points for men’s doubles.

There is also a new scoring method being adopted by the International Badminton Federation (IBF) called rally point scoring in which games are played to 21 points.

In singles you may only accumulate (add) points to your score if you are serving. If you win a rally, but were not serving, you win the service back, but do not increase you score immediately. SO, ONLY THE SERVING TEAM CAN SCORE.

In doubles we will use rally point scoring, where every service will result in a point being scored. The service passes consecutively to the players.

At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from

the right court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left court.

If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same server

serves again from the alternate service court.
If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving

side becomes the new serving side and serves from the right court if their

score is even and the left court if their score is odd.

The player of the receiving side who served last stays in the same service court

from where s/he served last. This should put the proper server in the

correct service court for their turn to serve. The reverse pattern applies to

the receivers partner.
The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point

when their side is serving. Once a service order is established, it does not

change.

PLAYING THE POINT

After the shuttle is struck by the server, the receiver is now required to return the service,

and may sent it to any part of the server's side of the court.

The players (server & receiver) then proceed to hit the shuttle alternately (trading strokes)

until one side, unable to return the shuttle, allows it to land outside the court, or

fails to return it because of a mishit.

The exchange of strokes is known as a "rally". There is no limit to the number of strokes

in a rally.

During play, each player hits the shuttle in turn over the net. When the shuttle arrives on

your side of the court, it may only be struck ONCE to return it over the net.

Hitting it twice or more is a fault and gives your opponent the service or the point.

GENERAL GAME PLAY

The server should not serve until their opponent is ready.

Prior to each serve, announce the score stating your score and then your opponents, this

will assure accurate scoring for both teams and notify the receivers you are about

to serve.

Should the server swing and completely miss the shuttle, another serve may be attempted.

On the serve, if the shuttle hits the top of the net and goes over, landing in the proper

service court, it is called a “let serve” and is done over.

If the shuttle touches the net and goes over in the course of play, the stroke is good and

play continues.

BASIC STROKES

Serve – an underhand stroke hit with the whole shuttle below the server’s waist at the

instant of being hit by the server’s racket. It must always be hit to the

diagonally opposite service court.

Clear – a high deep shot to drive the opponent back.

Drive – a hard shot that goes close to the top of the net and lands where there is an open

space.

Drop shot – the shuttle is met at the height of its flight but with only enough force to send

it dropping just over the net.

Smash – a very powerful stroke hit in a downward motion into the opponent’s court.

FAULTS

On the service the racket head is too high or contact of shuttle is made above the waist.

The shuttle lands in the wrong court on the serve.

Service to wrong court, short, or out of the court.

Server or receiver is in the wrong court.

Service returned by the wrong receiver.

Shuttle touches person or clothing.

Shuttle lands out of boundary lines (LINES ARE GOOD).

Shuttle goes under the net or hits the wall or ceiling.

Shuttle does not cross the net.

Shuttle is hit more than once while on one side of net.

Shuttle is struck before it crosses the net.

Shuttle is thrown or carried with the racket.

Net is touched by anything other than the shuttle.

TERMS

Backhand – The stroke used to hit the shuttle when it comes to the non-racket side.

Carry – Holding, catching, or slinging the shuttle with the racket during a stroke.

THIS IS A FAULT.

Double hit – Hitting the shuttle twice on the same stroke or twice on one side of the net.

THIS IS A FAULT.

Face – The hitting surface of the racket.

Forehand – The stroke used to hit a shuttle that comes on your racket side.

Game bird – That particular point which, if won, will enable the game to be won.

Let – A second chance at a serve that strikes the top of the net and lands in the proper

service court.

Love – A score of zero or no score.

Match – Play of three games (or some odd number), the winner must win two (or the

majority number) of the three games.

Match point – The point that wins the match.

Rally – Continual play between the time a shuttle is served and one player faults.

Serve-out – Loss of service by one player.

Shuttlecock – The implement used to play badminton, also called a birdie or shuttle.

Side-out – Loss of service by a team.

For a flash presentation on Olympic Badminton, go to: http://www.olympic.org/uk/sports/flash/summer/index_uk.asp

and click on badminton