Badminton

1 Overview

Badminton is a racket sport played by 2 players (singles) or 4 players (doubles) on a divided court. Players use lightweight rackets to hit a shuttlecock (birdie) back and forth over a net without letting it land on their side. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) governs international play. Badminton is the fastest racket sport in the world — recorded smash speeds exceed 300 mph (480 km/h) at the professional level.

2 Equipment & Court

Court Dimensions

• Full court: 44 feet x 20 feet (13.4m x 6.1m) for doubles
• Singles: 44 feet x 17 feet (13.4m x 5.18m) — the sideline tramlines are out of bounds for singles
• Net height: 5 feet 1 inch (1.55m) at the posts; 5 feet (1.524m) at the center
• Service courts: Divided by a short service line (6.5 feet / 1.98m from the net) and a long service line for doubles (2.5 feet / 0.76m from the back boundary)

The Shuttlecock

A regulation shuttlecock has 16 overlapping feathers (goose or duck) attached to a cork base. The feathers create a unique aerodynamic drag that slows the shuttle dramatically after a hard hit, unlike a ball. This drag is what makes the net shots and drop shots in badminton particularly effective. Plastic shuttlecocks are used in recreational play and are more durable than feathered ones.

Rackets

Badminton rackets are the lightest rackets in any racket sport — typically 80 to 95 grams. Modern competitive rackets are made from carbon fiber. The string tension ranges from 20 to 30+ pounds (recreational to professional). Higher tension provides more control and power for experienced players but is unforgiving on off-center hits.

3 Serving Rules

Badminton serving rules are strict and frequently misunderstood:

• The serve must be hit underhand — the racket head must be below the server's waist at contact, and the whole shuttle must be below the server's waist.
• Both feet must be in contact with the ground within the service court during the serve.
• The serve must land in the diagonally opposite service court.
• In singles: serve from the right service court when your score is even; from the left when odd.
• In doubles: only one player serves per side, and service rotates after each side wins the serve.

A service fault results in the opposing side winning the rally. Common service faults include: serving above the waist, feet outside the service court, or serving to the wrong service box.

4 Gameplay

1. The server serves to the receiver in the diagonally opposite service court.
2. The receiving side must return the shuttlecock over the net before it hits the ground.
3. Rally continues until the shuttlecock lands in bounds on one side, goes out of bounds, or a fault is committed.
4. The side that wins the rally scores a point and wins (or retains) the serve.
5. Unlike older badminton rules, rally point scoring means every rally produces a point regardless of who served.

5 Scoring

Badminton uses rally point scoring (adopted in 2006 for all BWF events):

• Each game is played to 21 points, win by 2.
• If the score reaches 29-29, the next point wins regardless (no infinite deuce).
• A match is the best of 3 games.
• Players change ends after each game, and at 11 points in the deciding third game.

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

9 Doubles Rules & Positioning

Service Courts in Doubles

Doubles service courts use the full width of the court (including the tramlines) but a shorter length — the back tramline is in bounds for rallies but the long service line for doubles (drawn 2.5 feet inside the back boundary) applies for serves only. The server must land their serve short of the long doubles service line; during the rally, the full back boundary applies.

Rotation and Service Order

In doubles, only one side serves per "inning." The serving side scores and retains serve by winning rallies. Service alternates between players on the serving side in sequence. When a new side wins the serve, the player on the right service court always serves first. Service courts are determined by score: even score = right court, odd score = left court, for the server.

Attacking Formation

When your doubles pair is attacking (hitting down to the opponents), use a side-by-side defensive formation if you don't know who will return it, or a front-and-back formation when one player is at the net and the other is at the back. Front-and-back is the preferred attacking formation — the net player intercepts any weak returns while the back player smashes high balls.

Defensive Formation

When defending against smashes, both players should adopt a side-by-side formation covering their respective half-courts. This ensures maximum court coverage against drives and smashes directed to either side. Switching to a front-back formation too early while defending leaves the sides exposed.

Communication

Doubles badminton requires constant verbal communication. Calling "mine" or "yours" on ambiguous middle-court shots prevents both players from going for the same shuttle or both leaving it — both are fatal errors. Develop clear communication signals before competitive play.

10 Common Mistakes

• Serving above the waist: The most common service fault. Practice dropping the shuttle from chest height and contacting it below your waist. Umpires at competitive levels are strict — any doubt about waist height results in a fault call.
• Hitting flat smashes from the mid-court: A smash requires the shuttle to be well above the net to allow a steep downward angle. Mid-court smashes often travel flat or upward and are easy for opponents to counter-attack.
• Standing still after hitting: Every shot in badminton should be followed by an immediate return to the ready position at the center of your court. Players who admire their shots or move to follow the shuttle leave half the court undefended.
• Lifting on clear shots under pressure: When rushed, beginners often hit defensive lifts (high deep clears) that give opponents an easy smash opportunity. Develop a defensive flick serve and lift technique that sends the shuttle deep to the corners rather than easy-to-smash center-court lifts.
• Doubles: both players going for the same shuttle: The middle of the court between two players is a constant source of confusion. Establish who covers the middle before each rally — typically the player on the forehand side takes center-court balls, or the player moving forward.