History of Badminton
In the 5th century BC, the people in china then played a game
calledti jian zi. A direct translation from this word 'ti jian zi' is
kicking the shuttle. As the name suggest, the objective of the
game is to keep the shuttle from hitting the ground without using
hand. Whether this sport has anything to do with the History of
Badminton is up for debate. It was however the first game that
uses a Shuttle.
About five centuries later, a game named Battledore and
Shuttlecock was played in china, Japan, India and Greece. This
is a game where you use the Battledore (a paddle) to hit the
Shuttlecock back and forth. By the 16th century, it has become a
popular game among children in England. In Europe this game
was known as jeu de volant to them. In the 1860s, a game
named Poona was played in India. This game is much like the
Battledore and Shuttlecock but with an added net. The British
army learned this game in India and took the equipments back to
England during the 1870s.
In 1873, the Duke of Beaufort held a lawn party in his country
place, Badminton. A game of Poona was played on that day and
became popular among the British society's elite. The new party
sport became known as "the Badminton game". In 1877, the
Bath Badminton Club was formed and developed the first official
set of rules
Facilities and Equipment
Racket
The badminton racket is one of the most important tools a player has in the game.
Badminton rackets are much lighter than most other sports rackets because they are
made from materials such as carbon fiber or lighter metals such as aluminum. Parts
of the racket include the head, throat, shaft and handle with a maximum length of
27.77 inches and a width of 9 inches. It Strings that are stretched across the
opening of the racket in a checkerboard pattern, which acts as the hitting surface.
Badminton rackets can vary widely in cost depending on whether they are
purchased as part of a basic backyard set or as more expensive professional
models.
Shuttlecock
The badminton shuttlecock, also referred to as a shuttle or birdie, acts similarly to a
ball in other racket sports. However, the design of the birdie creates more drag as it
is propelled through the air due to its feathered shape. The shuttlecock is made up
of a cone shape with a hard cork at its tip. Shuttlecocks can be made from a variety
of materials -- more expensive models are actually made from feathers, and less
expensive models are made from plastic feathers. The shuttle has 16 feathers
attached to the base and the length of the feathers range between 2.44 and 2.75
inches.
Net
A mesh net divides the badminton court into two sides. A badminton net is placed
lower than a volleyball net at five feet and one inch high on the sides and five feet
high in the center. The length may vary depending on whether doubles or singles
are playing, with singles reaching 17 feet and doubles reaching 22 feet. The net is
30 inches wide with a 3-inch white tape doubled over the top.
Facilities
The badminton court should be 44 feet long by 22 feet wide if playing doubles, and
44 feet long by 17 feet wide for singles. If the facility is indoors, there needs to be
enough height for the shuttlecock to be able to float across the net without hitting
the ceiling. This height will vary depending on the strength of the players.
Mechanics
A point shall be added to a player's score whenever he wins a rally.
A match consists of the best of three games; a game is won by the first player to score 21 points,
except if the score reaches 20 points each; in this case, play shall continue until one player either
achieves a two point lead (such as 24-22), or his score reaches 30 (the score shall not extend
beyond 30: 30-29 is a winning score).
At the start of a match a coin toss is conducted between the players or pairs. The winners of the
coin toss may make one of two choices: they may choose whether to serve or receive first, or they
may choose which end of the court they wish to occupy. After they have made this choice, their
opponents shall exercise the remaining choice. In less formal settings, the coin toss is often
replaced by hitting a shuttle into the air: whichever side it points to shall serve first.
In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game shall serve first. For the first rally of any
doubles game, the serving pair may decide who serves and the receiving pair may decide who
receives. The players shall change ends at the start of the second game; if the match proceeds to
a third game, the players shall change ends both at the start of the game and when the leading
pair's score reaches 11 points.
In singles, the server shall stand in his right service court when his score is even, and in his left
service court when his score is odd; his opponent shall stand in the diagonally opposite service
court.
In doubles, the players shall remember their service positions from the previous rally; the
receivers shall remain in the same service courts. When a receiving pair wins a point and thereby
regains the service, they shall not change their service court positions. If their new score is even,
then the player in the right service court shall serve; if their new score is odd, then the player in
the left service court shall serve. Thereafter, if they continue to win points, the server shall
alternate between the service courts, so that he serves to each receiver in turn.
There are several notable consequences of this system. First, rally point scoring ensures that the
start of the game is fairer than under the older scoring system; without rally point scoring, serving
at the start of the game is a significant advantage. Second, there is no "second server", unlike
under the older scoring system. Third, each time a pair regains the service, the service court laws
ensure that the server shall be the player who did not serve last.
The server and receiver must remain within their service courts, so that their feet do not touch the
boundary lines, until the server strikes the shuttle. The other two players may stand wherever they
wish, so long as they do not unsight the opposing server or receiver.
Rules
Scoring System
A match is in a best-of-three-games format with each game played to 21 points.
A point is awarded for each time a rally ends.
Service is awarded to the side that won the last rally.
At 20-all, the side which gains a 2-point advantage first, wins that game.
At 29-all, the side which reaches 30 first, wins that game.
The side winning a game serves first for the next game.
Toss
Before play begins, a toss will be conducted and the winning side shall decide whether to either:
Serve or receive first
Start play on one side or the other
If no coin is available, players can hit the game shuttlecock into the air and grant choice to the side in which the
shuttlecocks head faces.
Interval and Change of Sides
When the side of the leading score reaches 11 points, players may choose to have a 60-second
interval.
When a game ends, players are allowed a 120-second interval.
After each game, players change sides.
In the third game, players change sides when the leading score reaches 11 points.
Singles
At the start of each game, service will begin from the right service court.
Service will be taken from the right service court when the servers score is even, and from the left
service court when the servers score is odd.
The receiver must be inside the correct service box before service is taken.
Doubles
At the start of each game, service will begin from the right service court.
Service will be taken from the right service court when the servers score is even, and from the left
service court when the servers score is odd.
The receiver must be inside the correct service box before service is taken. The receivers partner may
stand anywhere in the court.
If the servers side wins the rally, that team is awarded a point and service continues to be taken by the
server.
If the receivers side wins the rally, that team is awarded a point and service.
Players on each side only change service courts when a rally is won while their side is serving.
Game Play
During play, a fault occurs if:
A player touches the net or poles with the racket, person, or dress.
A player invades the opponents side by making contact with the shuttlecock past the plane of the net.
A player invades an opponents court under the net in such a way that an opponent is obstructed or
distracted.
During play, a let occurs if:
The server serves before the receiver is ready.
The shuttlecocks base separates from the skirt.
A rally ends if the shuttlecock:
Hits the net or post and begins to fall toward the strikers side of the net.
Hits the surface of the court; or
A fault or a let has occurred.
Doubles Service System
Side 1 AB, Side 2 CD
Rally
Score(ABWon By CD)
Service Explanation
None
0-0
A>>C
Service begins from right service court
because it is the start of the game.
Side 1
1-0
A>>D
Side 1 is awarded a point and switches service courts.
Service is taken from the left service court because the
score is odd.
Side 2
1-1
D>>A
Side 2 is awarded a point and service. Service is taken from
the left service court because the score is odd.
Side 1
2-1
B>>C
Side 1 is awarded a point and service. Service is taken from
the right service court because the score is even.
Side 2
2-2
C>>B
Side 2 is awarded a point and service. Service is taken from
the right service court because the score is even.
Side 2
2-3
C>>A
Side 2 is awarded a point and switches service courts.
Service is taken from the left service court because the
score is odd.
Side 2
2-4
C>>B
Side 2 is awarded a point and switches service courts.
Service is taken from the right service court because the
score is even.
Visual
Side 2
2-5
C>>A
Side 2 is awarded a point and switches service courts.
Service is taken from the left service court because the
score is odd.
When playing singles, simply remember that you will serve from the right side when your score is even and
from the left when your score is odd. For doubles, you and your partner may get mixed up during a rally, so its
important to always remember who served last so you can determine who will serve next. Figuring out service
may be a bit overwhelming at first, but your partner and even your opponents should be more than willing to
clear up any confusion. You may get frustrated or a little lost as you learn, but dont forget to have fun with it!
Basic skills
Holding the racket correctly is one of the most
important skills in badminton. Incorrectly holding the
racket can make it difficult to hit the shuttle or serve.
The forehand grip and the backhand grip are the two
basic racket grips used in badminton.
Serving the shuttle correctly is another important
aspect of badminton. There are several basic serves
that are used in badminton. The first serve most
people learn is the high serve. Other badminton
serves include the low serve, the backhand serve,
the flick serve and the drive serve.
The overhead throwing motion is one of the most
common techniques in badminton. This technique is
used to add power to a hit and smash the shuttle
long distances. The easiest way to acquire a strong
overhead throwing motion is by standing at the back
of the playing court and trying to hit the shuttle over
the net. A tennis racket and tennis ball can be used
in place of the badminton racket and shuttle during
practice.
