Badminton Study Guide

Badminton Rules and Concepts
Tests will be May 12 for Wed. classes and May 13 for Thurs. classes

• During an average Badminton game, players jump, run, turn, and twist in many directions. This is why it is great physical exercise.
• Badminton is played as either singles (one on one) or doubles (two on two).
• A shuttlecock or “shuttle,” for short, is used instead of a ball.
• One type of shuttle has a cork base with sixteen goose feathers around the edges. There is also a plastic version with a rubber base that is more durable and less expensive.
• The shuttle is hit with a lightweight racquet. It is usually made of wood, plastic, or light metal.
• The net is set at five foot high.
• The object of the game is to hit the shuttlecock back and forth over the net without permitting it to hit the floor in bounds on your side of the net.
• A coin toss or spin of the racket starts the game. The winning team decides if they want to serve first or they may pick an end of the court.
• The serve is an underhand shot. The shuttle must be hit below waist level. It also must travel diagonally (cross court) to be good.
• Smash shot, clear, drop, forehand drive, forehand underarm clear, and backhand drop are types of shots or ways to hit the shuttle.
• In badminton, a fault consists of a shuttle falling outside the boundaries, failing to go over the net, and/or going through the net. Striking the shuttle before it crosses the net, reaching over the net to strike the shuttle, touching the net with the racquet or part of the body, or having the shuttle touch a player’s clothing or body also qualify as faults.
• A team’s loss of serve because a fault was committed is called a side out.
• A rally is when the two teams keep successfully hitting the shuttle back and forth to one another. A shuttle may hit the net on its way across the net during play and the rally can continue. A rally is won when the opposing team commits a fault.
• In regulation badminton games, a team must win two out of three games to win the match. A team must score 21 points to win each individual game. Additionally, the team must be two points ahead of the other team. A score of 21-18 is acceptable, but 21-20 is not. The game would continue until the winning team is two points ahead. However, if the score becomes 29-29, the side that scores the 30th point wins the game. There is no service over rule, meaning you can score a point no matter who serves. Therefore, a team can earn a point even if the other team served.