Badminton

Parts of the Racquet

The Grip
Hold a badminton racquet like shaking hand with a friend: a normal but firm handshake. It should be a firm but relaxed grip but no feeling of tension in the wrist. The control is mainly with the thumb, index finger and little finger. It is very important to get the racquet out of the palm of your hand and into your fingers.

Check points: A V is formed by the thumb and index finger on the top edge of the racquet handle Fingers are slightly spread along the handle and not bunched together like a fist the index finger is higher up the handle than the thumb

The Wrist Action

It is the action of the wrist that creates the art of deception as well as the speed to the head of the racquet. This technique is known as 'cocking' the wrist. For all forehand shots, the wrist must be cocked back as far as possible. This can only be done if you have a very relaxed grip.

Rally Point Scoring:

Person/team that wins the rally receives a point and the opportunity to serve. The score goes to 21 points If the score is 20 20, the team that scores 2 points in a row, wins the game. If the score becomes 29-29, the game is capped at 30, so the next team that reaches 30 first wins. Say the score to your opponent before starting each rally. It is easy to lose track of the score, and saying it between rallies helps prevent disputes. When youre saying the score, always say the servers score first. So if you are serving and have 10 points to your opponents 15 points, then the score is 1015 (not 1510).

Who Serves First?

In a major tournament, a coin toss is used to decide which side will serve first. In more casual games, you usually just throw the shuttle up in the air, let it land, and see which side it points towards: that side serves first.

Which side is it served from?

Singles Game: When the servers score is an even number, the serve is from the right service court. When the score is an odd number, the serve is from the left service court. If the server continues to win rallies, youll keep serving from a different side each time: right, left, right, left, right, and so on. Doubles Game: Instead of each person winning points, in doubles each pair wins points. At the start of the game, when the score is 00, the serving pair choose who serves for the first rally, and the receiving pair choose who receives. The even/odd rule still holds. So if the servers score is odd, he will serve from the left court (if even, from the right). Just as for singles, the receiver will stand in the diagonally opposite service court. Whenever the serving side wins a rally, the same person serves again (but from the other service court). The serve does not alternate between the partners: it stays with one person, until the opponents win a rally and get the serve.

Ready position
1. 2. 3. 4. 5. stand with feet shoulder width apart knees are slightly bent weight is on balls of the feet player returns to this position after hitting each shot racquet head is up and in front of the body

Parts of the Badminton Court

a) Singles Backline and/or Doubles backline (excluding serve) b) Long service line for Doubles c) Doubles sideline d) Centre line e) Singles Side Line f) Short Serve Line d e f f

a b c

SERVICE DIAGRAMS
(Long & Narrow) (Short & Wide)

Serving Rules

The shuttle must be struck below the waist. The racquet head must be below the servers wrist when it strikes the shuttle. It is a fault when: o The shuttle lands outside the receiver's service court o The server fakes a serve o the server touches the net with the racquet or any part of the body o the server misses the shuttle on a serve o the server steps on the front service line while serving the server must have a part of both feet on the court when serving serve must go over the short service line into the diagonal service area first serve is from the servers right hand court when even number of points are scored, if the score is odd the serve is done from the left hand court A shot landing on the boundary line is good If the bird hit the net during the serve and lands in the serve is good

Faults point for Server

Shuttle is carried or slung not distinctly hit Hit twice before crossing net Shuttle touches player or clothing Bird is hit before crossing the net Wrong receiver returns the serve Player touches the net

Diagrams and steps of Serves

1. Long & High Singles Serve 2. Long & High Doubles Serve

Long & High Serve (Singles Serve) should be high and deep
Steps Stand relaxed with left foot and left shoulder forward and right foot behind a few feet from the short service line Hold the shuttle at chest height sot that it will fall just in front of the non-racquet foot Stroke is a full underarm swing. Racquet starts well back The shuttle must be struck when below the waist The wrist is cocked back at the beginning of the stroke and snaps forward on contact Follow-through brings the racquet fully across the front of the body and up toward left shoulder. Weight is transferred to left foot Target is back alleyexcept for doubles

3. Short & Low Serve

hip Elbow is slightly bent. Wrist cocked Serve is a short, gentle, pushing action Racquet head is angles upward slightly to direct the shuttle over the net Shuttle is struck at waist height in front of the body After contact, racquet is swung quickly upward to ready position Shuttle should skim the top of the net and land just behind the front service line If too high or deep use less wrist action, change racquet head angle for more of sideways push, or wrong grip

Short Serve (used mainly in doubles to force opponents to hit shuttle upward) Stand a few feet from the front service line with the left foot ahead of the right Shuttle is held at chest height so it will fall beside the leading foot Racquet is brought back just behind the racquet

Badminton Shots
Overhead Clear Stroke played with full throwing action, is used to hit the shuttle high and deep from one end of the court to the other Defensive shot used to allow a player to return to his/her center court position

Steps: 1. 2. 3. 4. Player stands with non-racquet shoulder facing the net racquet foot is behind non racquet foot (weight on back foot) racquet drawn straight back with elbow fully cocked wrist is cocked so that racquet head is dropped below the players head back scratch position 5. racquet is thrown directly overhead with a straightening of the elbow 6. Elbow and wrist should be fully uncocked at contact slightly behind the head 7. racquet is angled slightly upwards to drive shuttle high and deep SELF TEST if shuttle would fallwould hit the forehead if standing in proper position

Drop Shot (same set up as Overhead clear) change racquet angle contact (gentle complete arm swing) -contact with racquet is parallel to the net (vertical) and slightly in front of your head trick opponent into thinking overhead clear complete arm swing, reach up directly above your head to make contact with the shuttle at the highest possible point--

fullest arm extension gentle pushing actions rather than a wrist snap Stop after contact with bird and then slow follow through a short follow through a long the line of flight will help the bird drop just over the net

Smash (same set up as Overhead Clear and Drop Shot) similarity of overhead cleardifference is in the angle of the racquet face angled down on contact smash is a very powerful offensive shot. opposite foot to the racquet hand is forward elbow is up reach up for the bird

contact well in front of the body slightly in front of your head transfer your weight from back foot to front foot on contact snap your wrist follow through across your body return to ready position

The Smash is best executed if shot is done from mid court so that there is enough angle to produce a steep smash.

Net Shots These shots are played from around the net area back to your opponent's net area. It can be played both on the forehand and backhand sides. The objective is to force your opponent to hit a weak lift or hit shots that could not clear the net. These shots can be played straight or cross court. Must keep the racket up in front of your body Lunge forward aggressively with your racquet leg. Extend the racket arm and keep the racket high to ensure the shuttle is hit as early as

possible The racquet face shall be parallel to the floor and let the shuttle bounce off the racquet face. Your lunge movement and the parallel racquet face will cause the shuttle to tumble over the net. You can try to move the racquet head slightly outwards to increase the tumbling effect.

Underarm Clear The underarm clear is usually played from the front court area to your opponent's back court. Try to reach the shuttle as early as possible so that you can have various shot options. The wrist action is the crucial element in creating a deception for your shots.
Extend and put your racquet up when you go for the shot The point of impact shall be well out in

front of you and as high as possible with your racquet leg leading in a lunge position.

Swing your racket upwards as the shuttle drops in the hitting area Unlock your wrist as you contact the shuttle, producing a whip action Follow through with your racquet in the direction of the shuttle's trajectory

Singles Badminton Strategies:

Every stroke think how and where you hit it. Mix up shots clears, drops, smashes, etc. Aim shots away from opponent, or directly at them (high in the chest area) Hit to the backhand side of opponent Make your opponent move around the court Observe your opponent's strength, weakness, favorite shots and pattern of play. Use it to your advantage. If you are in a difficult situation in the game and your opponent is not, you need to make time for yourself to get back to a favorable position. Do this by hitting the shuttle high towards the back of the court, preferably near the middle of the baseline. always get back to your base position in the midcourt area after making each shot. This is a position where you can possibly reach any of your opponent's shots.

Serving Strategies: Singles Game high, deep serve opponent out of position Doubles Game short, low serve - not setting up opponent to attack

Doubles Service Rules and Rotation

The side which wins a rally will get a point no matter if they are serving or not. The side who wins will serve the next point.

Serving from the left or the right? This depends on the score of the serving party. If the score is zero or even, the team will serve from the right. If the score is odd, the team will serve from the left. Should you and your partner switch service court (left to right, right to left)? Only when your team serves and wins the point. Therefore, when your side is not serving, dont switch side. When you lose a point, dont switch side. When the other side serves and you win this point, dont switch side. Otherwise, switch. Like singles matches, a doubles match consists of 3 games of 21 points.

Doubles Badminton Strategies

In doubles play, the tactic is to serve low so that the serving side would not be placed in a defensive position. If you are serving low, take position on the front and part of the midcourt area immediately. Your partner shall then cover the back court. This is known as the Attacking Formation (Front-Back- offensive position).

Advantages a) good court coverage except sidelines b) make good use of strong player c) hide weaker hitter at the front d) excellent attack system Disadvantages a) poor sideline coverage b) possible confusion on whos shot it is c) can run back player Play to your strengths net shots, underhand clears or smash, drop shots, etc.

Defensive Formation (side-side).

When you defend, try to hit the shuttle deep into your opponent's court. This is to prevent your opponent in the front position intercepting the shuttle from mid to front court. Try to push or drive the shuttle to the area in between your opponents. Or make a return to the front court of your opponents, forcing them to lift the shuttle. Advantages a) good court coverage b) less confusion whos shot c) easy to learn Disadvantages a) players should be equal ability b) more difficult to defend against clear and drop shots c) easy to pick on one player

Teamwork is the key in forming a good partnership. Utilize each players greater skills -around the net or more effective with overhead shots. Make the best out of your skills together. Play to your own strengths and your opponent's weaknesses. Communicate and talk to your partner. Remember...Teamwork is the success formula in doubles!

Court Etiquette

Be polite and courteous Only make calls that are on your side of the court. Be honest in when calling a play. Compliment your opponent on good shots. Recover the shuttle for your opponent on his or her serves. The server helps to keep score by announcing it following every point. Shake hands at the start and finish of matches