The Serve
The serve should be learned first, since all rallies start with one. Also, it is through the serve that a player begins to "control the point."
The rules state that, when serving, you must stand in the service court, and your feet must both stay in contact with the floor until after the shuttle is hit. During your arm action, your racket must contact the shuttle below your waist, and the entire head of your racket must be below your hand.
High, Deep Serve
The high, deep service is used primarily in singles play. If not hit by your opponent, this serve should land as close as possible to his or her back line. The objective is to move your opponent deep into the backcourt.
Take a position approximately 2 to 3 feet from the front service line and close to the centerline. (The point where the centerline meets the front service line is often called the 7.) Stand with your feet comfortably apart (about shoulder width), with your racket-side foot back (the right foot for right-handed players). Your knees should be slightly bent.
Hold the shuttle by its cork base between the thumb and the index and middle finger of your left hand. Extend your left arm outward in front of the right shoulder. This allows you to hit the shuttle near waist level and in front of you. Many beginners tend to hold the shuttle low, near waist level, then drop it. This forces them to hit it at too low a point. You always want the shuttle at as high a point as is legally possible.
Your right wrist will be cocked up and back so that the racket head will be raised and the wrist will be at or above waist level. Your weight will be on your rear (right) foot.
As you drop the shuttle in front and to the side of your body (at about a 45-degree angle), your weight will shift forward (to your left foot), and you will swing the racket through the shuttle. At the contact point, the entire head of the racket must be below the level of your hand and below waist level.
Your body rotates in the direction of the shuttle's flight, and your wrist straightens and snaps the racket through the shuttle. You should be hitting up and out.
Follow through over your left shoulder, and let your forearm continue its rotation. Remember that you are not allowed to move or slide either foot until after contact is made with the shuttle.
The only difference in your stance between serving from the right and left courts is that when you are serving from the left, your back foot will be farther behind your front foot.
The most common error for beginners is bringing the racket forward before dropping the shuttle. This results in missing it completely—a fault.
Since the shuttlecock is very light and designed to catch a great deal of air in its flight, it drops slowly. Your racket swing must compensate for this slow drop. So the idea is to drop the shuttle and then hit it after it is already dropping.
Tuesday, June 17, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
Rules of Badminton Games
The complete laws of the game will be found in the appendix of this book. A summary follows:
1. Toss for the serve. You can flip a coin, spin a racket, or toss a shuttle to determine who gets the choice of "side or serve." If spinning a racket, identify a marking on the racket and then spin it in the hand or on the floor. One person calls the mark. If it is called correctly, that person gets the choice. The most common method of determining the choice, however, is by hitting or tossing the shuttle into the air and letting it land. The person toward whom the base of the shuttle is pointing gets the choice. If the winner of the toss chooses a side of the court to defend, the other person can choose serve or receive.
The side of the court may become important if one side has poorer lighting or an undesirable background. In an important match the player who wins the toss might elect to defend the less desirable first. This would then have him or her on the best side for the last half of the third game.
2. For women's singles, games are played to 11 points. All other singles and doubles games are played to 15 points.
In a 15-point game, if the score is tied at 14-14, the player who scored 14 first can decide to play one more point (no set) or three more points (set) to finish the game. In an 11-point game, if the game is tied at 10-10, the player who scored 10 first has choice between one and three more points.
Once the score is set, the player who tied the score continues to serve.
3. The serve, if not played by the receiver, must land in the diagonal service court. Any shuttle hitting the line is in. In singles the shuttle must land in the long, narrow court. In doubles it must land in the short, wide court. In doubles the long service line is for the service boundary only. Once the serve has been hit, the full court (20 by 44 feet) is played.
In singles the serve is made from the right service court whenever the server's score is an even number (0, 2, 4, etc.). The serve is from the left court whenever the server's score is an odd number (1, 3, 5, etc.).
1. Toss for the serve. You can flip a coin, spin a racket, or toss a shuttle to determine who gets the choice of "side or serve." If spinning a racket, identify a marking on the racket and then spin it in the hand or on the floor. One person calls the mark. If it is called correctly, that person gets the choice. The most common method of determining the choice, however, is by hitting or tossing the shuttle into the air and letting it land. The person toward whom the base of the shuttle is pointing gets the choice. If the winner of the toss chooses a side of the court to defend, the other person can choose serve or receive.
The side of the court may become important if one side has poorer lighting or an undesirable background. In an important match the player who wins the toss might elect to defend the less desirable first. This would then have him or her on the best side for the last half of the third game.
2. For women's singles, games are played to 11 points. All other singles and doubles games are played to 15 points.
In a 15-point game, if the score is tied at 14-14, the player who scored 14 first can decide to play one more point (no set) or three more points (set) to finish the game. In an 11-point game, if the game is tied at 10-10, the player who scored 10 first has choice between one and three more points.
Once the score is set, the player who tied the score continues to serve.
3. The serve, if not played by the receiver, must land in the diagonal service court. Any shuttle hitting the line is in. In singles the shuttle must land in the long, narrow court. In doubles it must land in the short, wide court. In doubles the long service line is for the service boundary only. Once the serve has been hit, the full court (20 by 44 feet) is played.
In singles the serve is made from the right service court whenever the server's score is an even number (0, 2, 4, etc.). The serve is from the left court whenever the server's score is an odd number (1, 3, 5, etc.).
Monday, June 9, 2008
Sportsmanship
The game of badminton emphasizes good sportsmanship, expressed through certain playing courtesies. It is expected that you will be friendly to and respectful of your opponent and gracious whether winning or losing. In addition, here are some specific courtesies expected from those who play badminton:
1. Introduce yourself to your partner and to your opponents before the match. Be sure to shake hands after the match.
2. While warming up, help your opponent's warm-up as well;don't kill every stroke.
3. If there is any question on whether you have fouled, call it on yourself.
4. When you are in doubt about whether a shuttle landed in or out, always give the benefit of the doubt to your opponent or replay the point.
5. Never question your opponent's calls.
6. While at times during a match you may want to aim a smash at your opponent, do not do it if you can get the point any other way. If you have a setup,hit it somewhere else in the court.
7. Control your anger. Never throw your racket.
8. Never deride or make fun of an opponent.
9. As the server, keep the score and call it before each serve,calling the server's score first.
10. When your opponent is serving and a shuttle lands out of bounds on your side of the court, pick it up and hit it back, or toss it under the net to the server.
11. Compliment your opponent on any good shots made.
12. Do not offer advice or criticism to your partner or your opponents.
13. Bring your share of shuttlecocks to every practice and game.
14. Keep up the play. Do not stall between points.
15. Do not talk to your partner during a rally except when you are directing tactics, as in "I've got it" or "You're up."
16. If you are receiving, be ready to return the shuttle as soon as the server is ready to serve.
1. Introduce yourself to your partner and to your opponents before the match. Be sure to shake hands after the match.
2. While warming up, help your opponent's warm-up as well;don't kill every stroke.
3. If there is any question on whether you have fouled, call it on yourself.
4. When you are in doubt about whether a shuttle landed in or out, always give the benefit of the doubt to your opponent or replay the point.
5. Never question your opponent's calls.
6. While at times during a match you may want to aim a smash at your opponent, do not do it if you can get the point any other way. If you have a setup,hit it somewhere else in the court.
7. Control your anger. Never throw your racket.
8. Never deride or make fun of an opponent.
9. As the server, keep the score and call it before each serve,calling the server's score first.
10. When your opponent is serving and a shuttle lands out of bounds on your side of the court, pick it up and hit it back, or toss it under the net to the server.
11. Compliment your opponent on any good shots made.
12. Do not offer advice or criticism to your partner or your opponents.
13. Bring your share of shuttlecocks to every practice and game.
14. Keep up the play. Do not stall between points.
15. Do not talk to your partner during a rally except when you are directing tactics, as in "I've got it" or "You're up."
16. If you are receiving, be ready to return the shuttle as soon as the server is ready to serve.
Thursday, June 5, 2008
Clothing
Men and women alike usually wear shorts and shirts, although some women wear tennis dresses or skirts. The preferred color is white. It helps disguise the white shuttlecock (seen against the backdrop of white clothing)—especially when a player is serving. While most clubs and tournaments allow the same kinds of clothing worn for tennis, some specify a particular type and color. It is wise to check with the director to determine local requirements.
Shirts usually are made of cotton because it has better perspiration-absorption qualities than synthetic fabrics. All clothing should allow you to stretch comfortably.
Shirts usually are made of cotton because it has better perspiration-absorption qualities than synthetic fabrics. All clothing should allow you to stretch comfortably.
The Shuttlecock
The shuttlecock, usually called the shuttle or bird, weighs about one-sixth of an ounce (more technically about 4 grams or 73 to 85 grains). The official shuttles are made of goose feathers placed in a leather-covered cork head. This is the type of shuttle used in all high-level play. Beginners and school classes often use a cheaper and more durable plastic or nylon shuttle.
When the temperature is high or you are playing at a higher altitude, air is thinner. You will then want a lighter shuttle so that it will fall more slowly. Heavier shuttles are used closer to sea level, in climates with a higher humidity, and for outdoor playing.
When the temperature is high or you are playing at a higher altitude, air is thinner. You will then want a lighter shuttle so that it will fall more slowly. Heavier shuttles are used closer to sea level, in climates with a higher humidity, and for outdoor playing.
Badminton Games
Badminton, as we know it today, is second only to soccer as the world's most popular participation activity. An activity for all ages and for both sexes, it is a unique and exciting competitive sport.
Badminton is a game in which two players (singles game) or four players (doubles game) hit a light, feathered object (shuttlecock) over a net with rackets. The objective is to win the game of 15 points (11 points for women's singles) by hitting the shuttle into the opponent's court and preventing it from landing within the boundaries of your own court. The strategy of winning involves using a variety of shots to force your opponent to lose the rally. The players attempt to move their opponents around the court, forcing weak returns, or they hit hard shots (smashes) that the opponents cannot return.
Because of the limited exposure badminton receives in the United States, many people hold the erroneous belief that it is not a vigorous and challenging activity. When observing beginners hitting the shuttle slowly over the net, it becomes easy to draw this conclusion. But given the proper instruction, the players can learn to control the tempo of the game, and it becomes fascinating to watch as well as to play. As the players learn more strokes, the rallies become more exciting.
Badminton is a game in which two players (singles game) or four players (doubles game) hit a light, feathered object (shuttlecock) over a net with rackets. The objective is to win the game of 15 points (11 points for women's singles) by hitting the shuttle into the opponent's court and preventing it from landing within the boundaries of your own court. The strategy of winning involves using a variety of shots to force your opponent to lose the rally. The players attempt to move their opponents around the court, forcing weak returns, or they hit hard shots (smashes) that the opponents cannot return.
Because of the limited exposure badminton receives in the United States, many people hold the erroneous belief that it is not a vigorous and challenging activity. When observing beginners hitting the shuttle slowly over the net, it becomes easy to draw this conclusion. But given the proper instruction, the players can learn to control the tempo of the game, and it becomes fascinating to watch as well as to play. As the players learn more strokes, the rallies become more exciting.
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