BADMINTON TERMINOLOGIES

 Alley-the extension of the court by 1 ½ ft. on both sides for doubles play.
 Back Alley-the area between the back boundary line and the long service
line for doubles.
 Backcourt-the back third of the court, in the area of the back boundary
lines.
 Balk (Feint) -any deceptive movement that disconcerts an opponent before
or during the service.
 Baseline – the back boundary line at each end of the court, parallel to the
net.
 Carry-an illegal tactic, also called a sling or a throw, in which the shuttle is
caught and held on the racquet and then slung during the execution of a
stroke.
 Center or Base Position-the location in the center of the court to which a
singles player tries to return after each shot.
 Center Line – a line perpendicular to the net that separates the left and
right service courts.
 Clear -A shot hit deep to the opponents back boundary line. The high clear
is a defensive shot, while the flatter attacking clear is used offensively.
 Court-the area of play, as defined by the outer boundary lines.
 Drive-a fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net.
 Drop – a shot hit softly and with finesse to fall rapidly, and close to the net
on the opponent’s side.
 Fault- a violation of the playing rules, either in serving, receiving, or during
play
 Flick -a quick wrist and forearm rotation that surprises an opponent by
changing an apparently soft shot into a faster passing one, used primarily
on the serve and at the net.
 Forecourt-the front third of the court, between the net and the short
service line.
 Hairpin Net Shot-a shot made from below and very close to the net with
the shuttle rising, just clearing the net, and then dropping sharply down the
other side. The shuttle’s flight approximates the shape of a hairpin.
 Halfcourt Shot – a shot hit low and to midcourt, used effectively in doubles
against the up-and-back formation.
 Kill -a fast downward shot that cannot be returned; a “putaway”.
 Let-a legitimate cessation of play to allow a rally to be replayed.
 Long Service Line-In singles, the back boundary line. In doubles a line 2 ½ ft.
inside the back boundary line. The serve may not go past this line.
 Match -a series of games to determine a winner.
 Midcourt-the middle third of the court, halfway between the net and the
back boundary line.
 Net Shot-a shot hit from the forecourt that just clears the net and then falls
rapidly.
 Push Shot-a gentle shot played by pushing the shuttle with little wrist
motion, usually from the net or midcourt to the opponent’s midcourt.
 Racket- Weights about 90 gms. (3 oz.), is 680 mm.(27 in.)long and is made
of metal alloys (steel/aluminum) or from ceramic, graphite or boron
composites, and is generally strung with synthetic strings or natural gut.
 Rally-the exchange of shots while the shuttle is in play.
 Serve (Service) – a stroke used to put the shuttlecock into play at the start
of a rally.
 Service Court- an area into which the serve must be delivered, differs for
singles and doubles play.
 Short Service Line – the line 6 ½ ft. from the net which a serve must reach
to be legal.
 Shuttlecock (Shuttle) – the official name for the object that the players must
hit. It is composed of 16 goose feathers attached to a cork base covered
with leather. Synthetic shuttles are also used by some players.
 Smash -a hard-hit overhead shot that forces the shuttle sharply downward.
The Badminton’s primary attacking stroke.
 Wood Shot-a shot that results when the base of the shuttle is hit by the
frame of the racket. Once illegal, but it has been accepted as part of the
rules by the International Badminton Federation in 1963.

SHOTS AND STROKES

 Attacking shots -a shot kill a downward trajectory, includes smashes half
mashes and drives
 Back hand-all shots played on non racquet side of the body
 Block -a type of shot executed by holding the racquet, stationary in the
path of a smashed shuttle so that it rebounds into the opponent’s court
 Drive- a fast shot that has a flat flight trajectory as it passes over the net
 Drive serve-a hand quick serve with a flat trajectory usually hit at the
receivers racquet shoulder
 Drop shot-a shot hit so that it barely clears the net and falls rapidly in the
opponent court between the net and the short service line.
 Freehand-all shots played on the racquet side of the body.
 Half smash – an overhead shot hit at a steep downward angle, but with
little force, so it lands in the front court, used deceptively when the
opponent is expecting a smash.
 Jump smash -an advantage technique for executing the smash with more
power and a steeper downward trajectory. Both feet are on the floor, often
doing a hitch or scissors kick during the hitting action.
 Kill -also called a put away. A smash that cannot be returned.
 Lift – to hit a shuttle in with an upward trajectory; a defensive return.
 Net shot-any shot hit from the frontcourt, most often a drop shot, or under
hand clear.
 Push -a type of shot frequently used to return a low short served in
doubles. A frying pan grip is used to place the shuttle about halfway into
the opponent court, usually into a side alley.
 Serve- the shot used to put the shuttle into the play at the start of each
point
 Overhead-also known as overhead, a stroke played from the height above
the head.
 Slide arms -the stroking motion used to hit shots from near the forehead
sidelines when the shuttle is about the net top height.
 Smash -an overhead shot fit forcefully at a steep downward angle; the
primary offensive shot in badminton.
 Underhand-a stroke executed as the racquet contacts the shuttle below
waist level with a lifting motion, such as in executing a serve or a clear shot
near the net.
 STYLES AND PLAYS
 Deception – the art of deceiving ones opponent by feinting or by disguising
a shots direction until the least match.
 Defuse-the state of being under attack by ones and high clears.
 Finesse -to hit a shot with dedicate touch, or cleverly, or craftily in its
placement as opposed to using sheer power.
 Offense-the state of being on the attack; a style of play consisting mainly of
attacking clears, fast drops, drives, and smashes.
 Rush the sense- a quick move towards the net in a attempt by the receiver
to smash or drive a low serve before it drops below net top level. It is used
primarily in doubles.
 MOVEMENTS
 Extensions -the act of straightening the elbow and/or wrist, which causes
the racquet head to move faster than the arm and hand; a major source
major.
 Flexion-the act of bending the wrist towards the inside of the forearms,
thus increasing racquet-head speed; a major source of power, especially
when smashing the shuttle.
 Follow through-the part of the stroke that occurs after the racquet strikes
the shuttle.
 Footwork-the pattern of foot movements both in preparing to hit the
shuttle and in returning to the base position.
 Iunge-a long stride forward with the racquet foot for the purpose of hitting
an underhand stroke (clear or drop shot).
 Pivot-to turn on the ball of one foot and the heel of the other by lifting the
heel of the former and the ball of the latter.

FAULTS AND ILLEGAL TACTICS

 Fault -a violation of the rules that results in loss of service or loss of a point I
receiving.
 Feint -a movement made with the intent to deceive. This is legal during
rallies but illegal during a serve.
 Obstruction – an illegal tactic in which one hinders an opponent from
making a shot by warning the racquet to distract him or her by encroaching
across the net with one’s racquet.
 Unsight – in doubles, to stand in such a way that an opponent cannot see
the serve being delivered. This is an obstruction and it is illegal.

SERVICE AND LOSS OF SERVE

 First server-in doubles, the player who serve first for a side during an
inning.
 Inside-the side that holds the serve.
 Let-any incident that interferes with plays and requires the replay of a
point; often caused by the intrusion of shuttle or player from an adjacent
court.
 Outside – the side that is receiving the serve.
 Second server – in doubles, the partner who serves last in each half inning,
often his or her partner has lost a serve.
 Side out- an event that occurs when the server has lost the rally and the
serve goes to the opponent or opponents on the other side of the net. In
doubles (except in the first half of the first inning), a side out occurs after
both partners have served and lost their service.

POINTS AND SCORING

 Fault - see "Faults and Illegal Tactics"
 Game - 15 points in men's singles and all doubles play, while 11 points and
in women's singles 11.
 Game point - a point, which if won by the server, ends the game.
 Love all- used at the beginning of a game, indicates a score of 0-0; also used
when the game has been set.
 Point - smallest unit in scoring, fifteen points constitutes a game, except in
women's singles where 11 points wins.
RULES OF THE GAME
1. Players
a. “Player" applies to all those taking part in the match.
b. The game shall be played, in the case of doubles, by two players a side, or
in the case of singles, by one player a side.
c. The side having the right to serve shall be called the serving side and the
opposing side shall be called the receiving side.
2. Toss
a. Before commencing the play, the opposing sides shall toss and the side
winning the toss shall exercise the choice in either Rule 1 or Rule 2.
1. To serve first
2. To choose the side of the court
Note: The player who loss in the toss shall then exercise the remaining choice.
3. Scoring
a. The opposing sides shall play the best of three games unless otherwise
arranged.
b. Only the serving side can add a point to its score.
c. In doubles and men's singles, a game is won by the first side to score 15
points, except as provided in Rule f.
d. In ladies' singles, a game is won by the first side to score 11 points, except
as provided in Rule f.
e. In case of ties:
1. If the score become 13 all or 14 all (9 or 10 all in ladies' singles), the side
which first scored 13 or 14 (9 or 10) shall have the choice of "setting" or
“not setting” the game (Rule f).
2. This choice can only be made when the score is first reached and must be
made before the next service is delivered.
3. The relevant side (Rule e.1) is given the opportunity to set all at 14 all (10 all
in Ladies' singles), despite any previous decision not to set by that side, or
the opposing side by 13 all (9 all in Ladies' singles).
f. If the game has been set, the score is called "Love" all, and the side scoring
the set number of points (Rule 1-4 below) wins the game.
 1. 13 all set to 5 points
2. 14 all set to 3 points
3. 9 all set to 3 points
4. 10 all set to 2 points
4. Change of Ends
a. Players shall change ends:
1. at the end of the first game
2. prior to the beginning of the third game (if any); and
3. in the third game, or in one game match, when the leading score reaches;
 6 in a game of 11 points
 8 in a game of 15 points
5. Service
a. In a correct service
1. Neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service.
2. The server and the receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service
without touching the boundary lines of these service courts; some part of both
feet of the server and receiver must remain in contact with the surface of the
court in a stationary position until the service is delivered (Rule 5.d).
3. The server's racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttles while the whole of
the shuttle is below the server's waist.
4. The shaft of the server's racket at the instant of hitting the extent that the
whole of the head of the racket is discernibly below the entire hand of the server
holding the racket.
5. The movement of the server's racket must continue forward after the start of
the service (Rule 5.b), until the service is delivered.
6. The flight of the shuttles shall be upward from the server's racket to pass over
the net, so that, if not intercepted, it falls in the receiver's service court.
b. Once a player has taken his position, the first forward movement on the
server's racket is the start of the service court.
C. The player shall not serve until the receiver is ready, if a return of service is
attempted.
d. The service is delivered when, once started (Rule 5.b), the shuttle is hit by
server's racket, or the shuttle lands on the floor.
e. In doubles, the partners may take up any positions which do not distract the
opposing server or receiver.
6. Singles
a. The players shall serve from, and receive in their respective right service courts,
when the server has not scored, or has scored an even number of points in that
game.
b The players shall serve from, and receive in their respective game service courts,
when the server has scored an odd number of points in that game.
2 If a game is set, the total points scored by the server in that game shall be used
to apply Rule 6.a and 6.b.
d. The shuttle is hit alternatively by the server and the receiver, until a "fault" is
made, or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of the
court inside the receiver's court. The server earns a point. The server serves again
from the alternative service court.
E. If the server makes a "fault”， or when the shuttle ceases to be in play because
it touches the surface of the court inside the servers court, the server loses the
right to continue serving, and the receiver then becomes the server, with no point
scored by either player.
7.Doubles
a. At the start of the game and each time a side gains the right to serve, the
service shall be delivered from the right service court.
b. Only the receiver shall return the service; should the shuttle touch or is hit by
the receiver's partner, the serving side scores a point.
c.1. After the service is returned, the shuttle is hit by either player of the serving
side, and then by either players of the receiving side, and so on, until the shuttle
ceases to be hit in play.
2. After the service is returned, the player may hit the shuttle from any position
on that player's side of the net.
d. 1. If the serving side makes a "fault”, or the shuttle ceases to be in play because
it touches the surface of the court inside the receiving side's court, the serving
side scores a point, and the server serves again.
2. If the serving side makes a "fault" or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it
touches the surface of the court, the server loses the right to continue serving,
with no point scored by either side.
e. 1. The player who serves at the start of the game shall serve from, or receive in
the right court when that player's side has not scored or has scored an even
number of points in that game and left service court otherwise
2. The player who receives at the start of any game shall receive in, or serve from,
the right service court when that player's side has not scored, or has scored an
even number of points in that game, and the left service court otherwise.
3. The reverse pattern applies to the partners.
4. If a game is set, the total points scored by a side that game shall apply Rules
7.e.1 to 7.e.3.
F. Service in any turn of serving shall be delivered from alternate service courts,
except as provided in Rules 8 and 10.
G. The right to serve consecutively from the initial server in any game to the initial
receiver in that game, and then consecutively from the player's partner, and then
to one of the opponents, and then opponent's partner, and so on.
h. No player shall serve out of turn, or receive two consecutive services in the
same game except as provided in Rules 8 and 10.
I. Either player on the winning side may serve first in the next game, and either
player of the losing side may serve.
8. Service Court Errors
a. A service court error is made when player:
1. Has served out of turn;
2.Has served from the wrong service court; or
3. Standing in the wrong service court, was prepared to receive the service and it
had been delivered.
b. When a service court error has been made, then;
1. If the error is discovered before the next service is delivered, it is a "let" unless
only one side was at fault and lost the rally, in which case the error shall not be
corrected.
2 If the error is not discovered before the next service is delivered, the error shall
not be corrected.
C. If there is a "let" because of a service court error, the rally is replayed with the
error connected.
d. If a service court error is not to be corrected, play in that game shall proceed
without changing the players' new service courts (nor, when relevant, the new
order serving).
9. Faults
The following are considered faults:
a. If a service is not corrected(Rule 5.a).
b. If the server, is attempting to serve, misses the shuttle.
C. If after passing over the net on service, the shuttle is caught in or on the net.
d. If in play, the shuttle:
1. lands outside the boundaries of the court.
2. passes through or under the net.
3. fails to pass the net.
4. touches the roof, ceiling or side walls.
5. touches the person or dress of a player.
6. touches any object, or person outside the immediate surroundings of the court.
(When necessary on account of the structure of the building, the local badminton
authority may subject to I'llthe right of veto of its national organization, make by -
laws dealing with cases in which a shuttle touches an obstruction.)
E If in play, the initial point of contact with the shuttle is not on the striker's side
of the net. (The striker may, however, follow the shuttle over the net with the
racket in the course of a stroke).
F If the shuttle is in play, a player:
1. Invades an opponent's court with racket or person in any degree except as
permitted in Rule 9.e.
2. Prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is followed
over the net.
G If in any player deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as
shouting or making gestures.
h. If in play, the shuttle:
1. is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a
stroke.
2. is hit twice in succession by the same player with two strokes.
3. is hit by a player and the player's partners successively
I If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences under Rule 12.
10.Lets
＂Let" is called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire) to halt a play.
a. A “let" may be given for any unforeseen or accidental occurrence.
b. If a shuttle, after passing over the net, is caught in or on the net, it is a let
except during service.
If during service, the receiver and the server are both faulted at the same time, it
shall be a "let".
d. If a player serves before the receiver is ready, it shall be a “let”。
e. If during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from
the rest of the shuttle, it shall be a “let.”
f. If a line Judge is unsighted, and the Umpire is unable to make a decision, it shall
be a "let."
G. When a "let" occurs, the play since the last service shall not be counted, and
the player shall serve again, except when Rule 8 is applicable.
11.Shuttle not in play
A shuttle is not in play when:
a. it strikes the net and remains attached there or suspended on top.
b. it strikes the net or the post, and starts to fall towards the surface of the court
on the striker’s side of the net.
c. it hits the surface of the court.
d. .A “fault” or “let” has occurred.
12.Continuous Play, Misconduct, Penalties
a. Play shall be continued from the first service until the match is concluded,
except as followed in Rule 12.c.
b. An interval not exceeding 5 minutes is allowed between the second and the
third games of all matches in all of the following situations:
1. in international competitive events.
2. in all other matches (unless the National Organization has previously published
a decision not allow such an interval).
c. When necessitated by circumstances, not within the control of the players, the
umpire may suspend play for such a period, as the umpire may consider
necessary. If play is suspended, the existing score shall stand and play is returned
from their point.
d. Under no circumstances shall play be suspended to enable a player to recover
his strength or wing, or to receive instruction or advice.
e. 1. Except in the intervals provided in Rules 12.a and 12.c, no player shall be
permitted to receive advice during match.
2. Except at the conclusion of a match, no player shall leave the court without the
umpire’s consent.
f. The umpire shall be the sole judge of any suspension of play.
g. A player shall not:
1. deliberately cause suspension of play.
2. deliberately interfere with the speed of the shuttle.
3. behave in an offensive manner.
4. be guilty of misconduct not otherwise covered by the Laws of Badminton.
h. The umpire shall administer any breach of Rules 12.d, 12.e or 12.g.
1. Issuing a warning to the offending side.
2. Faulting the offending side, if previously warned.
3. In cases of flagrant offense, faulting the offending side, and reporting the
offending side immediately to the referee, who shall have the power to disqualify.
13. Officials and Appeals
a. The referee is the overall charge of the tournament or event of which a match
forms.
b. The umpire, when appointed, is in charge of the match, the court, and its
immediate surroundings. The umpire shall report to the referee. In the absence of
the referee, the umpire shall report instead to the official for the game.
C. The service judge shall call service faults made by the server..
d. A line judge shall indicate whether a shuttle is “in” or “out”.
e. An umpire shall:
1. Uphold and enforce the Laws of Badminton and, especially call a “fault” or
“let,” should either occur, without appeal being made by the players;
2. Give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the
next service is delivered;
3. Ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress of the match.
4. Appoint or remove line Judge or service Judge in consultation with the referee;
5. Not overrule the decision of Line Judges and the Service Judge on points of fact.
F 1. Where another court official is not appointed, arranged for their duties to be
carried out;
2. Where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out the official's duties or play a
"let".
G Decide upon suspension of play.
H Record and report to the referee all matters in relation to Rule 12.
I Take to the referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of Law only (such
appeals must be made before the next service is delivered, or, if at the end of a
game, before the side that appeals has left the court).