How Badminton Works

Much of a player's badminton success centers on the ability to hit a 2.5-inch (6.4-centimeter) birdie weighing less than a quarter of an ounce. This birdie, also known as a shuttle or shuttlecock, features a semicircle-shaped base made of cork. Traditionally, this cork base is flanked with 16 glued and overlapping goose feathers. Over time, however, the feathers become fragile and break; serious amateurs and professionals may go through more than one shuttle during a match [source:NBC Olympics].

The cone-shaped shuttles used by most backyard players substitute a plastic skirt for real feathers. Whatever the material, the shuttle is anaerodynamicwonder. No matter which part of the shuttle is hit, it will always turn so the cork end travels through the air first.

Whether a player can win a game, however, largely relies on the ability to bat this cork-laden shuttle over the net. Badminton games are won when a player or team of two players reaches 21 points, a relatively new benchmark set by the Badminton World Federation and one used at the 2012Olympic games. In the past, badminton games were scored to 7, 11 or 15 points. The games are played in best-out-of-three matches [source:Badminton World Federation].

Before you take a swing at a shuttle, it can be helpful to know some of badminton's common terms.

羽毛球场测量20英尺的44英尺(6.1米eters by 13.4 meters), and the many lines that mark the playing surface sometimes perplex novice players. The largest court outline is used when playing doubles; an outline 1.5 feet (0.5 meters) inside of the largest outline is used when playing singles. Of course, many backyard matches are played without a clearly marked court at all.

To score a point in badminton, you must first play the game. And to do that, you must decide which player will serve first. At professional matches, a neutral third-party often tosses a coin. Other times, a player will simply throw the shuttle into the air; the player it points toward upon landing will serve first, making this method a bit like spin-the-bottle for badminton.

The official Badminton World Federation manual features several pages of rules. For most players, a few basics will suffice. Rule No. 1? Every serve will result in a point, and the first person (or team) to reach 21 points will win the game. Players then compete again to win the best two out of three. This scoring system seems easy enough, but there's a catch: You must establish a two-point lead to take the game. For example, if you have 21 points and your opponent has 20, you can't declare victory. This means that players occasionally rack up more than 21 points so the leader can gain a two-point advantage. Even so, the first player to reach 30 always wins (even if it's only a one-point lead).

You'll also need to know where to stand when you serve. There are service courts outlined within the larger court, and whether the server stands in the right or the left service box depends on whether the score is even or odd. For example, if the score is an even number, a player will deliver a serve from the service box on the right side of the court to the opposing player in the left court. If the score is an odd number, the player will switch to the left service box.

Scoring in doubles is similar, and this tri-fold tip may help you stay in the correct position: When you serve, the service court you stand in will be dictated by the score (even or odd). If you win the rally, you serve again -- but from the other side of your court. Receiving players don't switch sides when they get the serve; they just need to follow the even/odd rule [source:Hopley].

Once you have a clear understanding of the rules under your belt, it's time toperfect your tactics, including the three most popular forehand shots outlined on the next page.

The first time I went miniaturegolfing, I lined up the ball,gripped the club-- and sent the pitted orb flying across the street. Turns out, there should have been a little finesse involved. The same is true of badminton. Becoming a force to be reckoned with on the badminton court requires mastery, not brute strength, and these three forehand shots are a good place to start.

You'll also want understand the moves that could put you at fault, which means you either lose the serve or lose a point. Here are some common mistakes:

It seems like there's a lot to learn, but people have been playing backyard badminton for centuries. Before long, you may feel like a pro, too, if only at your family reunions.

在我的大家庭,每一个包括两个团聚things: lots and lots of food, followed by a rousing sports match that usually ends in accidental injury. My nephew sported stitches after standing too close to his sister's golf swing; my sister-in-law fractured a wrist after an unfortunate flag football takedown; my daughter flew off her horse during an impromptu polo match and we collectively discovered that tennis racquets can't stand up to hedge-apple volleys. Badminton, however, is another story. Give us a hastily strung net and a feather-tipped birdie and you'll see soaring, yet pain-free competition. Fantasy football, however, may be another matter entirely.

Related Articles

Sources