Whether played at backyard gatherings or the Olympics, badminton has long been a popular game. Newcomers might find themselves a bit confused by the rules and terminology. Bone up on the basics and it won't be long before you're playing your first match, swatting the shuttlecock back and forth with your opponent.
History
Badminton originated from a 16th century English game called Battledore and Shuttlecock. British military officers in India in the 1860s added a net to that game and the essence of badminton was in place. By the 1870s, the game had been brought to England and the first official rules and governing association were created.
The Court
A regulation badminton court spans 13.4 meters in length and 6.1 meters in width. The top of the net measures 5 feet from the ground in the middle and 5 feet, 1 inch at the ends. Each side of the net features a right and left service court as well as a back line that denotes the boundary of the playing area.
Equipment
Each player needs their own badminton racket. The badminton racket, smaller and lighter than a tennis racket, usually weighs less than 100 g. The hitting surface is strung with main and cross strings--similar to a tennis racket. The shuttlecock is the object hit back and forth between players--sometimes referred to as a birdie. The leather-covered cork tip functions as the part of the shuttlecock that comes in contact with the strings. Sixteen feathers affixed to the tip extend outward, creating a length of 62 mm to 70 mm.
Play
Play commences when one player serves the shuttlecock across the net. Players must continue to return the shuttlecock to their opponent by hitting it back over the net without letting it touch the ground. A point ends when the shuttlecock hits the ground or is stopped by the net. A player wins a point when landing the shuttlecock inside the lines on their opponent's side of the net or when their opponent hits a shot that lands outside the lines or one that does not clear the net.
Scoring
A badminton match consists of three games. Each game is played until one player (or team, in doubles) scores 15 points. It's important to note that only the serving side can add a point to its score. The side receiving serve merely regains the right to serve when winning a point--similar to volleyball.
Other Terms
A kill refers to a fast, downward shot that cannot be returned. A carry occurs when the shuttlecock is caught on the strings and flung back across the net--this is an illegal tactic. A drop is a softly hit shot designed to barely clear the net and fall the ground before the opponent can move up to play it. A let is a legitimate stoppage in play that allows a rally to be replayed. A wood shot occurs when the birdie hits the frame of the racket--rather than the strings. Once illegal, it was ruled a legitimate shot in 1963.
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