Badminton is a sport that merges some of the concepts of both volleyball and tennis, but it does not use a ball. Badminton can be played competitively and is a good way to increase the amount of exercise that you get, regardless of your athletic skill. This sport has a long history that has undergone some changes since its beginning to develop into the modern version.
Battledore and Shuttlecock
Badminton has its origins in a game known as "battledore and shuttlecock," which was first played in ancient Greece, OfficialBadminton.com notes. In the original form of the game, a paddle known as a battledore was used to keep aloft a piece of cork stuffed with feathers -- also known as the shuttlecock. This game experienced a resurgence in popularity in medieval England and also was played in India, where it was called poona, the University of Southern Mississippi reports.
Badminton Development
The modern form of the game was designed by the Bath Badminton Club, which in 1893 published a set of rules for badminton. The first All England Open Badminton Tournament was held in 1899 and marked the first official badminton competition. In 1934, the International Badminton Federation was formed; the original members were England, Wales, Scotland, Canada, France, Denmark, the Netherlands and New Zealand, though India joined in 1936.
Modern Game
The modern game of badminton is played using a net, two lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock, which is made out of a piece of cork and 16 feathers. The shuttlecock may be made out of natural or synthetic materials. A badminton court for singles play is 17 feet by 44 feet, according to the University of Southern Mississippi. A doubles court is 3 feet wider.
Scoring
A badminton point begins with the server, who must hit the shuttlecock in an underhand manner to the service court on the other side of the net, Badminton-Information.com notes. Play continues until the ball hits the ground or a player commits a "fault," which occurs if the shuttlecock lands outside of the playing boundaries, does not go over the net or is hit more than once on one side of the net. If the person receiving the serve commits a fault or allows the shuttlecock to fall on his side, the server is awarded a point and continues serving. If the shuttlecock hits the server's side of the court or she commits a fault, the opposing player is awarded the serve.
Matches
A badminton match consists of three games. In doubles and men's singles, the first person to score 15 points wins the game; in women's singles, a game is won with 11 points. A tie score near the end of the game can result in a tiebreak scenario known as "setting." The rules for setting vary depending on the score, the rules of the tournament and the gender of the participants.
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