BADMINTON

Badminton

Originated in India centuries ago, Badminton was introduced to the rest of the world via England around 1870 by the British officers posted in India. In India the game was ‘Poone’. The Duke of Beaufort first introduced the game at a place called ‘Badminton’ in Gulocestershire.

The Badminton court for singles is 670cms long on each side and 518cms wide with back gallery 76cms wide and short service line at 198cms from the net line. In doubles, in addition to the above a side gallery of 46cms is added to the single court.

Techniques of Badminton

• Hitting the shuttle cock
• Serving the shuttle cock
• Receiving the shuttle cock
• Smashing the shuttle cock
• Slow drop of the shuttle cock
• Foot work

Hitting the shuttle cock: the shuttle cock is hero with one hand, the fingers loosely over the feather and let it drop. Hit with the racket in other hand while the shuttle cock is dropping. Keep the arm straight while hitting and practice variation of strikes to throw the shuttle cock at different heights, angles, distances to puzzle the opponent.
Serving the shuttle cock: The receiver should stand near the short service line with the weight of the body on one foot in order to enable him to spring to any part of the court, It the short service is a little above the net, the receiver should smash it, and in other cases he should try to send it back and high with variations of distance and direction.
Smashing the shuttle cock: try an aggressive stroke whenever possible with a high shuttle, Practice a round the head smash to reply a high service. Smashing is most important and point winning stroke in the game. Do not relax after a smash anticipating that it will not be returned. Always be prepared for a return even after a strong smash.
Slow drop of the shuttle cock: strike the shuttle cock with the side of the racket head to direct the shuttle to drop just over the net. Another type of drop is quick drop which is not so fast so a smash, but it is at a sharper angle.
Foot work: foot work is an important feature of the game. It is essential to move forward and backward swiftly as the shuttle is in the right position to strike only for a split second.
Play 
When the server serves, the shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the opponents' court or it will count as a fault.

If the score reaches 20-all, then the game continues until one side gains a two point lead (such as 24-22), up to a maximum of 30 points (30-29 is a winning score).

At the start of a match, the shuttlecock is cast and where ever the shuttlecock is pointing that side begins or a coin is tossed. The winners of the coin toss may choose whether to serve or receive first, or they may choose which end of the court they wish to occupy.
Lets
If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. Lets may occur because of some unexpected disturbance such as a shuttlecock landing on court (having been hit there by players on an adjacent court) or in small halls the shuttle may touch an overhead rail which can be classed as a let.

If the receiver is not ready when the service is delivered, a let shall be called; yet, if the receiver attempts to return the shuttlecock, he shall be judged to have been ready.

There is no let if the shuttlecock hits the tape (even on service).
Equipment
Rackets
Badminton rackets are light, with top quality rackets weighing between 75 and 95 grams (2.6 to 3.3 ounces) including the strings. The racket shall be a frame not exceeding 680 mm in overall length and 230 mm.The handle is the part of the racket intended to be gripped by a player. The stringed area is the part of the racket with which it is intended that a player hits the shuttle.The head bounds the stringed area.The shaft connects the handle to the head.The throat (if present) connects the shaft to the head.
There is a wide variety of racket designs, although the laws limit the racket size and shape. Different rackets have playing characteristics that appeal to different players. The traditional oval head shape is still available, but an isometric head shape is increasingly common in new rackets.
The Racket:
Shall be free of attached objects and protrusions, other than those used solely and specifically to limit or prevent wear and tear, or vibration, or to distribute weight, or to secure the handle by cord to the player's hand, and which are reasonable in size and placement for such purposes; and Shall be free of any device that makes it possible for a player to change materially the shape of the racket.
 
Strings
Badminton strings are thin, high performing strings in the range of about 0.62 to 0.73 mm thickness. Shall be flat and consist of a pattern of crossed strings either alternately interlaced or bonded where they cross. The stringing pattern shall be generally uniform and, in particular, not less dense in the centre than in any other area; and Shall not exceed 280 mm in overall length and 220 mm in overall width. However, the strings may extend into an area which otherwise would be the throat, provided that: the width of the extended stringed area does not exceed 35 mm; and the overall length of the stringed area does not then exceed 330 mm.
 Thicker strings are more durable, but many players prefer the feel of thinner strings.
Grip
The choice of grip allows a player to increase the thickness of his racket handle and choose a comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or several grips before applying the final layer.
There are two main types of grip: replacement grips and over grips. Replacement grips are thicker, and are often used to increase the size of the handle. Over grips are thinner (less than 1 mm), and are often used as the final layer.
Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock is a high-drag projectile, with an open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen overlapping feathers embedded into a rounded cork base. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material.
Synthetic shuttles are often used by recreational players to reduce their costs as feathered shuttles break easily. These nylon shuttles may be constructed with either natural cork or synthetic foam base, and a plastic skirt.
Testing a shuttle for Speed

• To test a shuttle, a player shall use a full underhand stroke which makes contact with the shuttle over the back boundary line. The shuttle shall be hit at an upward angle and in a direction parallel to the side lines. A shuttle of correct speed will land not less than 530 mm and not more than 990 mm short of the other back boundary line.

Rules of Badminton

• The Badminton court for singles is 670cms long on each side and 518cms wide with back gallery 76cms wide and short service line at 198cms from the net line. In doubles, in addition to the above a side gallery of 46cms is added to the single court.
• The posts are at least 5 feet 1 inch in height from the floor.

• Feathered Shuttle .
  
  
  
  1. The shuttle shall have 16 feathers fixed in the base.
  2. The feathers shall have a uniform length between 62 mm to 70 mm when measured from the tip to the top of the base.
  3. The tips of the feathers shall lie on a circle with a diameter from 58 mm to 68 mm.
  4. The feathers shall be fastened firmly with thread or other suitable material.
  5. The base shall be 25 mm to 28 mm in diameter and rounded on the bottom.
  6. The shuttle shall weigh from 4.74 to 5.50 grams.
  Non-Feathered Shuttle
  
  
  
  1. The skirt, or simulation of feathers in synthetic materials, shall replace natural feathers. 
   
• The game is played with one player on each side in the single game and with two players on each side in the double game.
• The two sides shall toss before starting the game. The side winning the toss shall have the option of either serving first or for choosing ends.
• The double as well as singles game consist of 15 or 21 points as may be settled before starting the game.
• After the game has been set the score is called ‘love all’ and the side which first scores 5 or 3 points according as the game has been set a 13/19 or 14/20 all win the game.
• The opposing sides shall contest the best of three games unless otherwise agreed.
• A game shall be won by the side which first scores 21 points.
• The side winning a rally shall add a point to its score. A side shall win a rally, if the opposing side commits a "fault" or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of the court inside the opponent's court.
• If the score becomes 20-all, the side which gains a two point lead first, shall win that game. 
• If the score becomes 29-all, the side scoring the 30th point shall win that game.
• The opposing sides shall contest the best of three games unless otherwise agreed. The players shall change ends at beginning of second game as well as the third game, if the third game is necessary to decide the match. In the third game, the players shall again change side when any one player reaches half score ( i.e. 8 for a game of 15 or 11 for a game of 21).
• The side winning a game shall serve first in the next game. 
• In double game, the player to whom the service is directed may take the service. Besides no player can take two successive services in the same game
• In singles game, the player serves or receives service in the right hand half courts only when the server’s score is zero or even number of point in the game. Whereas, it is delivered and received in the left hand courts when the server has scored odd number of points.
• After each point is scored, both the players shall change courts and consecutive service shall be received by the same player, in singles game.
• In ladies, single matches, the game consist of 11 points and if the score is “9 all” the player who reached 9 first, has the option of setting the game to 3 , whereas, if the score is “10 all” the player who fist reached 10 has the option of setting the game at 21.
• Play shall continuous from the first service until the match is concluded. However, in international badminton championship, there shall be an interval permissible up to 5 minutes, or in countries were climatic conditions render it desirable, or if necessitated by circumstances beyond control.
• The game is concluded on the basis of the score, i.e., the player who scores, 11, 15, or 21 points first or sets the game at 2 or 3 first, is declared winner.
• The server should not serve till his opponent is considered to be ready if a return of the service is attempted.
• While attempting the serve, if a player misses the shuttle altogether, it is not counted as a fault.
• If the shuttle after passing over the net during service is caught in or on the net, it is a ‘Let’
• If in service the shuttle is touched even slightly by the racket or even if it touches the person or racket of the partner of receiver, the opponent scores a point.
• The respective partners may take up any position, provided they do not obstruct the opponents in any way.
• While a player is smashing, the opponent cannot put up his racket near the net on the chance of the shuttle rebounding from it.
• It shall be the duty of the umpire to call “fault” or “Let” should either occur. The umpire’s decision shall be final but he shall uphold the decision of a lineman or service judge, if necessary.