Faults or errors that result in a loss of the rally:

1. More than one hit is made on the same side

2. Birdie does not make it over the net or in the opponent’s court

3. The player or racket touches the net

4. The serve isn’t made from waist level or lower

5. Serve goes to the wrong box

6. Incorrect server serves

7. Wrong player returns the birdie on serve

 

Doubles game using Traditional Rules:

 

Serving and receiving serve:

• 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. The server has one attempt per rally.

• Only the opponent standing diagonally opposite the server shall return the service. i.e. the right service court serves to the right service court and the left service court serves to the left service court.

• If the opponent’s partner touches the birdie first, the serving team wins the rally.

 

Gameplay after the serve is received:

• After the service is returned, either you or your partner may hit the shuttle from any position on your side of the net. Either player from the opposing side may do the same, and so on, until the shuttle ceases to be in play.

• The entire court area, bordered by and including the outer yellow lines, are in.

• Only one shot per side is allowed to get the birdie over the net and into the court.

 

Serving and scoring:

• Only the serving team can score points. A point is awarded when the serving team wins the rally.

• Game is to 15 and you must win by 2 points.

• If the server’s team wins the rally:

1. The server’s team wins a point.

The server continues to serve, but switches service courts with their partner. (Note: the opponents do not switch sides)

If the server’s team loses the rally, they either:

Give the birdie to their partner to serve (courts are not switched) if they haven’t served yet.

*The exception to this is the first serve of the game.

2. Give the birdie to the opponent in the right service court if both team members have served.

 

Differences using the IBF (International Badminton Federation) rules:

1. The team that wins the rally wins the point, regardless of who serves.

2. Only one server will serve before giving the birdie back to the opponents.

a. If the serving team wins the rally their team gets a point. The serving player continues to serve, but switches service courts with his/her partner.

b. If the serving team loses the rally the receiving team gets the point and the right to serve.

Your team’s score determines which box the service is made from and therefore which player serves:

Even score (including 0) = Right Side

Odd score = Left Side

3. Games are played to 21 points and teams must win by two up to a maximum score of 30. The best of three games wins the match.

 

BADMINTON SKILLS

 

 

 

 

Forehand Serve:

1. Turn so that your non-racquet shoulder points to your target.

2. Hold the base of the birdie between the thumb and forefinger of your non-racquet arm and extend that arm slightly lower than shoulder height.

3. Hold your racquet low down at your side, with your wrist cocked so the racquet head is behind your wrist.

4. Drop the birdie straight down.

5. Swing the racquet forward in an underhand forehand swing.

6. Snap your wrist as late as possible, striking the birdie around waist height in front of you.

7. Hit the birdie with an open racquet face so that it flies high and deep into your opponent's service court.

8. Follow through high and across your body.

9. Recover to your ready position quickly.

 

Backhand Serve:

1. Stand close to the service line, with your racquet foot forward and your feet about shoulder width apart.

2. Hold the birdie several inches below your waist, pinching the feathers between your thumb and forefinger.

3. Hold the elbow of your racquet arm up at shoulder level, with your racquet head down almost against your opposite thigh, behind the birdie.

4. Drop the birdie.

5. Push forward with your forearm and hyper-extend your wrist just slightly, striking the birdie below your waist with an open racquet face.

6. Hit the birdie on a low flat trajectory, just high enough to clear the net, and just hard enough to land in your opponent's service court.

7. Follow through just a few inches and quickly recover to your ready position.

 

Overhead Forehand Swing:

1. Position yourself behind and beneath the birdie as it falls toward you from a high trajectory.

2. Step back with your racquet foot and point your non-racquet shoulder at your target.

3. Raise both your arms up just above shoulder height. Your non-racquet arm should be out in front of you for balance, with your racquet arm behind you and holding the racquet with a cocked wrist.

4. Shift most of your weight onto your back foot.

5. Swing through the birdie with a straight arm, keeping your wrist cocked back.

6. Transfer your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you swing.

7. Snap your wrist to strike the birdie.

8. Hit the birdie while it is still above and in front of you.

9. Follow through, first with your wrist and then with your arm.

 

Underhand Forehand Swing:

1. Drop the racquet head down and behind you, cocking your wrist so that the racquet extends out behind you.

2. Lunge forward with your racquet foot.

3. Swing with an almost straight arm, keeping your wrist cocked.

4. Snap your wrist at the last possible moment before contact with the birdie.

5. Strike the birdie with an open racquet face and an upward swing.

6. Follow through all the way to your opposite shoulder for clear shots, and use very little follow-through for the deceptive drop shot.

 

Backhand Swing:

1. Pivot on your left foot and step your right foot around in front of your body, so your right shoulder is facing the net (left-handed players should reverse this step).

2. Bend your elbow to draw your right hand across your body, almost to your opposite shoulder, for your backswing.

3. Shift your weight to your back foot.

4. Uncoil your body and shift your weight to your forward foot.

5. Straighten your elbow as you swing.

6. Snap your wrist forward as your racquet face connects with the birdie, powering through the shot.

7. Follow through, allowing your wrist to relax and your palm to face upward.

 

Smash:

1. Get into position behind and beneath the birdie.

2. Point your non-racquet shoulder toward your opponent and shift your weight onto your back (racquet) foot.

3. Hold both arms up. Hold your non-racquet arm out in front of you for balance, and your racquet arm up behind you with your elbow bent 90 degrees and your wrist cocked. The racquet head should be behind your shoulders.

4. Begin your swing from your shoulder while opening your torso toward your opponent.

5. Reach up for the birdie, jumping off your back leg and transferring your weight to your forward foot.

6. Strike the birdie as high as you can reach it, while it is still out in front you.

7. Snap your wrist, as you contact the birdie at least three or four feet above the net level and in front of your body.

8. Hit the birdie with a closed racquet face.

9. Follow through, keeping your arm high, while your wrist snaps completely through the birdie. Then swing your arm down and through the shot.

 

Drive Shot:

1. Take short steps to position yourself, and step forward with your non-racquet foot as you are about to hit the birdie.

2. Turn your non-racquet shoulder to face your target as you draw your racquet back.

3. Bend your elbow and cock your wrist back in preparation for the shot.

4. Drive off your back foot as you uncoil your body.

5. Swing your arm forward, straightening your elbow and pushing the racquet through the birdie. Swing on a flat plane, with no upward motion.

6. Strike the birdie when it's about a foot or two in front of your body.

7. Snap your wrist as the racquet strikes the birdie. Hit with a vertical racquet face to drive the birdie forward on a flat trajectory, just over the top of the net.

8. Follow through in line with the flight of the birdie.

9. Land with your weight on your front foot.

10. Recover quickly to your ready position.

 

Forehand Serve:

1. Turn so that your non-racquet shoulder points to your target.

2. Hold the base of the birdie between the thumb and forefinger of your non-racquet arm and extend that arm slightly lower than shoulder height.

3. Hold your racquet low down at your side, with your wrist cocked so the racquet head is behind your wrist.

4. Drop the birdie straight down.

5. Swing the racquet forward in an underhand forehand swing.

6. Snap your wrist as late as possible, striking the birdie around waist height in front of you.

7. Hit the birdie with an open racquet face so that it flies high and deep into your opponent's service court.

8. Follow through high and across your body.

9. Recover to your ready position quickly.

 

Backhand Serve:

1. Stand close to the service line, with your racquet foot forward and your feet about shoulder width apart.

2. Hold the birdie several inches below your waist, pinching the feathers between your thumb and forefinger.

3. Hold the elbow of your racquet arm up at shoulder level, with your racquet head down almost against your opposite thigh, behind the birdie.

4. Drop the birdie.

5. Push forward with your forearm and hyper-extend your wrist just slightly, striking the birdie below your waist with an open racquet face.

6. Hit the birdie on a low flat trajectory, just high enough to clear the net, and just hard enough to land in your opponent's service court.

7. Follow through just a few inches and quickly recover to your ready position.

 

Overhead Forehand Swing:

1. Position yourself behind and beneath the birdie as it falls toward you from a high trajectory.

2. Step back with your racquet foot and point your non-racquet shoulder at your target.

3. Raise both your arms up just above shoulder height. Your non-racquet arm should be out in front of you for balance, with your racquet arm behind you and holding the racquet with a cocked wrist.

4. Shift most of your weight onto your back foot.

5. Swing through the birdie with a straight arm, keeping your wrist cocked back.

6. Transfer your weight from your back foot to your front foot as you swing.

7. Snap your wrist to strike the birdie.

8. Hit the birdie while it is still above and in front of you.

9. Follow through, first with your wrist and then with your arm.

 

Underhand Forehand Swing:

1. Drop the racquet head down and behind you, cocking your wrist so that the racquet extends out behind you.

2. Lunge forward with your racquet foot.

3. Swing with an almost straight arm, keeping your wrist cocked.

4. Snap your wrist at the last possible moment before contact with the birdie.

5. Strike the birdie with an open racquet face and an upward swing.

6. Follow through all the way to your opposite shoulder for clear shots, and use very little follow-through for the deceptive drop shot.

 

Backhand Swing:

1. Pivot on your left foot and step your right foot around in front of your body, so your right shoulder is facing the net (left-handed players should reverse this step).

2. Bend your elbow to draw your right hand across your body, almost to your opposite shoulder, for your backswing.

3. Shift your weight to your back foot.

4. Uncoil your body and shift your weight to your forward foot.

5. Straighten your elbow as you swing.

6. Snap your wrist forward as your racquet face connects with the birdie, powering through the shot.

7. Follow through, allowing your wrist to relax and your palm to face upward.

 

Smash:

1. Get into position behind and beneath the birdie.

2. Point your non-racquet shoulder toward your opponent and shift your weight onto your back (racquet) foot.

3. Hold both arms up. Hold your non-racquet arm out in front of you for balance, and your racquet arm up behind you with your elbow bent 90 degrees and your wrist cocked. The racquet head should be behind your shoulders.

4. Begin your swing from your shoulder while opening your torso toward your opponent.

5. Reach up for the birdie, jumping off your back leg and transferring your weight to your forward foot.

6. Strike the birdie as high as you can reach it, while it is still out in front you.

7. Snap your wrist, as you contact the birdie at least three or four feet above the net level and in front of your body.

8. Hit the birdie with a closed racquet face.

9. Follow through, keeping your arm high, while your wrist snaps completely through the birdie. Then swing your arm down and through the shot.

 

Drive Shot:

1. Take short steps to position yourself, and step forward with your non-racquet foot as you are about to hit the birdie.

2. Turn your non-racquet shoulder to face your target as you draw your racquet back.

3. Bend your elbow and cock your wrist back in preparation for the shot.

4. Drive off your back foot as you uncoil your body.

5. Swing your arm forward, straightening your elbow and pushing the racquet through the birdie. Swing on a flat plane, with no upward motion.

6. Strike the birdie when it's about a foot or two in front of your body.

7. Snap your wrist as the racquet strikes the birdie. Hit with a vertical racquet face to drive the birdie forward on a flat trajectory, just over the top of the net.

8. Follow through in line with the flight of the birdie.

9. Land with your weight on your front foot.

10. Recover quickly to your ready position.