Badminton is a racquet sport played with either a set of opposing players or a group of two opposing players. The object of the game is to hit a shuttle cock across a net within a marked boundary with a racquet before an opponent can hit it back. Each server is awarded one point for wining a rally and a match is decided when the first person or team reaches 21 points. A match is decided when a player wins 2 out of 3 games.

The history of badminton was believed to have originated from Greece about 2000 years ago. From there it spread to other countries in Asia such as China, Japan and Thailand. In England children played a form of badminton in the streets. By the 1860's soldiers of the British army in India added a net to the game and the modern game of badminton was invented. The Duke of Beaufort was entertaining troops at the time that played the game hence the game of badminton was named. By 1893 a set of rules was established by the badminton association of England and by 1899 the first badminton competition in the world was created. Today 152 nations around the world are IBF (International Badminton Federation) members.

Laws of the Game

For doubles play the court is set 20 feet wide by 44 feet long. For Singles competitions, the width of the court is set to 5.18 meters and the length remains the same. Short service lines are located 6 feet and 6 inches away from the net.

Equipment

A feather shuttle cock and a racquet are the only two main pieces of equipment used in the game.

Shuttle Cocks

Shuttle Cocks have an open conical shape, with a rounded head at the apex of the cone and is made of cork and overlapped by 16 goose feathers. The feather shuttle is fairly brittle and has been replaced for economic reasons by plastic.

Racquet

Traditionally made of wood, racquets are now made of aluminum. Today there are two types of racquets: isometric and oval. They weigh between 80 and 95 grams but differ between manufacturers.

Playing Rules

Faults: There are faults in badminton, the most common being when service is not correct; the service hitting twice by a player or a pair; touching the ceiling, player's dress; racquet touches the net; and shouting or make gesture on opponent. One normal situation sometimes considered a fault is when player fails to return the shuttle before it hits the floor, or when they return it so that it lands outside the boundary lines of court. When players commit a fault, they lose the rally and return service to the opponent.

Lets: Let is a called by an umpire or player to halt play, if this occur the rally is restarted and no point will be counted in the last service. Lets are rare in professional play; they occur whenever some unexpected circumstance arises that interferes with the rally. A let is called if the receiver is not ready; both faulted during services; the shuttle passes over the net and then becomes entangled in the net (except on service, when this is deemed a fault); or when a linejudge is unsighted and the umpire unable to take any decision.

Service: The service cannot cause undue delay once both side are ready. A player should not serve when the receiver is not ready. The serve must be in an upward direction, to land in the diagonally opposite service court. At the moment of impact on service, the shuttle must be below the waist, and the whole of the racket head must be below the hand holding the racket. There is no "let" on service if the shuttle hits the tape.

Strokes and Shots

The following are some of the basic shots in the game of badminton:

Clear: Is a hit overhead from the backcourt to the opponents backcourt. The aim is to hit the shuttle up in the air. It is useful for producing time for the player, so that he can recover more easily. Stragetically it is used to push the opponent backwards. Simple, a high clear is for defensive and flat clear is for offensive.

Drive: Hit in front or on the side of the body, aiming to keep the shuttle low but going to the backcourt.

Drop shot or Netdrop: Is a hit overhead from the backcourt to the opponents forecourt. The goal is to make the shuttle just pass the net. Stragetically used to bring the opponent foreward.

Netshot: Is a hit in front of the body near the net. The goal is to hit the shuttle just past the net . Used to bring the opponent to the forecourt.

Smash: A primary attacking stroke use in badminton. It is hit overhead from anywhere behind the forecourt. The aim is to hit the shuttle down as hard and fast as possible, as it clearly wins the rally if the shuttle touches the floor.

Wood shot: Shot that hit the base of shuttlecock by racquet's frame, it became legal in 1963.f