BADMINTON

In the 5th century BC, the people in china then played a game called ti jian zi. A direct
translation from this word 'ti jian zi' is kicking the shuttle. As the name suggest, the objective
of the game is to keep the shuttle from hitting the ground without using hand. Whether this
sport has anything to do with the History of Badminton is up for debate. It was however the
first game that uses a Shuttle.

About five centuries later, a game named Battledore and Shuttlecock was played in china,
Japan, India and Greece. This is a game where you use the Battledore (a paddle) to hit the
Shuttlecock back and forth. By the 16th century, it has become a popular game among
children in England. In Europe this game was known as jeu de volant to them. In the 1860s, a
game named Poona was played in India. This game is much like the Battledore and
Shuttlecock but with an added net. The British army learned this game in India and took the
equipments back to England during the 1870s.

In 1873, the Duke of Beaufort held a lawn party in his country place, Badminton. A game of
Poona was played on that day and became popular among the British society's elite. The new
party sport became known as "the Badminton game". In 1877, the Bath Badminton Club was
formed and developed the first official set of rules.

The International Badminton Federation (IBF) was formed in 1934 with 9 founding members.
- England
- Ireland
- Scotland
- Wales
- Denmark
- Holland
- Canada
- New Zealand
- France
Since then, major international tournaments like the Thomas Cup (Men) and Uber Cup
(Women) were held. Badminton was officially granted Olympic status in the 1992 Barcelona
Games. From 9 founding members, IBF now have over 150 member countries. The future of
Badminton looks bright indeed.

Equipment

1. Badminton Racket

Badminton rackets can be made from several types of materials. Depending on the material
selection, this can result in different combinations of racket weight, balance points and string
tensions. With so many different combinations, it will take time to decide which is most suited
for your playing style.  

Instead of making purchases online, pop by a badminton shop. Ask for assistance and select a
racket that you feel comfortable with. Swing the racket around to get a good feel of its overall
weight and grip.

2. Shuttlecock

There are two types of shuttlecocks - plastic and feathered shuttlecocks.

Plastic shuttlecocks are far more durable compared to the feathered types which are commonly
used. However, plastic shuttlecocks are only recommended for beginners who are just starting
out. This is because feathered shuttlecocks are expensive and fray easily especially if the wrong
technique is used. Hence, plastic shuttlecocks are good for beginners to use for training. Plastic
shuttlecocks are usually used by young children who play badminton for recreation.

Plastic shuttlecocks tend to travel shorter distances as they are heavier. Hence, they are good
for building strength as you make the transition to feathered shuttlecocks. Most people will
progress to using feathered shuttlecocks as they are used at all competitive tournaments. 

Service

A serve is delivered diagonally across the courts. During service, both the server and receiver
must stand at diagonally opposite sides without touching the boundary lines of the
badminton courts. During a serve, the point at which the racquet is allowed to come into
contact with the shuttlecock must happen below the server’s waist.

Scoring System

o A match consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points.

o Every time there is a serve – there is a point scored.
o The side winning a rally adds a point to its score.
o At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins that game.
o At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins that game.
o The side winning a game serves first in the next game.

Interval and Change of Ends

o When the leading score reaches 11 points, players have a 60 second interval.
o A 2 minute interval between each game is allowed.
o In the third game, players change ends when the leading score reaches 11 points.

Singles

o At the beginning of the game (0-0) and when the server’s score is even, the server
serves from the right service court. When the server’s score is odd, the server serves
from the left service court.
o If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and then serves again from the
alternate service court.

o If the receiver wins a rally, the receiver scores a point and becomes the new server.
They serve from the appropriate service court – left if their score is odd, and right if it is
even.

Doubles

o A side has only one ‘service’.

o The service passes consecutively to the players as shown in the diagram.
o At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the
right service court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left court.
o If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same server serves
again from the alternate service court.
o If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving side
becomes the new serving side.
o The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when
their side is serving.
If players commit an error in the service court, the error is corrected when the mistake is
discovered.

BADMINTON COURT