BADMINTON

Badminton is a racket sport played by either two opposing players (singles) or two opposing
pairs (doubles), who take positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court that is divided by a
net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock with their racket so that it passes over the net
and lands in their opponents' half of the court. A rally ends once the shuttlecock has struck the
ground, and the shuttlecock may only be struck once by each side before it passes over the net.
Different versions of badminton have been played for centuries, but it was the game of "Poona"
in India that was the basis for the game of badminton we play today. In the 1860's a group of
stationed British army officers learned the game and took it back with them from India. The
game grew in popularity until 1895 when the Badminton Association of England was formed,
along with the rules of game play that are used around the world even today. In order to play this
form of badminton, certain equipment and facilities are needed.

Badminton Equipment & Facilities

Racket
The badminton racket is one of the most important tools a player has in the game. Badminton
rackets are much lighter than most other sports rackets because they are made from materials
such as carbon fiber or lighter metals such as aluminum. Parts of the racket include the head,
throat, shaft and handle with a maximum length of 27.77 inches and a width of 9 inches. It
Strings that are stretched across the opening of the racket in a checkerboard pattern, which acts
as the hitting surface. Badminton rackets can vary widely in cost depending on whether they are
purchased as part of a basic backyard set or as more expensive professional models.
Shuttlecock
The badminton shuttlecock, also referred to as a shuttle or birdie, acts similarly to a ball in other
racket sports. However, the design of the birdie creates more drag as it is propelled through the
air due to its feathered shape. The shuttlecock is made up of a cone shape with a hard cork at its
tip. Shuttlecocks can be made from a variety of materials -- more expensive models are actually
made from feathers, and less expensive models are made from plastic feathers. The shuttle has
16 feathers attached to the base and the length of the feathers range between 2.44 and 2.75
inches.
Net
A mesh net divides the badminton court into two sides. A badminton net is placed lower than a
volleyball net at five feet and one inch high on the sides and five feet high in the center. The
length may vary depending on whether doubles or singles are playing, with singles reaching 17
feet and doubles reaching 22 feet. The net is 30 inches wide with a 3-inch white tape doubled
over the top.
Facilities
The badminton court should be 44 feet long by 22 feet wide if playing doubles, and 44 feet long
by 17 feet wide for singles. If the facility is indoors, there needs to be enough height for the
shuttlecock to be able to float across the net without hitting the ceiling. This height will vary
depending on the strength of the players.
1. GRIP [HANNAH]
Like any racquet game, having a proper grip in badminton is essential. The correct grip will
allow you to have more control and will help you dictate where you place your shot. There
are numerous ways of holding a badminton racket depending on whether your shot is
forehand or backhand. For example, you could use the:
Forehand and Backhand Grip
These are both basic grips used in forehand and backhand shots. The only dissimilarity
among the shots is the position of the fingers. For forehand grip, your index finger will
control the racket on top of the stroke.
As for backhand grip, your thumb will be in charge of the stroke. Adjust your thumb against
the grip’s wide surface and move your index finger towards your middle finger. It would help
if you were skilled enough to switch grips quickly.
Make sure to hold your badminton racket lightly no matter what type of grip you use. In fact,
the grip should be so light, that someone can come along and pull it away from your hands.
This will help you prevent wrist injuries and improve the angle and flexibility of your shot.
2. SERVICE [ESTOMATA]
Service is another necessary skill you need to master for badminton. A good serve is likely to
get you points and may give you some advantage during the rally. There are two types of
services used in badminton:
High & Low
This is used when you want your opponent to go backward by tapping the shuttlecock on the
court’s back end. This will prevent your opponent from shooting a smash at you.
The low badminton serving is exploited while you need your opponent to move forward by
hitting a shuttlecock in their frontcourt. This will allow your opponent to come under the
shuttle and prevent you from making any offensive shots.
3. FOOTWORK [SAMSON]
The Badminton game is based on speed. You have to adjust your movement according to the
speed of the movement. If you’re very good at your footwork, you’re capable of scoring
points speedily.
Proper footwork will help control your side in the court. You will save time and energy while
playing. Since the footwork is correct, you will have no problem hitting fast a shuttlecock
that’s coming in any direction.
4. STANCE [CANIESO]
While returning strokes from the opponent, the stance is a crucial skill required in badminton.
Proper posture will allow you to return the opponent’s strokes efficiently and enable you to
get an advantage in rallies. There are three basic stances in badminton:
Attack
The first is an attacking posture. You have to go behind the shuttlecock, rotate your body to
the side court in an angular form, raise both your arms, move your whole-body weight in the
racket legs by opening your legs wide, and hit the shuttlecock.
Defensive
The second is a defensive posture. Open your legs wide, bend your knees slightly, keep
flexing your upper body, raise both your arms, and defend. Use only when you are going to
run a high clear or high service.
Net Posture [SAMSON]
You have to keep your racket foot forward and the non-racket foot backward. Hold your
racket and place it in front of your body within a small distance on top of the weight height.
5. STROKE [ARSELA]
The strokes are not about what happens after you have hit the shuttle, that is what the shots
are. The strokes are about what happens before you hit the shuttle, how do you hold your
racket, how do you swing it, and in which location.
FOREHAND & BACKHAND
The forehand stroke in badminton is the shot made by a player by swinging the racket across
their body with the palm moving first.
The backhand stroke is hitting the shuttle with your racket WHILE the back of your hand is
facing the shuttle.