1º ESO - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department

Badminton is a racquet sport in which two opposing players (singles) or two opposing
pairs (doubles) try to score points by striking a shuttlecock (also known as a “bird” or
“birdie”) with their racquets so it passes over a net and lands in the opposing court.
The shuttlecock can only be striked once before it passes over the net.

1. HISTORY OF BADMINTON

Badminton is derived directly from

the Indian game called "poona"" which
was played by British army officers
stationed in India in the 1860s. They
improvised using tennis rackets and
champagne corks that they attached
feathers to.

2. FACILITIES AND NECESSARY EQUIPMENT

THE RACKET THE SHUTTLECOCK OR BIRDIE

It is the most important element of the
game. There is a variety of material
used to make this tool: wood, metal,
graphite, carbon fibre...
This is the object we hit with the racket.
Consists of two parts:
The feathers (which can be real or
plastic) and the cork base which is
covered in white leather and to which the
feathers are attached.

STRING HEAD

SHAFT

GRIP OR
HANDLE

1
 1º ESO - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department

PLAYING AREA

The dimensions of the

badminton court are
13.40m x 6.10m, and it is
separated into two equal
parts by the central net,
which is 1.55m high.
Singles: In singles
matches the playing area
is marked by the interior
lateral lines and the back
exterior line.
Doubles: In doubles the
playing area is marked by
all exterior lines.

3. HOW TO PLAY

The aim of badminton is to hit the birdie with your racket so that it passes over the net and
lands inside your opponent’s half of the court. When the birdie touches the ground, the rally is
over.

A. The player must not step on the service line.

B. The serve must be hit in a diagonal direction towards the opposite side of the court.
C. Even numbers are served from the right side; odd numbers are played from the left.
D. The birdie can hit the net and pass to the opposite side.
E. Players cannot touch any part of the net.
F. Players can hit the birdie once only before it goes over the net.

4. HOW IS THE SCORE

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

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

2
 1º ESO - IES Joan Miró – Physical Education Department

5. TECHNIQUES AND BASIC HITS

1. Drop-Shot: Shot intended to let the birdie fall right next to the net.
2. Drive: Shot with a long and horizontal trajectory. The birdie passes as close as possible
to the net. It's used to bring speed into the game. The point of contact of the birdie with
the racket should be between the chest and the head (shoulder height).
3. Drop technique: Shot with a descending trajectory that falls right at the net but that
is hit from the back of the court.
4. Smash: Shot with a fast, descending trajectory to score a point. It's an excellent
offensive shot.
5. Clear: Strong lob toward the back of the court, intends to bring the opponent farther
away from the net. It is hit from the back of the court.
6. Lob: Shot with an ascending trajectory toward the back of the court, intends to bring
the opponent far from the net. It is hit from close to the net.
All shots can be done as a drive or backhand.

7. Serve: Serving is how you start the rally. The main rule here is that when you hit the
shuttle, it must be below your waist.

High
low
serve serve