Badminton Terminology

Badminton Terms


Here is a list Badminton Terminology used in the sport of badminton


Alley - side-extension of the court by l½ feet on both sides that is used for doubles play.


Back Alley - Area between the back boundary line and the long service line for doubles.


Backcourt - the back third of the court, in the area of the back boundary lines.


Baseline - Back boundary line at each end of the court, that runs parallel to the net.


Bird or birdie - another name for the shuttlecock


Carry - An illegal tactic, also called a sling or throw, in which the shuttle is caught and held on the racquet and then slung during the execution of a stroke.


Center Line - Line perpendicular to the net that separates the left and right service courts.


Clear - A shot hit deep to the opponent’s back court.


Court - Area of play, as defined by the outer boundary lines.


Drive - A fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net.


Drop - A shot hit sohly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net on the opponent’s side.
Fault - A violation of the playing rules, either in serving, receiving, or during play (see common faults listed below).


Flick - A quick wrist and forearm rotation that surprises an opponent by changing an apparently soft shot into a faster passing one; used primarily on the serve and at the net.


Forecourt - Front third of the court, between the net and the short service line.


Hairpin Net Shot - Shot made from below and very close to the net with the shuttle rising, just clearing the net, and then dropping sharply down the other side. The shuttle’s flight approximates the shape of a hairpin.


Halfcourt Shot - A shot hit low and to midcourt, used effectively in doubles against the up-and-back formation.


Kill - Fast, downward shot that cannot be returned; a "putaway."


Let - A legitimate cessation of play to allow a rally to be replayed.


Long Service Line - In singles, the back boundary line. In doubles a line 2 l/2 feet inside the back boundary line. The serve may not go past this line.


Match - A series of games (at U.S. Olympic Festival-’93 it is three out of five), to determine a winner. Midcourt - The middle third of the court, halfway between the net and the back boundary line.


Net Shot - Shot hit from the forecourt that just clears the net and drops sharply.


Push Shot - Gentle shot played by pushing the shuttle with little wrist motion, usually from net or midcourt to the opponent’s midcourt.


Racquet - Instrument used by playerto hit shuttlecock Weight:About3 ounces. Length: 27 inches. Made of: Ceramic, graphite, or boron frame; beef-gut string. Cost: $60-$175 (unstrung).


Rally – this occurs when the players hit the bird back and forth several times before one side scores a point


Serve or Service – players put the shuttlecock into play for points by “serving” it to opponents, hitting it over the net into a special part of the court near their opponent


Service Court - Area into which the serve must be delivered. Different for singles and doubles play.


Short Service Line - The line 6 l/2 feet from the net which a serve must reach to be legal.


Shuttlecock - thje name for the object that players hit, made of a ball of cork or rubber with a crown of feathers in an open conical shape.


Smash – when a shuttle is floated high into the air, a player has time to unleash a powerful overhand shot straight to the floor of the opposing court


Wood Shot - Shot that results when the base of the shuttle is hit by the frame of the racquet. Once illegal, this shot was ruled acceptable by the International Badminton Federation in 1963.

Badminton Equipment & Accessories

Badminton Equipment & Accessories

Racquet – used to hit the bird, the racquet is shaped like a tennis racquet and has strings, but weighs much less. The frame of the racket, including the handle, is not to exceed 680 mm (26.75 inches) in overall length, and 230 mm (9 inches) in overall width. The overall length of the head is not to exceed 290 mm. Most racquets are made from light man-made materials such as aluminum or graphite, and are strung with synthetic material such as nylon.

Shuttle, Shuttlecock, Bird, Birdie - whatever it is called, it is badminton's version of a tennis ball. It has a small ball at the front to give it speed, and feathers protruding from it to help it float when it is hit high into the air. An official shuttlecock must have 14-16 feathers and are usually made from a goose or duck and from the left wing of the bird only.

Shoes – special court shoes are worn to allow players to move quickly across the court, and to give them traction for quick movements around the court.

Strings - Badminton strings are thin, high performing strings in the range of about 0.65 to 0.73 millimetres thickness. String tension is normally in the range of 18 to 36 lbf (80 to 130 newtons). Recreational players uses lower tensions strings between 18 and 25 lbf. Professionals string between about 25 and 36 lbf. High string tensions improve control, whereas low string tensions increase power. The optimum tension for power depends on the player: the faster and more accurately a player can swing their racket, the higher the tension for maximum power. The most effective way for a player to find a good string tension is to experiment.

Badminton Grip - allows a player to increase the thickness of his racket handle and choose a comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or several grips before applying the final layer. Players may choose between a variety of grip materials. The most common choices are PU synthetic grips or toweling grips. Grip choice is of personal preference. Players often find sweating a problem; in this case, a drying agent may be applied to the grip or hands, or sweatbands may be used.

There are two types of grip: replacement grips and overgrips. Replacement grips are thicker, and are often used to increase the size of the handle. Overgrips are thinner (less than 1 mm), and are often used as the final layer. Toweling grips are always replacement grips. Overgrips are more convenient for players who change grips frequently, because they may be removed more rapidly without damaging the underlying material.

Badminton Shorts - customised for the purpose of badminton is NOT necessary. However, they're important because it enables you to move more efficiently. Find out what to consider when choosing the correct pair of shorts for your badminton sessions.

Badminton Facilities

Badminton Facilities:

Badminton Court Dimensions

The overall dimensions is 20 feet by 44 feet, marking the sidelines for doubles play and long service lines for singles play.

The Net Line

The net line marks the middle of the court where the net is placed, creating a 22 feet by 20 feet area on each side of the net.

The Badminton Net

The top of the badminton net is hung 5 feet above in the center net line.

Short Service Line

The short service line is marked 6 feet 6 inches from the center line. The area inside the short service line is also called the Non Volley Zone.

Center Line

The Center Line is the line that divides the court from the Short Service Line to the Back Boundary Line. This delineates the Left from Right Service Court.

Side Line for Singles Play

The Singles Side Line is marked 1 1/2 feet from the edge of the outer boundary (doubles side line)

Back Boundary Line and Long Service Line for Singles

The back boundary line is the same for singles and doubles play it is the outermost back line on the court.

Long Service Line for Doubles

The Long Service line for Doubles is marked 2 1/2 feet inside the Back Boundary Line.

History of Badminton

Badminton was invented long ago; a form of sport played in ancient Greece and Egypt. Badminton came from a child's game called battledore and shuttlecock, in which two players hit a feathered shuttlecock back and forth with tiny rackets. The game was called "POONA" in India during the 18th Century, and British Army Officers stationed there took the Indian version back to England in the 1860's. The army men introduced the game to friends, but the new sport was definitely launched there at a party given in 1873 by the Duke of Beaufort at his country place, "Badminton" in Gloucestershire. During that time, the game had no name, but it was referred to as "The Game of Badminton," and, thereupon, Badminton became its official name.

Until 1887 the sport was played in England under the rules that prevailed in India. They were, from the English viewpoint, somewhat contradictory and confusing. Since a small army of badminton players had been recruited, a group formed itself into the Bath Badminton Club, standardized the rules, made the game applicable to English ideas and the basic regulations, drawn up in 1887, still guide the sport. In 1895, the Badminton Association (of England) was formed to take over the authority of the Bath Badminton Club, and the new group made rules, which now govern the game throughout the world.