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.