Sports science in English
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Badminton is a racket sport played on a rectangular field (6.1 x 13.4 m) divided by a net, which is 76 cm high and located at 1.55 m in height from the floor at its ends and at 1.52 m in its central part. Badminton provides for the use of the racket and the shuttlecock (consisting of a base in the shape of semi-sphere and 14-16 goose feathers or a plastic skirt). It can be played in singles or doubles.

The aim of badminton is to hit the shuttle with the racket so that it passes over the net and lands inside the opponent’s half of the court. Points are scored when the shuttlecock hits the ground in the opposing court. Unless otherwise agreed, matches are played best of 3 sets or up to 21 points (in case of a tie at 20 points wins who wins the double advantage, but equal on 29 wins who gets to 30 first).

When the server serves, the shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the opponents’ court, which is on the opposite side diagonally. The same player serves until he/she commits a foul. The server stands in his/her right service court when his/her score is even or zero, and in her/his left service court when her/his score is odd. In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve.

A serving player shall be faulted if the shuttlecock is above his/her waist and if the shuttlecock lands outside the service area. The service action must be one continuous movement with no double-action feints. During the service, the server’s feet must stay on the ground until he/she contacts the shuttle.

The server must wait until the receiver is ready and the latter must be in his/her service area: he/she must stay inside his/her service box until the server contacts the shuttle with his/her racket, otherwise he/she commits a foul.

After each game, the players switch to the opposite side of the court. The change of side will also occur in the third set whereby one has reached 11 points. It shall be a fault when: the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court (out), it fails to pass over the net, it touches the player, it is hit twice in succession by the same player and it is hit before it passes the net.

It shall be a fault also when a player touches the net with racket, person or dress while the shuttle is in play, or when he/she obstructs an opponent and when he/she hits the shuttle when it has already touched the ground.

The serve (or service): the server stands on the right side of the court, next to the short line of the service. The tip of his/her left foot (if you use with the right hand) should be kept in the direction of the service and the right foot back towards the right sideline.

When serving, body weight shall shift from the back foot to the front one, while upper body shall rotate so that the shoulder comes to be perpendicular to the direction of the service. The shuttle must be hit from bottom to top with the centre of the racket, which is brought forward from the back.

The server shall hold the shuttle by the feathers and let it drop slightly in front of him/her; at the same time he/she shall swing the racket forward and hit the shuttle. When serving, the racket head shall be below the imaginary line of the hand holding it and the server’s feet shall be oriented towards the outside of the ground.

It is important not to throw the shuttle back-up the racket, to hit the shuttle too forward and to bend the arms straight forward at the time of the service.

The smash: it is the hit attack for excellence. The shuttle is hit with power and speed downwards to the opponent’s court. The arm stretches upwards, the chest arches and the shuttle is hit with the centre of the racket from top to bottom.

The drive shot: it is used from the back of the court and it can be a defensive or attacking shot.

The lob/clear: it is used when you need to buy more time for yourself to return to base before the next return. It can be a defensive or attacking shot.

The drop shot: it is technically similar to the drive shot, but instead the player only uses a little force to push the shuttle over the net.

The defensive clear: it is performed to return a drop shot and the shuttle is hit from bottom to top with the upper surface of the racket. This shot is used to prevent the shuttle from hitting the ground at the last second by performing a forward lunge. Do not keep your upper body bent over forward nor backward.