Badminton History Overview

Badminton Overview

• Badminton is a moderate to vigorous physical activity.

History of Badminton

• The origins of badminton are complex and unclear.
• It likely originated in ancient civilizations in Europe and Asia as a game called battledore and shuttlecock, more than 2000 years ago.
• In the 1600s, battledore and shuttlecock was a popular pastime amongst the upper class in England and other European countries.
• The game involved hitting a shuttlecock back and forth without letting it hit the ground.
• Modern badminton developed in mid-19th-century British India, by British military officers. They added a net to the traditional battledore and shuttlecock game. The game became known as "Poona or Poonai" in the British garrison town of Poona.
• Retired officers introduced the game back to England.
• It was further popularized at the Duke of Beaufort's stately home, Badminton, in Gloucestershire, England. This is where the name "Badminton" originated.
• The first Open Tournament was held in Guildford in March 1898, with the first "All England" Championships following the next year.

Badminton Gameplay

• Badminton is played indoors on a court by two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs of players (doubles).
• A shuttlecock is volleyed over a net.
• In British English, competitions are presided over by an umpire; in American English, by a referee.

Scoring

• To win a game, a player must reach 21 points.
• If the score is tied at 20-20 (or 20-all), the player must win by two clear points.
• The best-of-three format is the most common.
• When the server's score is even, they serve from the right service court.
• When the score is odd, they serve from the left service court.

Court Dimensions

• For singles, the court measures 13.40m x 5.18m.
• For doubles, the court measures 13.40m x 6.10m.

Net

• The net's height is 1.55 meters (5 feet 1 inch) at the posts and 1.52 meters (5 feet) in the center.

Shuttlecock

• Also known as a birdie or shuttle, it's made of a semi-spherical cork piece coated with leather.
• Sixteen leathers are attached to the cork, forming a cone shape.

Rackets

• Rackets are made of lightweight materials known for durability, such as aluminum, steel, and carbon fiber.
• The overall weight of the racket cannot exceed 3.2 oz.

Uniform

• Badminton athletes typically wear shorts or skirts and short-sleeved shirts.
• Any color combination is acceptable.
• Doubles teams wear matching outfits that include their names on the back of the garments.
• Shoes are usually flat but there are no official specifications.