History and Equipment of Badminton

History of Badminton

• The game was called "poona" in India during the 18th century.
• British military officers became interested in the game and took it back to England in the 1860s.
• Rules for badminton were established in England.
• Isaac Spratt, a London toy dealer, published a booklet, "Badminton Battledore - a new game" in 1860.
• The new sport was launched in 1873 at Badminton House, Gloucestershire.
• Until 1887, the sport was played in England under Indian rules.
• The Bath Badminton Club standardized the rules, making the game applicable to English ideas.
• In 1893, the Badminton Association of England published the first set of rules similar to today's rules.

Badminton Equipment

Racket

• Badminton racquets are lightweight, with top-quality racquets weighing between 79 and 91 grams (including the strings).
• They are made of various materials, ranging from carbon fiber composite (graphite-reinforced plastic) to solid steel, often with additional materials added.
• The overall racket frame should not exceed 680 mm in length and 230 mm in width.

Shuttlecock

• Shuttlecocks can be made of natural or synthetic materials.
• The shape and flight characteristics are typically similar to those produced by natural feathered shuttlecocks.
• A standard shuttlecock has 16 feathers fixed to a cork base, covered with a thin layer of leather.
• The feathers should have a uniform length between 62 mm and 70 mm.
• The tips of the feathers should rest on a circle with a diameter between 58 mm and 68 mm.
• The base diameter should be 25 mm to 28 mm and rounded on the bottom.
• Standard shuttlecock weight is 4.74-5.50 grams.

Court and Court Equipment

• The court is rectangular, marked with lines 40 mm wide.
• Posts are 1.55 meters high from the court surface, vertical when the net is strained.
• The net is made of dark-colored, fine cord with a mesh not less than 15 mm and not more than 20 mm thick.
• The net is 760mm deep and at least 6.1 meters wide.
• The top of the net is edged with a 75 mm wide white tape doubled over, with a cord or cable running through the tape.
• The top of the net is 1.524 meters at the centerline and 1.55 meters above the sidelines for doubles.

Starting a Game: Toss

• Before a game begins, a toss is to be conducted
• The winning side chooses to serve or receive the service, or to start play on either end of the court.
• The losing side gets the remaining choice.

Scoring System

• A match consists of the best of three games, unless otherwise determined.
• A game is won by the side that first scores 21 points.
• A point is awarded to the winning side of a rally.
• If the score is 20-all, the side that first gains a two-point lead wins the game.
• If the score is 29-all, the side that scores the 30th point wins the game.

Changing Ends

• Players change ends: After the first game; and after the second game (if a third game is played); and in the third game when a side first reaches 11 points.

Service

• The server and receiver must stand in diagonally opposite service courts, without touching boundary lines.
• Some portion of both the server's and receiver's feet must remain in contact with the court surface in a fixed position from the start of the service until it is delivered.
• The server's racket must initially hit the base of the shuttlecock.
• The entire shuttlecock must be below the server's waist at the moment of hitting.
• The shaft of the server's racket must be pointing in a downward direction at the moment of hitting the shuttlecock.
• The racket's movement must continue forward from the service start until delivery.

Service Court Errors

• A service court error occurs when a player serves or receives out of turn or from the wrong service court.
• If a service error is discovered, the error is corrected, and the previous score stands.

###Faults in Play

• A fault occurs if the shuttlecock:
  • Lands outside the court boundaries,
  • Passes through or under the net,
  • Touches the ceiling or side walls,
  • Touches a player or their clothing,
  • Touches another object/person outside the court,
  • Is caught and held on the racket, and then slung during the execution of a stroke,
  • Is hit twice consecutively by the same player, or by a player and their partner in succession, or
  • Touches a player's racket and doesn't travel towards the opponent's court.
• A player faults if they:
  • Touch the net or its supports,
  • Invade an opponent's court over the net with racket or person,
  • Invade an opponent's court under the net with racket or person,
  • Obstruct an opponent, preventing them from making a legal stroke where the shuttlecock is followed over the net.
• If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated, or persistent offences, a fault is called.

Lets

• A let occurs if the server serves before the receiver is ready.
• During service, both the server and receiver commit faults.
• The shuttlecock is caught on the net and remains suspended on its top.
• After a service return, the shuttlecock is caught in the net after passing over the net.
• During play, the shuttlecock disintegrates, and the base completely separates from the rest of the shuttle.
• According to the umpire, play is disrupted or a player on the opposing side is distracted by a coach.
• If a line judge is unsighted, or an unforeseen or accidental situation occurs, it's a let.
• In a let, the play since the last service doesn't count, and the player who served last serves again.

Shuttle Not in Play

• The shuttle is not in play if it strikes the net or post and begins to fall toward the court on the striker's side of the net, or if it hits the court surface, or if a fault or let has occurred.

Continuous Play

• Play should be continuous from the first service until the match concludes.
• Intervals:
  • Not exceeding 60 seconds during each game when the leading score reaches 11 points.
  • Not exceeding 120 seconds between the first and second games, and between the second and third games.

Officials and Appeals

• The Referee is overall in charge of the tournament.
• The umpire, if appointed, manages the match, court, and immediate surroundings. The umpire reports to the Referee.
• A service judge calls server faults.
• A line judge indicates whether the shuttle landed "in" or "out" on the assigned line(s).
• The umpire enforces badminton rules, especially regarding faults and lets.
• The umpire makes decisions on appeals regarding points of dispute if made before the next service.
• The umpire ensures players and spectators are informed of match progress.
• The umpire appoints or replaces line judges and service judges with consultation to the Referee.
• If the official is unsighted, the umpire will carry out their duties or call a "let".

Basic Skills

• Grip — Benefits include more powerful smashes, accurate shots/serves, stronger smash defence, and deceptive strokes.
• Basic Strokes: Forehand, Backhand, Drive, Dropshot (including Hairpin, Cross-Court, Overhead, Underhand), Clear (including Underhand, Overhead, Backhand, Underhand Backhand) and Smash.