Chapter IV

BADMINTON

History and Development

A game with a shuttlecock is widely believed to have originated in ancient
Greece about 2000 years ago. From there, it spread via the Indo-Greek kingdoms to
India and then farther east to China and Thailand.

In medieval England, a children's game called Battledore and Shuttlecock was

popular. Children would use Battledores (paddles) to hit the shuttlecock up in the air
and prevent it from reaching the ground.

In the 1860's, British Army officers in India, included a net in the game of
Battledore and Shuttlecock, therefore making it more competitive. The game was known
as Poona at that time.

The British Army officers brought this game to England and played it in the estate
of the Duke of Beaufort called "Badminton House". Being not familiar to the game, the
Duke of Beaufort's non- military guests began referring to the game as "The Badminton
Game", and thus the game became known as "Badminton.

Below is a brief overview of the generally acknowledged important highlights of the

game's development.

1877 The Bath Badminton Club, the first badminton club in the world, wrote down
the rules of badminton for the first time.
1893 The Badminton Association of England (BAE) printed and circulated the first
proper set of rules, similar to that of today.
1899 All England Open Badminton Championships, the first organized badminton
competition in the world was conducted by BAE
1920 British and American emigrants commenced badminton in the Philippines.
1934 The International Badminton Federation (IBF) became the governing body of
the sport. It was established with Canada, Denmark, England, France, the
Netherlands, Ireland, New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales as its founding
members.
1949 Philippine national rankings produced Adriano Torres, the first national men's
singles champion.
1952 The Philippine Badminton Association (PBA) was created and became the first
national badminton organization, originally composed of 28 badminton clubs.
Philippines became the 21st member country of the IBF.
1972 Badminton debuted as a demonstration sport at the Munich Olympics.
1981 A Philippine badminton team competed in the South East Asian Games for the
first time.
1984 Philippines joined the Thomas Cup for the first time.
1992 Badminton was elevated to being an Olympic medal sport in Barcelona.
Philippines joined the Uber Cup for the first time, resulting in a victory over
Tanzania.
1996 Weena Lim became the first Filipino badminton player to qualify and participate
in the Atlanta Olympics.
1997 The Philippines hosted the 1st Asian Juniors Badminton Championship
participated by 200 players from 21 countries.
2001 The Philippines hosted the 1st JVC Open Asian Badminton Championships.
2001- JVC National Open Tournaments were played in malls to encourage more
2005 people to play badminton.
2006 The IBF was renamed as Badminton World Federation (BWF).
Start of the Philippine Badminton Open, a BWF sanctioned tournament.
2008 The mixed doubles team of Kennie and Kennievic Asuncion placed as high as
#11 in the world rankings by the BWF due to their strong performances in
international competitions.
2009 The Philippines participated for the first time in the Sudirman Cup World Mixed
Team Championships in Guangzhou, China.
2012 Filipina Paula Lynn Obanana played for team USA in the Uber Cup held in
Wuhan, China.
Indonesian Rexy Mainaky, the 1995 world champion and 1996 Olympic gold
medallist, signed a two-year deal with the Philippine Badminton Association to
become its coaching director.

Facilities and Equipment

Court

A badminton court is rectangular, with clearly marked white lines dividing it into
different sections. These different lines define and limit where to serve, where to
receive, and up to where the shuttlecock may drop for a shot to be considered good.

On each doubles sideline is a post, which holds the net firm across the center of
the court. The net is made of dark but clearly visible mesh with a white tape that runs
across its top. It measures 5 feet from the ground at the center, and 5 feet and 1 inch
from the ground at the posts.

Overall Court Dimensions

The badminton court measures 44 feet long and 20 feet wide. The lines along
these measurements are the side lines for doubles and the back boundary line of the
court.

Short Service Line

The Short Service Line is the line 6.5 feet from the line that may be made by the
net if the court is seen from a bird's eye view.

Center Line

The Center Line, 10 feet from the side line for doubles, is the line that runs from
the short service line to the back boundary line. This delineates the left from the right
service court.
Side Line for Singles

The Side Line for Singles is marked 1 foot 4.5 inches from the edge of the side
line for doubles.

Side Line for Doubles

The outermost line at the side marks the Side Line for Doubles.

Back Boundary Line and Long Service Line for Singles

The outermost line at the end of the court functions as the back boundary line for
singles and doubles and long service line for singles.

Long Service Line for Doubles

The Long Service Line for Doubles is marked 2 feet 4.5 inches inside the back
boundary line.

Shuttlecock

A badminton shuttlecock is made of natural or

synthetic material, or a combination of the two. There
are 16 feathers that are connected to the rounded,
leather-covered, cork base. All of the feathers are with
the same length, and must be between 64mm and
70mm. The feather tips form a diameter of 58mm to
68mm. The shuttlecock weighs about 5g and,
consequently, can travel at a very high speed during
play.

Racket

A badminton racket is lightweight and may be made of

wood, aluminum, or synthetic material such as graphite
or carbon. The racket is flat and the strings are crossed
in a uniform pattern all over the head, with no variation.
The racket frame cannot be longer than 27.2 inches, and
the width of the head should be 9.2 inches or less. The
stringed area may not be more than 11.2 inches long and
8.8 inches wide.
Mechanics and Rules of the Game
Badminton is a racket sport for two in singles, or four in doubles. The object of
the game is to get to 21 points with at least a two-point advantage. A point is scored
when the shuttlecock is not property returned. The match is won by games. player or
team that wins two

Scoring System

Each game is played up to 21 points; the match goes to the side that wins the
best of three games. Each rally won by a side is a point added to its score. If the score
is tied at 20, the side that achieves an advantage of two points wins the game. But, if
the score is still tied at 29, the first side that scores 30 wins the game. The winner in a
game serves first in the next game.

Intervals and Change of Ends

Players have a one-minute interval when the leading score reaches 11. In
between the games, players get a two-minute break. Should there be a third game,
players change ends when the leading score reaches 11.

Points in Singles

At the start of each game and when the score is even, the player serves from the
right service court and serves diagonally to the receiver's box. Same thing happens if
the score is odd, except that the server serves from the left. If the server wins the rally,
he gains a point and serves again, following the odd-even scheme. If the receiver wins
the rally, he gains a point and the service. He then serves from the side of his end as
indicated by his score.

Points in Doubles

At the start of each game and when the score is even, the player serves from the
right service court, directing the serve to the diagonal receiver's box. Same thing
happens if the score is odd, except that the server serves from the left. If the serving
team wins the rally, it gains a point and the server serves again, following the odd-even
scheme. If the receiving team wins the rally, it gains a point and becomes the new
serving side. The player on the receiving side who served last stays in the same service
court from where he served last. After the serve is received, players may already stay
anywhere they want according to their strategy.
Faults
A fault results to a loss of point and serve. It is a fault if:

1. service is illegal, that is, if:

a. shuttlecock is struck above the waist level;

b. shuttlecock does not penetrate the correct court;

c. racket head is not lower than the serving hand at the instance of the serve;

d. server lifts one or both feet during service;

e. server drags his foot;

f. server feints a serve;

g. server misses the shuttlecock in attempting to serve; or

h. server steps on the line or stands outside of the proper court during service.

2. receiver steps on the line or stands outside of the proper court during service;

3. receiver does not keep both of his feet in contact with the correct court during service;

4. shuttlecock drops outside the playing area;

5. a player contacts the net with any part of his body or his implements;

6. a player reaches over the net to hit the shuttle; or

7. a player/team hits the shuttle twice in attempting to return.

Lets

A let is a situation that calls for a discontinuity of the rally and therefore, the rally shall
be re-served as no point is gained by either of the players. A let occurs if:

1. player delivers the serve before the receiver is ready;

2. both the server and the receiver commit faults at the same time;

3. the shuttlecock disintegrates during the rally; or

4. the shuttlecock is caught by and remains suspended on top of the net.

Fundamental Skills

Footwork

Your opponent will do his best to direct every shot away from you and the only
way for you to reach the shuttlecock is for you to have a good footwork. Badminton
footwork is the most fundamental skill that you must have in order for you to get better
in your game. Good footwork is simply having the ability to contact the shuttle early with
stability. Almost always, your racket hand and racket foot should go together as you
execute the shot.

Bend your knees a little with your feet shoulder width apart. Position your racket
up in front of you as you put your weight on the balls of your feet. You should be in this
ready position in the center of the midcourt area.

If the shuttlecock is directed to your frontcourt, execute the V-front by taking a

small step first followed by a lunge with your racket leg to reach the shuttlecock. The
timing of the shot will be improved if you land with your racket leg simultaneously with
the shot.

If the shuttlecock is directed to your midcourt, execute the defense side by

extending your racket leg to reach the shuttlecock that is hit towards your racket side.
Extend your racket leg and rotate your hips and shoulders to reach shuttle that is hit
towards your non-racket side, making a backhand stroke, especially for those shots that
are considerably far.

If the shuttlecock is directed to your backcourt, execute the V-back by rotating

your hips and shoulders and move back far enough so that you stay behind the falling
shuttlecock. This way, you will have more options with your shots. If you are too slow in
going to the correct area, you are most likely to respond with a weak shot.

The spots in the diagram show where you should place your left (dark spots) and
right (red spots) feet. The black circle is the base.

Unless you are confident of your opponent's next shot, try to go back to your
base after you make a shot. Alertness and your ability to react quickly are major
weapons if you are to improve with your game.

Grip

A correct badminton grip is the groundwork of playing badminton.

Your stroke's power and accuracy will greatly suffer if you hold your racket
wrongly. Your shots will be limited and you will have less chances of winning. Therefore,
a correct grip is a must. Furthermore, you will need to learn how to change grip very
quickly during the rally.
 Forehand Grip Backhand Grip

 Hold the handle of your racket hand  Hold the racket like that of a
as if you were shaking hands with it. forehand grip, and then turn the
racket counter-clockwise so that the
V shape moves leftwards.

 Make a V shape in between your  Hold the racket handle loosely in

thumb and your index finger. your fingers for greater flexibility,
placing your thumb against the back
bevel of the handle for greater
leverage and power.

 Hold the racket handle loosely in  Shorten your grip by placing it

your fingers for greater flexibility. nearer to the shaft for better control
and accuracy when serving and
attacking from the forecourt and
midcourt. Lengthen your grip by
placing it near the butt of the racket
for power shots, especially at the
backcourt.

 Shorten your grip by placing it  (Use this grip to hit shots that are
nearer to the shaft for better control on the non-racket side of your body.
and accuracy when serving and
attacking from the forecourt and
midcourt. Lengthen your grip by
placing it near the end of the handle
racket for power shots, especially at
the backcourt.

 Use this grip to hit shots that are on

the racket side of your body and
around-the-head shots
Serve

Mastering the different Badminton Services is essential if you want to improve

your game. Serving is the start of a point and could give you a win right away. Use it not
merely as "just a served but a weapon during games.

Basically, there are four types of serves:

High Serve

The high serve is mostly used in singles in order to force your opponent to move
to the backcourt. To execute this serve, use your forehand grip and stand a few feet
behind the service line. Put your weight on your racket foot and place your non-racket
foot forward. Hold the shuttlecock loosely by the feathers and drop it in front of you as
you swing your racket forward-upward-across, simultaneously transferring your weight
to your non-racket foot. Hit the shuttlecock with your racket and follow through until your
racket reaches the non-racket side of your head. Due to the nearness to the back
boundary line, many players hit this serve out. Aim for the ceiling near the back
boundary line to eliminate the chance of a flat serve. Direct the serve towards the
middle of the court and not at the corners to avoid sharp return angles.

Low Serve

Use this badminton serve with a forehand or a backhand to persuade your

opponent to lift the shuttlecock in his return. It is most often used in doubles, but you
can also use it in singles especially if your opponent's attack is too strong

Mix the low serve occasionally in your singles angles game. Your opponent might
be caught off-guard if you can do it well.
 Forehand Low Backhand Low
 Stand near the short service line if  Stand in a comfortable and
serving in doubles, but stand 2-3 balanced position with your racket
feet before the short service line if in front.
serving in singles.

 Put your weight on your racket foot  Put your weight on your racket foot
and place your non-racket foot and place your non-racket foot
forward. behind making sure that both feet
are in contact with the court.

 Hold the shuttlecock loosely by the  Hold the shuttlecock on the tip of
feathers. the feathers in front of your waist
level.

 Swing your racket forward as you  Execute a short back swing then
bring the shuttlecock closer to meet bring the racket forward to hit the
the racket instead of dropping it in shuttlecock.
front. Simultaneously, transfer your
weight to your non-racket foot.

 Hit the shuttlecock at the highest  Try to make the shuttlecock glide
possible point below your waist through the top of the net on its
level. flight.

 Try to make the shuttlecock glide  You may shorten your grip for a
through the top of the net on its better control.
flight.

Flick Serve

A flick serve is executed when an opponent has momentum and is on the

offensive. Wrist action plays a very important part in the execution of this serve, on
either your forehand or backhand. It is a misleading serve that gives an idea that you
are going to perform a low serve, but at the last split second you flick your wrist to force
the shuttlecock over. Direct the serve above your opponent's backhand out of his reach.
Drive Serve

This serve can be used in singles and doubles with a forehand underhand action.
Stand in a relaxed but balanced and controlled position, a bit away from the service line.
Position your non-racket foot near the net and place your racket foot behind. Position
your racket a little below the waist level and bring it back parallel to it. Hold the
shuttlecock loosely by the feathers and let it drop the say to your side. Forcefully swing
the racket forward to hit the shuttlecock and let it pass the net at a flatter angle. Limit
your follow through as your racket the net at a great should be directed to the corners at
the backcourt to create greater movement for your opponent.

It may give you a point immediately or force a poor return if your opponent is not
ready, but make sure you hit the shuttlecock below your waist to make your service
legal.

Shots and Shots Selection

There are a variety of types of badminton shots. These shots are executed
depending on where the shuttlecock is in relation to the badminton court. The position of
your opponent also plays a big factor in choosing what shot to execute.

If the shuttlecock drops to the frontcourt, most likely, you would like to hit it with
any of these shots:

1. Lift/Underhand Clear - Hit the shuttlecock in an upward motion causing it to go

high and drop to the back of the opponent's end.

2. Net Kill - Hit the shuttlecock forcibly at the net area forcing it to dive down fast to
the opponent's end.

3. Net Shot - Gently push the shuttlecock at the net area, causing it to drop
immediately after crossing the net at the opponent's frontcourt.

If the shuttlecock is directed to the midcourt, most likely, you would like to hit it with
any of these shots:

1. Drive - Hit the shuttlecock at net height causing it to travel flat and with sufficient
pace into the opponent's midcourt to backcourt area.
 2. Lift - Hit the shuttlecock in an upward motion causing it to go high and drop into
the opponent's backcourt.

3. Push - Hit the shuttlecock softly to moderate pace into the opponent's frontcourt
to midcourt area.

4. Smash - Forcefully hit the shuttlecock with an overhead stroke forcing it towards
the opponent's end to finish the rally.

Overhead shots are the preferred shots that are done at the backcourt. If the
shuttlecock is directed to the backcourt, most likely, you would like to hit it with any of
these shots:

1. Clear/Lob - Hit the shuttlecock high into the opponent's backcourt.

2. Drop Shot -Hit the shuttlecock from backcourt causing it to go down immediately
after crossing over the net into the opponent's frontcourt.

3. Smash - Hit the shuttlecock at high speed towards the opponent's midcourt.

Badminton Strategies
Badminton Strategies may not be learned in an instant if you are to learn them on
your own. It is by observing how your opponents react to every shot that you may
discover the appropriate strategies to use. Using badminton strategies in your game is
necessary in winning you points, games, and ultimately matches. Just knowing how to
smash powerfully will not earn you a gold medal if you don't have a game plan. Outwit
your opponent by employing appropriate strategies.

Try to force a weak shot from your opponent in which you will be able to make an
effective attack. Many beginning players attempt of making every shot a winning shot
instead of patiently setting up a perfect opportunity for them to execute a winning shot.

Strategies in Singles
To serve long and high to your opponent's
backcourt often used in singles. This forces your
opponent to move back and open up his frontcourt. A
low serve, however, will make your opponent lift the
shuttle, giving you an Opportunity to attack.

Professional players seldom use the long and

high serve nowadays because they know how athletic
the other players are. They possess great techniques so
it is easy for them to jump high and smash any given
high serve. If this is the case, you can be on the
defensive if you serve high. It all depends on your opponent's style. If your opponent
favors a high serve and puts you under pressure, use the low serve.
 The basic strategy in singles is to move your opponent around the court. Direct
the shuttlecock to the four corners of the court for you to set-up a good opportunity for
an attack. Aim to make your opponent give a weak return. If your strategy works and
forces a mistake or a poor return from your opponent, use it again to set up your attack.
If it does not work, then have the wisdom to make amendments to your game plan. The
key is to be flexible.

Always go back to your base position in the midcourt area every after each shot
you make. Your base is where you can possibly reach any of your opponent's shots at
the shortest possible time.

Strategies in Doubles
In doubles, during service and when your opponents are giving lifts or lobs, you
and your partner should be in attack mode. You can effectively do this if you are in
Attacking Formation (front and-back). Serve lows if your opponents will be prevented
from hacking the serve. If you are the server, take position on the front. Your partner
shall then cover the backcourt.