Badminton Rules

, A player cannot aim to play a sport professionally if he or she is not thorough with the rules. Well, even if you want to bend the rules, you would have an advantage and would not be on a 'deuce' if you know the rules! If the word rules made you shudder, relax, as the rules are nothing to feel dreadful about! They are pretty easy and clear and as you go along, enjoyable too! So, ready for some shuttling around badminton rules?



Game Play

The match begins with a toss and the winner of the toss has the option to pick to either receive or serve. The winner of the toss can also pick the side of the court he wants to play from. After the shuttles come into play, the point will go on with the players hitting the shuttle back and forth across the net. In case, the shuttle hits the floor shot from one player to his opponent's or the opponent fails to return the shuttle and keep it in play, it is a fault. It is declared out of play if it does not cross the net or lands out of the court or in other instances hits the ceiling of the court. Rally is broken if a fault is committed. Faults are considered in the following cases -

• If a player touches the net with either his body or racket.
• A player hits the shuttle prior to it coming across the net.
• If a person is hit by a shuttle.

How to Play Badminton

Well, let's get to the basics first. Badminton is a game played with a racket and a shuttlecock (known as shuttle birdie in some parts of the world), between two or four players. It was introduced into the Olympics in 1992 as men's singles, women's singles, men's doubles, women's doubles, and mixed doubles. Badminton is an indoor game. There are several similarities between badminton and tennis; and also an equal number of differences. However, playing badminton is considered easier than tennis, though many will disagree. If you wish to know how to play badminton, then here are some easy tips that will be helpful for beginners.

Game Play

• Both, the server and the opponent should stand inside their service courts during the serve.
• In singles as well as doubles, the serve is always done diagonally from one's own right corner to the right corner of the opponent.
• Now, unlike tennis, the birdie should not bounce on the opponent's court before he hits it. It is a direct shot between the server and the opponent.
• The serve should always be done underhand. You can either serve forehand or backhand. However, you should make sure that the serve is underhand.
• The opponent should try to hit the birdie back to the server, without touching the net.
• The back and forth hitting continues until the birdie falls on the ground. Also refer to how to grip a badminton racket
• The lift, the push, and the drive are the common shots that are used while hitting the birdie back to the opponent.
• If the birdie is below the height of the net, you need to lift the birdie upwards to send it back to the opponent's court. Secondly, you can push very slowly to the opponent's court too. Thirdly, you can drive it flat to the opponent's court with full strength.
• Lastly, you should note that you can hit the birdie only once in order to defend / attack and send it back. No double shots or hitting the birdie twice (by the same player) is allowed.