Badminton

Description:
Court or lawn game played with light long-handled rackets and a shuttlecock volleyed over a net. The
game is named after the residence of Britain's duke of Beaufort, where it supposedly originated c. 1873.
Officially sanctioned badminton matches are played indoors to protect the shuttlecock from winds. Play
consists entirely of hitting the shuttlecock back and forth without letting it touch the floor or ground. The
best-known match is the All-England Championships. Badminton became a full-medal sport at the 1992
Olympics. The world governing body is the International Federation of Badminton in Cheltenham,
Gloucestershire, Eng.

Equipments:

Racket
Badminton rackets are lightweight, with top quality racquets weighing between 70 and 95 grams
(2.4 to 3.3 ounces) not including grip or strings. They are composed of many different materials
ranging from carbon fibre composite (graphite reinforced plastic) to solid steel, which may be
augmented by a variety of materials.
Strings
Badminton strings are thin, high performing strings in the range of about 0.62 to 0.73 mm
thickness. Thicker strings are more durable, but many players prefer the feel of thinner strings.
Grip
The choice of grip allows a player to increase the thickness of their racquet handle and choose a
comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or several grips before
applying the final layer.
Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock (often abbreviated to shuttle; also called a birdie) is a high-drag projectile, with an
open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen overlapping feathers embedded into a
rounded cork base. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material.

Net
Badminton net is placed lower than a volleyball net at five feet and one inch high on the sides and
five feet high in the center. The length may vary depending on whether doubles or singles are
playing, with singles reaching 17 feet and doubles reaching 22 feet. The net is 30 inches wide
with a 3-inch white tape doubled over the top.
Shoes
Badminton shoes are lightweight with soles of rubber or similar high-grip, non-marking materials.
Compared to running shoes, badminton shoes have little lateral support. High levels of lateral
support are useful for activities where lateral motion is undesirable and unexpected.


Facilities:
The badminton court should be 44 feet long by 22 feet wide if playing doubles, and 44 feet long by 17
feet wide for singles. If the facility is indoors, there needs to be enough height for the shuttlecock to be
able to float across the net without hitting the ceiling. This height will vary depending on the strength of
the players.
Rules:

A game starts with a coin toss. Whoever wins the toss gets to decide whether they would serve or
receive first OR what side of the court they want to be on. The side losing the toss shall then
exercise the remaining choice.
At no time during the game should the player touch the net, with his racquet or his body.
The shuttlecock should not be carried on or come to rest on the racquet.
A player should not reach over the net to hit the shuttlecock.
A serve must carry cross court (diagonally) to be valid.
During the serve, a player should not touch any of the lines of the court, until the server strikes
the shuttlecock. During the serve the shuttlecock should always be hit from below the waist.
A point is added to a player's score as and when he wins a rally.
A player wins a rally when he strikes the shuttlecock and it touches the floor of the opponent's
side of the court or when the opponent commits a fault. The most common type of fault is when a
player fails to hit the shuttlecock over the net or it lands outside the boundary of the court.
Each side can strike the shuttlecock only once before it passes over the net. Once hit, a player
can't strike the shuttlecock in a new movement or shot.
The shuttlecock hitting the ceiling, is counted as a fault.