About sport
Badminton is a modern racket sport that originated in Asia and today ranks among the most widespread sports in the world. Although it may seem unassuming, it is physically very demanding and requires speed, agility, and excellent coordination.
It is played with a lightweight racket and a shuttlecock, which players must keep in play over the net. Badminton offers brisk rallies, quick changes of direction, and is suitable for both recreational players and competitive athletes.
How to play badminton
Badminton can be played in singles or doubles. All you need is sportswear and indoor shoes.
A great sport for active relaxation as well as fitness training.
Rules
Badminton is played in singles or doubles on a court measuring 13.40 × 6.10 m (singles have a width of 5.18 m).
The net is 1.55 m high at the sidelines and 1.524 m high in the middle of the court.
Before the match, a coin toss is held; the winner chooses to serve or receive, or the side of the court, and the loser has the second choice.
The match is played best of three sets to 21 points; at 20:20 a two-point advantage is required, and at 29:29 the player who wins the 30th point wins.
The winner of the set serves first in the next set.
Players change sides after each set and in the deciding set also when one side reaches 11 points.
In singles, the player who won the previous rally always serves; at even score from the right side, at odd score from the left, always diagonally.
In doubles, serve from the right side at even score and from the left at odd score; when the serving side wins a point, the same player continues serving and swaps courts with their partner.
The server and receiver must stand inside the relevant service court, touch the ground with both feet, and must not stand on the line.
On the serve, the shuttle must be hit below waist level, first the cork, with the racquet shaft pointing downward and with a continuous forward motion.
A service fault is hitting outside the designated court, striking above the waist, failing to maintain the position, a jerky motion, missing the shuttle, or striking it with the wrong part of the racquet.
A player scores a point when the shuttle lands in the opponent's court or the opponent makes a fault.
A fault is hitting the shuttle out, into the net or below the net, hitting the ceiling or wall, touching the shuttle with the body, hitting the shuttle twice, throwing the shuttle to the other side, touching the net or posts, playing on the opponent's side, obstructing the opponent's shot at the net, or intentionally distracting them.
A let is called if the server serves before the opponent is ready, the shuttle breaks apart, it is unclear whether it landed in the court, or it hits a structure encroaching on the court.
The game must be continuous; in each set, a 1-minute break is allowed when 11 points are reached, and between sets there are 2-minute breaks.
Delaying the game is prohibited
A shuttle that touches the line is considered in.