Getting Started Guide to Badminton

Rules of Badminton

General Rules

  • The game can be played in singles or doubles formats.

During Service

  • Serves must be hit below 1.15 meters from the surface of the court.
  • Both feet must remain in contact with the ground during the serve.
  • You cannot touch the net with your body or racket while serving.

During Rallies

  • You must hit the shuttlecock over the net into the opponent’s court to continue the rally.
  • If the shuttle lands out of bounds, you lose the point.
  • Double hits or carrying the shuttle are faults.
  • You cannot touch the net with your body or racket during play.

The Badminton Scoring System

  • A point is scored on every rally (rally scoring system).

Serving Positions

  • Even score (0, 2, 4, ... 20): serve from the right side.
  • Odd score (1, 3, 5, ... 19): serve from the left side.

Winning a Game

  • The first player to reach 21 points wins the game, unless:
    • At 20-20, a player must win by 2 points.
    • At 29-29, the player who reaches 30 points wins.

What Essential Equipment Do I Need in Badminton?

  • Racket - lightweight and easy to handle.
  • Shuttlecock
    • Plastic (durable, beginner-friendly).
    • Feather (better performance, less durable).
  • Court and net - standard badminton setup.
  • Shoes - non-marking soles with good grip.
  • Clothing - lightweight, breathable, and flexible.

Badminton Basic Skills You Should Learn

While playing matches, focus on these fundamentals:

Grip

  • Forehand grip
  • Backhand grip

Serves

  • Low serve
  • High serve

Attacking Shots

  • Smash: powerful downward shot to win the point.
  • Drop shot: soft shot that lands just over the net.

Defensive / Control Shots

  • Clear: high shot that sends the shuttle deep into the opponent’s court.
  • Lift: defensive shot from the front court that sends the shuttle high to the back court.

Movement

  • Footwork: moving quickly and efficiently around the court.