A GAME OF STRATEGY AND
SKILL
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What
is badminton?
Who can play?
Dressing the part
Badminton court and equipment
How to play badminton?
Body language
Strategy of badminton
References
What is badminton?
If your conception of badminton is a
quiet backyard barbecue game, you've never seen the pros in action. While
this team sport is certainly quieter than bowling and less violent than
football, players can work up quite a sweat. If it's a good aerobic
workout you are looking for, step out onto the badminton court. Faster
than a game of tennis, players can burn 600 to 1,000 calories an hour!
In the United States, where sports coverage
centres on baseball,
basketball, football and hockey. But in Europe and Asia, professional
badminton players get plenty of attention. In fact, in Indonesia, top
badminton players take in the kind of money only players like Michael
Jordan and Derek Jeter earn here in the U.S.
In any case, badminton is lots of fun and
players, with even a moderate amount of skill, can jump right in and
enjoy not only the social aspects of team play but also the fantastic
health benefits of a great cardiovascular workout.
Badminton is played with a shuttlecock,
also called a shuttle or bird, which is hit back and forth across a net by
players using rackets.
Who can play?
The game of badminton is such a popular
backyard party game because most novices find it very easy. You can take
up the game as a small child or even well into your senior years because
beginners can start with simple volleys back and forth and graduate to
faster, more advanced games as they refine their skills.
Dressing the part
Badminton players generally think about a
few things when dressing for a game. You want to be able to move and lunge
quickly, so try loose-fitting comfortable attire. Dressing the part
sometimes helps to boost confidence so you may consider going to a sports
clothing store where you can check out badminton outfits. If you are
playing correctly, you will be perspiring a lot. Protect yourself in all
types of weather by making sure your clothing easily absorbs sweat.
Professional badminton rules say that
players must wear white, but for your backyard game, you could probably
consider making this an option!
Badminton court and equipment
Along with the physical ability to run on
the court and swing a racket, there are a few things you will need to play
badminton. You need a badminton racket and a shuttlecock, a small rounded
piece of cork or rubber with a conical crown of feathers or plastic. You
will also need a court and a net. You can play indoors if you want, but
you will need proper lighting to assure that all players can see the
shuttlecock sail through the air.
The court
The game can be played on a court that is
any size and shape. (Professional badminton, however, is played on a court
that measures 20 feet wide by 44 feet long.) A net, or string (if you don't happen to have a net lying around) is placed five feet off the ground
spanning the width of the centre of the court.
The racket
There are no specific rules governing the
type or size of badminton racket that players can use. However, racket
manufacturers have devised a standard: a racket of 26 inches in length and
weighing 4.5 to 5.5 ounces. While rackets used to be made of wood, most
backyard models are made with metal and nylon.
Many manufacturers make sets that include
the net, racket and shuttlecocks so you can grab some team mates and get
started!
How do you play badminton?
Similar to tennis, badminton is a racket
sport for two or four players. Two people play a singles set while four
players take to the court in teams of two for doubles play. The object of
the game is to get to 15 in men's games and 11 in women's games. Points
are scored when the shuttlecock is successfully served or hit, but not
returned. The first team to win two matches wins the game.
Here are the basics of badminton play:
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The first serve of the game is from
the right half court to the half diagonally opposite.
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If the receiving side commits a fault,
the serving side gets a point and continues to serve. If the serving
side commits a fault, no point is scored.
-
In singles, the serve shifts to the
opponent. In doubles, one partner serves until his side commits a
fault, then his teammate serves.
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In both singles and doubles, the serve
is made alternately from the right half and the left half sides of the
court, as in tennis. In doubles, the players on the receiving side do
not shift half courts between serves.
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Opponents change court ends after each
game. The winning side serves first.
Other points to note:
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In a 15-point game, when the game is
tied at 13-13, the side that first reached 13 has the option of
extending to 18 points. If this option is declined, the game may be
set at 17 points when the score reaches 14-all. In women. s singles,
the game may be extended to 12 points if the score becomes 9-all or
10-all.
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A one-game match, usually to 21, can
be extended to 24 at 19-all and to 23 if tied at 20. Extending the
game is a strategic decision that sometimes gives the player receiving
serve a chance to come back and win.
Badminton faults
There are three ways a player can cause a
fault in the game of badminton. A fault occurs when the server a) strikes
the shuttlecock at a point higher than his waist; b) holds the racket head
higher than his hand; or c) fails to serve the shuttlecock in the proper
court.
Improper use of the shuttlecock is also
cause for a fault. These faults occur when the shuttle: a) passes through
or under the net; b) lands out of bounds; c) hits the ceiling or
sidewalks; or d) the shuttlecocks touches the clothing or body of a
player.
Body language
The game of badminton is really a game of
body language. The way a player grips the racket, moves around the court
and shoots the shuttlecock can be the difference between winning and
losing.
Gripping the racket: There are two basic
grips from which all badminton shots are hit, the forehand and the
backhand. When a player knows the difference between the shots, it's much
easier to play and it's much easier to win!
For a forehand grip, take the racket in
your left hand, holding it in front of you by the throat, parallel with
the ground and with the strings perpendicular to the ground. Put the flat
of your right hand against the strings, slide that hand down to the butt
of the handle and then close the fingers as though you are shaking hands
with the handle. Handle and swing the racket as though it. s an extension
of your arms.
For the best backhand grip, take the
correct forehand position with your arm extended. Bend your elbow so that
your racket is across your body at the chest level with the strings
perpendicular to the ground. Hold the racket firmly with your left hand
and rotate your right hand toward your body until the thumb and the first
finger "V" is in line with the two central main strings of the
racket. Keeping your four fingers in place, move your thumb upward until
it is on the handle and in line with those two middle strings.
Fancy footwork: While badminton is mainly
an overhead game, a player has to know how to move on the court to get to
the shuttlecock. Professional badminton players have what they call a
"stance of readiness." From this stance, immediate movement in
all directions is possible. The basic stance involves having your feet
parallel and even with your shoulders. Point your toes toward the net,
bend your knees slightly and keep you racket in your hand with your arm
resting across the front of your body.
Badminton players move around the court
area in a series of fast moves including pushing off from the stance, a
fast bouncing shuffle and a lunge, similar to a familiar fencer. s move.
From all of these positions, however, the player can easily bounce back
into the "stance of readiness."
Striking the shuttle: The game of
badminton includes a variety of strokes . some aimed at basic play and
others used by advanced players. The main strokes, however, are done in
forehand and backhand. If you want to get good at this game, having a
flexible wrist and perfecting your forehand and backhand play are
essential.
Striking the shuttle consists of three
parts: the back swing, the forward swing and hit, and the follow-through.
Regardless of which stroke is used, the shuttle should be hit high and
early. Once you are able to hit the shuttle using the basic swings, you
can start perfecting the basic badminton shots: clear, drop, smash and
drive.
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Clear: This shot is the most common
and can be offensive, moving your opponent back from the net or
defensive, gaining time to improve your own position.
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Drop: This shot is a slow, gentle shot
that falls just over the net into the opponent. s forecast.
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Smash: This shot is a powerful
overhead shot used to put away a shuttle that is above the height of
the net.
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Drive: This is a line-drive shot that
travels parallel to the ground, passing close over the net.
Strategy of badminton
While a great game of social and physical
conditioning, don't let badminton fool you! It's quite a workout for the
mind, as well. Strategy is key in the game of badminton and the game
requires constant thinking and planning. Each shot of the shuttle has a
purpose and a good player keeps his or her eye on the entire court at all
times.
As you perfect your badminton game, your
strategy will naturally mature. However, beginners should adopt a basic
strategy of alternating clear and drop shots, adding smashes and drives as
the opportunity develops. Try to keep your opponent on the defensive and
remember the following simple points:
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Always return to the "stance of
readiness" position after each shot;
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Be prepared to move in any direction
at all times;
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Hit every possible shot overhead;
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Move the shuttlecock around the court
to keep your opponents running;
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Have a purpose with each shot.
And, finally, and perhaps most important
in any game of skill and strategy, discover your opponents weaknesses and
play to it as much as possible.
References
United States Badminton Association
"Badminton: A handbook of all the
rules, strategies, tips and techniques that you need to be a better
player;" Steven Boga, Stackpole Books, 1996.
"Beginning Badminton," Judy
Hashman and C.M. Jones, Arco Publishing Co., 1977.
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