Badminton is one of the most popular sports worldwide, captivating a global audience with its fast-paced nature and thrilling gameplay.

Its presence in multi-sport events like the Olympics, where it has been a fixture since the Barcelona 1992 Olympics, has only boosted its popularity. The sport now features five disciplines, with the addition of mixed doubles at the Atlanta 1996 Olympics.

The Global Reach of Badminton

China has been the dominant force in badminton, securing 20 golds, 12 silvers, and 15 bronze medals at the Olympics. Indonesia follows closely behind with eight golds, six silvers, and seven bronze medals. While badminton thrives in Asia, Europe also boasts a strong presence, with Denmark frequently challenging for top honors.

Badminton Rules: Understanding the Basics

The rules of badminton, as outlined by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), are designed to ensure fair play and excitement. The sport can be played in singles or doubles formats, with two players in singles and four in doubles.

Badminton Scoring System

Matches are best-of-three games, with the first side to reach 21 points winning the game. Points are awarded on every serve, and the winning side serves next. If the score reaches 20-20, a side must win by at least two points to win the game. A tie at 29-29 results in the first player to score 30 points winning the game.

Change of Ends in Badminton

Players change ends under specific conditions. At the end of the first game, players switch ends. In a third game, they change ends when one side reaches 11 points.

Winning a Point in Badminton

A point is won when the birdie (shuttlecock) lands in the opponent's half of the court, including the lines. Points are lost if the birdie goes out of bounds, hits the net, or a player strikes it twice.

5 Common Beginner Badminton Mistakes Aylex

Video by Badminton Academy

How to Serve in Badminton

The serve must be made below waist height and diagonally into the opponent’s service box. In singles, players serve from the right service court when the score is even and from the left when the score is odd. In doubles, players alternate sides, and the team who wins the point serves next.

Badminton Court Dimensions

In singles, the court measures 13.41 meters (44 feet) long and 5.18 meters (17 feet) wide. In doubles, the width extends to 6.1 meters (20 feet). The net stands at 1.55 meters (5 feet 1 inch) at the ends and dips to 1.52 meters (5 feet) in the middle.

The Badminton Birdie (Shuttlecock)

The birdie, or shuttlecock, is unique to badminton. Made of 16 feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base, its cone shape ensures that it flies cork-first when struck. The birdie weighs between 4.74 and 5.5 grams and is between 62-70mm in length.