Different type of shots

All shots in badminton can be classified broadly into either offensive or defensive shots. Here are some of the most popular ones.

Defensive badminton shots

The Clear Shot

In this stroke, contact the shuttlecock around the middle of your racket head. The aim of the clear is to cause the shuttle to go up high in the air and land at your opponent's back court.

This is used when you need to buy more time for yourself to return to base before the next return. It is also strategic to use when your opponent is near to the fore-court, forcing him to retract to the back to retrieve the shuttle.

The Drive Shot

The drive shot is a basic flat shot, directly hit over the net. It is a powerful, quick counter-attacking shot that is easy to execute. Your racket should be held with the head facing straight ahead.

It can sometimes be strategic to aim the shot at your opponent who will be unable to react or shift his body in time as their natural reaction will be to duck the shot.

Offensive badminton shots

The Drop Shot

The drop shot is best used when the shuttle is heading towards you in the first half of your court. To perform this stroke, the player must hit the shuttle cock downwards towards the opponent's fore-court, aiming for it to go just over the net.

You want to make it look like a drive, but instead you only use a little force to push the shuttle over the net. This shot is strategic to use when the opponent is near to the back court, anticipating your stroke to be a clear or drive.

For more advanced play, if you are in the mid-court you can try slicing the shuttlecock so it will bounce nicely over the net. If the opponent is in the back court, this shot will make the opponent dash forward.

The closer the shuttle drops to the net, the harder it is to return. However, it also becomes riskier for you as it may not cross the net and cost you the rally.

The Smash Shot

The badminton smash is considered the most powerful shot in badminton and you can think of it like a drive that is angled downwards. It is best used when the shuttle when its high in the air, so it can be angled downwards.

When the shuttle comes in from a high angle, it will allow you enough time to arch and get in position to strike. At the highest point of contact, with a flick of the wrist aim the shuttle downwards in a steep gradient.

You ideally want to aim for spots furthest from your opponent, but another tactic is to aim it towards his upper torso, making it hard for him to defend.

There are other types of shots in badminton like the more advanced spinning shots, lifts and net kills. But the shots mentioned above are the core shots you should first learn to master.

Lastly, its always important to disguise your shots so will not become easy to predict. For example, your offensive shots should look like either a drive or a drop shot until the very last second. This will make it hard for your opponent to react.

Here you can see a video in which different types of shots are explained and shown:

Simplified Badminton rules

Badminton equipments are relatively inexpensive which makes it easy for new players to take up the sport. To get started, all you need is a badminton court, net, racquets and shuttlecocks.

Badminton is fun which makes it a good activity for family and friends to bond. At the same time, it is also an effective calorie-burner that not only builds strength but put your reflexes to the test. After all, players are required to run, lunge, stretch, leap and jump around the 20 x 44 feet rectangular court.

Here are some basic Badminton rules you must know and understand to play a game:

The coin toss – who goes first?

Before a tournament starts, a coin is tossed.  The winner of the coin toss will then get to choose either

1) to serve or to receive   or

2) the preferred side of the court.

The loser of the coin toss will then exercise the remaining choice. 

Service

A serve is delivered diagonally across the courts. During service, both the server and receiver must stand at diagonally opposite sides without touching the boundary lines of the badminton courts. During a serve, the point at which the racquet is allowed to come into contact with the shuttlecock must happen below the server’s waist.

Rally

A rally starts with a serve, often times continuing with a series of shots exchanged between opposing sides before it finally ends when a point is scored.

Badminton Scoring System – 3 (games) x 21 (points)

The 3 (game sets) x 21 (points) scoring system was first introduced in December 2005 and is now the official scoring system used at professional tournaments. Despite the official updates to the rules, some recreational players (particularly those who have been playing badminton for many years) still follow the traditional scoring system.

A badminton match consists of three games.

The first player/team to score 21 points wins a game.

A point is awarded to the player/team that wins the rally.

In the event that a game reaches a 20-20 score, players can only win the set by getting a 2 point lead over the opposing party e.g. 22-20, 23-21, 24-22 etc. 

In the event that the game reaches a 29-29 score, the first team to reach 30 points will win the set and take the service for the next game.

Switching sides on the court

Players/teams will switch sides on the court

At the end of the first game

At the end of the second game if there is a third game

During the third game the first player/team scores 11 points.

In the next links you can continue reading and learning about Badminton rules:

Rules of Badminton

Badminton Rules of the Badminton World Federation

Badminton equipment

If you are aiming to learn Badminton as a new sport, there are several things you should take care off before starting the game. Here are some tips that will help you:

BADMINTON EQUIPMENT

The basic equipment we will need to play this sport is:

• Badminton Raquet: They can be made of different materials, and depending on them the result when we play may vary. Balance, weight or strings tension will make your shotts better or worse depending on what you choose. There are many combinations, and it is usual that players take some time to decide which is most suited for their playing style.

• Shuttlecock: There are two types of shuttlecocks - plastic and feathered shuttlecocks. Plastic ones are far more durable compared to the feathered, which are commonly used. However, plastic shuttlecocks are only recommended for beginners who are just starting out. This is because feathered ones are expensive and dont´t work properly if the wrong technique is used. In this way, plastic shuttlecocks are good for beginners when training, and very usual for young chilndren who play this sport for recreation.

• Shoes and Attire: If your are a starter, and probably you will be one if you are reading this blog, you will not need the specific shoes and attire used in Badminton competition. The recommendation we give is to have appropiate shoes, which are sport ones, and have confortable attire which allows you to move without being bothering.