Badminton Glossary

Badminton is a complex and challenging game, with rules that have evolved over generations. In order to fully enjoy your badminton set, it's important to understand the terminology. The following is a basic glossary of badminton terms.

• Bird or Birdie: A common name for the badminton shuttlecock.
• Court: The badminton playing area. A standard court measures 17x44 feet for singles and 20x44 feet for doubles. The service line is six feet, six inches from the badminton net on each side.
• Drive shot: A low, hard shot that travels horizontally without arc.
• Drop shot: A soft shot which arcs just over the net and drops to the ground.
• Fault: A violation of game rules, including but not limited to:
  • A serve that does not land in the service area.
  • A shot that lands outside the boundaries.
  • A player (or doubles partners) hitting the badminton shuttlecock twice before it goes over the badminton net.
  • A birdie that touches the ground before it is returned.

Let: An official break in play, caused by a minor violation such as the shuttlecock touching the badminton net. After a let, the rally is replayed and scores remain unchanged. Badminton Racket: A Yonex badminton racket is made of a lightweight durable material like aluminum or graphite. A standard aluminum badminton racket measures about seven inches across and 27 inches long. Rally: An exchange of shots leading to a point or service change. Shuttlecock: A circular piece of rubber or cork that measures one to 11/8 inches in diameter. Attached to the base is a crown of 14 to 16 feathers, often made of plastic, which keep the badminton shuttlecock aloft when hit. Side-by-side: A doubles formation in which each partner is responsible for one side of the court. Wood shot: A shot in which the badminton shuttlecock is hit by the frame of the racket instead of the strings. This shot was formerly illegal but was allowed into the game in 1963.