Badminton Terms That Are Always Used in the Game

To know more about badminton, you need to know the Terms in Badminton of the International standard.

Actually, there are many terms used in the game of Badminton. But sometimes, among the many terms that only a few of them are commonly used.

Terms from A to Z

Alley – A 1.5-foot area left and right field for playing doubles in badminton. Playground area where the shuttle can be counted in or out at various times in every game.

Side alley – This is an area of the game on both sides of the field between the sideline to sideline for a single and double.

Back Alley – Area between the back boundary line as long service line for doubles.

Backcourt – Areas of the field that is underlined at the rear boundary.

Bulk or Feint – Any movement to outwit or deceive an opponent before or during the service.

Baseline – The line at the rear end of the field, parallel to the net.

Backhand – Any return or shot made from a non-dominant side of the body. Swing to the back of the hand is released to the position facing forward. For right-handed players (right-handed), the alias is not left-handed, backhand made to return the shuttle that led to the left side of the body.

Backhand grip – How you hold the racket to hit the shuttle from any side that is not the dominant side. In badminton, the shot is usually done with a handshake or a pistol grip, with the thumb held the dominant position heading up on the top side of the racket handle.

Backswing – part of racket swings that move toward the back in preparation to do the forward swing.

Base – The point near the middle of the field that you should target most of all returns of the shuttle.

Bird – The object that hit the badminton racket as a sign that the rally began. Same with the shuttle or shuttlecock.

Carry or Sling or Throw – An illegal stroke where a player is not hitting the shuttle but caught and held it on the racket before releasing it.

Center of Base position – position of the center field for a single player to return after each shot.

Centre Line – The line that divides the field into two parts.

Clear – Stroke that shot precise and accurate underlined to opponents back boundary.

Court – Badminton field used to play the game.

Crosscourt – Return or a direct shot of the shuttle across the court.

A double hit occurs when the shuttle is struck twice in quick succession on the same shot, and it is a fault (double whammy).

Drive serve – Strong and fast service across the net with a flat trajectory usually directed at the opponent’s shoulder. This service is more commonly used in doubles.

Drive – A stroke with a fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net. Return or direct hit the shuttle in a relatively flat trajectory, parallel to the floor, but hit high enough to get through the net.

Dropshot – A deadly shot with light power is released. The shuttle fell swoop in a similar movement. Hit softly and falling fast to the opponent’s court in front of the net.

Chair Umpire – Referee in badminton matches, took the lead from a high chair near the nets line.

Championship Point – The final figure required one player to win a championship.

Deep Service – Services soar sharp angles toward the ground to force the opponent to return the shuttle with a defensive lob.

Deuce – The position of the numbers game should be the same as the point or match point for either party.

Fault – Any violation of the rules. Error rules, be it service or the reception or during the game.

Forecourt – Area field in front, between the net and the short service line.

Flick serve or return – The quick return service that starts with a flat wrist lobbed the shuttle high into the air far beyond the opponent’s reach to the edge of the opponent’s field. The shot is usually used in the doubles if your opponent has consistently cut services.

Follow or through – Continued shot after contacting the shuttle. (Final movement)

Forehand – Any return or hit made from the dominant side of the body. Shots were released with the natural hand position. (Opposite of backhand).

Forehand grip—How you hold the racket to return the shuttle from the dominant side. Grip handshake or a pistol grip forehand is the most common in the game of badminton.

Frontcourt – Approximately 11 feet (3.35 meters) from the first pitch on both sides or the middle of the net.

Footwork – Mechanical movement of the foot.

Game Point – The final point required by a player to finish a game (set).

Game – The game that has targeted several specific points.

Hairpin net shot – Shot down very close to the net with the shuttle rising and fall right to an opponent’s court.

Halfcourt shot – A low shot in the mid-court used in doubles to play against the formation of Up and Back.

Hairpin drop shot – Forms of strokes from the drop being played near the net where the shuttle moves up on one side of the net and moves down to the other side to form a sharp trajectory.

Hands down – This refers to the loss of a chance in service. One hand down means the first player to lose service. Two hands mean that both players lost their serve to indicate the turn of the shuttle (service over). Services start at double game starts with one hand down.

Hartrick – Something that is done three times in a row.

Inning – Turn individual or team to perform or restore the service from one side of the field.

IBF – International Badminton Federation is the governing body for the game of badminton around the world. (International Badminton Federation).

* Now the name has changed to BWF (Badminton World Federation).

Jumping Smash – Smash released with a jumping. Tend to be very sharp.

Kill or put away – A fast and low shot that the opponent cannot return.

Let – Stop permit valid during the repeated game—a form of intervention in which the numbers are forced to play again.

Long Service Line – Back boundary line in a single game. The line is 2.5 feet for the double game, which doubles players cannot serve over this line.

Love – In the assessment, meaning empty or no figures obtained.

Love all –  Start with zero points or no point was obtained.

Linesmen – Judge line. Judge if the shuttle is falling inside or outside the field.

Lob –  The shot that plays from the forecourt in an underarm action. When it is offensive, it is used to marginalize opponents to the corner. When it is defensive, it’s used to improve your opponent’s position while chasing a lob.

Match Point – The final point required by a player to win a match.

Match – Games to determine the winner.

Midcourt – A third of the field, halfway between the net and the back boundary line.

Match – The match that has a certain amount of games. To win the match, you usually have to win two out of three games.

Mixed doubles – Games in which the male and female players play in pairs.

Net shot – Hit close to the net to make the shuttle fall rapidly to the opposite court—every return on the net and the shuttle to the ground. The term can also be used for each return stroke drop made from the net.

Net Clear – Hit the shuttle close to the net to end the game. It is an underarm clear that is performed very close to the net.

Net Drop – The shuttle lands on the top of the net and to the opponent’s side.

Overhead – Strokes were released above the racket head. Every stroke that is made is above the height of the head. It is a return placement to hit a specific point on the ground where the opponent will be difficult to return the shot.

Push shot – Return or shot that is gently pushed into the opponent’s field. In the doubles, beating usually means passing an opponent near the net. The shuttle was pushed with wrist movement, usually close to the net or in the middle of the court.

Rally Point – The scoring system in badminton where every dead shuttle produces a number does not require transfer service (service over) like in the old system.

Rubber Set – Circumstances when each player won a game (set) needed a third set to determine the winner.

Racket (Racquet) – A tool used for players to hit the shuttlecock. The length of the racket is 680mm (27 inches). Most of the rackets are made of Steel, Aluminum, Fiber, and Titanium. The racket head is strung with synthetic strings.

Rally – This term refers to the shuttle exchange across the net between opposing players in scoring each point.

Ready position – This is the basic position for players waiting near the middle of the court. It is equidistant from all points of the field. This position will provide the best opportunity to achieve all returns from the opponent.

Receiver – Any player who receives services.

Return – Any method of beating to return the shuttle across the net towards the opponent.

Serve or service – The act of putting the shuttle in play at the beginning of the rally.

Server – The player who first hit out the shuttle (The player who did the service).

Service court – One of the two court parts is separated by a net in which the service should be directed. There are left and right service fields for a single and a double game. The field has a different size and shape.

Service over – You lose the service, the service shift over to your opponent.

Short service line – This is the front line measured at 6 feet, and the shuttle must land 6 inches (1.98 meters) from the net on both sides, where all serve.

Shuttle or shuttlecock – Objects used in the game of badminton. It is generally made of goose feathers.

Side out – Loss of service. Same with the service over, moving service, or two hands down in the doubles.

Singles service court – This is the service area where a single service should be removed. Both sides of the badminton court have the right and the left service court for singles. Both are constrained by the field service short service line, the centerline, the sideline for singles, and the back boundary line.

Singles sideline – The sideline on a court determines the boundary of a single game. The court for playing singles is 17 feet (5.18 meters) for the width ranged from the left side of the line to the right side.

Smash – Returns or overhead shots were struck downwards towards the opponent’s field with speed and force. Deadly shot with strong power released, so the shuttle dip in a very sharp slicing motion.

Stroke – The action to hit the shuttle with your racket.

Service Judge – Legitimacy Trustees serve players; sitting low across the field with the chair umpire. Service declared valid if the position is below the waist racket while hitting the shuttle.

Straight Sets – Matches are straight finish in straight sets.

Thomas Cup – The world championship men’s team is almost the same as the Davis Cup in tennis. First held in 1948. Thomas Cup Championships are held every two years, ending in even numbers.

Uber Cup – Uber Cup is the world championship daughter team. Championship began in 1957 and was named after former England, Mrs. H.S. Uber. This championship is also held every two years in the year ending in an even number.

Unforced Error – Errors are not necessary. They occur because of the carelessness of the player.

That’s a handful of terms in a Badminton game. If a term has not been mentioned here, please do let me know by submitting your comment in the comments field. I will add them to the list.