History of the game: Badminton

The beginnings of badminton can be traced to mid-18th century British India, where it was
created by British military officers stationed there. Early photographs show Englishmen
adding a net to the traditional English game of battledore and shuttlecock. The sport is
related to ball badminton, which originated in Tamil Nadu, and is similar to Hanetsuki which
originated in Japan. Being particularly popular in the British garrison town Poona (now Pune),
the game also came to be known as Poona. Initially, balls of wool referred as ball badminton
were preferred by the upper classes in windy or wet conditions, but ultimately the
shuttlecock stuck. This game was taken by retired officers back to England where it
developed and rules were set out.
Although it appears clear that Badminton House, Gloucestershire, owned by the Duke of
Beaufort, has given its name to the sports, it is unclear when and why the name was
adopted. As early as 1860, Isaac Spratt, a London toy dealer, published a booklet,
Badminton Battledore a new game, but unfortunately no copy has survived. An 1863
article in The Cornhill Magazine describes badminton as "battledore and shuttlecock played
with sides, across a string suspended some five feet from the ground". This early use has
cast doubt on the origin through expatriates in India, though it is known that it was popular
there in the 1870s and that the first rules were drawn up in Poonah in 1873. Another source
cites that it was in 1877 at Karachi in (British) India, where the first attempt was made to
form a set of rules.
As early as 1875, veterans returning from India started a club in Folkestone. Until 1887, the
sport was played in England under the rules that prevailed in British India. The Bath
Badminton Club standardized the rules and made the game applicable to English ideas.
J.H.E. Hart drew up revised basic regulations in 1887 and, with Bagnel Wild, again in 1890. In
1893, the Badminton Association of England published the first set of rules according to
these regulations, similar to today's rules, and officially launched badminton in a house
called "Dunbar" at 6 Waverley Grove, Portsmouth, England on September 13 of that year.
They also started the All England Open Badminton Championships, the first badminton
competition in the world, in 1899.
The International Badminton Federation (IBF) (now known as Badminton World Federation)
was established in 1934 with Canada, Denmark, England, France, the Netherlands, Ireland,
New Zealand, Scotland, and Wales as its founding members. India joined as an affiliate in
1936. The BWF now governs international badminton and develops the sport globally.
While initiated in England, competitive men's badminton in Europe has traditionally been
dominated by Denmark. Asian nations, however, have been the most dominant ones
worldwide. Indonesia, South Korea, China, and Malaysia along with Denmark are among the
nations that have consistently produced world-class players in the past few decades, with
China being the greatest force in both men's and women's competition in recent years.

Equipments and facilities

Racquets
Badminton racquets are lightweight, with top quality racquets weighing between 70 and
95 grams (2.4 to 3.3 ounces) not including grip or strings. They are composed of many
different materials ranging from carbon fibre composite (graphite reinforced plastic) to solid
steel, which may be augmented by a variety of materials. Carbon fibre has an excellent
strength to weight ratio, is stiff, and gives excellent kinetic energy transfer. Before the
adoption of carbon fibre composite, racquets were made of light metals such as aluminium.
Earlier still, racquets were made of wood. Cheap racquets are still often made of metals such
as steel, but wooden racquets are no longer manufactured for the ordinary market, because
of their excessive mass and cost. Nowadays, nanomaterials such as fullerene and carbon
nanotubes are added to rackets giving them greater durability
Strings
Badminton strings are thin, high performing strings in the range of about 0.62 to 0.73 mm
thickness. Thicker strings are more durable, but many players prefer the feel of thinner
strings. String tension is normally in the range of 80 to 160 N (18 to 36 lbf). Recreational
players generally string at lower tensions than professionals, typically between 80 and 110 N
(18 and 25 lbf). Professionals string between about 110 and 160 N (25 and 36 lbf). Some
string manufacturers measure the thickness of their strings under tension so they are
actually thicker then than specified when slack. Ashaway Micropower is actually 0.7mm but
Yonex BG-66 is about 0.72mm.
Grip
The choice of grip allows a player to increase the thickness of his racquet handle and choose
a comfortable surface to hold. A player may build up the handle with one or several grips
before applying the final layer.
Players may choose between a variety of grip materials. The most common choices are PU
synthetic grips or towelling grips. Grip choice is a matter of personal preference. Players
often find that sweat becomes a problem; in this case, a drying agent may be applied to the
grip or hands, sweatbands may be used, the player may choose another grip material or
change his grip more frequently.
There are two main types of grip: replacement grips and overgrips. Replacement grips are
thicker, and are often used to increase the size of the handle. Overgrips are thinner (less
than 1 mm), and are often used as the final layer. Many players, however, prefer to use
replacement grips as the final layer. Towelling grips are always replacement grips.
Replacement grips have an adhesive backing, whereas overgrips have only a small patch of
adhesive at the start of the tape and must be applied under tension; overgrips are more
convenient for players who change grips frequently, because they may be removed more
rapidly without damaging the underlying material.
Shuttlecock
A shuttlecock (often abbreviated to shuttle; also called a birdie) is a high-drag projectile,
with an open conical shape: the cone is formed from sixteen overlapping feathers embedded
into a rounded cork base. The cork is covered with thin leather or synthetic material.

Synthetic shuttles are often used by recreational players to reduce their costs as feathered
shuttles break easily. These nylon shuttles may be constructed with either natural cork or
synthetic foam base, and a plastic skirt.
Shoes
Badminton shoes are lightweight with soles of rubber or similar high-grip, non-marking
materials.
Compared to running shoes, badminton shoes have little lateral support. High levels of
lateral support are useful for activities where lateral motion is undesirable and unexpected.
Badminton, however, requires powerful lateral movements. A highly built-up lateral support
will not be able to protect the foot in badminton; instead, it will encourage catastrophic
collapse at the point where the shoe's support fails, and the player's ankles are not ready for
the sudden loading, which can cause sprains. For this reason, players should choose
badminton shoes rather than general trainers or running shoes, because proper badminton
shoes will have a very thin sole, lower a person's centre of gravity, and therefore result in
fewer injuries. Players should also ensure that they learn safe and proper footwork, with the
knee and foot in alignment on all lunges. This is more than just a safety concern: proper
footwork is also critical in order to move effectively around the court.
Court
The area of play, as defined by the outer boundary lines.
Net
The net is made of fine cord, dark in colour and of an even thickness, with a mesh.
Posts
The posts are used to hold the net in place.

Terminologies

Attacking clear : An offensive stroke hit deep into the opponent's court.
Backcourt : Back third of the court, in the area of the back boundary lines.
Backhand : The stroke used to return balls hit to the left of a right-handed player and to the
right of a left-handed player.
Base position : The location in the centre of the court to which a singles player tries to
return after each shot; also called "centre position".
Baseline : The back boundary line at each end of the court, parallel to the net.
Carry : An illegal stroke in which the shuttle is not hit, but caught and held on the racket
before being released; also called a "sling" or "throw".

Centre line : A line perpendicular to the net that separates the left and right service courts.
Clear : A shot hit deep into the opponent's court.
Doubles : A game where a team of two players play against another team of two.
Doubles sideline : The side boundary of a doubles court.
Drive : A fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net.
Drop shot : A shot hit softly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net in the
opponent's court.
Fault : A violation of the playing rules.
Feint : Any deceptive movement that disconcerts an opponent before or during the serve;
also called a "balk".
Flick : A quick wrist-and-forearm rotation used to surprise an opponent by changing an
apparently soft shot into a faster passing shot.
Forecourt : The front third of the court, between the net and the short service line.
Forehand : The stroke used to return a ball hit to the right of a right-handed player and to
the left of a left-handed player.
Game : The part of a set completed when one player or side has scored enough points to
win a single contest.
Hairpin net shot : A shot made from below and very close to the net and causing the
shuttle to rise, just clear the net, then drop sharply down the other side so that the flight of
the shuttlecock resembles the shape of a hairpin.
Halfcourt shot : A shot hit low and to midcourt, used effectively in doubles play against the
up-and-back formation.
High clear : A defensive shot hit deep into the opponent's court.
Kill : Fast downward shot that cannot be returned.
Let : A minor violation of the rules allowing a rally to be replayed.
Long Service Line : In singles, the back boundary line. In doubles a line 2-1/2 feet inside
the back boundary line. The serve may not go past this line.
Match : A series of games to determine a winner.
Midcourt : The middle third of the court, halfway between the net and the back boundary

line.
Net shot : A shot hit from the forecourt that just clears the net and drops sharply.
Passing shot : A shot which passes the opposing player or team.
Push shot : A gentle shot played by pushing the shuttlecock with a little wrist motion.
Rally : The exchange of shots that decides each point.
Serve : The stroke used to put the shuttlecock into play at the start of each rally; also called
a "service".
Service court : The area into which a service must be delivered. Different for singles and
doubles.
Set : To choose to extend a game beyond its normal ending score if the score is tied with
one point to go.
Short service line : The front line of the service courts 1.98 metres from the net. Singles :
A game where one player plays against another player.
Singles sideline : The side boundary of a singles court.
Smash : A hard-hit overhead shot that forces the shuttle sharply downwards into the
opponent's court.
Wood shot : A legal shot in which the shuttle hits the frame of the racket.