Official Badminton Terminologies You Must Know

The terminology of badminton includes official terms used to describe scoring, court areas, services, strokes, and match situations. From “love” and “deuce” to “flick serve,” “baseline,” and “smash,” each term has a specific meaning defined by the rules of the game. Understanding the sports terminology of badminton is essential for interpreting match scores, avoiding faults, and positioning yourself correctly on the court during singles and doubles play.

Learning the basic terminologies of badminton helps players follow the rally-point scoring system, execute legal serves, identify court boundaries, and apply proper shot techniques. Whether you are a beginner or a competitive player, knowing the correct badminton vocabulary ensures clearer communication, better decision-making, and improved overall gameplay.

Badminton terminologies used during a Service

1. Short – During service, if the shuttle hits the ground before reaching the short service line, it is called “short.” This results in a service fault.
2. Long – If the shuttle falls outside the baseline of the court during service, it is known as “long.” The serve is considered a fault.
3. Wide – If the shuttle falls outside the side boundaries of the court, it is called “wide.” This also results in a fault.
4. High – A high serve is hit in an upward direction to cross the net and land deep in the opponent’s court. This serve is commonly used in singles to push the opponent to the rear court.
5. Low – A low serve is played so that the shuttlecock lands close to the short service line after just passing over the net. It is widely used in doubles to prevent attacking returns.
6. Flick – A flick serve is a deceptive serve in which the shuttlecock is hit in an upward direction. The trick lies in increasing the racket speed at the last moment, making it difficult for the opponent to judge the shuttle’s trajectory and speed.
7. Drive – In this type of serve, the shuttlecock travels at high speed in a flat trajectory. The objective is to make it fast and flat to surprise the opponent.
8. Let – A let is given when the server delivers the shuttle before the receiver is ready, or when the shuttlecock gets stuck in the net. The umpire calls a “let,” and the rally is replayed without awarding a point.

Read More: Top 10 Badminton Hand Signals

Scoring Badminton Terminologies for Players

1. Point – A team earns a point when they win a rally or when the opponent commits a fault. Under the rally-point system, every rally results in a point.
2. Fault – A fault is a violation of the rules resulting in the loss of the rally. Various faults can occur, such as serving from the wrong service court, the shuttlecock landing outside the boundaries, touching the net, or hitting the shuttle twice.
3. Love – Love means zero (0 points). The game starts with the score “Love all,” which means 0–0.
4. Deuce – The game is played to 21 points. It is termed “deuce” when both players reach 20–20. From this point, a player must score two consecutive points to win the game.
5. Game Point – The game is played to 21 points. If a player or team is just one point away from winning the game, it is called a game point.
6. Match – A badminton match is typically the best of three games. The player or team that wins two out of three games wins the match.
7. Advantage – When the score reaches deuce, the player who wins the next rally is said to have the advantage. If that player wins the following rally, they win the game. If they lose it, the score returns to deuce.

Court Area Terminologies Badminton Players Use

1. Alley – The area on either side of the court that extends beyond the singles sideline. This area comes into play during doubles matches.
2. Back Alley – The area between the baseline and the long service line for doubles.
3. Baseline – The back boundary line that runs parallel to the net.
4. Short Service Line – The line adjacent to the net at the front of the court. The server must stand behind the short service line while serving.
5. Long Service Line – Located closer to the baseline than the short service line. It is positioned 2.5 feet (0.76 meters) inside the baseline in doubles, and a serve must not cross this line.
6. Central Line – A line that runs perpendicular to the net, dividing the court into left and right service courts.
7. Inner Tramline – The lines used as the side boundaries in doubles matches.
8. Outer Tramlines – Also known as the singles sidelines, these determine the width of the court in singles matches. The shuttle must land within these lines to be considered in play.
9. Forecourt – The area between the net and the short service line, where net shots are typically played.
10. Rear Court – The area beyond the long service line extending up to the baseline.
11. Mid-Court – The middle section of the court between the forecourt and rear court.
12. Service Court – The area from which a player serves and where the shuttle must land during service.
13. Base Position – The central position on the court where players return after playing each shot, allowing better court coverage.

Badminton Terminologies During the Rally

1. Rally – A rally occurs when players hit the shuttle back and forth until one side commits a fault or fails to return the shuttle.
2. Attacking Clear – An attacking clear is a fast and flat clear played aggressively to pressure the opponent rather than simply returning the shuttle high.
3. Carry – A carry is an illegal shot where the shuttle remains on the racket momentarily before being hit.
4. Forehand Strokes – Forehand strokes are played with the front of the hand, using the palm side of the grip.
5. Backhand Strokes – Backhand strokes are played with the back of the hand facing outward, using the knuckle side for control.

Terminology for Badminton Shots

1. Air Shot – An air shot occurs when a player attempts to hit the shuttle but completely misses it.
2. Drop Shot – A drop shot is played softly and close to the net, causing the shuttlecock to fall just over the net and land near the opponent’s forecourt. It forces the opponent to move forward quickly.
3. Clear – To clear the shuttle means sending it high and deep into the opponent’s court, either to gain time or reset the rally.
4. Follow Through – Follow through refers to the natural continuation of the racket movement after striking the shuttlecock. A proper follow-through ensures better power, balance, and accuracy. (It does not mean hitting the shuttle after it has stopped.)
5. Half-Court Shot – A shot hit low and targeted toward the opponent’s mid-court area, whether it is a drop, clear, drive, or other stroke.
6. High-Lift Shot – A defensive shot played from the forecourt or mid-court that sends the shuttle high and deep into the opponent’s rear court. Playing a high lift to the centre limits the opponent’s angles and reduces attacking options.
7. Jump Smash – A powerful attacking shot where a player jumps off the ground to generate extra force and a sharper downward angle while executing a smash.
8. Half Smash – A shot combining elements of a smash and a drop shot. It is played with less power than a full smash but more than a drop shot, often used for deception and placement.
9. Tap – A tap is a quick forecourt shot used to finish a rally and score a point. It is an effective stroke and can have a similar impact to a smash when executed correctly.

Conclusion

Badminton has diverse terminologies that every player should be aware of. Understanding these official terms helps you improve your game awareness, avoid unnecessary faults, and communicate effectively during matches. This blog provides a simple explanation of common badminton terminologies that players use while playing or watching the game.

Now that you know the language of badminton, it’s time to flaunt your learning in your next match. Book a court for your next game with Playo and start playing smarter!

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