How to Practice Etiquette in Badminton
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------As with most sports, in badminton there is an unwritten etiquette that should always be
observed on the court.
1. Introduce yourself to your opponent before you begin a match.
2. Cooperate with your opponent during the warm-up, so everyone has a chance to hit
each type of shot before you begin an actual match.
3. Call all faults on your side of the net fairly and objectively. Your opponent should do
the same. Respect your opponent's calls. This game works on the honor system so there is
no replay.
4. If you feel that your opponent has not called a shot appropriately then you may only
approach the net and ask politely if they are sure they know the appropriate boundaries or
applicable rule.
5. When you hit an illegal shot such as slinging the shuttle, touching the net, or any
other illegal action, make sure to call it right away.
6. Return the shuttle to your opponent with a soft underhand stroke when she scores on
your side of the court.
7. Avoid talking to or otherwise distracting your opponent while the shuttle is in play.
8. Announce the score before you serve. Announces the server's score first and the
receiver's second.
9. Maintain a calm temperament on the court at all times, no matter how frustrated you
may be.
10. Shake hands with your opponent at the end of the match.
Tips:

Practice good etiquette even when your opponent neglects to.

The objective of the game is to win, but the point of playing is to have fun.
Court Boundaries
Skill cues
Grip

Shake hands with racket and pull the trigger. "V" w/thumb and index finger.
Serve

Forehand grip, forward stride and knees flexed

Take racket back waist high, cock wrist on short serves and uncock wrist on long
serves

Release shuttle on forward swing and follow through. Contact below waist.
Overhead clear

Drop racket arm behind shoulder, cock your wrist, and weight on back foot.

Shift weight to front foot.

Contact in front of body with racket face open and follow through down.
Lunge clear

Make a semicircle pattern with racket face open.

Shift weight from back to front foot.

Follow through high.
Smash

Same cues as overhead clear. Tighten grip and reach high. Contact shuttle in front
of forward foot.

Shift weight to back foot and take racket back.

Shift weight forward into stroke and whip racket up and into falling shuttle.

Contact with a closed racket face and follow through.
Drop shot

Begin stroke with the same mechanics as overhead clear and smash.

Contact shuttle with a square racket face in front of the body.

Slow speed of the racket just prior to contact.

Follow through slightly so shuttle barely clears the net and drops in the front court
Badminton Basic Rules
Birdies that land on the line are good and considered “in”
Whoever serves first depends on the “toss” – a spin of a racket, flip of a coin, or
drop of a birdie. Winner of the toss gets choice of serve or receive or choice of
side
Players play best of 3 games to a score of 21 using point-a-rally scoring
Must win by 2 with a cap at 30
If the servers score is even they serve from the right court (0,2,4…)
If the servers score is odd they serve from the left court (1,3,5…)
Players must serve to the diagonal court
The shuttle must be below the waist at the point of contact during the serve
Doubles service: You serve until you lose a rally. When you win your next rally
your partner serves next. You only rotate when you have the serve and earn
another point.
It shall be a fault if the shuttle: is caught on the net, touches the person or dress
of a player, is caught and then slung on the racket, is hit twice by same player
and/or their partner.
It shall be a fault if the player or their racket, touch the net. Also a fault is when a
player makes contact with the shuttle on their opponent’s side of the net.
DAY 1: Etiquette, Grip, and Overhand Clear

Badminton stretches and warm up run for 5 minutes while waiting

Meet by the blackboard board by the equipment doors

Discuss "before class" routine
1. After you dress, read board and find specified task
2. 5 laps and badminton stretches
3. Boys go to boys cart and girls to girls cart and a get a birdie
4. Students work on what the teacher has specified
5. Only work on specified item from board
o
o
o

Go over safety items

Avoid swinging the racket when not in an assigned
working area

Avoid retrieving shuttles when others are rallying

Report any defective equipment to the teacher

Watch out for people walking through your court
Discuss racket care

Look for broken strings or broken racket parts

Report any damaged rackets to the teacher

Do not throw rackets in the air

Do not hit things with the racket

Always place racket in correct spot when class is done
Discuss birdie care
Introduce students to the playing court
o
Side lines and end lines
o
Open areas between and behind courts
o
How to walk to the other side of the gym without disrupting
games and where to sit while watching
o
Short and long service lines
o
Odd and even courts for serving
o

Rule of the day: Starting the game
o
Who serves first? Depends on “the toss”
o
Winner of the toss has the option of
o


a) serving/receiving first, or;

b) choosing which side of the court to start on
Decided by:

1. Flip a coin

2. Spin of racket

3. Drop of birdie
o
1st team only gets one chance to serve
o
2nd team, both partners get a chance to serve
Introduce grip
o
o

Net and not to touch the net at any time
Forehand/Backhand

"Shake hands" type of grip

Face of racket perpendicular to floor

Little finger should be at the end or "butt" of the racket

A "V" will be formed by the thumb and pointer finger on
top of the racket handle
Footwork

Ready position --- good athletic stance

The first step --- cross over step

Turn sideways for shot

Return back to the center of your half of court

Use short steps
Open volley – Overhand clear and grip
Day 2: Review Overhand Clear / Drops / Lunge clear

After coming out of locker room, students check black board, then
go to assigned courts to work on:

5 min run and badminton stretches

Meet at black board with coop partner – Review boundaries
o
Rule of the day: Line birdies are good
o
Class discusses how they think a clear (overhand) is hit
Review:

Forehand Overhead Clear

Good preparation is a must. The racket should be
taken back to the back-scratching position as one
moves into position

When the racket is taken back, it is important that
the wrist be cocked up

Turn sideways to the net

Hit the shuttle, extending as high as possible with
the racket face pointing slightly up

Transfer weight forward, snap the wrist, and
rotate the forearm at point of contact

Rotate the shoulders and hips as one would when
throwing a ball

Hit the shuttle hard.

Hit the shuttle high and deep
Drill #1: Class engages in 5 minutes of overhand clears
o
Drops -teacher note- only pick a few points for students to
work on

Drop shot
o
hit from deeper in the court
o
Preparation and look has to be the same as if one
were going to clear or smash, anything different
will tip off the opponent that you are intending to
do a drop shot
o
On the overhead motion the racket face should be
flat or pointing slightly down
o
The racket head should move slowly at point of
contact
o
The shuttle should drop immediately after
crossing just over the net
o
Deception is key – must look like a clear at first
Drill #2: Class engages in drilling one partner at a time 10X’s then switch:
Underhand serve, just behind, drop shot, recover to T, another birdie, don’t touch
the drop, coach each other with feedback
Drill #3: Serve – clear – clear – clear – Drop – new birdie

Lunge clear - Clears are defensive shots – to return
drops or net shots

Approach shuttle with it far enough away from the
body to force the hitting arm to reach slightly for
it

The racket face will be open (tilted back) at point
of contact to allow the upward trajectory. Too
much height without depth indicates too much of
an open face. A low trajectory indicates that the
racket face was too flat

Follow through with your whole body. Transfer
the weight to the front foot (same side as hitting
arm) in a lunge and lift up with the knees at point
of contact

Rotate the shoulders and hips at point of contact
to help generate power and allow the racket to
finish across the left shoulder

Concentrate on watching the birdie
Drill #4: Darts
Drill #5: Combine all 3:
Serve -Clear-Clear-Clear-Drop-Lunge Clear -- Clear-Clear-Clear-Drop-Lunge Clear

Class Closure
DAY 3: Short Flat / High Deep Serve / Drop shot

After coming out of locker room, students check black board, then
go to courts to work on:
o
Badminton Stretches
o
Grip, Serve, and Over/Underhand Clear Rally

5 laps when everyone is out (start on far side)

Coop partners meet at black board

o
Rule of the day: Net birdies that land in proper court are good
o
Service court review
o
Short and long service line
o
Service side line and middle line
o
Only person in service receiving court can hit serve
o
Service must be diagonal
o
A birdie landing on the line is good
o
Only one service try per server, unless the server misses the
birdie completely
o
Service receivers must stay in their own half of court can not
switch sides
o
Games will last until teacher says time, regular games are
played to 11 (women) or 15 (men)
o
Class discuss how they think a deep and short serve is hit
High / deep serve-teacher note-only pick 5 for students to work on
o
Stand sideways to receiver's court with feet shoulder width
apart and weight primarily on the back foot
o
Make sure the hitting wrist is cocked up as much as possible
o
Drop the shuttle far enough away from the body to force the
hitting arm to reach slightly for it
o
Drop shuttle before starting the swing
o
Be as relaxed as possible and try to generate maximum racket
head acceleration by snapping the wrist and rotating the
forearm at point of contact

o
The racket face will be open (tilted back) at point of contact to
allow the upward trajectory. Too much height without depth
indicates too much of an open face. A low trajectory indicates
that the racket face was too flat
o
Follow through with your whole body. Transfer the weight to
the front foot and lift up with the knees at point of contact
o
Rotate the shoulders and hips at point of contact to help
generate power and allow the racket to finish across the left
shoulder
o
Concentrate on watching the birdie
Short and Flat serve-teacher note-only pick 5 for students to work on
o
Hold the shuttle chest high and lower the hitting hand to waist
high
o
Keep the wrist cocked (do not snap it)
o
Point of contact should be just below the waist (This is slightly
higher than the long serve)
o
Primary movement is from the shoulders
o
Think of guiding the shuttle, not hitting it
o
Keep the shuttle as low and short as possible

Beginners may hold racket at head to practice the serve

Demonstrate both short and deep serve

Drop shot
o
hit from deeper in the court
o
Preparation has to be the same as if one were going to clear or
smash, anything different will tip off the opponent that you are
intending to do a drop shot
o
On the overhead motion the racket face should be flat or
pointing slightly down
o
On the underhand motion the racket face will be open similar
to the position when clearing
o
The racket head should move slowly at point of contact
o
The shuttle should drop immediately after crossing just over
the net

Show and demonstrate serving to targets – Down sides or at T-line
o
Serve diagonally
o
Partner gently sets racket on floor in one of four extreme
corners of the service reception court
o
Server attempts to hit racket head target
o
Then server sets racket in extreme corner, continue
o
Serve to partner diagonally
o
Work on either a short or deep serve

Open volley / Target game play (keep score) / Rally with serve, clears
and drops

Class closure
Day 4: Smash / Drive

After coming out of locker room, students check dry erase board,
then go to courts to work on:
o
Serve to targets

5 laps around gym not touching nets, stretches

Meet at black board with coop partner
o
Rule of the day: Only two players on a court at a time, extras
rotate in every two points
o
Review underhand, backhand and overhead clears -Clears are
defensive shots
o
Coop partners discuss how they think a smash is hit
o
Drives --- Drives are offensive shots --- Draw drives and clears
on board

o
Similar to smash, but hit higher to back of court
Smash

Similar to a sidearm clear

Point of contact creates a flat pathway

Get into position so contact can be made in front of the
body with the racket face angling down toward the court

It is far easier to smash from the forecourt than the back
court because of the angle the shuttle must travel. Also
the shuttle slows down rapidly and therefore may be
easily returned when struck from deep in the court

Sharp downward angle is just as important as sheer
speed. The smash is a power stroke that must be placed
at the opponents feet

Demonstrate the Smash and drive

Introduce and demonstrate the "3 shot combination"
o
Work only on the hits you are told to hit
o
Such as
1. Deep serve
2. High clear (3-4 times)
3. Smash
4. Lunge clear

o
Keep rally going 3 clears before smash
This forces you to know how to hit the shot and how to set
your shots up

Do three shot combination

Open volley on any court with any partner

Class closure
Day 6

After coming out of locker room, students check dry erase board,
then go to assigned courts to work on:
o
Do three shot combination
1. Deep serve
2. High short clear
3. Smash

Switch

1 1/2 laps around gym not touching nets / Roll lines / stretches /
push-up

Meet at dry erase board with coop partner
o
Rule of the day:

The person in the service reception court must hit the
birdie

If you touch the net, you lose the point
o
Review Smash and drives
o
Introduce Drop shots, Cross court dink and Blocks

Drop Shot

hit from deeper in the court

Preparation has to be the same as if one were
going to clear or smash, anything different will tip
off the opponent that you are intending to do a
drop shot

On the overhead motion the racket face should be
flat or pointing slightly down

On the underhand motion the racket face will be
open similar to the position when clearing

The racket head should move slowly at point of
contact

The shuttle should drop immediately after
crossing just over the net
o

Net drops

Contact the shuttle as near net level as possible
(Don't let it drop

Using not even a stroke, guide the shuttle over
the net




Keep the shuttle low to the net and dropping
before short service line
Cross court dink

Same technique as the Net drops

Angle head of racket and use the wrist to flick the
shuttle to the opposite side of the front of the
court
Blocks

Do not try to take the racket back as there will not
be sufficient time

Reach as quickly as possible trying to get the
racket head out in front of the shuttle

Try to keep the shuttle low. Aim for just over the
top of the net

If the shuttle is smashed at the body, block it with
the backhand

Both the forehand and backhand blocks will be hit
with the forehand grip, because there won't be
enough time to change grips
o
Demonstrate the Drop Shot, dink cross court dink and block
o
Review "3 shot combo"
Students go back to assigned courts and do 3 shot combination
1. Deep serve
2. High short clear
3. Drop

Switch

Open volley on any court with any partner

Class closure and after class routine
Day 7

After coming out of locker room, students check dry erase board,
then go to assigned courts to work on:
o
Serving to targets
o
3 shot combination --- Deep Serve / Short clear / Smash
o
3 shot combination --- Short Serve / Clear / Drive
o
3 shot combination --- Deep Serve / Clear / Drop Shot, or net
drop, or block

1 1/2 laps around gym not touching nets / Roll lines / stretches /
push-up

OR 1 lap around track in preparation for the mile if weather permits

Meet at dry erase board
o
Rule of the day:

You can hit the birdie only after it crosses the net to
your side, and your racket can cross the net without
touching it

If the birdie gets stuck on the racket for a moment, it is
illegal

Review Net Drops, Cross court dink and Blocks

Discuss and review game play rules
1. Front and back

good for net or deep shots

Bad for side shots
2. Side to side



Good for side shots

Bad for middle and front or back shots
Starting the game

Who serves first

1st team only gets one chance to serve

2nd team, both partners get a chance to serve
Rules

Net birdies that land in proper court are good

Line birdies are good

Only two players on a court at a time, extras
rotate in every two points

The person in the service reception court must hit
the birdie

If you touch the net, you lose the point

If the birdie gets "stuck" on your racket, it is a
carry-illegal

Six minute games-if there is a tie, play one more
point

Demonstrate a short game

Students to assigned courts and play games

o
Six minute games
o
Teacher will call "time"
o
If there are any ties, volley for the point
o
Winners rotate up, and teams that don't win rotate down
o
Have students pick the court that they would like
Class closure, after class routine
Day 8

After coming out of locker room, students check dry erase board,
then go to assigned courts to work on:
o
Serving to targets
o
3 shot combination --- Deep Serve / Short clear / Smash
o
3 shot combination --- Short Serve / Clear / Drive
o
3 shot combination --- Deep Serve / Clear / Drop Shot, or net
drop, or block

1 1/2 laps around gym not touching nets / Roll lines / stretches /
push-up

OR 1 lap around track in preparation for the mile if weather permits

Meet at dry erase board
o
Rule of the day: You can hit the birdie only after it crosses the
net to your side, and your racket can cross the net without
touching it
o
Review Net Drops, Cross court dink and Blocks
o
Discuss and review game play rules
1. Front and back

good for net or deep shots

Bad for side shots
2. Side to side

Good for side shots

Bad for middle and front or back shots
3. Starting the game

Who serves first

1st team only gets one chance to serve

2nd team, both partners get a chance to serve
4. Rules

Net birdies that land in proper court are good

Line birdies are good

Only two players on a court at a time, extras
rotate in every two points

The person in the service reception court must hit
the birdie

If you touch the net, you lose the point

If the birdie gets "stuck" on your racket, it is a
carry-illegal

Six minute games-if there is a tie, play one more
point

Re-Demonstrate a short game if needed

Students to assigned courts and play games
o
Six minute games

o
Teacher will call "time"
o
If there are any ties, volley for the point
o
Winners rotate up, and teams that don't win rotate down
o
Have students pick the court that they would like
Class closure, after class routine
Day 9

After coming out of locker room, students check dry erase board,
then go to assigned courts to work on:
o
Serving to targets

1 1/2 laps around gym not touching nets / Roll lines / stretches /
push-up

Meet at dry erase board
o
Rule of the day: Shuffling or moving the feet during the serve
is a fault
o
Review Game play stuff from yesterday

Decide how many students have to be on a team

Have students pick someone they want to be on the same team with

If you want teacher to pick a partner for you, come to me

Students come and sit by dry erase board with team mate

Explain the rotation for games
o
Six minute games
o
Teacher will call "time"
o
If there are any ties, volley for the point
o
Winners rotate up, and teams that don't win rotate down
o
Have students pick the court that they would like

Start games

Play for six minutes

Call, "Time, are there any ties"

If there is a tie, volley for the point

Rotate

Begin new game

Continue throughout period

Class closure, and after class routine
Day 10

After coming out of locker room, students check dry erase board,
then go to assigned courts to work on:
o
Serving to targets
o
3 shot combination --- Your choice of hits

1 1/2 laps around gym not touching nets / Roll lines / stretches

Meet at dry erase board with team partner, not coop partner
o

Rule of the day: ??? Put in what ever students are having
difficulty with
Start games
o
Play for six minutes
o
Call, "Time, are there any ties"
o
Rotate
o
Begin new game

Continue throughout the period

Class closure and after class routine
Day 11

Meet in new station

Have students pick-up Badminton Test, scantron and pencil

Take Post Test

Pick up test in roll call order

Begin to explain Juggling and yo-yo unit