How to play badminton
Badminton is the fastest racquet sport and one of the easiest to start: a light racquet, a shuttlecock and a gym or a calm park. Most people play doubles at drop-in nights.
The basics
- Games go to 21 points, with a point on every rally, and you must win by 2 (up to 30).
- A match is best of three games.
- Serve underhand, below the waist, diagonally into the opposite service box.
- The shuttle must not touch the ground on your side; you get one hit to send it back.
- Doubles uses the wide court for rallies but a short, wide box for the serve.
What you need
- A racquet: a light, flexible one is easiest.
- Shuttlecocks: nylon ones last longer, feather ones fly better.
- Indoor court shoes with gum soles.
How a pickup game works
Drop-in badminton runs on a board or a paddle line: players wait in fours, and every 15 to 20 minutes, or after each game, the next four take the court. Partners mix, so you play with everyone at your level.
Pickup etiquette
- Wait for the rally to end before crossing behind a court.
- Call shuttles in or out on your side of the court.
- Hand or hit the shuttle gently to the server, never smash it over.
- Rotate off after your game so others can play.
Your first games
- Hold the racquet loosely, like a handshake, not a fist.
- Get back to the centre of the court after every shot.
- Learn the high clear first: it buys you time.
Questions
Is badminton good exercise?
Very: a fast doubles game is intense intervals, and an hour can burn 400 to 600 calories.
Can you play badminton outdoors?
Yes, but wind moves the shuttle a lot. Outdoor shuttles and calm days help.
How do you score in badminton?
Every rally scores a point, and the first to 21 with a two-point lead wins the game. At 29-29 the next point wins.
The cities with the most badminton courts on JOGO.
How many calories does badminton burn?
Work it out for your weight on JOGO Fuel, free.