Ninh explains the Rules of Badminton Badminton, is a game played as singles (where one person plays against one person) or doubles (where two people play against two people). The object of the game is for you or your team to win 2 sets faster than your opponent. To win a set, you must score 21 points and be at least two points ahead. If the scores are 20-20 for example, the game carries on until one player or pair has a two point lead. Okay then, so how do you score these points? To score a point, you must aim to hit the shuttlecock, which is usually cork with feathers with your racket over the net and onto your opponent’s floor without the opponent returning the favour. The court is 13.4m long and 6.1m wide, and the net is 1.55 m above the ground. Pay attention to these lines, as the boundaries are different for singles and doubles. To start the game, a player must serve the shuttlecock below the waist. The shuttlecock must travel over the net and land in the areas defined for a serve to be legal. If the shuttlecock is hit onto the lines - this also counts as a point. The opponent will then try and return the shuttlecock and make you miss returning it back. This can go back and forth and is known as a ‘rally’. Remember, the aim of the game is to hit the shuttlecock onto your opponents floor, and these are the area’s you’re aiming for. There are several shots you can utilise to try and win points. These include: Forehand backhand slice, touch and smash Hitting the shuttlecock over a net onto the floor so that your opponent can’t return it sounds simple enough, but in badminton - it’s very easy to lose points. There’s a lot of things you can’t do in badminton You cannot hit the shuttlecock outside the area of play You cannot hit the shuttlecock twice in succession. You cannot touch the net. You cannot hit the shuttlecock into the net and it land on your side of the court. You cannot touch the shuttlecock with any part of your body except with the racket and as earlier mentioned; you must serve the shuttlecock legally. If you commit any of these errors, this results in your opponents being awarded a point. Once a player or pair has won a point, they are also awarded the next serve. Once a player or a pair has won 21 points and is at least 2 points ahead, they win a set. First pair to win 3 sets faster than their opponent … wins. Now that’s basically badminton in a nutshell, but there’s a few things you’ll need to understand before playing or going to a game. For example … Fault. At any point, if the referee notices and of these infractions: Let Unlike Tennis, if the shuttlecock hits the net, it counts! Lets are generally called when something unexpected has interrupted. Here’s a list of common lets. In this case, the point must be replayed. 30th Point If in the rare instance that a score reaches 29-29, the person who scores the 30th point wins the set without having to gain a two point lead. As you can tell, Badminton is an extremely fast sport and it looks difficult, but as you watch or play Badminton, the rules will become clear. If you have found this video at all helpful, please like, share and subscribe. It takes me ages to make one of these things and good karma is very much appreciated. Be sure to follow me on twitter also, but in the meantime, enjoy Badminton! Ninh Ly, www.ninh.co.uk, @NinhLyUK