Know the Game Badminton

I recently read a book about badminton which is really useful. It's called "Know the Game Badminton" produced by the Badminton Association of England. I highly recommend badminton lovers to read it.

Summary: Know the Game Badminton provides beginners and more experienced players with instruction on how to improve their standard of play. There are helpful sections on equipment, service, tactics and strokes, as well as information on singles, doubles and short badminton.

About The Game

The game of badminton is played on a court by 2 players (singles) or 4 players (doubles). The players use rackets to hit a shuttle over a net from one side to the other, the object of the game being to hit the shuttle across the net to a place on the opponent's court where he/she cannot reach it, or to force the opponent to hit the shuttle out of court or into the net. A player who achieves this is awarded a point, and the first player/pair to reach the required number of points in a game wins that game. A match is the best of 3 games.

Badminton is considered as one of the fastest and most exhausting sports. The initial velocity which can be imparted to the shuttle by good racket work, and the fact that the shuttle must not hit the floor, are the main reasons for that. It follows that there can be no better means for attaining perfect physical fitness, and that really good footwork is essential for success.

The Strokes

1. Grip:

• Forehand
• Backhand

2. The service:

• The short serve (eg. Forehand short service, backhand short service)
• The long serve (eg. Flick and drive serves, the high serve)

3. Overhead strokes:

• Forehand overhead clear
• Forehand smash
• Overhead drop shot
• Backhand overhead clear

4. Underarm strokes:

• Forehand and backhand underarm lifts
• Forehand and backhand drives

5. Net shots