Badminton Handbook · Chapter 15 of 16
Glossary
Badminton words explained, A to Z.
- Attacking clear
- A flatter, faster clear that passes just over the opponent's reach.
- Back boundary line
- The very back line of the court; also the long service line for singles.
- Base
- The central position you return to between shots.
- Block
- A soft return of a smash to the front court.
- Chassé
- A step-close-step movement pattern.
- Clear (lob)
- A high, deep shot to the opponent's back line.
- Cross-court
- A shot played diagonally across the court.
- Deception
- Disguising which shot you will play until the last moment.
- Drive
- A fast, flat shot at about net height.
- Drop shot
- A soft overhead shot that falls just over the net.
- Fault
- An infringement that loses the rally.
- Flick serve
- A serve that looks like a low serve but is flicked over the receiver.
- Front-back
- The doubles attacking formation: one player at the net, one at the back.
- Kill
- A decisive downward shot, usually at the net, to finish the rally.
- Let
- A rally that is replayed with no point scored.
- Lift
- An underarm shot sent high to the back of the opponent's court.
- Long service line (doubles)
- The line 0.76 m inside the back boundary; the back limit of a doubles serve.
- Net shot (hairpin)
- A gentle shot from near the net that drops just over it.
- Push
- A flat, controlled shot from the front or midcourt into a gap.
- Rally scoring
- Every rally wins a point, regardless of who served.
- Round-the-head
- A forehand overhead hit from the backhand side, above or left of the head (right-handers).
- Scissor kick
- Switching legs in the air during an overhead to recover forwards.
- Service court
- The box a serve must land in, diagonally opposite the server.
- Short service line
- The line 1.98 m from the net; a serve must reach beyond it.
- Side-by-side
- The doubles defensive formation, each player covering one half.
- Slice / cut
- Brushing across the shuttle to change its speed or direction.
- Smash
- A powerful, steep downward overhead shot.
- Split step
- A small hop timed with the opponent's hit to prepare for movement.
- Tumbling net shot
- A sliced net shot that makes the shuttle flip over the net.
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