What is badminton?

Badminton is a racket sport played over a high net with a shuttlecock (the "shuttle" or "bird"). You score a point when the shuttle lands in your opponent's court, or when they commit a fault. It is played as singles (one against one) and doubles (two against two: men's, women's and mixed doubles).

Unlike tennis, the shuttle is never allowed to bounce. Every shot is a volley. Combined with a projectile that leaves the racket very fast but slows down sharply, this gives the game its character: explosive movement, constant changes of pace, deception and fast reactions.

Where it is played

• Recreational: parks, gardens and halls. A great family game at any level.
• Club and league: indoor courts, usually with feather or quality nylon shuttles.
• International: governed by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). Badminton has been an Olympic sport since 1992 and a Paralympic sport since 2020 (held in 2021).
• Para badminton: wheelchair and standing classes, with adapted court areas.

What makes a good player?

Badminton rewards a blend of qualities rather than one: footwork (arriving early and balanced), technique (efficient strokes and deception), physical capacity (speed, power, repeated-effort stamina), tactics (choosing the right shot) and mental skills (focus and composure under pressure). The rest of this handbook covers each of these.