Sports Glossaries
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alleys

The areas, 1 1/2 feet wide on each side of the court, that are used for doubles play.

around-the-head

A shot often used to avoid the backhand. It's similar to the overhead smash, but the shuttlecock is struck on the opposite side of the head from the player's racket hand.

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backcourt

The back third of the court.

bat

A common name for the racket.

base position

An area in the center of the court where a singles player usually wants to be positioned after each shot.

bird

The shuttlecock.

block

A shot, usually from near the net, on which the racket is not swung, but simply used as a "backboard" to return the shuttlecock.

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carry

The illegal act of catching the shuttlecock on the racket and then slinging rather than striking it. Also called "sling" or "throw".

clear

A shot, similar to the lob in tennis, that is hit over the opponent's head, usually to a point near the back boundary line. The attacking clear is an attempt to score, while the high clear is a defensive shot.

court

The badminton court is 17 by 44 feet for singles, 20 by 44 feet for doubles. There is a short service line, 6 feet and 6 inches from the net, on each side of the court, that marks the beginning of the service court. A long service line, 2 feet and 6 inches from each backline, marks the end of the service court.

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drive

A hard, low shot that travels almost horizontally.

drop shot

A softly-hit shot that drops just over the net.

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fault

Any violation of the playing rules. Faults include:

• An illegal service, e.g., one that is done underhand or that does not land in the proper service court.
• The shuttlecock hits the ground before it is returned.
• A shot lands outside the boundaries, fails to go over the net, or goes through the net.
• A player hits the shuttlecock before it crosses the net, or is guilty of a carry.
• A player strikes the shuttlecock twice, or both players on the same doubles team strike it.

flick

A deceptive shot, apparently soft, but transformed into a faster shot by quick wrist and forearm rotation.

forecourt

The front third of the court.

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hairpin shot

A shot made from very close to the net on which the shuttle rises just over the net and drops quickly on the other side. Often used to return a drop shot.

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kill

A smash from near the net.

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let

An official stoppage in play after which a rally is replayed.

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midcourt

The middle third of the court.

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push shot

A soft shot on which the shuttlecock is gently pushed, with little or no wrist action. More commonly used in doubles than in singles.

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racket

The racket, or bat, has a nearly round face, about 7 inches across, and a long, thin handle. Overall length is about 27 inches and its weight is about 8 ounces.

rally

An exchange of shots leading to a point or service change.

rotation

A system of playing doubles, used only by experts, in which the partners keep circling counterclockwise. Its chief advantage is that it virtually eliminates the backhand.

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shuttlecock

The shuttlecock, also known as the shuttle or bird, is a hemisphere of cork, 1 to 1 1/8 inches in diameter, surmounted by a short cylindrical crown in which are embedded 14 to 16 "feathers", 2 1/4 to 2 3/4 inches long, with a toop spread of from 2 1/8 to 2 1/2 inches. The weight is between 73 and 85 grains (about 1 1/6 ounce).

side-by-side

A doubles formation in which each partner is responsible for one side of the court.

sling

See Carry.

smash

An overhand shot on which the shuttle travels sharply downward.

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throw

See Carry.

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up-and-back

A doubles formation in which one partner is basically responsible for shots near the net, while the other is responsible for shots nearer the baseline.

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wood shot

A shot on which the frame of the racket strikes the base of the shuttle. Formerly illegal, but legalized in 1963.

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