Do you know what rallies, drop shots in badminton, or smash techniques are? All these phrases, or we can better call them terminologies, are used in the badminton game. It is necessary to understand these terms to know about the game. So whether you are a player who has just started playing badminton or a viewer who loves watching it on television, understanding specific badminton terminologies can help you understand the game better. So, let's dive into the blog, where I have shared some common badminton terms to master the game. Read more to know more.

What Are the Common Badminton Terms Used in Badminton?

Here are some common badminton terms used in badminton which you should know.

Service Terms in Badminton

Server

The person who serves the badminton serve is known as a server.

Receiver

The person who receives the badminton serve is known as the receiver.

Short

If the shuttle falls outside the boundaries, at the front of the court, it is called a short.

Long

If the shuttle falls outside the boundaries behind the court, we call it long.

Wide

If the shuttle falls outside the boundaries at the side of the court, we say it is wide.

Service Over

If you made a serve and lost a rally, it will be called a service over, and now your opponent will make the next rally.

Let

Let is considered when the server makes a serve without the receiver's knowledge. In this case, the umpire asks to start the match again.

Scoring Terms in Badminton

Love 

In badminton, love refers to or is granted when the players score zero points.

All

All is used to mention the players behind the scores. For example, if a player scores 2 points in one rally and the opponent scores 5, then the score will be mentioned as 2-5 all.

Deuce 

A deuce is called when both players score equal points. In this situation, any one of the teams must score two points to lead the game.

Terms in Court Lines and Areas in Badminton

Fore Court

The front area of the court is known as the forecourt.

Middle Court

The middle area of the court is known as mid-court

Back Court

The back area of the court is called the backcourt.

Terms in Badminton Match

Rally

Once the player gives the serve, the match begins with both players hitting the shuttlecock continuously, and the rally ends when the shuttlecock touches the ground.

Set

A badminton game is considered a game of 21 points; you are the matchwinner if you score 21 points.

Match

A badminton match consists of two to three games or sets; if a player wins a match, he wins two straight games.

Rubber

A third game in badminton, the deciding game, is called rubber.

Terms for Badminton Techniques and Shorts

Badminton Stroke

A stroke is referred to as the swinging motion which you perform to make a good shot.

Lunging

Lunging in badminton refers to stretching your legs apart as far as possible to make a good shot.

Single Footwork Base

A single footwork base is where players return after making a shot. It only exists in the badminton singles match.

Drop Shots

Drop Shots in badminton refers to a soft hit to the shuttlecock that hits and falls in the opponent of the front court.

Clear Lob 

It is a type of shot that involves hitting higher in the opponent's court that falls near the baseline.

Smash

Smash techniques in badminton refer to hitting the opponent's court downwards with force so that the opponent cannot return the shot.

However, there are different types of smashes that you can try, like

  • Half Smash: Smashing without full power

  • Full Smash: Smashing with full power

  • Baseline Smash: Smash hit from your baseline

Drive 

A drive refers to a fast and furious shot hitting you horizontally towards your opponent's side.

Push

A push is a horizontal shot that aims to land around your opponent's mid-court area.

Badminton Terms for Badminton Officials

Tournament Referee

A tournament referee is a person who decides the rules of the match. If both teams disagree with the umpire, then the tournament referee will enter to solve the dispute.

Match Umpire

A match umpire is responsible for the smooth running of the match. They look for the faults in the players during the matches.

Service Judges

Service Judges are those who look for the service faults of the players in the game.

Line Judges

Line judges are responsible for looking straight down the court lines and deciding whether the shuttles land inside or outside the court.

The following are some common badminton terms to master and to know the core and understand about the badminton game.

Frequently Asked Questions about Common Badminton Terms to Master

What Is a Fault in Badminton?

The fault in badminton is when the rules are violated, resulting in the end of the rally and giving a point to the opposite team. Some common faults are the players touching the net or the player's racket touching the net, etc.

Which Term Is Used in Both Badminton and Volleyball?

'Deuce' is the term that is commonly used for both badminton and volleyball. It happens when the score reaches the same score, and then it is known as a deuce until one of the players wins the game with a lead of 2 points.

What Is a Birdie?

Birdie in badminton represents the shuttlecock, which is cone-shaped and is used to play the game. It is called a birdie because it is made of the feathers of a bird.

Learning these common badminton terms helps you understand the game well. Hence, it becomes necessary for players and lovers to learn the game, as it will deepen the association and improve the player's overall experience.

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