Badminton Glossary

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.

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.

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.

drive - A hard, low shot that travels almost horizontally.

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

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.

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.

kill - A smash from near the net.

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

midcourt - The middle third of the court.

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.

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.

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.

throw - See Carry.

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.

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