Badminton

Unit

BADMINTON TERMINOLOGY

Physical Education

Alley. The area on each side of the court that is used for doubles. Often referred to
as the side alley.

Back alley. The area between the doubles long service line and the baseline.

Backcourt. The back third of the court.

Backhand. A stroke made on the non-racket side of the body.

Baseline. The back boundary line of the court.

Bird. Another name for the shuttlecock.

Block. A soft short, used primarily in defense against a smash.

Centerline. The mid-line separating the service courts.

Clear. A high shot that goes over your opponents head and lands close to the
baseline.

Crosscourt. A shot hit diagonally into the opposite court.

Double hit. An ilegal shot in which the racket contacts the shuttle twice in one
swing.

Doubles service court. The short, wide area

Drive. A hard driven shot that travels parallel with the floor. This shot clears the
net but does not go high enough for your opponent to smash.

Drop. A shot that just clears the net, then falls close to it.

Face. The string area of the racket.

Fault. Any infraction of the rules. It results in the loss of serve or in a point for the
server.

Forecourt. The front area of the court, usually considered to be between the net
and the short service line.

Forehand. Any stroke made on the racket side of the body.

Inning. The time during which a player or team holds service.

Badminton Unit

Physical Education

Let. The stopping of play due to some type of outside interference. The point is
replayed.

Lifting the shuttle. To stroke the bird underhanded and hit it upward.

Love. The term used to indicate zero in scoring.

Match. A series of games. In badminton, winning two out of three games will win
the match.

Match point. The point that, if won by the server, makes that person the winner of
the match.

Mid court. The middle third of the court, usually considered to be between the
short service line and the long service line for doubles.

Net shot. A shot taken near the net.

Overhead. A motion used to strike the shuttle when it is above the head.

Server. The player who puts the shuttle into play.

Shuttlecock (shuttle). The feathered, plastic, or nylon object that is volleyed back
and forth over the net.

Side out. When a player or team loses the serve.

Smash. An overhead stroke hit downward with great velocity and angle. The
principle attacking stroke in badminton.

Underhand. A stroke that is hit upward when the shuttle has fallen below
shoulder level.



The racket: