Glossary of Badminton Terminologies

What is a birdie? What is a rally? What is a baseline?

If such questions are popping up in your mind and you are looking for the answers, then you have come to the right place.

If you are a beginner badminton player, an official, or just a fan, then you must know the common terms used in the sport.

So here’s a glossary consisting of important badminton terminologies.

Alley

There are two alleys on the badminton court – the side alley and the back alley. Side alley is the area between the inner and outer sidelines on both sides of the court. It is a 1.5-foot wide section that’s 13.40 meters long.

Back alley, as the name suggests, is towards the end of both courts. The area between long service lines for singles and doubles is the back alley, which is 2.5 feet in width and 6.10 meters in length.

Back Boundary Line

Also known as baselines, the back boundary lines mark the end of the court on both sides. They are parallel to each other and are 6.7 meters in length from the net.

Backcourt

The area close to the back boundary line, the back third of the badminton court.

Birdie

Some players and officials prefer to call the shuttlecock ‘Birdie’.

Carry

Carrying the shuttle is an illegal tactic. When you carry the shuttle, it means you caught it and held it on the racket before slinging.

Centre Line

The centre line, which is perpendicular to the baseline, separates each court into two halves.

Clear

A shot hit from your back of the court to the deep back region of your opponent’s half.

Court

The demarcated area of play where you play badminton matches.

Cross-court Shot

When you hit a shot that travels diagonally from one half to the other over the net.

Doubles

This is a type of competition in badminton. There are two categories in doubles played by men’s and women’s.

Double Hit

When you hit the shuttle twice after receiving it from your opponent. Hitting the shuttle twice in a row is a fault, and your opponent will get a point.

Drive

A shot hit hard, which flies horizontally over the net and lands at the back in your opponent’s half.

Drop Shot

A shot played close to the net with gentle hands, making it fall in the opponent’s court close to the net.

Fault

When you break the rules of badminton during the play, then it’s known as a fault.

Forecourt

Also known as the front court, it’s the area between the net and the short service line. The forecourt is 1.98 meters in width and is parallel to the net.

Game Point

When you are one point away from winning the game, the official will announce ‘game’ or ‘point’.

Kill

A fast shot played downwards to the opponent’s court. Such shots are almost impossible to return.

Let

If deemed right by the umpire, ‘let’ allows players to restart a rally.

Long Service Line

There are two long service lines. The long service line in singles matches is the baseline of the court, while it’s 2.5 feet from the baseline in a doubles match.

Mixed Doubles

Another type of competition in badminton. A male and a female shuttler play together in mixed doubles matches.

Net Drop

When you return a drop shot from your opponent, it’s known as a net drop.

Net Fault

If your body, racket, or any equipment comes into contact with the net, then it’s considered a net fault.

Push Shot

When you push the shuttle with a gentle hand in your opponent’s midcourt.

Racket

The essential equipment that you use to hit the shuttle.

Rally

When the shuttle passes from half to the other without falling after the serve. The rally ends when the shuttle lands on the court.

Serve or Service

You start the rally with a service from your end to the opponent’s.

Short Service Line

The short service line is parallel to the net and is situated 1.98 meters from the net. Your service must land beyond the short service line.

Shuttlecock

The thing you hit with the racket is the shuttlecock. It has a round cork with 16 feathers glued to it.

Singles

A type of match in badminton where two individual players play against each other. There are singles matches for men’s and women’s shuttlers.

Smash

An overhead shot played with force, which heads downwards into your opponent’s half.