Two players (singles) or two pairs (doubles) hit a shuttle over a net with rackets. You try to make it land on the floor on the other side, and stop it landing on yours. Each side hits it once, then it must go back over.
How a point is won
Every rally wins a point for someone, whoever served. You win the rally when the shuttle lands inside the court on their side, or when they hit it into the net or out, or break a rule. A shuttle that lands on a line is in.
How a game is won
The first to 21 points, with a lead of 2. At 20-all, play goes on until one side leads by 2; at 29-all, the next point wins. A match is the best of three games.
Four rules children break first
The serve is hit underarm, low, and goes diagonally across to the other side.
Nobody touches the net, with the racket or the body.
One hit only: the same player may not hit the shuttle twice in a row.
The shuttle may not touch your body or clothes.
At home you play a small version
A rope for the net, a short court, a balloon or a foam shuttle. The cards build up to the real game one step at a time, and every card ends in a game with points.
Words you will hear (36, in plain language)
Shuttle
The "ball" in badminton: a cork with feathers or a plastic skirt. It flies fast, slows down quickly and falls almost straight down. A foam shuttle is softer and good for learning.
Rally
The shuttle going back and forth over the net until someone misses. One rally wins one point.
Serve
The hit that starts every rally. In badminton it is hit underarm, low, across to the other side.
Short serve
A gentle serve that just goes over the net and drops near the front.
Forehand
A shot on the side of the body that holds the racket, with the palm of the hand facing where the shuttle goes.
Backhand
A shot on the other side of the body, with the back of the hand facing where the shuttle goes.
Grip
The way the hand holds the racket handle.
Frying-pan grip
The wrong grip: the strings face the ceiling and the hand sits on top of the handle, as if holding a frying pan. It makes backhand shots almost impossible.
Ready position
The waiting stance: feet apart, knees a little bent, weight on the front of the feet, racket up in front.
Side-step
Moving sideways: step out with one foot and bring the other next to it. The feet never cross.
Split step
A small hop onto both feet just as the other player hits, so you land ready to move in any direction.
Lunge
One long step toward a low shuttle with the racket-side leg, landing heel first with the knee above the toes. Then you push back.
Back to the middle
The spot in the centre of your side. After every shot you go back there, so you can reach the next one.
Net shot
A soft shot played close to the net that just goes over and falls straight down on the other side.
Lift
A shot hit upward from low down near the net, so the shuttle goes high and deep to the back of the other side.
Clear
A high, deep shot hit overhead from the back of your side to the back of theirs.
Drop shot
An overhead shot that looks like a clear but goes softly and falls just over the net.
Smash
A fast hit from above the head that sends the shuttle steeply down.
Block
Holding the racket still in front of you so a smash bounces softly back over the net.
Drive
A fast, flat shot that travels straight, at about the height of the net.
Flick
A short, quick snap of the wrist that sends the shuttle high and deep without a big swing.
Feed
To throw or hit the shuttle to the player so they can practise one shot. The feeder is the person doing it.
Side-on
Standing with one shoulder, not the chest, pointing at where you aim.
Racket foot
The foot or leg on the same side as the hand holding the racket: the right one for a right-handed player.
Follow-through
The racket keeps moving after the hit, toward where you aim.
Frame
The hard edge around the strings. A shuttle hit off the frame flies anywhere.
Service line
The line near the net that a serve must pass. On the home strip it is 2 m from the rope.
Back line
The end line of the court. A shuttle that lands beyond it is out.
Fault
A broken rule in a rally: into the net, out, a double hit or a net touch. The other side wins the point.
Cross-court
A shot that goes diagonally across to the far side.
Down the line
A shot that goes straight along the side of the court.
Front court
The part of the court near the net, and the part near the back line.
Shadow
Doing the movement of a shot without a shuttle, as if in a game.
Doubles
Two players on each side.
Deuce
The score at 20-all. From there a player must lead by 2 to win the game.
Limit
A rule that only the stronger player plays by, such as "no smash", to make a game close.
Nobody is late. A beginner of any age starts at Basic.
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Basic8 cards · show· hideThe child can keep a balloon or foam shuttle up, hold the racket the two right ways and change between them, move sideways without crossing the feet, serve short to a target and play a gentle net shot.
Move on whenthe child can do the self-check on cards b2, b3, b4 and b6 on two different days.
Intermediate8 cards · show· hideThe child plays the four main shots: the lift and the clear go high and deep, the drop shot falls short over the net, and the smash goes down hard. Each one with the right footwork, and the child starts to rally.
More space and a second person. A grown-up can run every card.
You do not need to know the sport. Each card tells you where to stand, what to say and what to look at.
Pick one thing to say in a session and say only that. The first week looks messy; that is normal.
End every session on one that works.
Cards marked At a club are taught by a coach. They tell you what the
coach teaches, what is safe at home, and what to ask the club before your child joins.