Badminton Court Dimensions
A badminton court measures 13.4m long and 5.18m wide for singles matches. For doubles, the width extends to 6.1m. The net stands at 1.55m tall. Surprisingly, the same court size is used for both singles and doubles play.
Serve Rules Complexity
Service must be executed below 1.15m from the surface of the court. A recent change in rules now allows both feet to be off the ground during service, a departure from the previous requirement of one stationary foot.
Scoring System Intricacies
Matches are played best of three games, with each game played to 21 points. If the score reaches 20-all, the game continues until a two-point lead is achieved, or until 30 points are scored by the leading side.
Shuttlecock's Unique Flight
Shuttlecocks are feathered or plastic projectiles designed to create high drag. Did you know that a shuttlecock always turns to fly cork-first due to its aerodynamic properties? This makes its flight path highly predictable.
Continuous Play Importance
Badminton encourages continuous play. Players must not deliberately cause delays through tactics like time-wasting. Intentional delays can be penalized by the umpire, maintaining the sport's fast-paced nature.
Let Calls in Badminton
A 'let' is called during disturbances such as the shuttlecock getting stuck in the net or if a player serves before the opponent is ready. A let results in no points scored and the serve is replayed.
Rare Historical Rule
Intriguingly, until the 1930s, a server could re-serve if they missed the shuttlecock completely. This 'fresh air shot' was removed to prevent players from exploiting the rule to gauge the wind direction in outdoor play.
How long is a singles badminton court?
13.4m long
13.4m wide
6.1m long
Company
