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Badminton Serving Rules and Teaching Points

Learn the key points to how to serve within the Badminton game, the key rules, where beginners can start and what the top tips are from the professionals.

Generally there are 2 styles of serving in Badminton:

  • Forehand underarm lift serve
  • Backhand short/flick serve

For serving and receiving it’s key to have your feet planted on the ground and not to move before the serve is hit. In particular, it’s important for the server and receiver to wear flat footed badminton shoes. For the server, this enables stronger stability and consistency in the serve, and enables good balance too. For the receiver, the player will need to be able to move both back and forth fast, flat badminton shoes enable this best.

Forehand Underarm Badminton Lift Serve:

This is generally used for the singles game due to the length of the court allowed for singles court serving. It enables the server to get their opponent to the back of the court.

The forehand underarm lift serve is a common and effective serve in badminton. Here’s a brief explanation:

Rules:

  • When serving the shuttle, the racket head must be hitting the shuttle below the vertical height of the handle.
  • Foot placement must be within the lines relevant serving box.
  • When hitting the shuttle it must be 1 clean hit motion with no double hit or changes of direction.
  • You must ensure your opponent is ready to receive the serve.
  • The shuttle must be hit over the net and into the opposing angled box on the court for it to count in.
  • For the forehand underarm lift serve you’re aiming for the shuttle to go high over the net and right to the back of the opponents service box.

Technique:

  • Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart.
  • Hold the shuttle in your non-racket hand.
  • Use an underarm swinging motion to lift the shuttle over the net.
  • The shuttle should be hit below waist height.

Strategy:

  • This serve is often used to surprise opponents as it can be disguised well.
  • It’s suitable for singles and not doubles play, this is because in doubles the serve court area is smaller and you’re more exposed to being smashed at.

Backhand Badminton Short Serve:

The backhand short serve is another crucial skill in badminton. Getting it right can make or break your ability to win a rally, as a short backhand serve that is too high above the net can be immediately attacked by the opponent.

Here’s how you can execute it:

Rules:

  • When serving the shuttle, the racket head must be hitting the shuttle below the vertical height of the handle.
  • Foot placement must be within the lines relevant serving box.
  • When hitting the shuttle it must be 1 clean hit motion with no double hit or changes of direction.
  • You must ensure your opponent is ready to receive the serve.
  • The shuttle must be hit over the net and into the opposing angled box on the court for it to count in.
  • For the backhand short serve you’re aiming for the shuttle to go tight over the net and just inside the front of the opponents service box.

Technique:

  • Hold the shuttle in your non-racket hand.
  • Use a short, controlled backhand motion to direct the shuttle just over the net and into the opponent’s service court.
  • Hold the racket with the backhand thumb grip and push through the wrist, not arm. This enables less risk of error in the movement and greater ability for deception.

Strategy:

  • This serve is ideal giving the opponent as little time to return the serve as possible, it’s used in both singles and doubles play, but especially in doubles.
  • It is often used in doubles play to apply pressure on the opposing team.
  • You can vary this with the backhand flick serve to surprise the opponent in doubles.


Badminton Serving Rules:

1. Service Court Rules:

  • The server and receiver must stand within their respective service court areas, and their feet should not lift off the ground until the shuttle is served.
  • The serve must be made diagonally across the net, and the shuttle must pass over the short service line on the opponent’s side.

2. Racket Head Rules:

  • The racket head must be below the server’s hand when the shuttle is struck.
  • The entire shuttle must be below the server’s waist at the moment of impact with the racket.

3. Faults:

  • If the serve violates any rules, it is considered a fault, and the opponent gains a point.
  • If the server’s feet move before the serve, it is a fault.

Remember, mastering different serves and adhering to the rules can give you a strategic advantage in badminton, contributing to your overall game strategy.

Badminton Serving Rules and Teaching Points