DELAY IN SERVICE

If a player delays his/her service unnecessarily, the umpire will call it a fault. Once a player raises his/her racket head backwards and then causes a delay, this signal is shown. In Badminton, once the player starts the swing of his/her racket head, it is considered that the service has begun. No delays after this are allowed.

A correct service is when a player does a service in one smooth and continuous motion. Any stops during service will be called out.

FEET PLACED ON SERVICE LINES / OFF THE GROUND

At all times during a service, a player’s feet must always be within the lines of the court. If his/her leg touches the lines, it is called a fault. Also, while serving, a player’s feet must be firmly planted on the ground. Dragging one’s feet is not allowed. At the most lifting your heel/ankle is allowed.

In the event any of these faults are made by a player, the umpire will stretch out his right leg and hand as indicated in the image above one’s feet is not allowed. At the most lifting your heel/ankle is allowed.

SERVICE TOO HIGH

This is one fault many players make. Even at the international level matches, you’ll find the umpire calling this fault quite often. The rule of service is that it should be below the player’s waist. To be specific, the whole shuttle has to be to 1.15 metres from the surface of the court at the instant of being hit by the server’s racket. Anything above this height is called out as a fault.

FACE OF THE RACKET SHOULD BE DOWN WHILST SERVING

During a service, the server should keep in mind that the face of his/her racket should always be pointing downwards. If the racket handle is facing in an upward direction during service the umpire will call this fault.

WHEN THE SHUTTLE LANDS OUT 

In a match, there are many instances where you might have seen the umpire or line judge spread their arms out parallel to the ground. This indicates that the shuttle has landed out. This signal is quite important as if the umpire/ line judge doesn’t show this signal at the appropriate time, it can cause of lot of confusion during a match. Also, viewers at home will get a better understanding of where the shuttle landed.

WHEN SHUTTLE LANDS INSIDE

During play if the shuttle lands within the lines or even on the line of the court, the umpire/line judge will confirm the same with the above shown signal. This signal is important as player’s rely a lot on this to determine whether the shot they hit was out or not.

The above images depict the most basic and frequently used hand signals. It is good to familiarize yourself with these signals as it will come in handy when you play a match or even if you are watching a match on TV. Not knowing these signals can leave you confused during a match.

Incorrect grip

This is an extremely common error, especially when it comes to beginners. If your grip is incorrect, then executing shots correctly becomes quite a challenge. A player will have less to no control over the shuttle and the chances of mis-contacting the shuttle increase.

How do I correct my grip?

When it comes to forehand, you should you the V grip, which is also called a handshake grip. The way you would approach someone to shake their hand, is the same way must approach your Badminton racket.

It is the best and only way you should grip the racket in the forehand position. The backhand grip relies on the racket resting on the thumb. The thumb will rest on the flat side of the racket. The other four fingers will be wrapped around the grip.

Smashing out of position

Another commonly mistake is players going to hit smashes blindly. Smash shots are the most fun and exciting to play and can potentially win you a point. But smashing when you aren’t in position will do more harm than good.

When you find you are struggling to reach the shuttle, play the safest stroke. Playing a smash in this situation shouldn’t cross your mind.

Hitting smashes when you are not in position can even cause injuries.

So when do I hit a smash?

When you are perfectly behind the shuttle

When you have good body balance

When you are confident it will be effective and put pressure on your opponents

When your timing is correct

When you are ready for the return of your smash

Keeping your racket down

When one says, don’t keep your racket down, what they mean is always keep your racket up in front of you as that is an alert position.

By keeping your racket down, you will not be able to react to those quick shots that come your way.

By the time you realise a shot is coming your way and you raise your hand to hit the shuttle, you’ve wasted precious time and will probably miss the shuttle.

Hence your racket after playing every, should be in front of you and ready to tackle the next shot.

Not following up

Considering Badminton is a fast sport, one must expect the shuttle to travel back to them fast. For this to successfully happen, after playing a shot (could be any shot), one has to follow up. This means, one must return to the center of the court (in the case of singles) or be ready back in position depending on where he/she played the shot (in the case of doubles).

Simply hitting a good shot and getting stuck there is going to work against you. Hit the shot and immediately be ready for the return. This is a common mistake made in Badminton, especially with beginners. One thing that should be kept in mind is the follow up. Always expect a return.

Keep these common mistakes in mind the next time you go to play. If you feel like you’re making any one (or more) of these mistakes, don’t worry. Just focus on identifying them and correcting them. Avoiding these mistakes will give you an edge over the other players.

There are a few factors you need to consider while buying Badminton shoes. They are:

1. Shoes must be non-marking

Non-marking means, the soles of the Badminton shoes must be made up of gum.

Running and gym shoes will not work.

With non-marking shoes, the player will have proper grip of the court.

Ordinary shoes will leave marks and spoil the surface of the wooden Badminton floor.

How can I tell if it is a non marking sole?

To a beginner, Badminton’s non marking soles can be hard to distinguish from an ordinary pair of shoes. One indicator is the colour of the sole, which is generally a light brownish/clay colour.

In today’s market many colored non marking soles are now available. These shoes tend to have it written on them, that they are non-marking shoes.  The image below is an example of the same.

2. Proper cushioning

Due to the jumping and landing required in Badminton, it is crucial that you have proper cushioning in their Badminton shoes.

Lack of cushioning may lead to injuries as the knees will end up absorbing all the shock rather than the shoe cushions.

A thick cushioning doesn’t mean that there is more or its better cushioning.

Since the cushioning acts as a shock absorber, it helps in maintaining body balance and to get ready for the next shot

Which is the best cushioning to buy?

Many companies have their own versions of cushioning that they add to the shoe. They even vary depending on what level shoe it is. A lower tier will have less cushioning and a higher tier shoe will have much more cushioning. Here are some brands with their version of cushioning:

Yonex- Power cushion, Power cushion +, TruCusion

Victor- Cushion+ Energymax, Cushion+ EC

Li Ning- Bounce, Bounce +

Asics- Gel

3. Fit of the shoe

A player can have a narrow or a wide foot.

Depending on the foot type, a player should look for a shoe to compliment them.

Nowadays you get ergo shape shoes which provide better stability and flexibility.

A proper fitted shoe minimises the risk of ankle injuries. If your shoe doesn’t fit you correctly, specially round the ankle, it is a big red flag.

4. Frequency and level of play

 If you are professional player, investing a good amount of money on a pair of Badminton shoes is recommended. Professional players undergo intense training on a daily basis and they can’t afford to injure themselves.

Higher level shoes with perfect cushioning can enhance their game.

On the other hand, if you’re a beginner or even intermediate level player but don’t play very often; there is no need to spend money on the highest-end pair of Badminton shoes. As the intensity and movements aren’t too high, settling on a lower range pair of shoes will do the trick.

Do’s and Dont’s – How to select the right shoes in Badminton

Don’t wear your Badminton shoes while playing outdoor sports.

Do buy your size of shoes and not a size bigger

Don’t look at the aesthetics only. The fit is more important.

Do make sure the shoes are breathable as in Badminton, we tend to sweat a lot.

Do try on a couple of pairs before making the final choice.

This detailed guide will direct you on how to select the right pair of Badminton shoes. There is no one size fits all when it comes to buying a pair of Badminton shoes. Each person has a different foot, need and fit. Always try and test what works for you to make the best possible choice.