Reference
Badminton. Glossary
Every word you'll hear on court, explained in a sentence. Search it or filter by type.
- BackcourtCourt
- The rear third of the court, between the doubles long service line and the baseline.
- BackhandStroke
- Any shot played on the non-racket side of the body, with the back of the hand facing the shuttle.
- BaseTactics
- The central recovery position you return to after every shot, slightly behind mid-court in singles.
- BlockStroke
- A soft, short reply to a smash that drops just over the net using the smash's own pace.
- ClearStroke
- A high, deep shot to the opponent's baseline. Defensive clears go higher; attacking clears go flatter.
- Cross-courtTactics
- Any shot hit diagonally from one side of the court to the other.
- DeceptionTactics
- Disguising a shot so it looks like another until the last moment, such as a hold or a slice.
- DeuceRules
- At 20-all, a player must win by two clear points. At 29-all, the next point wins the game.
- DriveStroke
- A fast, flat shot hit at roughly net height, common in doubles mid-court exchanges.
- Drop shotStroke
- A soft shot from the rear court that falls steeply just past the net.
- FaultRules
- Any infringement that ends the rally, such as hitting the net, the shuttle landing out, or an illegal serve.
- Flick serveStroke
- A short-serve motion that suddenly lifts the shuttle over the receiver to the back of the box.
- Front and backTactics
- Attacking doubles formation: one player covers the net, the partner smashes from behind.
- HairpinStroke
- A delicate net shot that rises and falls tightly over the tape, tracing a hairpin shape.
- KillStroke
- A fast downward shot that ends the rally, usually from a loose reply at the net.
- LetRules
- A rally replayed without a point awarded, for example when a shuttle from another court interrupts play.
- LiftStroke
- An underarm shot from the front court that sends the shuttle high to the rear.
- LungeFootwork
- A long final step to the front court with the racket-side leg, heel landing first.
- Net killStroke
- Pushing or tapping a shuttle that is above the tape down sharply into the opponent's court.
- PushStroke
- A gentle flat shot from the net or mid-court into the space behind the opponent's front player.
- Rally scoringRules
- Every rally wins a point, regardless of who served. Games are played to 21.
- Service courtCourt
- The box the server must serve into, diagonally opposite. Singles boxes are long and narrow; doubles boxes are short and wide.
- Side by sideTactics
- Defensive doubles formation where each partner covers one half of the court.
- SliceStroke
- Cutting across the shuttle to change its direction or speed, often on drops and smashes.
- SmashStroke
- A powerful, steep overhead shot hit downward. The fastest shot in racket sport.
- Split stepFootwork
- A small hop timed with the opponent's hit so you land balanced and ready to move any direction.
- TumbleStroke
- A net shot that makes the shuttle spin over the tape, making it hard to return cleanly.
- Wood shotRules
- Hitting the shuttle with the racket frame. Legal under current rules as long as the hit is a single stroke.