Badminton · Level 1: Beginner · Sub-level 1.4
Talking Badminton
10 tests · 100 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown
Badminton has its own vocabulary, used by players, coaches and commentators alike. The strokes run from net shots that barely clear the tape to clears that go highest and the smash, the fastest and steepest attacking stroke. A drop is played overhead but lands short, a drive travels flat and fast at about shoulder height, and a block puts a smash dead into the opponent's forecourt. Serves have names too: the low serve, the high serve, the flat drive serve and the flick, a disguised high serve.
On court, the back boundary line is called the baseline and the T is the junction near the front of the service courts. In scoring, 'love all' means 0-0, and the umpire starts each game with 'love all; play'. Game point means the leader needs one more point, match point that the next point could end the match, and a let replays the rally. In doubles, front and back is the attacking formation and side by side the defensive one. In the USA the shuttle is often called a birdie, and the best hitting area of the strings is the sweet spot.
The facts below cover the names of strokes and serves, court areas, rally and scoring words, doubles and movement terms, tactics, equipment, officials and everyday phrases.
Each test below is ten questions on Insporta. The list under a test is what the questions check: one fact per question, with the source it was written from. Read it before the test, or come back from a wrong answer.
Test 1Names of strokesTake a test
The smash is the fastest, steepest attacking stroke.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
The drop is played overhead but lands short.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
Drives travel flat and fast, often at shoulder height.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
Blocking a smash dead into the opponent's forecourt is a common reply.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
Cross-court shots go diagonally; straight shots go down the line.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Players reach round the head to take high backhand-side shots with a forehand.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
Slicing angles the face to change speed and direction.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
From the softest to the hardest.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
Clears go highest; net shots barely clear the tape.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
A steep, powerful downward shot is a smash.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · applied
Test 2Names of servesTake a test
The low serve stays short and tight.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
Drive serves are flat and quick.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
The high serve is a singles staple.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
The flick is a disguised high serve.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
The return of serve is the receiver's first stroke.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Most doubles players serve low on the backhand.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
A serve breaking the rules is called a service fault.
Source: BWF Laws of Badminton 2027 (player's view), Law 13.1 · recall
From the front of the box to the back.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
Serve, return, third shot.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
A high, deep serve is the high serve.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · applied
Test 3Court areasTake a test
Players call the back boundary line the baseline.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
The T is the junction near the front of the service courts.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Moving the opponent to the corners stretches them.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
A down-the-line shot travels parallel to the side line.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Midcourt lies between forecourt and rearcourt.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
In doubles serving, the strip behind the doubles service line.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
The service court is the target box for each serve.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 1 · recall
From the net past the T to the baseline.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
A straight clear goes corner to corner along the side.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
That junction is the T.
Source: General badminton reference · applied
Test 4Rally and point wordsTake a test
A let replays the rally.
Source: BWF Laws of Badminton 2027 (player's view), Law 14 · recall
Game point means the leader needs one more point.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Match point means the next point could end the match.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
'Love all' means 0-0.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
The umpire starts each game with 'love all; play'.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
An unforced error is a mistake under no real pressure.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
The umpire calls 'service over' when the serving side changes.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
A game from 0-0 towards the finish.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Start, a change of server, interval, end.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
In badminton, 0-0 is called 'love all'.
Source: General badminton reference · applied
Test 5Doubles wordsTake a test
Front and back is the attacking formation.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Pairs go side by side to defend against smashes.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Pairs rotate between attack and defence formations.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
The front player hunts the net.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Shots down the middle can cause confusion over who takes it.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Partners call to avoid both or neither going for it.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Traditionally the woman takes the net and the man the back.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Pairs move to front and back once they attack.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Deep side by side, then moving up, then front and back for attack.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
One up, one back is the attacking formation.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · applied
Test 6Movement wordsTake a test
Footwork means the steps used to reach the shuttle.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 6 · recall
The chassé is a gliding step, one foot chasing the other.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 6 · recall
The legs scissor during an overhead jump at the back.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 6 · recall
Recovery is the return movement after a shot.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 6 · recall
The base is the central start point.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
The split-step readies the player as the opponent hits.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 6 · recall
Getting behind the shuttle allows a strong overhead.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 7 · recall
The scissor jump lands the player ready to recover.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 6 · recall
A small hop, a side step, a long lunge.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 6 · recall
Swapping the legs in an overhead jump is the scissor jump.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 6 · applied
Test 7Tactics wordsTake a test
Attacking means hitting downward to pressure the opponent.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Defence is returning smashes and pressure shots.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Placement means aiming away from the opponent.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Deception makes the opponent guess wrong.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Changing pace means mixing fast and slow shots.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Long rallies can wear an opponent down.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Early contact gives the opponent less time.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Move the opponent, then attack.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
From buying time to going for the point.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · recall
Hitting where the opponent is not is placement.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 8 · applied
Test 8Equipment wordsTake a test
In the USA the shuttle is often called a birdie.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
The string bed is the hitting surface.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Hitting the sweet spot gives the cleanest contact.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
A frame shot comes off the edge, often wildly.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
The balance point shows head-heavy or head-light.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Feathered shuttles are also called natural shuttles.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
A cover protects the racket in a bag.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
From the grip up to the head.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Nylon lasts longest; goose feathers outlast duck.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
The best hitting area is the sweet spot.
Source: General badminton reference · applied
Test 9Officials' wordsTake a test
The umpire runs the match from the high chair.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
The service judge watches the server.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Line judges watch their lines and signal in or out.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Arms stretched out means out.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
A yellow card is a warning for misconduct.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
The Referee runs the whole tournament.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
With the review system, players can challenge line calls.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Tournament, match, the serve, a line.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Call, challenge, review, result.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Both arms out sideways is the line judge's 'out' signal.
Source: General badminton reference · applied
Test 10Everyday badminton phrasesTake a test
Praising good shots is part of the game's sporting spirit.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Players shout 'shuttle' so a stray shuttle can be stopped before someone treads on it.
Source: BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 9 · recall
Clubs hold regular sessions, often in the evening.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Without officials, players call the lines on their own side.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Shuttle Time is the BWF's schools programme.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Shaking hands over the net ends a match.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Playing up against stronger players helps improvement.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Set up, play, pack away.
Source: General badminton reference · recall
Matches end with a handshake at the net.
Source: General badminton reference · applied
Questions people ask
- What does 'love all' mean in badminton?
- It means the score is 0-0. The umpire starts each game with the call 'love all; play'.
- What is a let in badminton?
- A let replays the rally, so no point is scored for it.
- What is the difference between game point and match point?
- Game point means the leading side needs one more point to win the game. Match point means the next point could end the match.
- Why is the shuttle called a birdie?
- Birdie is the name often used for the shuttle in the USA. Feathered shuttles are also called natural shuttles.
- What is the T on a badminton court?
- The T is the junction near the front of the service courts. Players call the back boundary line the baseline.
- What is an unforced error?
- A mistake made under no real pressure. Players and commentators call such mistakes errors.
- What does a line judge's signal for out look like?
- Both arms stretched out sideways. Line judges watch their own lines and signal in or out.
Sources
BWF Coaches' Manual Level 1 (2017), BWF regulations and history, Olympedia; original questions authored, nothing reproduced. Numbered rules belong to the Rules category (Badminton - Laws of Badminton).
- General badminton reference49
- BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 821
- BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 718
- BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 68
- BWF Laws of Badminton 2027 (player's view), Law 13.11
- BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 11
- BWF Laws of Badminton 2027 (player's view), Law 141
- BWF Coaches' Manual L1, Module 91