Ball Badminton Rules

Ball badminton is a game indigenous to India that was first played in rural settings but eventually became a game of the Indian royalty. It was first played in 1856, and a federation governing its play that has since been recognized by the Indian government was formed in 1954. Ball badminton has never truly gained popularity as an indoor sport, so it continues to be played out of doors as it was originally intended.

  1. Equipment

    • Unlike traditional badminton which uses a shuttlecock, in ball badminton the object being hit about the court is a ball made of yellow wool. To be regulation, the ball needs to be either 22 or 23 grams in weight and have a diameter between 5 and 5 1/2 centimeters. There are also specific size regulations for the racket. It must be between 63 and 70 centimeters in length and weigh between 200 and 250 grams. The netted area of the racket should be 20 to 22 centimeters by 24 to 27 centimeters. A ball badminton court measures 12 by 24 meters and is divided down the center by the net, which stands 183 centimeters high.

    Play

    • Starting at the right corner, the server strikes the ball diagonally to the opposite side of the court. With each serve, the player alternates between the right and left side of the court. The ball is served underhand below the waist and must cross the net past the serving crease. The ball must be struck by one of the players on the opposite side before it touches the ground, and players are not allowed to hit the ball twice consecutively. If players want to change their racket or do something that requires them to leave the court, they're only allowed to do so when the ball isn't in play after first getting permission from the referee. So long as the activity isn't seen as being a tactic to delay the game, the referee usually consents. Once the ball becomes deformed and unfit to be used any longer, it's left up to the umpire's discretion whether or not it should be replaced.

    Faults

    • A fault is called during service if either of the server's feet leave the ground. So long as at least some portion of the server's foot is on the ground, it's not considered a fault. A fault can also be called if the server's foot or racket is outside the lines of play during a service. The ball is still considered in play if it goes out of the lines so long as a player is attempting to hit it. If that player then misses the ball, a fault is called. Any time the ball itself touches the net, fails to go over or touches a player's body or clothes, a fault is called against the team.