How to Play Backyard Badminton

Badminton is a racket sport in which players hit a birdie, or shuttlecock, over the net in attempt to score points against an opponent. The birdie is usually made of feathers or plastic feathers inserted into a foam or rubber cone for aerodynamic support. The lightweight materials make for a much slower game than tennis, making badminton popular with the young, elderly and handicapped. The sport can be played indoors, or in this case, right in your backyard.

Things You'll Need

  • Badminton net
  • 2-4 badminton rackets
  • Birdie
  • 128 feet of white string
  • 4 stakes
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Instructions

  1. Setup

    • 1

      Purchase an outdoor badminton set. They are available at most sporting goods stores or from online retailers.

    • 2

      Set up the net using the pole stakes and rope supports. Your badminton set should come with instructions for assembly.

    • 3

      Measure and stake out the court. The court should be 20 feet wide and 44 feet long. Plant one stake in the ground at each corner and connect the corners with the white string. The net should be placed across the center of the court so that each side is 22 feet deep and 20 feet wide.

    • 4

      Give each player (two or four can play) a badminton racket. These rackets are smaller and lighter than tennis rackets, but tennis rackets will work if necessary.

    Playing the game

    • 5

      Flip a coin to see which side serves first.

    • 6

      Serve the birdie by holding it out in front of you at shoulder height. Drop the birdie and hit it over the net with an upward swing.

    • 7

      Return your opponent's hit after it crosses the net and enters your side of the court. Hitting the birdie back and forth over the net is called "rallying" or "volleying."

    • 8

      Score points by making the birdie hit the ground on your opponent's side. Points are also awarded if the birdie hits the opposing player, or if the opponent hits the birdie into the net or out of bounds. Points are only scored by the serving side. The same scoring rules apply for your opponent.

    • 9

      Serve the birdie to begin a new rally if you scored the point. If not, service passes to your opponent.

    • 10

      Declare a winner. The first person or team to score 15 points wins.

    • 11

      Switch sides and play another game. If one player wins both games, the match is over. If both players achieve a win, switch sides a final time and play a third game. The winner of the third game wins the match.