How to Serve in Badminton

Just as in tennis, your serve can provide the key to winning in badminton. This is the one time you control where the birdie will fly, so take advantage of it and hone that serve for precision and accuracy. Learn to execute a good serve, and you can win the match.

Things You'll Need

  • Racket
  • Shuttlecock
Show More

Instructions

  1. Serve in Badminton

    • 1

      Serve from the right court when your score is even. Serve from the left court when the score is odd.

    • 2

      Serve diagonally across the court to the opposite service box.

    • 3

      Use underhand when serving, especially when starting out in the game. This prevents players from "slamming" and makes the game fair for beginners.

    • 4

      Learn your "faults." The following are considered faults: missing, starting a serve without finishing, landing the birdie outside of the receiving service box, making the birdie pass under the net, hitting the ceiling or wall and hitting the birdie more than once. If you carry the birdie on the face of the racket for an extended period of time or touch the net with your racket or body, a fault will also be called.

    Get in Position

    • 5

      Hold the racket with your thumb along the racket handle. If you are having trouble with your serve, try shortening your grip to give yourself more control over the racket.

    • 6

      Rotate the racket until it is "upside down." The back of your hand should be facing the net.

    • 7

      Hold the edge of the shuttlecock between your thumb and forefinger, approximately 6 inches from the head of the racket at waist level.

    • 8

      Move your "racket leg" forward in front of the other to create a comfortable standing posture that leads you into the serve.

    • 9

      Relax and aim the shuttle low over the net by using the face of the racket to push it to the front of the diagonal service court. This should force your opponent to move forward, and it may cause her to miss.