Badminton World Federation (BWF)- Former name IBF
International Badminton Federation (IBF) founded in 1934 with nine member nations has been the international governing body for the sport of badminton. The countries include Canada, Denmark, England, France, Ireland, Netherlands, New Zealand, Scotland and Wales. At the Extraordinary General Meeting on September 24 2006 in Madrid, Spain it was decided to adopt the new name Badminton World Federation (BWF). It has since expanded to 159 member nations around the world. Its headquarters has been located at Cheltenham, UK since its founding, has its current location at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Its current president is Dr Kang Young Joong from S.Korea. He has been re-elected for a new four-year term from 2009-2013. Former world champion Thomas Lund has been appointed Chief Operating Officer of the Badminton World Federation. He will assume office on 15 June 2009.
The BWF works in co-operation with the 5 continents of Asia, Europe, Americas, Africa and Oceania in promoting and developing the sport of badminton around the world.
The BWF has a new logo and it was launched during the June 2007 Sudirman Cup in Glasgow, Scotland.
Tags: BWF
I wonder if many badminton players who enjoy the game know how fast a shuttlecock can travel. It is indeed very fast if you can smash the shuttle at the precise timing and momentum. The execution of a great smash is when you anticipate and position your racket in the forward stance and waiting for the perfect strike to the sweet spot on the racket. The precise timing of hitting the shuttle from high and also the momentum of a great follow-through produces a powerful smash. The downward impact will create a powerful smash in your opponent’s court in a blink of an eye. That’s a lightning-quick killer smash! Not many players have the ability to execute such an action. This action is seen usually in the doubles play as the attack and defence moves are usually very fast. To produce a speed of more than 200kph it requires the player to have super quick reflexes and responds in a split-second action. Top world class players usually do not have any problems with producing such a powerful and fast smash.
The fastest recorded SMASH was executed by the China player Fu Haifeng. It rocketed to a 332 kph equivalent to 206 mph . The smash was recorded in the tournament of the Sudirman Cup on 3/6/2005. It’s quite phenomenal when compared to the tennis stroke. The fastest tennis stroke recorded was by Andy Roddick at 246 kph that is equivalent to 153 mph. However the fastest singles smash record in the singles competition was by the Indonesian ace Taufik Hidayat at 305 kph that is equivalent to 189 mph. It’s simply astonishing! Amazing!
So that’s how fast a shuttlecock can travel – like a speeding bullet. And someday someone may just break that record, but it wouldn’t be me. (I just love to play badminton)
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Tags: badminton smash, Fu Haifeng, Taufik Hidayat
Badminton Serves
The game of badminton is played by two players in singles or four players in doubles on the court. The first action to start playing the game is to serve the shuttlecock to your opponent. In badminton there are different types of serves employed by players whether in singles or doubles play.
However the serve must be correct to be legal. The serve must be made below the waist and the racket shaft must be in a downward direction. The entire racket head must be discernibly below the whole of the server’s hand before hitting the shuttle. Otherwise it will be service fault.
There are basically two types of serves: the low and the high serve. The purpose of the low serve is to deliver the shuttle just over the net to the front service line. This will give your opponent little or no chance to attack. In the high serve there are a couple of variations: namely the flick and drive. The purpose of high serve is to move your opponent to the rear of the court. The flick serve is used more often in doubles play while the drive or long serve is more popular with singles players.
The Short Serve
This stroke may be played with either the forehand or the backhand grip. I usually use the backhand grip in my doubles service.
How to serve the Forehand short serve
- Preparation-Stand with a comfortable stance holding the racket back and the shuttle slightly in front of the body. The hand holding the racket should be slightly bent at the elbow with the wrist held back.
- Prepare to serve-Once ready, release the shuttle and bring the racket forward to serve to the opponent’s court. This action is accompanied with the transfer of weight to the forward foot.
- Point of Impact-At this point the weight is transferred to the front foot with the wrist still held back and your eyes on the shuttle.
- Follow through with the action with the wrist still held back and eyes on the shuttle.
How to serve the Backhand short serve
The backhand short serve is very effective and an excellent service used by most doubles players today. The purpose of the low serve is to force your opponent to lift the shuttle. To serve stand near the front service line and hold the shuttle below the waist. With the backhand grip hold the racket with the elbow well up. Then strike the shuttle over the net with a little flick of the wrist or with a short backswing. Try to keep the serve low just over the net.
- Preparation-Hold the racket with a comfortable stance, with one foot slightly forward. Hold the shuttle below the waist. Using a backhand grip with elbow well up and ready.
- Point of Impact-With a little backswing hit the shuttle and your eyes following the flight of the shuttle. A point to note- the motion must be continuous.
- Follow through the action and prepare for your opponent’s response.
The Long Serve
In the long serve the shuttle is hit towards the base line or the rear of the court. In the high serve the shuttle is usually struck high towards the baseline. This serve is mainly used in singles play
How to serve the long serve
Stand in a comfortable stance with the dominant foot towards the back. Hold the shuttle at its base at about waist height extending in front of your body. Bring your dominant hand in a backswing position with arm and wrist cocked. Then co-ordinate your serve with the transfer of weight from the back foot to the forward foot. The power of the serve derives from the forearm rotation and the wrist coordination. With a proper follow- through your racket should finish over the opposite shoulder
- Preparation-Hold the shuttle with out-stretched hand in front of the body. Using a large backswing will be able to send the shuttle high and to the baseline of the court.
- At Impact the shuttle should be hit with an upward swing and with a full follow-through with the eyes focussing on the flight of the shuttle.
Mastering the different ways of service will stands you in good stead in any situation in playing badminton.
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Tags: Badminton serves
Basics of Badminton – The Grip
Well as I have pointed out the name ‘badminton’ originated from a place in Gloucestershire in England called ‘Badminton’. And that was how the name Badminton came from.
Badminton is my first love when it comes to playing games. I enjoy the game with my friends since young and we play consistently for many years. I believe that to play and enjoy a good game a player must first learn how to hold the racquet correctly. Just like in golf where the correct grip is the most fundamental step. The correct way to grip the racket handle is the foundation of the game in Badminton.
Basically there are 2 types of grips – the forehand and the backhand grip.
The forehand grip is holding the racquet with the face of the racquet at perpendicular angle to the floor i.e. 90 degrees. There should be a “V” shape formed between the thumb and the index finger. For flexibility and control of the racket the grip should not be held too tight or too loose. You can adjust the grip pressure according to the situation of the game.
The backhand grip is for hitting shots that are on the backhand side of the body. If you are a right- hander you hit the shuttle on your left side of your body and vice versa if you are a left-hander. As for me I am a Left-Hander player. And left-handers are very good players too, like Lin Dan, Bao Chunlai and Yang Yang of China.
With learning the proper and correct grip the players are able to enjoy a better game. They will be able to control the racket with better flexibility and adaptability. Once you learn the correct way of griping the racket you will be able to play a better all-rounded game of attack and defence.
So just enjoy your game whether it is for leisure or for pleasure!
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Tags: Badminton basics, Badminton grip
Badminton Strokes
Badminton is an interesting game to play whether it is playing for leisure or playing competitively. The game employs a wide variety of strokes. To start the game we have the “service” just like the serve in tennis. And in the course of the game we use many strokes. In order to play and enjoy a better game we also need to master these basic strokes as well, namely:-
- Smash
- Drop shot
- Lift or Clear shot
- Drive Shot
The smash is the most powerful shot in the game and it is also the most enjoyable part of the game where one powerful smash can demolish the opponent with the ‘kill’. This is the ultimate action in badminton and the most fulfilling to a player. There is the forehand smash, overhead smash and the backhand smash, although backhand smash is not easy to execute for the average players. In my game I simply enjoy smashing at my opponent.
The drop shot is a controlled shot executed with the intention of deception on the opponent. Drop shots can be either attacking or defensive shots. They can be played either with the forehand or the backhand strokes. A drop shot should be aimed low and crosses just over the net and not too high or too deep into the opponent’s court. The shuttle crosses the net in a tight space. When you employed with a slicing action it can be even more devastating with your deceptive shot. Some beautifully crafted drop shots can leave your opponent stunt and stranded without a reply.
The lift or clear shot is basically a defensive move and for the player to get into position again for the next shot by the opponent. Clear shots should be lifted high with a high trajectory and towards the baseline or back part of the court. This is purely a defensive action. A good strategy is to move back to the centre of your court after your lift and then anticipate for your opponent’s return.
The drive shot is usually an attacking shot. The shot has a medium trajectory and can be hit either with the forehand or backhand side. It is used to exert pressure on your opponent and usually with a powerful cross-court shot to your opponent’s backhand side of the baseline. This powerful low drive shot will increase the momentum of the play and puts pressure on your opponent.
With these basic skills we can simply enjoy a wonderful game with friends and fellow badminton players. And the more we are able to handle the various strokes the better our game will be. So just play more and enjoy
Tags: Badminton Strokes
I am living my passion in Badminton. I play it, I enjoy it and most of all I love it!
Badminton has been my passion since my childhood days and I still enjoy my game to this day with my regular ‘kaki’s or buddies.
Badminton builds friendship and relationship as well. So this is where I will be able to meet new friends and extend my badminton fraternity with badminton lovers.
Badminton is also a universal game that is loved by many around the world. So I welcome all badminton lovers to the world of badminton.
My simple concept is to keep myself fit and healthy and develop friendship through badminton.
Tags: badminton