Knowledge

Introduction to service faults

The service fault is the most common type of fault in badminton. Because each player’s serve action is slightly different, it isn’t easy to judge whether their serve action is against the rules. This is why, in international tournaments, as well as an umpire and six line judges, there is a service judge directly opposite the umpire.
 
The main duty of the service judge is to focus on whether a player’s serve action breaches the rules. The presence of a service judge effectively reduces the number of service disputes, however, most people don’t have a service judge when playing in the local sports hall so, in this situation, how can it be judged if you or your opponent has broken the service rules? Below, some common service faults will be introduced. 
 
Commonly seen service faults
1.
Serving before the opponent is ready.
2.
The racket handle faces up when the shuttlecock is hit.
3.
Two-stage service action (not a continuous single action).
4.
When it is hit, the shuttlecock is higher than the waist of the server (an imaginary line under the bottom rib of the server).
 
Aside from the aforementioned faults, if players encounter other serve actions they suspect are against the rules, we suggest you refer to the contents of Item 9 in the Laws of Badminton announced by the BWF to clarify if an action should be ruled a fault or not.
 
Backhand serves
 
Forehand serves
 
Badminton World Federation official site - LAWS OF BADMINTON
9.1
In a correct service,
9.1.1
neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server  and the receiver are ready for the service. On completion of the backward movement of server’s racket head, any delay in the start of the service (Law 9.2), shall be considered to be an undue delay;
9.1.2
the server and the receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts (Diagram A) without touching the boundary lines of these service courts;
9.1.2.1
In Para-badminton Wheelchair and Standing Classes playing half-court, Diagram D and F, respectively, apply.
9.1.3
some part of both feet of the server and the receiver shall remain in contact with the surface of the court in a stationary position from the start of the service (Law 9.2) until the service is delivered (Law 9.3);
9.1.3.1
In Wheelchair Badminton: from the start of the service and until the service is delivered, the wheels of the server and the receiver must be stationary, except the natural counter movement of the server’s wheelchair.
9.1.4
the server’s racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle;
9.1.5
the whole shuttle shall be below the server’s waist at the instant of being hit by the server’s racket. The waist shall be considered to be an imaginary line round the body,level with the lowest part of the server’s bottom rib
9.1.5.1
In Wheelchair Badminton, the whole shuttle shall be below the server’s armpit at the instant of being hit by the server’s racket;
9.1.5.2
For Fixed Height Experiment: The whole of the shuttle shall be below 1.10 metres from the surface of the court at the instant of being hit by the server's racket.
9.1.6
the shaft of the server’s racket at the instant of hitting the shuttle shall be pointing in a downward direction;
9.1.7
the movement of the server’s racket shall continue forwards from the start of the service (Law 9.2) until the service is delivered (Law 9.3);
9.1.8
the flight of the shuttle shall be upwards from the server’s racket to pass over the net so that, if not intercepted, it shall land in the receiver’s service court (i. e. on or within the boundary lines); and
9.1.9
in attempting to serve, the server shall not miss the shuttle.
9.2
Once the players are ready for the service, the first forward movement of the server’s racket head shall be the start of the service.
9.3
Once started (Law 9.2), the service is delivered when the shuttle is hit by the server’s racket or, in attempting to serve, the server misses the shuttle.
9.4
The server shall not serve before the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall be considered to have been ready if a return of the service is attempted.
9.5
In doubles, during the delivery of service (Law 9.2, 9.3), the partners may take up any positions within their respective courts, which do not unsight the opposing server or receiver.
 
 
After carefully reading the BWF Laws of Badminton everyone can try to answer the following test questions that will show if you now understand various kinds of service fault! 
 
Q1.When my opponent is getting ready to serve can I take a step forward and pretend to pounce on the shuttlecock to put them under pressure and upset their service rhythm?
Ans：No (Please see the Laws of Badminton, Item 9.1.3)
 
Q2.In a doubles match, when it is my teammate’s turn to serve I can stand anywhere in our side of the court as long as it doesn’t interfere with my teammate’s serve or the opponent’s receipt of the serve？
Ans：Correct (please see the Laws of Badminton, Item 9.5)
 
( Edit by VICTOR Badminton )

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