Serving as the first shot of the game is a very critical job to do. It has the power to develop the scoring in the rally. But how does serving in badminton work?

A serve must be hit with an underarm hitting action in an upwards direction. The main rule of hitting the shuttle is that it must be hit below your waist level. To be exact, the height of the service should be from the lowest part of your ribcage. You can also serve from a bit higher than the top of your shorts but not higher than that.

Serving is done when you start a rally, and a player has to hit the shuttle. There are many restrictions on serving to prevent gaining an overwhelming advantage by the server. The rules do not apply during the rest of the rally but at the start of it. The receiver hits the second shot in the rally. In doubles, the partner of the receiver is not allowed to hit that shot.

Service courts inside the court are shaped like a small box. There is a line drawn in the middle, which is extending from the back to the net and center-line. The line is met to another line called the front service line, which forms a T-shape at the meeting point.

A singles service court is a box made from four lines: the center-line, a singles side-line, the front service line, and the back-line. In doubles, there are two service courts: the right service court and the left service court. And, same for the opponent in the opposite court.

The courts are slightly different in size for singles and doubles because of the side-line and the back-line. A doubles service court is made from the four lines: the center-line, a double side-line, the front service line, and the inside back-line.

A badminton player attempts to master four different types of serves to make their gameplay more diverse and ensure victory by keeping their opponent guessing. Every kind of badminton serves demands for different skills to be executed properly. A player needs to do a lot of practice to master these different types of serves.

1) Low Serve: The low serve allows flexibility to players as they can either use forehand or backhand. The player can play with his strength and use the style in which he is best at. The low serve is the most effective if the player allows the shuttle to float over the top of the net.The shuttle will land very near to the service line, and the opponent has to come forward to hit that shot. He can hopefully miss the play. This service can often be used in singles as well as doubles. It is the most common serve used in doubles.

2) High Serve: When playing singles, a player drives the shuttle deep into the opponent’s court. Do not use this service more often, as the opponent will come to know and expect it. The player will learn to stay near the back of the court during your service.You should make sure that you stand a few steps behind the service line to give yourself enough space to ensure that the shuttle will stay in the bounds.

3) Flick Serve: The flick serve is comparatively easy to serve and play when expected. You should serve this once in no more than every five serves to keep the opponent player guessing. The service begins in the same way as the low serve.But instead of tapping the shuttle over the net, flick your wrist to bring the shuttle unexpectedly into the opponent’s backcourt. It is the most commonly used in both singles and doubles.

4) Drive Serves: It is the riskiest serve but enjoyed by many expert badminton players. When you can observe a slow reaction time of your opponent, then, it is to be thrown occasionally to get the point.The drive serve is executed by underarm actions using forehand. The serve should be quick enough that the shuttle goes low over the net and deep into the opponent’s court. You should be careful because if your opponent can play the shot, then the shuttle will come back to your court very quickly.

1) Backhand Serve: You have to pick up your racket and hold it with a backhand grip in the right amount to feel comfortable. You can adjust your grip depending on the respective serves, to get the necessary grip right.You can use your thumb and forefinger to pick up the shuttle so that its head points towards you and the feathers to the net. You should stand with your racket foot forward and with your racket and shuttle facing the net. As you are set, you can start to serve.

The power of the service depends on the type of service that you want to execute with a low or flick serve. The low serve can barely get over the net and behind the service line. The flick serve requires the shuttle to be tilted upwards with a little more power to hit the shuttle in the rear part of the court.

2) Forehand Serves: It can be described in five necessary steps. You have to use a forehand grip racket that is comfortable and close to the base of the racket for more control. Take the shuttle in your hands and use your thumb and fingers to hold.The shuttle should experience a free fall from your thigh level until it is sent to the opponent’s side. There should be two separate movements, i.e., one for the shuttle and the other for the racket. The forehand serves are mostly used in singles.

Serving in badminton is an initial step. How does serving in badminton work? There are different types and styles of serves that are used at different moments and levels of the game. It all depends on the service and how the game is going ahead.