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| Alley | : | Extension of the court by 1 1/2 feet on both sides for doubles play. |
| Attacking clear | : | An offensive stroke hit deep into the opponent's court. |
| Back Alley | : | Area between the back boundary line and the long service line for doubles. |
| Backcourt | : | Back third of the court, in the area of the back boundary lines. |
| Backhand | : | The stroke used to return balls hit to the left of a right-handed player and to the right of a left-handed player. |
| Balk | : | Any deceptive movement that disconcerts an opponent before or during the serve; also called a "balk". |
| Base position | : | The location in the centre of the court to which a singles player tries to return after each shot; alsocalled "centre position". |
| Baseline | : | The back boundary line at each end of the court, parallel to the net. |
| Carry | : | An illegal stroke, also called a sling or throw, in which the shuttle is not hit, but caught and held on the racquet and then slung during the execution of a stroke. |
| Center or Base Position | : |
Location in the center of the court to which a singles player tries to return after each shot. |
| Centre line | : | A line perpendicular to the net that separates the left and right service courts. |
| Clear | : | A shot hit deep to the opponent’s back boundary Line. The high clear is a defensive shot, while the flatter attacking clear is used offensively. |
| Court | : | Area of play, as defined by the outer boundary lines. |
| Doubles | : |
A game where a team of two players play against another team of two.
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| Doubles sideline | : | The side boundary of a doubles court. |
| Drive | : | A fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net. |
| Drop | : |
A shot hit softly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net on the opponent’s side.
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| Fault | : | A violation of the playing rules, either in serving, receiving, or during play. |
| Feint | : |
Any deceptive movement that disconcerts an opponent before or during the service; often called a "feint." |
| Flick | : |
A quick wrist-and-forearm rotation used to surprise an opponent by changing an apparently soft shot into a faster passing shot; used primarily on the serve and at the net. |
| Forecourt | : | The front third of the court, between the net and the short service line. |
| Forehand | : |
The stroke used to return a ball hit to the right of a right-handed player and to the left of a left-handed player. |
| Game | : |
The part of a set completed when one player or side has scored enough points to win a single contest. |
| Hairpin net shot | : |
A shot made from below and very close to the net and causing the shuttle to rise, just clearing the net, then dropping sharply down the other side so that the flight of the shuttlecock resembles the shape of a hairpin. |
| Halfcourt shot | : | A shot hit low and to midcourt, used effectively in doubles play against the up-and-back formation. |
| High clear | : |
A defensive shot hit deep into the opponent's court. |
| Kill | : | Fast, downward shot that cannot be returned; a "put away." |
| Let | : | A minor violation of the rules allowing a rally to be replayed. |
| Long Service Line | : | In singles, the back boundary line.1n doubles a line 2 l/2 feet inside the back boundary line. The serve may not go past this line. |
| Match | : | A series of games to determine a winner. |
| Midcourt | : | The middle third of the court, halfway between the net and the back boundary line. |
| Net shot | : |
A shot hit from the forecourt that just clears the net and drops sharply. |
| Passing shot | : | A shot which passes the opposing player or team. |
| Push shot | : | A gentle shot played by pushing the shuttlecock with a little wrist motion, usually from net or midcourt to the opponent’s midcourt. |
| Racquet | : | Instrument used by player to hit shuttlecock Weight:About3 ounces. Length: 27 inches. Made of: Ceramic, graphite, or boron frame; gut string. Cost: $60-$175 (unstrung). |
| Rally | : |
The exchange of shots while the shuttle is in play. |
| Serve or Service | : |
The stroke used to put the shuttlecock into play at the start of each rally. |
| Service court | : | The area into which a service must be delivered. Different for singles and doubles. |
| Set | : |
To choose to extend a game beyond its normal ending score if the score is tied with one point to go. |
| Short service line | : |
The front line of the service courts 1.98 metres from the net which a serve must reach to be legal. |
| Shuttlecock | : |
Official name for the object that players hit. Also known as "birdie." Weight: .17-.l9 ounces. Made of: 16 goose feathers attached to a cork tip covered with goat skin. Cost: $1.50-$2.00. Usually lasts for no more than two games. The heavier the shuttlecock, the faster it flies. Flies faster in higher temperatures and at higher altitudes. |
| Singles | : | A game where one player plays against another player. |
| Singles sideline | : | The side boundary of a singles court. |
| Smash | : | A hard-hit overhead shot that forces the shuttle sharply downwards into the opponent's court. Badminton’s primary attacking stroke. |
| Wood shot | : | A legal shot that results when the base of the shuttle is hit by the frame of the racquet. Once illegal, this shot was ruled acceptable by the International Badminton Federation in 1963. |