Badminton
THERE are some games which never die. They come up from time to time with fresh names and fresh features, but still at the bottom the same. The game known by the name of the Duke of Beaufort's seat, "Badminton," is one of these. It is in reality the old game of battledore and shuttlecock reduced to rule, elevated into a game of skill, and played between opposite sides. In order more strictly to define the "sides" they are divided by a transverse net which prevents the players from rushing out of bounds, and answers a useful purpose in the game itself. Badminton has the advantage over many other games of being equally adapted for indoor as for an outdoor amusement--for gentlemen as well as ladies, though frequently the former when out of doors prefer "Lawn Tennis."
The necessary implements of Badminton are few, and are easily procurable. An ingenious boy could make them in a few hours, or they can be purchased for a comparatively small sum, and the fitting done at home. What is really wanted is a few yards of common netting, two upright poles, half a dozen sharp wooden pegs, a few yards of cord, a dozen shuttlecocks and four battledores. Though common wooden battledores will answer every purpose, the most popular are those formed of wire network, oiled string or gut lightly stretched over an oval frame fixed in a light but strong handle. Some prefer the ordinary drum battledore, but the noise which these make at play is very objectionable, though they are light and handy. The shuttlecocks sold for the purpose are works of art, and are made to spin well. The poles may be light and not thicker than a heavy walking-stick; they need not be more than four feet high, and under any circumstances should not exceed five feet. The netting which is sold for the purpose is usually variegated in colour, but plain netting from a few inches to a foot or eighteen inches wide will answer the purpose. The length for indoor play is of course regulated by the width of the room, fifteen feet being generally found sufficient, and about double that length when the game is played on the lawn or meadow. It is more convenient to use light coloured cord for the courts and serving creases, but a piece of chalk or whiting will answer the purpose.
The ground, if the game is played out of doors, is set out in courts according to the number about to play at once. If four persons the ground must be set out as an oblong of 30 feet wide by 60 feet long; or 40 feet by 80 feet. Across the middle of this space the net is stretched from the poles driven into the earth on the either side. At three feet on either side of the net a line is stretched or drawn to mark what is termed a "serving crease." The "courts" are then made by making their bounds with chalk or cord. The latter is preferable for the sides. The plan of the ground will be bost understood by a reference to the following diagram.
A A poles, B net, C C serving creases, D D D D courts E E E E cords supporting poles.
The ground being laid out, the game is played as follows: a player takes his station in each of the squares called courts, and the person who is to commence, or technically, "serve" the shuttle-cock, strikes it with the battledore diagonally over the net to the player on the opposite side facing his partner, not to his opponent facing himself. Thus, if the player who commenced stood in the court marked D 1 he would play to D 4, and if the shuttlecock fall outside D 4 either beyond the bounds or in the court of D 3 his opponents would count one, but if the player at D 4 failed to hit it back when served true, then the side of the first player would score one. If the "serving" is bad the opposite side cannot score if the player who would otherwise count one, strikes at the shuttlecock.
When once the shuttlecock is set going both sides can cross the serving crease and approach the net as nearly as possible, and endeavour to send it just over the net, which of course makes it very difficult to hit, but should the shuttlecock go under the net, or remain in it, the person hitting it goes out if more than four play and the other side score one. Whenever the player misses the shuttlecock he is out if more than four play, otherwise the other side score one.
It will thus be seen that the first stroke is all important. The server must stand outside the serving crease, and by striking the ball under-hand send it beyond the serving crease on the other side. Afterwards till the shuttlecock falls it may be struck under or overhand. The division into courts prevents that indiscriminate striking which would otherwise ensue. Sometimes one good player will take a side himself against two indifferent ones, or will take points to compensate for the lack of a partner.
The game is played sometimes 15, sometimes 21 points up, as may be agreed upon when there are only two players of a side; or 29 and upwards when there are four or more players.
Many of the laws of Lawn Tennis (which see) are applicable to Badminton; indeed the ground is laid out in the same way only more ground is usually required.
All the materials for Badminton are sold in boxes from 17s. 6d. a set according to quality and quantity to five guineas, at any depot for games.