TransWikia.com

Is a shuttle touching the floor of the court not a fault?

Sports Asked on March 6, 2021

I’ve seen enough badminton matches to know that if, during play, the shuttle falls in my court (probably because I was unable to reach to one side of my court in time), it’s my “fault” and the opponent team gets a point and the service.

But, then I was reading Law 13 – Faults in World Badminton. Interestingly enough, they don’t cover this case in their list. Here’s the complete list for reference:

If in play, the shuttle:

  • lands outside the boundaries of the court (i.e. not on or within the boundary lines);
  • fails to pass over the net;
  • touches the ceiling or side walls;
  • touches the person or dress of a player;
  • touches any other object or person outside the court;
  • is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke;
  • is hit twice in succession by the same player. However, a shuttle hitting the head and the stringed area of the racket in one stroke shall not be a “fault”;
  • is hit by a player and the player’s partner successively; or
  • touches a player’s racket and does not travel towards the opponent’s court;

I couldn’t find any reference or metaphors for anything analogous to “touches the floor inside the boundary lines”.

Surely, I must be mistaken in interpreting this document. If so, then what is my mistake?

One Answer

Law 7.3 is what you're after:

The side winning a rally shall add a point to its score. A side shall win a rally, if the opposing side commits a "fault" or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of the court inside the opponent's court.

I believe the reason for the separation here is that a fault is something that you actively have to do wrong - hit the shuttle out, touch the net, etc, whereas the shuttle touching the court is a passive action on the part of the team losing the point. For what it's worth, the same distinction applies in volleyball (Rule 6.1.1):

6.1.1. A team scores a point:

6.1.1.1 by successfully landing the ball on the opponent’s court

6.1.1.2 when the opponent team commits a fault;

Correct answer by Philip Kendall on March 6, 2021

Add your own answers!

Ask a Question

Get help from others!

© 2024 TransWikia.com. All rights reserved. Sites we Love: PCI Database, UKBizDB, Menu Kuliner, Sharing RPP