Shuttlecock

Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock across a net.

It went by the name Shuttlecock and Battledore.

Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the opposing side's half of the court.

Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net.

Play ends once the shuttlecock has struck the floor or if a fault has been called by the umpire, service judge, or (in their absence) the opposing side.

The shuttlecock is a feathered or (in informal matches) plastic projectile which flies differently from the balls used in many other sports.

In particular, the feathers create much higher drag, causing the shuttlecock to decelerate more rapidly.

The flight of the shuttlecock gives the sport its distinctive nature.

The game developed in British India from the earlier game of battledore and shuttlecock.