Badminton is a racquet sport played by two opposing pairs or two opposing players. It is played on a rectangular court that is evenly divided by a net. Players score points by striking a shuttlecock, with their racquet, over the net and having it land on their opponents' section of the court.

Players volley a shuttlecock over a net that divides a rectangular court. If the shuttlecock hits the ground or lands out of bounds, points are scored. The player(s) with the most points win.

To win more games than the opponent(s) and as a result, win the match.

Play starts with a below the waist service to the opposite side of the court. The opposing player(s) must return the shuttlecock before it hits the ground. Points are scored by the player(s) that win a rally. The first player(s) to score 21 points win the game. The player(s) who win best of three games, wins the match.

The earliest forms of badminton were played in ancient Greece and Egypt, with variations of the sport continuously played until modern times. A version played in India called Poona was adopted in the 18th century by British soldiers, and taken back to England. In 1873, the first game of badminton was played, built mostly upon rules found in Poona. By 1887, rules and regulations were created to make badminton a unique and independent sport. The International Badminton Federation (IBF) was established in 1934 to govern international play. In 1992, badminton became an Olympic event. Today badminton is popular throughout the world, with the top players originating from Asia.

Net
Racquet
Shuttlecock

When playing pairs, one must use caution to avoid stepping into a teammates' backswing.

Players use aerobic training to increase stamina, agility, strength and speed. Drills are also done to develop good motor coordination and racquet skills.

Racquet - a type of bat with a round or oval frame strung with catgut, nylon, etc

Shuttlecock - a cork to which feathers are attached to form a cone shape, struck with rackets

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Badminton