Alley: An extended area on each side of the court for doubles play.
Attacking clear: An offensive stroke hit deep into the opponent's court.
Back alley: The area between the back boundary line and the long service line for doubles play.
Backcourt: The 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 throws off an opponent before or during the serve; also called a feint.
Base position: The location in the centre of the court to which a singles player tries to return after each shot. Also called the centre position.
Baseline: The back boundary line at each end of the court, parallel to the net.
Bird: What the players hit. It consists of a hemisphere of cork, topped with a "crown" of feathers, and weighs 73-85 grams. Also called the shuttlecock.
Carry: An illegal shot, also called a sling or throw, in which the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung while a stroke is ????uted.
Centre line: A line perpendicular to the net that separates the left and right service courts.
Centre position: The location in the centre of the court to which a singles player tries to return after each shot; also called the base position.
Clear: A shot hit deep to the opponent's back boundary line.
Court: The area of play, as defined by the outer boundary lines.
Drive: A fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net.
Drop: A shot hit softly so that it falls rapidly and close to the net on the opponent's side.
Fault: A violation of the rules.
Feint: Any deceptive movement that throws off an opponent before or during the serve; also called a balk.
Flick: A quick wrist and forearm rotation that changes a soft shot into a faster one. This shot is 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 with the shuttle barely clearing the net, and then dropping sharply down the other side. The shuttle's flight 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 ????ation.
High clear: A defensive shot hit deep into the opponent's court.
Kill: A fast, downward shot that cannot be returned; also known as a putaway.
Let: A minor violation of the rules resulting in the rally being replayed.
Long service line: The back line for the area into which a serve must land. It's also the back boundary line in singles play, but a line 83 cm inside the back boundary line in doubles play.
Match: A series of games to determine a winner.
Midcourt: The middle third of the court.
Net shot: A shot hit from the forecourt that just clears the net and drops sharply.
Passing shot: A shot that passes the opposing player or team.
Push shot: A gentle shot played by pushing the shuttle with little wrist motion and usually from net or mid-court to the opponent's mid-court.
Putaway: A fast, downward shot that cannot be returned; also known as a kill.
Rally: The exchange of shots that decides each point.
Serve: The stroke used to put the shuttlecock into play at the start of each rally; also called a service.
Service court: The area into which a service must be delivered.
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.
Shuttlecock: What the players hit. It consists of a hemisphere of cork, topped with a "crown" of feathers, and weighs 73-85 grams; also called the bird.
Sling: An illegal stroke in which the shuttle is not hit, but caught and held on the racket before being released; also called a carry or throw.
Smash: A hard-hit overhead shot slammed straight down into the opponent's court.
Throw: An illegal stroke in which the shuttle is not hit, but caught and held on the racket before being released; also called a carry or sling.
Wood shot: Illegal until 1963, a shot that occurs when the base of the shuttle is hit by the racket frame.