An intense rally across the net. A powerful smash could end the point, but a delicate drop shot might win it too. Vocabulary in this post badminton noun /ˈbæd.mɪn.tən/ A racquet sport played indoors on a court by two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs of players (doubles), in which a shuttlecock is volleyed over a net and the competitions are presided by an umpire in British English and a referee in American English. Examples: "My brother and I love playing badminton after school. " match noun /mæt͡ʃ/ A competitive sporting event such as a boxing meet, a baseball game, or a cricket match. Examples: "My local team are playing in a match against their arch-rivals today." rally noun /ˈɹæ.li/ A sequence of strokes between serving and scoring a point. Examples: "The tennis player's rally lasted for ten strokes before the opponent finally scored. " shuttlecock noun /ˈʃʌtl̩kɒk/ /ˈʃʌtl̩kɑk/ A lightweight object that is conical in shape with a cork or rubber-covered nose, used in badminton the way a ball is used in other racquet games. Examples: "During gym class, we learned to hit the shuttlecock over the net using badminton rackets. " racket noun /ˈɹækɪt/ A racquet: an implement with a handle connected to a round frame strung with wire, sinew, or plastic cords, and used to hit a ball, such as in tennis or a birdie in badminton. Examples: "My brother uses a tennis racket to practice his serves. " smash noun /smæʃ/ A very hard overhead shot hit sharply downward. Examples: "A smash may not be as pretty as a good half volley, but it can still win points." drop shot noun /ˈdrɒp ʃɒt/ In sports such as badminton, squash, tennis and volleyball, a lightly-struck shot that just lands into play. Examples: "In tennis, Maria surprised her opponent with a delicate drop shot that barely cleared the net. " court noun /kɔːt/ /kɔɹt/ A place arranged for playing the games of tennis, basketball, squash, badminton, volleyball and some other games Examples: "The local sports club has six tennis courts and two squash courts." serve noun /sɜːv/ /sɝv/ An act of putting the ball or shuttlecock in play in various games. Examples: "Whose serve is it?"
