Deceptive serves; service faults

[Brett]

The other night I was called by an opposing player for making a "deceptive serve," which he declared was a fault. After looking at the official rules, I saw the provision requiring the shuttle to be hit on the initial forward stroke of the racquet and I did violate that rule on that occasion (it was a pretty casual game with several beginners and for some comic relief, I exaggerated a deep serve motion, stopped and then served a short serve).

However, frequently on other occasions, I exaggerate a deep serve and at the last minute slow things down for a drop serve, while on the same, initial forward motion or start off very slowly as if making a drop serve and then snap the serve deep or in a drive. I feel that these sorst of serves are perfectly legal, as deceptive strokes are a major component of the game. Are these so-called deceptive, one motion serves legal?

How often do any of you call service faults on players who have their racquet heads at or above the level of the handle? Looking at the diagram in the rules, I would guess that about half the serves in our league (probably some of mine included) are illegal because the racquet head is too high and close to parallel, but nobody ever calls these serves as faults.

[Zclyh3]

As an avid reader of the rulebook, I call any shots that a illegal. I don't care if you're the baddest player or the best. If you make an illegal serve, I will call it. It's cool to play the game, but the least you can do is play fair. I don't care if you're even my friends. If it's illegal, it's illegal...bar none.

[Cheung]

"However, frequently on other occasions, I exaggerate a deep serve and at the last minute slow things down for a drop serve, while on the same, initial forward motion or start off very slowly as if making a drop serve and then snap the serve deep or in a drive. I feel that these sorst of serves are perfectly legal, as deceptive strokes are a major component of the game. Are these so-called deceptive, one motion serves legal?"


They should be legal. Otherwise a flick serve is illegal!



"How often do any of you call service faults on players who have their racquet heads at or above the level of the handle? "

No when:
1) the game is not of earthshattering importance.
2) If the person is not a regular league or competition player. (why destroy their enjoyment?)

Yes when:
1) The person is still on the improvement phase of learning the game, I will tell them so they can eliminate bad habits
2) Competitions


In League matches, I will say something if it's a tight game!!.

[alex]

In addition to the first 2 excellent responses, I would like to point out something strictly technical.

"Are these so-called deceptive, one motion serves legal?"
While deceptive shots are totally acceptable in badminton, "deceptive serves" are NOT! In Badminton, services are the only shots that deception is not allowed. Serves are simply for starting the game, nothing else. There are many ways leading to deceiving serves, sometimes even an experienced player may commit one under pressure.

First, "exaggerate a deep serve and at the last minute slow things down for a drop serve" is a deception because you are using 2 speeds (first fast, then slow). It is, however, perfectly legal using a flick serve with your wrist snapping at the last moment of impact.

Second, moving any other body parts (like your foot, or even looking around trying to "hint" where you're going to serve to) BEFORE you serve is also illegal. Your intentional movement is deceiving to the receving player.

Second, any shouting, yelling, or even jumping up in mid air with racquet swung after a perfect serve but BEFORE the receiver takes the shot is also illegal. This is considered "obstruction" for opposing player to return a shot.

In general, any ideas of deceiving the receiver in a serve can make one easily fall in these traps. Instead, focus on surprising the receiver.

To conclude, I will still use discretion when applying these, as some players are just learning.

[Anonymous]

Alex, thanks for the response. I agree that shouting or doing something else distracting should be a fault. However, I fail to see why slowing down a deep serve swing to serve a drop serve is any different than a flick serve - aren't those two serves merely mirror images of each other? Given that both types of serves involve a change of pace immediately prior to contact with the shuttle, why should the former serve be a service fault, while the latter is a legal serve?

Could you please provide me with some authority for your proposition that deceptive serves are illegal? Is this a local rule at your club or league, or is it part of a national or international set of rules? I read through the IBF rules on serving and found nothing about "deceptive" serves other than the rule requiring a serve to hit the shuttle on one continuous forward motion. Thanks.

[alex]

I agree that none of these official rules explicitly say that deception in serving is illegal, same way that no rule specifies who calls the line in case of dispute in absense of line persons.

This is not a club rule, but from the training courses for umpires and service judges. Some badminton books written by players also mention this. You'll be surprised how many players have technically (but may not intentionally) committed one or more of these service faults. Under tense competition, these can add up and mean winning or losing.

Over-exaggeration of slowing down a deep serve and serve a short serves involves a full swinging motion and a halt (though not a complete halt because of momentum) BEFORE hitting the shuttle, therefore does not consititute a continuous motion of serving. In world class tournaments, how often do we see top players doing this?

A flick serve involves snaping the wrist upon impact when the forearm is still in motion is not considered a dramatic change of speed and motion on the server's body part (ie. the forearm). The drastic change of speed is on the shuttle only. That's why it is legal.

[Cheung]

"Over-exaggeration of slowing down a deep serve and serve a short serves involves a full swinging motion and a halt (though not a complete halt because of momentum) BEFORE hitting the shuttle, therefore does not consititute a continuous motion of serving."

A halt is not a complete halt because of momentum? That seems to be a contradiction.


"In world class tournaments, how often do we see top players doing this?"

Then again, just because a top player doesn't do it doesn't mean it can't be done.
By analogy, how many club players stand more than 4 feet behind the service line in doubles? How often do we see top players doing this?

The slowing down of a fast motion before the racquet impacts the shuttle, IMO, isn;t done in international play because it doesn't work at that level wheras it may work at a lower standard of play.

"While deceptive shots are totally acceptable in badminton, "deceptive serves" are NOT! In Badminton, services are the only shots that deception is not allowed. Serves are simply for starting the game, nothing else. "

A serve is not a bona fide shot of a rally? A flick serve is not deception?


"Moving any other body parts (like your foot, or even looking around trying to "hint" where you're going to serve to) BEFORE you serve is also illegal. "

Rudy Gunawen always never used to look at the shuttle before he served. Yet other people look down at the shuttle just before they hit it. That doesn't seem to be illegal.



Sorry Alex, I think deception on a serve is perfectly OK. Deception only exists if the opponent is deceived. If not, then the serve isn't deceptive any more. Would that then make the serve legal instead....?

(This is very interesting!)

[alex]

I would like to focus on the big picture "are deceptive serves legal"?

I agree that every serve should ideally bear the element of surprise. I just do not use the word "deception". Maybe we're in the middle of choosing the right word to express ourselves.

By deception in services, I mean "motions that are not part of the necessary movements in delivering a service" and they are "intentional".

Servers can look anywhere they want when serving. But to the extent that they scan the opposing court back and forth to hint where they're going to serve to not only distracts the receiver but also causes undue delay in delivering the serve, which is illegal. Unless the shuttle is not in a ready position to be served, there should be one and only one forward, continuous motion of the racquet head until the service is delivered. Do you agree, Cheung?

Only if you mean unnecessary and fake movements of body parts before delivering a serve is okay, then I would say you meant deceptions are okay for serves. Otherwise, I'd say players are just trying to vary the angle, direction, and magnitude of the serves to surprise the receivers. If they are overdoing it in clubs' play, it is perfectly okay. In open tournaments, we will leave the details to the service judges.

I'll try to dig out some documents regarding this topic.

Thanks, Cheung.

[Brett]

I used the word "deceptive" because that is the word that was used by my opponent last week to describe my serve and I was wondering if there was an official rule that I overlooked that prohibited "deceptive" serves.

As for looking around deceptively before serving, I find that the legality of this tactic is usually a moot point in my games - if I'm looking center but aiming far side, or vice versa, I usually plunk the shuttle right into the center of the net.

Having played mostly tennis the past 15 years, I am slow in losing the mindset that the serve is a significant offensive weapon, even though I recognize that against better players, I am just as likely to hit a service fault as hit an outright service winner. I tend not to hit too many sneaky serves when playing against more competitive players, as they usually are not fooled and can get to the shuttle anyway.

I really need to get my hands on some videos of professional level badminton to look at for tips, as there isn't any badminton available on tv in America and the only world class badminton I have seen in the past decade was a one minute coverage of highlights from a tournament that I saw last March on Dutch tv while visiting friends in Amsterdam. In our league, I've found that the best serves to be used against better players (and that are used by those players) are primarily drop serves in doubles and deep serves in singles - is that basic strategy also used by the pros or do they vary their serves a lot?

[Cheung]

"By deception in services, I mean "motions that are not part of the necessary movements in delivering a service" and they are "intentional".

Servers can look anywhere they want when serving. But to the extent that they scan the opposing court back and forth to hint where they're going to serve to not only distracts the receiver but also causes undue delay in delivering the serve, which is illegal. Unless the shuttle is not in a ready position to be served, there should be one and only one forward, continuous motion of the racquet head until the service is delivered. Do you agree, Cheung?"

I agree on this last point. However, a racquet head that goes forward with the subsequent direction of the shuttle flight being a tangent would still be legal (and vice versa).

I am not sure of the point on scanning the opposite side of the court back and forth. I would not regard it as a fault. My particular solution is to only watch the racquet head and shuttle before moving my body.

A long time ago, I played a men's doubles league match in Bradford (UK). That time, I used to set my position, look up to check the height of the shuttle and opponent, look back down at the shuttle and then start the serve. Midway, I "changed" this routine by setting the position, checking the opponent's position with my peripheral position (but my head still directed to the shuttle). My opponent was in the correct position (and ready) and I served a flick serve. The time duration was the same as my normal serve. He was completely fooled and didn't react! He had been expecting me to look up first. He claimed he wasn't ready but he was already in position! I was so annoyed. I had quite beautifully "trained" him and then fooled him with using the same service action.
Since we were winning (and pretty sure of winning) I let the matter go.
Would this sort of serve be acceptable as legal, Alex?
Against better players, this sort of serve doesn't work.

[kwun]

Cheung,

chuckle, chuckle. i think i am going to start using your strategy, changing my serve preparation equence half way into the game...

kwun

[alex]

Cheung, I will find proof to whether or not "intentional deceptive movements" in serving is legal.

If your scanning is done in a matter of several seconds while you're ready to deliver the serve (shuttle hold in front of racquet) and you serve right away, it is perfect.

If your scanning time "varies a lot" for every serve with your shuttle in front of racquet, the longer you take to serve, the more likely you'll cause undue delay. Unless you put the shuttle behind the racquet head. Or put it behind your waist and bring it to the front whenl you're ready.

In open tournaments, service judges are using discretion in calling faults. Ever notice some top players serving backhand? Holding the shuttle to just below waist level, racquet pointing down, pull back the racquet a bit toward the body, racquet hitting the shuttle base in an upward direction, service delivered. What's wrong with this picture? Perfect serve? Not really.

[cooler]

IMO (which i have lot of), cheung's deceptive serve should be legal. Cheung didnt violate any rules in the book so how could it be illegal or called illegal. Service judges make calls based on what's written in the rule book. Judges don't and can't remember all the service preparation routines for every player in the match. Also, the judges eyes are fixed on shuttle, hand, rackets and line foul during each serve. They won't be checking whether players look up or not before serving nor remember how each player walks up to the service T.

[viver]

I agree with Cheung about the serve. There are rules for serving and I do not recall anything that deals with scanning the opposing court or opponent. There is a rule about undue delay, but again I think that is in the criteria of each umpire. Anybody remember the ladies final between Han Ai Ping and Wu Chin Chiu in the 1985 World Championships in Alberta?
Going back to serve, it should be of a continuous forward motion but is there any rules regarding racquet acceleration/decelaration during the serve? I really cannot recall on this. I also agree with Cheung for high level players serve, mostly for doubles: it won't work at their level decelarating racquet speed during serve, it's almost like committing Hara-kiri.
And from what I know, service judges will call a service fault only when they are 200% sure that the service did contravene the rules as they may be complained by the players. Some seasoned players really know how to intimidate the judges. Just look at some Camilla Marting games :-)

[Ron]

Brett,
As far as the law goes, a serve is the FORWARD motion of the racquet head. It does not specify that slowing down or accelerating during the serve as illegal. However, it is illegal if the racket has "STOPPED" or "PAUSED" during the motion. This is called feinting.
There also no rules saying that you can't move your body but you must be careful not to lift the ball of your foot off the ground as this violates another fault, called foot fault.
Flick serve, it is legal as long as none of the service faults are violated, and there are 5 of them, if I remember correctly!! I umpired in some matches and there were flick serves especially during the last point.