Here are some of the rules of service:
11. SERVICE
11.1 In a correct service:
11.1.1 Neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the serve.
11.1.2 The server and receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts without touching the boundary lines of these service courts; some part of both feet of the server and receiver must remain in contact with the surface of the court in a stationary position until the service is delivered (Law 11.4);
11.1.3 The server's racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle while the whole of the shuttle is below the server's waist;
11.1.4 The shaft of the server's racket at the instant of hitting the shuttle shall be pointing in a downward direction to such an extent that the whole of the head of the racket is discernible below the whole of the server's hand holding the racket;
11.1.5 The movement of the server's racket must continue forwards after the start of the service (Law 11.2) until the service is delivered; and
11.1.6 The flight of the shuttle shall be upwards from the server's racket to pass over the net, so that, if not intercepted, it falls in the receiver's service court.
11.2 Once the players have taken their positions, the first forward movement of the server's racket is the start of the service.
11.3 The server shall not serve before the receiver is ready, but the receiver shall be considered to have been ready if a return of service is attempted.
11.4 The service is delivered when, once started (Law 11.2), the shuttle is hit by the server's racket or the shuttle lands on the floor.
11.5 In doubles, the partners may take up any positions which do not unsight the opposing server or receiver.
Here are the service faults:
15. FAULTS
It is a "fault":
15.1 If a service is not correct (Law 11.1);
15.2 If the server, in attempting to serve, misses the shuttle;
15.3 If after passing over the net on service, the shuttle is caught in or on the net;
15.4 If in play, the shuttle:
15.4.1 Lands outside the boundaries of the court;
15.4.2 Passes through or under the net;
15.4.3 Fails to pass the net;
15.4.4 Touches the roof, ceiling, or side walls;
15.4.5 Touches the person or dress of a player; or
15.4.6 Touches any other object or person outside the immediate surroundings of the court; (Where necessary, on account of the structure of the building, the local badminton authority may, subject to the right of veto of its National Organization, make by-laws dealing with cases in which a shuttle touches on obstruction.)
15.5 If, when in play, the initial point of contact with the shuttle is not on the striker's side of the net. (The striker may, however, follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the course of a stroke).
15.6 If, when the shuttle is in play, a player:
15.6.1 Touches the net or its supports with racket, person or dress;
15.6.2 Invades an opponent's court OVER THE NET with racket or person except as permitted in Law 15.5;
15.6.3 Invades an opponent's court UNDER THE NET with racket or person such that an opponent is obstructed or distracted; or
15.6.4 Obstructs an opponent, i.e. prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is followed over the net;
15.7 If, in play, a player deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or making gestures;
15.8 If, in play, the shuttle:
15.8.1 Be caught and held on the racket and slung during the execution of a stroke;
15.8.2 Be hit twice in succession by the same player with two strokes (A double hit by one player with one stroke is not a fault.); or
15.8.3 Be hit by a player and the player's partner successively; or
15.8.4 Touches a player's racket and continues toward the back of that player's court.
15.9 If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offenses under Law 18.
Looking at rule, 11.1.5 The movement of the server's racket must continue forwards after the start of the service (Law 11.2) until the service is delivered; and ..., would suggest that such serve is a fault. By changing the racket head around, one can construe that the racket or part of the racket is not completely continuing forward. I would call it a fault.
Ron
