The Different Skills Used in Playing Badminton * Drive - A fast and low shot that makes a horizontal flight over the net. * Drop - A shot hit sonly and with finesse to fall rapidly and close to the net on the opponent’s side. * Fault - A violation of the playing rules, either in serving, receiving, or during play (sees common faults listed below). * Flick - A quick wrist and forearm rotation that surprises an opponent by changing an apparently soft shot into a faster passing one; used primarily on the serve and at the net. * Hairpin Net Shot - Shot made from below and very close to the net with the shuttle rising, just clearing the net, and then dropping sharply down the other side. The shuttle’s flight approximates the shape of a hairpin. * Half court Shot - A shot hit low and to midcourt, used effectively in doubles against the up-and-back formation. * Kill - Fast, downward shot that cannot be returned; a "put away." * Let - A legitimate cessation of play to allow a rally to be replayed. * Match - A series of games (at U.S. Olympic Festival-’93 it is three out of five), to determine a winner. Midcourt - The middle third of the court, halfway between the net and the back boundary line. * Net Shot - Shot hit from the forecourt that just clears the net and drops sharply. * Push Shot - Gentle shot played by pushing the shuttle with little wrist motion, usually from net or midcourt to the opponent’s midcourt. * Rally – this occurs when the players hit the bird back and forth several times before one side scores a point * Serve or Service – players put the shuttlecock into play for points by “serving” it to opponents, hitting it over the net into a special part of the court near their opponent * Smash – when a shuttle is floated high into the air, a player has time to unleash a powerful overhand shot straight to the