Introduction

There exists significant differences between athletes when it comes to sports. Why do female players serve high in badminton? This is primarily due to physical anatomical differences between males and females. 

Style of playing and psychological variables also contribute to this sum of differences.

Badminton has many differences and variations in male vs female play. One of these is the tactic of serving the shuttle cock. 

Other significant differences include the Intensity of rallies, length of a game, and rest time between matches. These components are briefly summarised ahead.

Types of serves in badminton

Broadly, there are four or five categories of serves in badminton. 

• High serve
• Low serve
• Short serve
• Long serve
• Flick serve

For beginners, it is important to note that the general flow of a match is more important than its skill level. To simplify, short serves are considered “safe” and long serves are considered “riskier”.

It is also true that long services are beginner-friendly while short services can be challenging for new players to execute properly.

• Read more about major types of serves in badminton, here.

High serve vs low serve

A low serve is highly popular in men’s singles as well as doubles. It is also known as short serve, because a low serve means that the shuttlecock barely crosses the net line and immediately drops near the short-service line or at the beginning of the quadrants where the opponent is standing. 

This type is not very versatile in terms of its execution as the target is to just make the shuttle close to the net. The goal achieved due to this technique is, however, very similar to that achieved in a high serve. That is, to prevent the opponent from assuming a clear offensive stance.

High serve, on the other hand, is quite popular in female single’s matches. A major characteristic of high serves is that they require a longer time to reach their target than the standard serving motion. This is not ideal in a double’s setting, as the other player will already be at his or her position after receiving the service and may respond with an offensive move.

The aerodynamic properties of a high serve are different from those of a low one, which explains why many players. This type is particularly popular among female athletes.

Aerodynamics of high serve 

A high serve means that the shuttlecock rises with greater momentum and velocity, travels all the way back to the end of the opposite quadrant. This type of serve can be very versatile in terms of its delivery style and dodging abilities.

It generally gives a start to a fast-paced game by throwing it at a distance past the opponent’s standing point; therefore, this serves must be defended as well as thrown back overhand by opponents in order to prevent easy points.

High serve is good for net play. A high serve usually helps you to hit the shuttlecock higher and harder, which can be beneficialin adopting an aggressive stance.

High serves are also good for attacking play. The faster a player can hit the shuttlecock, the more likely it is that they will win their rally (the number of points won by one player against another).

In addition to being useful in attacking rallies, high serves are also good at short rallies because they allow players who have trouble hitting low serves or off-center serves to get the shuttle closer to the court’s center line—this makes them easier targets for opponents’ shots as well!

Why do female players serve high in badminton?

So, what are the primary factors responsible for these variations? Is there any anatomical basis for this? Let us have a brief overview.

Primary body differences

• Men and women have very different cardiovascular systems.

For example, the heart is larger in men than in women. Women also have a more narrow thoracic cage (the space between the ribs) than men do. As a result, a woman’s lungs are smaller than a man’s when she’s breathing at rest.

• Men and women also have different skeletal structures. 

Women have wider hips, narrower shoulders, and shorter torsos than men do. Men typically have narrower hips and longer torsos than women do.

As a result, a woman has a shorter stride length than a man does when walking at the same speed.

• Women are generally more flexible than men, who are generally more muscular. 

Women also tend to be more flexible over their heart area (around the clavicle or collarbone), which can help them inhale and exhale more while they’re playing a high-intensity sport like badminton.

This also allows them to hit the shuttlecock higher with their arms while maintaining balance on their feet.

• Other significant differences include higher generalized agility, mobility on the court, and shot response time in male athletes. 
• Height, weight, and acuity of limbs also play a role in athletes playing style.

This leads to differences in playing tactics among players, particularly the choice of serve variation.

Style differences

Among elite badminton athletes in general, and among female elite athletes in particular, there exists a spectrum of variations regarding badminton playing style.

Some are aggressive attackers, others are persistent defenders. Some are vigorous smashers, others are highly agile. Some are fast-paced in their technique, while others play it slowly and carefully.

Females also tend to have a better coordination system between eye and hand, this study summarizes this.

A high serve allows players to maintain maximum speed when they hit their opponent’s shuttlecock and send it flying toward them. 

This means that they can avoid being hit by their opponents’ return shots as well as gain more time to prepare themselves for another attack.

Other differences 

Recent advances in sports physiology have led to an increased awareness regarding physiological differences between male and female bodies.

Rally length in male vs female badminton

Rally length is observed of longer lengths in male badminton plays on average in comparison with female matches on average. This is particularly notable in single’s games. 

This means a greater number of offensive and defensive deliveries shot at a consecutive pace by male badminton players, on average.

Rest time between rallies

This is another interesting finding which claims that on average male badminton players tend to have more rest between rallies and points with respect to women.

First game vs second game

A study conducted among elite badminton players of both sexes demonstrated that generally, the game intensity increases in the second game in a match among male athletes. 

It is the opposite for female athletes who show relatively decreased physically intensive play during the second half of a match.

Perhaps, this has to do something with the psychological aspect of playing a highly challenging sport in an elite cohort.

Conclusion

​The action in a high serve is faster and more explosive than in a low serve. It could be due to anatomical differences. 

Female badminton players have a higher center of gravity than male players and they are physically at a disadvantage with respect to men in some domains.

Having a higher serving height gives them an advantage in adopting an aggressive stance and gives them time to adjust their posture before hitting the shuttlecock. Playing style also influences the style of serve.