I can see where you are going here, but it’s a tricky one. I think at lower level, it’s hard enough to be playing without trying to watch the server and check that they are serving within the rules.

That and the fact that many people wouldn’t say anything, as you need to be 100% sure that the serve was illegal and you also need to have some guts to do so. Another thing to think about is that if someone brought it up, the game would stop and a conversation/argument would break out, therefore stopping the rhythm of play. Most people just want to play.

But yes, I can see your point, not entirely convinced that it stems from the higher tier, as I know someone who has an awful serve (as in illegal), but rarely gets picked on it. And he has been before and he has tried to change but I think it’s just the way he is and it’s never been brought up during a match.

Depends what type of league you are playing in I guess. But it’s difficult to argue without a umpire, and even if you solved this, there are still dodgy line calls etc. So swings and roundabouts maybe?

No easy answer to this one, if indeed there is an answer.

The last problem with serving if I remember was the S Serve in the early ’80, masterminded by the Sidek brothers. It involved holding the shuttle by the base and slicing across the feathers,the outcome being the shuttle tumbling over the net making an accurate return very difficult, if not impossible.
The rules were changed to say the base had to be struck first.

Not such a quick fix with this one.

So what to do.

Given Paul’s point that many players don’t know the rules that state:

The WHOLE shuttle shall be below the server’s waist at the instant of being hit by the server’s racket. The waist shall be considered to be an imaginary line round the body, level with the lowest part of the server’s bottom rib.

The clue there is imaginary. Unless we all dress like beach volleyball players ( Hmm just weighing up the pros and cons on that one, the cons have it) how can we really tell.
Given that the average shuttle is around 3 inches long that’s a huge margin if your not looking for it.

When I’m coaching my juniors and quote the bottom rib stuff, it goes very quiet.
And so it should.

If you draw an imaginary line at the front it’s going to cross your belly button, a much easier reference.

So, racket handle on Belly B at right angles, strings facing down, shuttle underneath, top of feathers touching strings, maximum height to strike shuttle.
Not an exact science I admit but the rules don’t call for preciseness.
I also teach them to have the racket arm straight and to place the shuttle onto the strings as a point of reference and serve from that position.

All players have their own style of serving and that’s where the problem of foul serves lies.
The hardest to detect are when the shuttle is struck as the arm rises from a lower starting position.

I’ll throw this out there.

What if the rules are, the shuttle arm has to be stationary and in a downward position before the shuttle is struck below the waist.

At the end of the day it’s down to the integrity of players at all levels, but if we can make life more difficult for the rule benders and breakers it’s only going to be good for our great sport.

Look forward to your usual great comments.

Roger