Racket and net sports involve players using rackets, paddles, or bats to hit a ball or shuttlecock over a net or against a wall. This category includes tennis, badminton, squash, table tennis (ping-pong), and padel. Read more
In volleyball, what is a 'spike'?
EasyA 'spike' (also called an attack or kill) in volleyball is when a player jumps and forcefully hits the ball downward into the opponent's court. It is the most aggressive and powerful attacking move in the sport, typically executed by outside hitters or opposite hitters. A well-executed spike can reach speeds of over 120 km/h (75 mph) in professional men's volleyball.
The fastest volleyball spike ever recorded was by Santos de Murilo Endres of Brazil at 132 km/h (82 mph) - though some professional male players have been clocked at speeds exceeding this in unofficial measurements during matches.
What is the net height in men's volleyball?
MediumThe net height in men's volleyball is 2.43 meters (7 feet 11 5/8 inches), while in women's volleyball it is 2.24 meters (7 feet 4 1/8 inches). The net is 9.5 meters wide and 1 meter deep, with antenna extensions that mark the crossing boundaries. Net height in beach volleyball is slightly lower to account for sand's effect on jumping ability.
The volleyball net height was set higher for men than women to compensate for the average height difference - but the men's net height of 2.43 meters is still lower than the average height of most professional middle blockers, who regularly spike from above the net.
What is the shuttlecock also called in badminton?
EasyThe shuttlecock in badminton is also commonly called a 'birdie,' a nickname that refers to its feathered appearance and flight pattern. Professional shuttlecocks are made with 16 feathers from the left wing of a goose or duck arranged in a specific aerodynamic formation. The shuttlecock's unique aerodynamics - decelerating rapidly due to drag - is what gives badminton its distinctive playing style.
A shuttlecock can travel at speeds exceeding 420 km/h (260 mph) when struck by a professional player - making badminton the sport with the fastest projectile in the world, faster than a tennis ball or a golf ball.
In badminton, what score must a player reach to win a game?
EasyIn badminton, a player must reach 21 points to win a game, and must win by 2 clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the next point wins regardless of the margin. Matches are played as best-of-three games.
Badminton was introduced as an Olympic sport in 1992 at the Barcelona Games - and in a remarkable coincidence, Indonesia (a badminton powerhouse) won gold medals in all five events at the very first Olympic badminton tournament.
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