S Serve: The beginning and the end

BWF has put an interim ban on the new spin serve until May 29, 2023. While announcing this, BWF President Poul-Erik Høyer said that the new spin serve has many similar characteristics to the infamous S serve (also known as Sidek serve named after Rashid Sidek), which is not allowed.

The serve/service is a vital element of Badminton. However, some serves have been banned in international tournaments due to their unfair advantage, and one such serve is the S-service. 

What is the S-service?

The S-service, also known as the Sidek-service, was invented by the Sidek brothers in Malaysia during the late 70s. This technique involves holding the shuttlecock inverted during the backhanded service, causing it to tumble continuously during flight. The tumbling motion of the shuttlecock makes it difficult for the receiver to anticipate its trajectory, often leading to confusion and missed shots.

                                                            Image source:  S serve

Popularity and Controversy

The S-service quickly gained popularity in the international badminton community, with many top-level players being spun to dizziness by the unpredictable flight path of the shuttlecock. This technique was used with surprising results in tournaments, causing turbulence in the international badminton community.

However, the S-service's reign was short-lived. In October 1983, during the 5th All China Games held in Shanghai, the S-service was used with devastating effects by an unknown Jia Jiang against the favored Luo Xia. The shuttlecock's tumbling left Xia unable to control it, resulting in a 0/15, 5/15 upset against her. This event sparked debates on the legality of the S-service, with Denmark and England calling for its ban.

The Ban

The International Badminton Federation (IBF) held several meetings to discuss the S-service's legality, with Malaysia and Indonesia being against its ban while Denmark and England in favor. In May 1981, during the first meeting of the IBF, Denmark, and England proposed to amend the laws and ban the S-service, but the vote failed as 2/3 votes were required.

However, the opponents of the S-service continued to voice their concerns, and during the IBF Annual General Meeting in May 1982, Denmark proposed that if the first contact point of a service is not the base of the shuttle, it should be a fault. The IBF and the Chinese Badminton Association held an emergency meeting to analyze the S-service technically. After expert analysis, it was concluded that the S-service contacts the feather and base of the shuttle simultaneously, violating the consecutive hit law of badminton.

The final vote for Denmark's motion was 91 for, 1 against, and 3 abstain. The IBF gave its final verdict: from July 1st, 1982, the S-service was banned in all international tournaments.

Conclusion

The S-service in badminton was banned due to its unfair advantage, causing confusion and missed shots by the receiver. Although it was a popular technique used by top-level players, its ban ensured a level playing field for all. The rules are put in place to ensure fairness and protect the integrity of the game, and this was a necessary step in ensuring that.

Read more: www.sportskeeda.com/badminton/the-mystery-of-the-sidek-serve-and-why-it-was-banned

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