
Badminton is a fast-paced racket sport that can be played either as singles or doubles, with the aim of hitting a shuttlecock over a net and into the opponent's court. The rules of badminton have evolved over the years, with the scoring system being modified to make the game more exciting and engaging. In 2006, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) adopted a new scoring system, moving from the traditional system where only the serving side could score points, to a rally point system where either player can score during a rally, regardless of who served. This change added a new dynamic to the game, allowing for more strategic play and exciting comebacks.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scoring System | 3 x 21 rally point system |
| Server's Starting Position | Right-hand side |
| Receiver's Starting Position | Diagonally opposite from the server |
| Service Courts | Different for each player on the same team |
| Scoring | A point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court |
| Winning a Game | First to 21 points wins the game |
| Winning a Match | Best of three games wins the match |
| Serve Change | Occurs when the receiving side wins a rally |
| Scoring Cap | 30 points |
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What You'll Learn
- The receiver's position is determined by the server and must stand diagonally opposite
- A point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court
- The rules for singles and doubles are different: in doubles, the server keeps serving
- The first server is usually decided by a coin toss or by dropping the shuttlecock
- The game is won by the first player to reach a certain number of points, or 11 or 15 in some cases

The receiver's position is determined by the server and must stand diagonally opposite
In a game of badminton, the receiver's position is determined by the server's position. The receiver must stand diagonally opposite the server. This rule applies to both singles and doubles matches.
In a singles match, the receiver will always stand in the diagonally opposite service court. For example, if the server is in the right service court, the receiver will stand in the left service court. This ensures that both players are in the even or odd service courts together. It is important to note that the receiver's position is determined by the server's score. If the server has scored an odd number of points, they will serve from the left court, and the receiver will stand in the right court. If the server has an even number of points, they will serve from the right court, and the receiver will be in the left court.
In a doubles match, the rules are slightly more complicated. The basic principle remains the same, with the server and receiver standing diagonally opposite each other. However, the serving pair gets to choose who serves first, and the receiving pair chooses the receiver. The server's partner can stand wherever they want on their side of the court, but it is important to remember that the server and their partner must have different service courts. The receivers never change their service courts. The only way for a player to change service courts is for their side to win a point when serving.
It is worth noting that the players can generally stand anywhere on their side of the court, as long as they do not impede the sight of the server or receiver and are not touching any boundary lines. Additionally, their feet must be in contact with the ground until the shuttle is struck. The server must ensure that there is no undue delay once both players are ready.
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A point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court
The basic premise of badminton is that players aim to hit a shuttlecock over a net and into their opponent's court. A point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court. If a returned shuttlecock hits the net or lands outside the court, the player loses the point.
The rules of badminton have evolved over time, with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) adopting a new scoring system in 2006. The new system, known as the rally point system, allows both players to score a point during a rally, regardless of who served. This change addressed the issue of lengthy match times, as the previous scoring system made it difficult for players to score, particularly in professional badminton where serving is harder than defending.
The rally point system has been applied to competitive adult matches, which are played as the best of three games. To win a game, a player must reach 21 points. However, if the game reaches 20-20, the winner must lead by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the player who scores the 30th point wins.
The service position in badminton is determined by the server's score. When the score is even, the server stands in the right service court; when odd, they stand in the left court. The receiver always stands in the diagonally opposite service court. The server must hit the shuttlecock underarm and below the waist, with the racquet shaft pointing downwards. After a point is won, the players move to the opposite serving stations for the next point.
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The rules for singles and doubles are different: in doubles, the server keeps serving
In badminton, the rules for singles and doubles are distinct, especially concerning serving sequences and scoring. In doubles, the server keeps serving until their team loses the rally, after which the serve passes to their partner (server 2). This is in contrast to singles, where the serving player alternates sides if they win the point but sides out if they lose the rally, with the serve going to their opponent.
In doubles, each player on a side serves once, consecutively, and three numbers are used to track the score and identify the servers. The first number represents the serving player's score, the second number represents the receiving player's score, and the third number indicates which player on the team is serving. For example, a score of 0-0-2 signifies that each team has zero points, and the second server on the team is about to serve.
The serving team in doubles has strategic positioning options. They decide which player serves first and can choose the serving side. The serving player continues serving for the entire game but can switch with their partner at the start of each set. The partner not serving can stand anywhere on their side of the court and utilise formations like the Australian formation, where they stand in the service box in front of the server.
It's worth noting that in badminton, the receiver's position is determined by the server's score. The receiver always occupies the service box diagonally opposite the server, adhering to the even/odd rule. If the server's score is odd, they serve from the left court; if even, they serve from the right. This rule applies to both singles and doubles matches.
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The first server is usually decided by a coin toss or by dropping the shuttlecock
The game of badminton is not overly complex, but it is important to know the rules to avoid any disputes with opponents and to gain a better understanding of the game. Matches are played as the best of three games, with each game being played to 21 points. Games must be won by two clear points, but if the score reaches 29-29, a sudden death point is played to determine the winner.
Before the match begins, the first server must be decided. In major tournaments, a coin toss is used to decide which side will serve first. In more casual club or league games, the shuttlecock is thrown into the air and whichever side it points to when it lands on the ground will serve first.
The first server, along with their partner, will decide who is serving and who is receiving at the beginning of the game. The server will start the game by serving from the service box on the right. The receiver will stand in the diagonally opposite service box. The service must be hit diagonally into the opponent's half court and over their front service line. The whole shuttle must be below the server's waist when struck, and the server's racket shaft and racket head must be pointing in a downward direction. The server must also ensure that neither of their feet is touching any lines on the court.
After the first point, the server will switch to the service box on the left if their score is odd, and they will stay on the right if their score is even. The receiver's position is determined by the server's score, with the receiver always occupying the diagonally opposite service box.
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The game is won by the first player to reach a certain number of points, or 11 or 15 in some cases
The scoring system in badminton has evolved over the years, with the Badminton World Federation (BWF) making changes to the rules in 2006 to introduce a rally point system. This system allows both players to score points during a rally, regardless of who served. The first player to reach 21 points wins the game, and a match is the best of three games.
In the past, the scoring system was different. In men's singles and doubles matches, games were typically played to 15 points. If the game was tied at 13-13 or 14-14, the player who reached that score first had the option to "set", reverting the score to 0-0 and playing to five or three points, respectively. In ladies' singles, a game was played to 11 points, with setting options at nine and 10 points.
The 2006 rule change simplified the scoring system and made it more exciting, as players could score points during a rally, regardless of who served. This change was also intended to address the unpredictable and lengthy match times that were occurring under the previous rules.
It is worth noting that in club badminton, games are usually played to 21 points, and that is where the game typically ends. In standard league or tournament play, however, matches are the best of three games, so a player or team needs to win two games to win the match.
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Frequently asked questions
No, in 2006, the rules were changed to a rally point system, which allows both players to score a point during a rally, regardless of who served.
A point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court. A point is lost if a returned shuttlecock hits the net or lands outside of the court.
A legal serve must be hit diagonally over the net and across the court. A badminton serve must be hit underarm and below the server's waist height.
A badminton match is played in the best of three games. To win a game, a player must reach 21 points.











































