Andrew Pace
Badminton is a racquet sport played with a shuttlecock that has been around since the 16th century. It is played either with two opposing players (singles) or two opposing pairs (doubles), with players taking positions on opposite halves of a rectangular court divided by a net. Points are scored by striking the shuttlecock with a racquet and landing it within the other team's half of the court within set boundaries. Each side may only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. A do-over in badminton refers to a let, which is called by the referee if an unforeseen or accidental circumstance occurs, such as the shuttlecock getting stuck in the net or a player being unprepared.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | Singles: 2 (one on each opposing side); Doubles: 4 (two on each opposing side) |
| Court dimensions | Singles: 13.41m (44ft) long, 5.18m (17ft) wide; Doubles: 6.1m (20ft) wide |
| Net height | 1.55m (5ft 1in) at the ends, 1.52m (5ft) in the middle |
| Service rules | Must pass the short service line (1.98m/6.5ft from net); there is also a doubles service line 0.76m (2.5ft) in from the baseline |
| Scoring | First to 21 points wins; if tied at 20, must win by 2 clear points; if tied at 29, first to 30 wins |
| Rally | Sequence of strokes starting with service, until shuttlecock is out of play; each side can strike shuttlecock only once before it passes the net |
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Scoring system
The scoring system in badminton is relatively simple. Points are scored by hitting the shuttlecock over the net and into the opponent's court, ensuring that the opponent cannot return it. A point can be conceded if the shuttlecock lands outside the boundaries, does not go over the net, or if a player touches the net with their body or racquet.
In a badminton match, each game is played up to 21 points, and a player must win by a margin of at least two points. If the score reaches 20-20, the game will continue until one player gains a two-point lead or when the score reaches 30-29. In club badminton, a match usually consists of one game. However, in standard league or tournament play, a match is the best of three games, with the winner being the first to win two games.
The service position is determined by the server's score. When the server's score is an even number, they serve from the right service court, and when their score is an odd number, they serve from the left service court. The receiver always stands in the diagonally opposite service court. In doubles, the serving pair chooses who serves first, and the receiving pair chooses who receives. The server will start on the right-hand side and keep serving, alternating sides with their partner, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins a point, they assume the serve.
It is a good habit to say the score out loud to your opponent before starting each rally to prevent disputes. When saying the score, always state the server's score first, for example, 10-15.
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Court and equipment
The badminton court should be a rectangle marked out with 40 mm wide lines that are easily distinguishable, preferably in white or yellow. In singles, the court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide, extending to 6.1m (20ft) in doubles. The net is 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) high in the middle. The shuttlecock, or birdie, must pass over the net and land inside the opponent's court or the opponent must fail to return it for a rally to be won. The shuttlecock is cone-shaped and made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. It must be hit below waist height.
The service must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half court and over their front service line, which is the first horizontal line closest to the net. The service side alternates depending on the server's score. If the server's score is even, they serve from the right service court; if it is odd, they serve from the left. In badminton doubles, the server starts on the right-hand side and keeps serving, alternating sides with their teammate as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins the point, they assume the serve.
Players must remain stationary until the serve is made and must not touch the white lines around the court with their feet. The server's racket head and shaft must be angled downward, and both feet should be in contact with the floor. No part of the foot should touch the service line or other court boundaries when serving.
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Serving rules
Foot Placement
Both feet of the server must be in contact with the ground when striking the shuttlecock. Neither foot should be touching any lines on the court or extending into the opponent's court. This rule applies to both the server and the receiver.
Service Side
The player who serves first in a game is determined by a coin toss. For the initial serve, the server stands on the right side of the service court. After that, the serving side alternates depending on the number of points scored. If the server has an even number of points, they serve from the right side. If they have an odd number of points, they switch to the left side.
Service Direction
The shuttlecock must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half-court and over their front service line. This line is the first horizontal line on each side of the court, closest to the net.
Service Style
Badminton differs from tennis in that there are no second serves. The serve must be hit "underarm," meaning the server's racket head and shaft must be angled downward, and the shuttlecock must be below the server's waist when struck. In elite BWF competitions, service judges and height-measuring devices ensure that the shuttlecock is below 1.15 meters from the floor when hit.
No Undue Delay
While there is no strict time limit for serving, players should not cause undue delay in delivering the service once both the server and receiver are ready.
No Consecutive Services
No player on the receiving side shall receive two consecutive services from the same player in the same game.
Faults and Lets
If the shuttlecock strikes fixtures above the court, such as lights or basketball hoops, it is up to the home club or tournament director to determine whether it is a let or a fault. It is good practice to clarify these rules with a home official or agree on them with your opponent before the start of the game.
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Rally rules
A player wins a rally when they strike the shuttlecock and it touches the floor on the opponent's side of the court or when the opponent commits a fault. The most common type of fault is when a player fails to hit the shuttlecock over the net or it lands outside the court boundaries. Each side can only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net. Once the shuttlecock has been hit, a player cannot strike it again in a new movement or shot.
When serving, the shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the opponent's court, or it will count as a fault. The server and receiver must remain within their service courts, without touching the boundary lines, until the server strikes the shuttlecock. The other two players may stand wherever they wish, as long as they do not block the vision of the server or receiver. At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts.
The net is 1.55 metres (5 feet 1 inch) high at the edges and 1.524 metres (5 feet) high in the centre. The net posts are placed over the doubles sidelines, even when singles is being played.
If a 'let' is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score. A 'let' may be called due to an unexpected disturbance, such as a shuttlecock landing on the court after being hit there by players on an adjacent court.
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Faults and lets
There are several types of faults in badminton, which can be categorised into contact, double hit, service, service received, and over-the-net faults. Contact faults occur when the shuttlecock comes into contact with any object or person other than the racket. Service faults can occur when a player does not serve from below the waist in an upward motion or fails to serve to the opposite side of the opponent's court. A double-hit fault happens when a player hits the shuttlecock twice in succession, including simultaneous contact with a teammate. Service received faults can occur when a player delays the game or causes an undue interruption. Over-the-net faults occur when a player fails to get the shuttlecock over the net during their serve or return.
To avoid faults, players should ensure that their movements and serves comply with the rules. For example, when serving, players should not pause between the backswing and forward swing, as this can upset the receiver's timing. Additionally, players should refrain from touching the net with any part of their body or racket, as this can result in a fault.
Lets in badminton are interruptions that are not the fault of either player. For example, if the shuttlecock gets stuck in the net after being served, it is considered a let. However, if the shuttlecock hits the ceiling, it is not a let, as this could give an unfair advantage to a player who is losing the rally.
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Frequently asked questions
In badminton, a "do over" is referred to as a "let". A let is called when there is a disturbance that prevents the rally from proceeding normally and interrupts play.
A "do over" can be requested when there is an external disturbance, such as a stray shuttlecock from another court, or if there is uncertainty about whether the shuttlecock landed in or out.
Either player can request a "do over", and the umpire will make the final decision. If a line judge is present, the umpire may overrule the line judge's decision if it is clear that a wrong call was made.
