
Badminton is a racquet sport played with a shuttlecock and requires a lot of agility and precision. The service rules in badminton are quite intricate and differ between singles and doubles matches. The server must hit the shuttlecock over the net to the opponent's side without it getting stuck or going out of bounds. The service must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half-court and over their front service line. The player who serves first is decided by a coin toss and the server for each subsequent point is the player or side that scored the previous point. The first serve of the game is always from the right side of the court and the server alternates between the left and right service boxes depending on their score.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scoring | A point is scored when the shuttlecock touches the ground, hits the net, or goes out of bounds. The first side to reach 21 points, with a two-point difference, wins the game. A match consists of three games. |
| Service rules | The service must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half-court and over their front service line. The player's entire racket and shaft must be angled downward, and the shuttlecock must be below the waist when struck. The player's feet must be in contact with the court surface, and no part of the foot should touch any boundary lines. |
| Doubles service rules | The court is full width, including the wide outside 'tramlines.' The service is performed from the left or right box, depending on the server's score. If the server's score is an even number, they serve from the right box; if it's odd, they serve from the left. |
| Singles service rules | The court is thinner, with the outside 'tramlines' out of bounds. |
| Net rules | The player's racket can cross the net but only after striking the shuttlecock on their side of the court. If the shuttlecock hits the net but goes over and lands past the service line, the server wins the rally. If it lands short or wide, the receiver wins the point. |
| Strategies | Players aim to hit the shuttlecock at the highest point for a better downward angle and try to make their opponents move to tire them out or cause confusion. |
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What You'll Learn

Badminton service rules
Badminton is a racket sport played with a shuttlecock and is governed by a set of rules. While not a complex game, it is important to know the rules to avoid disputes and gain a better understanding of the game. Here are the basic badminton service rules:
Court Boundaries
The court boundaries differ for singles and doubles matches. In singles, the court is thinner, and the outside 'tramlines' are considered out of bounds. In doubles, the full width of the court is in play, and the tramlines are considered 'in'.
Service Rules
The service, or serve, is a crucial part of a badminton player's strategy. It involves hitting the shuttlecock with the racket over the net to the opponent's side, ensuring it stays within the boundaries of the court. The shuttlecock should be struck below the waist, and the server's feet should be in contact with the court surface. The first forward movement of the racket should initiate the service without undue delay once both players are ready.
Diagonal Service
The service must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half-court, landing beyond their front service line. This line is the first horizontal line on each side, closest to the net. The server must stand on the right side of their service court for the initial serve and then alternate sides based on their score, with the right side for even-numbered points and the left side for odd-numbered points.
Scoring
A point is awarded for each rally won, and the winner of the rally serves next. A rally is defined as the exchange of shots until the shuttlecock touches the ground, hits the net, or goes out of bounds. The first side to reach 21 points, with a two-point difference, wins a game, and a match consists of three games.
Faults and Lets
If the shuttlecock gets stuck in the net or hits the ceiling, it is a fault, and the opposing player wins the point. If it strikes other fixtures above the court, the home club or tournament director may determine if it is a let or a fault. If the shuttlecock hits the net but goes over and lands past the service line, the server wins the rally. If it hits the net and lands short or wide, the receiver wins the point.
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Scoring a point
To win a rally, a player must hit the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's side without it getting stuck in the net or going out of bounds. The shuttlecock should be hit underarm, with the entire object below the waist of the server at the point of impact. The server must also have some part of their feet in contact with the court surface. If the shuttlecock goes out of bounds, the receiving player or side wins the point.
If the shuttlecock hits the net but goes on to land past the service line, the server wins the rally. Conversely, if it hits the net but lands short of the service line or wide of the court, the receiver wins the point. If the shuttlecock hits the ceiling, the opposing player is awarded the point.
The first side to reach 21 points, with a two-point difference, wins the game. A match consists of the best of three games.
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Positioning and strategy
Badminton is a game that requires strategic positioning and shot placement to outwit your opponent. The rules of the game allow players to stand anywhere on their side of the court, as long as they do not block the opponent's view. This freedom of movement can be used strategically to cover more court area and reach shots, or to open up areas for your partner in doubles matches.
When serving, the rules dictate that players must stand diagonally opposite each other. The server must also ensure that some part of their feet is in contact with the court surface. The server's positioning is crucial, as it determines the angle and placement of the shot. In doubles, a player may stand at the extreme edge of their right side and perform a cross-court serve, which can be an effective strategy to confuse less experienced opponents. However, this may leave their partner's side of the court exposed, so it should be used judiciously.
To gain a strategic advantage, players should aim to achieve the following with their shots:
- Target areas with no cover: Aim for areas where your opponent is not positioned, increasing the likelihood of a successful shot.
- Hit the shuttle at its highest point: Hitting the shuttle at its peak allows for a better downward angle, making it harder for your opponent to return the shot.
- Force your opponents to move: Make your opponents rotate or cover large areas of the court to tire them out or create confusion between partners.
Additionally, the type of serve you choose can impact your strategy. A short backhand serve or a high-toss serve is commonly used to initiate play. Going long with a forehand serve can push your opponent towards the baseline and stretch the play. Left-handed serves, due to the unique angle of the shuttlecock's arrival, can also present their own set of challenges for opponents.
Understanding the rules and utilising strategic positioning and shot placement will enhance your gameplay and increase your chances of winning.
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Faults and penalties
Serving is a crucial part of a badminton player's gameplay. A correct service is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's side, ensuring the shuttlecock doesn't get stuck in the net or go out of the court's boundaries. Here are the key faults and penalties to be aware of:
- Foot Placement: The server must have some part of their feet in contact with the court surface. Both feet should be in contact with the floor, and no part of the foot should touch the service line or the court's other boundaries when the serve is hit. Similarly, the receiver must also have both feet in contact with the ground until the shuttle is struck, and their feet cannot touch any lines on the court.
- Shuttlecock Height: The shuttlecock should be below the waist of the server when hit. The BWF specifies that the shuttlecock must be below 1.15 metres from the floor when struck.
- Undue Delay: According to the BWF Laws of Badminton, neither side should cause undue delay in delivering the service once both the server and receiver are ready. While there is no time limit, players have been penalised for taking too long.
- Hitting the Ceiling: If a player hits the shuttlecock into the ceiling, it is a fault, and the opposing player is awarded the point.
- Out of Bounds: If the shuttlecock goes out of the court's boundaries, the receiving player or side wins the point.
- Net Fault: If the shuttlecock hits the net but continues over and lands past the service line, the server wins the rally. However, if it hits the net and lands short of the service line or wide of the court, the receiver wins the point.
- Diagonal Serve: The service must be hit diagonally to the opponents' half-court and over their front service line.
- Striking the Shuttlecock: The BWF states that the base of the shuttlecock (the cork) must be struck first when serving. This rule was added to prevent players from gaining an advantage by hitting the feathers first and creating excessive spin.
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Doubles service rules
Serving in badminton doubles can be a complex and strategic part of the game. The service court in doubles is smaller and wider than in singles, making positioning and player communication crucial. The basic rules of serving in badminton doubles are as follows:
Choosing the Server
The server in a badminton match is determined by a coin toss. After the first point is played, whichever player or side scores a point becomes the server for the subsequent point.
Positioning
The players on either side can take up any positions on their side of the court as long as they do not block the sight of the server or receiver. The server and receiver must stand on diagonally opposite sides of the court without touching the boundary lines.
Serving Sides
The player who serves first in any game shall do so from the right side of the service court on which they begin the match. If the server has won an even number of points during a game, they shall continue to serve from the right side. If the server has won an odd number of points during a game, they serve from the left side of the service court for the subsequent point. Players switch service courts after winning a point on their serve.
Service Rotation
In doubles, one player serves until they lose a point at the start of the game. Players then take turns serving, switching sides after each serve.
Correct Service
A correct service is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's side service box in their half of the court. The shuttlecock must be hit below the server's waist, with the racquet shaft pointing downwards in an underhand motion. The entire shuttlecock should be below the waist of the server when struck, and the first forward movement of the server's racket head should initiate the service.
Faults
Common badminton faults include hitting the shuttle out of bounds, not clearing the net, and touching the net with the racquet or body. If the server’s shuttle goes out of bounds of the court, the receiving player or side wins the point. If a serve touches the net but lands in the correct service court, a let is called, and the rally must be replayed.
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Frequently asked questions
The service or serve is crucial in badminton. The server must hit the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent’s side without it getting stuck in the net or going out of bounds. The shuttlecock should be hit underarm, with the entire object below the server's waist. The first forward movement of the server's racket should initiate the service, and there should be no delay once both players are ready.
The server and receiver stand on diagonally opposite sides of the court without touching the boundary lines. The server starts from the right side of the court and switches between the left and right service boxes depending on their score, serving from the right box on an even score and the left on an odd score.
The player's racket is allowed to cross the net, but only after the shuttlecock has been struck on their side of the net. If the shuttlecock gets stuck in the net but still goes over, play continues. If it hits the net and doesn't make it over to the opponent's side, the receiving side wins the point.











































