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Badminton is a racquet sport that is played with a shuttlecock and is considered the world's fastest racquet sport. It is played with singles (one player per side) or doubles (two players per side) and is played on a rectangular court. The game starts with a coin toss to decide which team will serve first and which side they will play on. The first serve of the game is from the right half of the court to the diagonally opposite court. The players change ends at the start of the second game and if the match reaches a third game, they change ends at the start of the game and when the leading player or pair's score reaches 11 points.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 (singles) or 4 (doubles) |
| Objective | Be the first to win 2 games (of 21 points each) to win the match |
| First serve | Toss a coin or have another contest to decide |
| Serve side | Right-hand side of the court |
| Serve direction | Diagonally opposite |
| Serve rules | Served diagonally into the opponent's service box, below waist height |
| Scoring | A point is scored when the birdie (shuttlecock) hits the ground inside the opponent's half of the court |
| Fault | If the shuttlecock is served and doesn't go over the net, or hits the net and falls into the opponent's court (a "let") |
| Change of ends | At the start of the second game, and in the third game when one side reaches 11 points |
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What You'll Learn
Choosing who serves first
The first forward movement of the server's racket head should indicate the start of the service. The server should also ensure there is no undue delay once both the server and receiver are ready. The server and receiver stand on diagonally opposite sides of the court without touching the boundary lines. The entire shuttlecock should be below the waist of the server at the instant it is hit by the server's racket. The waist is considered an imaginary line at the server's lowest rib.
The player who serves first will continue to do so each time after gathering an even number of points during the game. A serve after winning an odd number of points will come from the left service court. The receiver must stand on the alternate service court, and the pair who wins the point shall become the server for the subsequent point. No player on the receiving side shall receive two consecutive services in the same game.
The first side to reach 21 points, with a two-point difference, wins the game, and a match usually consists of three games. If a let is called, the rally is stopped and replayed with no change to the score.
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Deciding which side to play on
To decide which side to play on, a coin toss is often used. This is a simple and fair way to determine which team will serve first and which side they will play on. This initial decision is important as it sets the tone and flow of the game. The first serve of a badminton match always comes from the right-hand side of the court, diagonally across to the opposing side. This means the serving player starts on the right, and their teammate takes position on the left.
In a doubles game, the server will keep serving from the same side, alternating with their partner, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side takes a point, they then gain the serve. The player who didn't initially serve for their team will only start serving once their side has won a point as the receiving side.
In singles badminton, the server starts from the right service court and will continue to serve from that side every time they have an even number of points. After each game, the players switch sides of the court, and the winner of the previous game serves first in the next game.
If a third game is required, players will change ends again at the start of that game and then again when one side reaches 11 points. This rule ensures that neither player has an unfair advantage due to lighting or wind conditions that may be present on one side of the court.
It is important to note that the first rally of any doubles game allows the serving pair to decide who serves, and the receiving pair to decide who receives. This adds an interesting strategic element to the game, as teams can choose to switch up their serving and receiving players to gain an advantage or adapt to their opponents' strategy.
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Serving from the right half of the court
When serving in badminton, the server must stand inside the right-hand service court, which is divided in half by the centre line and the long service line. The server's partner should stand in the rear court, within the doubles boundary line, and the opponents should take their positions diagonally across the court, mirroring the serving pair.
For a legal serve, the server must hit the shuttlecock with their racquet and aim to land it inside the diagonally opposite service court. The shuttlecock must pass over the net without touching it and drop inside the service court without being hit by the net post or landing outside the lines. It is important to note that the shuttlecock must be struck below the server's waist level, and the server's racket should not cross the imaginary centre line that divides the court.
In a doubles game, the serve must also clear the long service line. This line is used to ensure that the shuttlecock travels a reasonable distance and gives the receiving pair enough time to react. Failing to clear this line results in a fault serve.
The server must adhere to specific rules when serving from the right half of the court. For instance, they must let go of the shuttlecock before striking it with the racquet. The server is not permitted to hold or throw the shuttlecock and strike it with the racquet in the same motion. Additionally, the server must not "double-hit" the shuttlecock, which means they cannot hit it twice in succession to gain an advantage.
It's worth noting that the rules for serving in badminton may vary slightly depending on the specific regulations set by governing bodies such as the Badminton World Federation (BWF). These rules are subject to change and evolution, so it's always a good idea to refer to the most recent rulebook before engaging in competitive play.
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Scoring points by striking the shuttlecock
To score points in badminton, players must strike the shuttlecock with their racquet so that it passes over the net and lands inside their opponent's half of the court. This is known as a "rally", and a point is added to a player's score each time they win one. A player wins a rally when they strike the shuttlecock, and it touches the floor of the opponent's side of the court or when the opponent commits a fault. It is important to note that each side can only strike the shuttlecock once before it passes over the net.
The shuttlecock, also known as the "birdie", is badminton's unique "ball". It is a cone-shaped object made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The whole shuttlecock must be below 1.15 metres from the court surface when hit by the server, with the racquet shaft pointing downwards.
A legal serve must be hit diagonally over the net and into the opponent's court. In singles, the court is 13.41m long and 5.18m wide, and the serve must pass the short service line, 1.98m from the net. The shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce, and a player cannot strike it twice. If the shuttlecock hits the net during a rally, it is still considered "good", and play continues as long as all other aspects of the play are legal.
The rules for scoring points in badminton were changed in 2006 to a rally point system, allowing both players to score a point during a rally, regardless of who served. To win a game, a player must reach 21 points, but if the game is tied at 20-20, they must then win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the player or team that scores the 30th point wins.
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Changing ends in the second game
The laws of badminton dictate that players must change ends at the end of the first game. If the match goes to a third game, players should also change ends at the end of the second game. In the deciding game, players change ends when the leading player or pair reaches 11 points.
The change of ends rule in badminton is an important part of the sport's etiquette and ensures fairness for both players or pairs. It accounts for any potential advantage or disadvantage that one side may have over the other due to lighting, wind, or other environmental factors.
The change of ends rule also provides players with a brief respite, allowing them to catch their breath and strategize before resuming play from a different position on the court. This can be especially crucial in high-intensity matches where every point matters and players need to conserve their energy.
It is worth noting that the scoring system in badminton has undergone changes over the years. While the current system requires players or pairs to win two games of 21 points each to win a match, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) is considering a change to a 15x3 format. This proposal has sparked controversy among badminton players, showcasing the importance of established rules and their potential impact on gameplay and strategy.
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Frequently asked questions
To decide who serves first, a coin toss is usually done. The winner of the coin toss gets to decide which team serves first and which side they will play on.
The first serve of a badminton game comes from the right half of the court to the diagonally opposite court. The shuttlecock must be hit below the waist of the server when being hit. The shuttlecock must also stay within the bounds of the doubles or singles court.
Points are scored when a player commits a fault. If a server forces the opponent to take a fault, a point is given to the server. If the recipient forces a fault to the server, the recipient will receive a point and become the new server for the next play.
Matches are best out of three: a player or pair must win two games (of 21 points each) to win the match.
