Kristian Ferrell
Badminton is a high-speed racket sport that can be played as singles or doubles. Scoring a point in badminton is done when the shuttlecock or shuttle (also known as the birdie) hits the ground inside the opponent's court. The rules of badminton have changed over the years, with the scoring system being modified in 2006 to a rally point system, allowing players to score a point during a rally, regardless of who served. The first player to reach 21 points wins the game, and if the game is tied at 20-20, they must win by two clear points.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scoring System | Rally Point System |
| Points to Win | 21 points |
| Game Format | Best of three games |
| Scoring Cap | 30 points |
| Serve Placement | Diagonally across the court |
| Serve Rotation | Right service court for even scores, left for odd scores |
| Receiver's Position | Diagonally opposite the server |
| Service Courts | Two service courts, one on the right and one on the left |
| Service Height | Below waist height |
| Service Technique | Underarm serve |
| Shuttlecock | Hit without bouncing |
| Net Height | 1.55m (5ft 1in) at ends, 1.52m (5ft) in the middle |
| Court Dimensions (Singles) | 13.41m x 5.18m |
| Court Dimensions (Doubles) | 13.41m x 6.1m |
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What You'll Learn
Scoring a point
In badminton, players are required to change ends under specific conditions. In a three-game match, players change ends at the conclusion of the first game, at the end of the second game, and in the third game when one side reaches a score of 11 points.
The service courts also change after a point is won. The receiver's court remains the same, but the server will serve from the other side of the court. If the server's score is an odd number, they serve from the left court, and if it is an even number, they serve from the right court.
In doubles, the scoring is the same, but each pair wins the points instead of individuals. The pair that is serving chooses who will serve first, and the receiving pair chooses who will receive. The server will continue to serve from their side of the court until the opponents win a rally, at which point the serve passes to the other team.
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Service courts
The service, or serve, is a crucial part of a badminton player's gameplay. It involves hitting the shuttlecock with a racket over the net to the opponent's side without touching the net or going out of bounds. The whole of the shuttlecock should be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court when hit by the server, with the racket shaft pointing downwards. The shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce.
The server and receiver stand on diagonally opposite sides of the court without touching the boundary lines. The receiver's position is determined by the server's position. The receiver always stands in the service box diagonally opposite the server. In other words, both players will be in the even service courts or the odd service courts.
There are two service courts: one on the right and one on the left. The right service court is also known as the even service court, and the left service court is known as the odd service court. The server's score determines which service court they use. 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. For example, if the server has 10 points to their opponent's 15, the score is 10-15 (not 15-10). If the server has won an even number of points, they serve from the right service court; if they have won an odd number of points, they serve from the left service court.
The receivers never change their service courts. The only way to change service courts is to win a point when your side is serving. When the receiving side wins a rally, the serve passes to them, but their service courts do not change from the previous rally. If their new score is odd, the player with the left service court will serve; if the score is even, the player with the right service court will serve.
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Rally point system
The rally point system in badminton is a method of scoring that allows both players or pairs to score a point during a rally, regardless of who served. This system was introduced in 2006, replacing the previous rules where only the serving side could score.
In the rally point system, a point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court. Alternatively, if a returned shuttlecock hits the net or lands outside the court, the player or pair will lose the point. The server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts, and a legal serve must be hit diagonally over the net and across the court. The serve must be hit underarm and below the server's waist height, with the whole of the shuttlecock below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court.
The server's score is always stated first when announcing the score. For example, if the server has 10 points and the opponent has 15, the score is 10-15. The server's position depends on whether their score is even or odd. If the server's score is even, they serve from the right service court, and if it's odd, they serve from the left. This means that with each successive point, the server alternates between the right and left service courts.
In a typical badminton match, a player or pair must win two out of three games to win the match. Each game is played until one player or pair reaches 21 points, and they must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first player or pair to score the 30th point wins.
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Deciding the first server
There are several ways to decide who serves first in a badminton match. One common method is to place the shuttlecock on top of the net with the cork facing up and let it fall to the ground. The side towards which the cork points will get to choose whether they want to serve or receive first. Another similar method is to hit the shuttlecock with a racket and let it fall to the ground. In more casual club or league games, players can simply toss the shuttlecock into the air and let it land, serving first if it points towards their side when it stops moving.
Alternatively, players can play one rally to decide who serves first. The winner of this preliminary rally gets to decide whether they want to serve or receive first in the actual game. In professional tournaments, an umpire may be present to oversee the match, in which case, they would toss a coin to decide which side gets to choose whether they want to serve or receive first, similar to many other sports.
It is important to note that the receiver's position is determined by the server's position. The receiver always stands in the service box diagonally opposite the server. This means that if the server is in an even-numbered service court, the receiver must be in the other even-numbered service court, and vice versa for odd-numbered service courts. The server's score also determines the service court they must use. If the server's score is even, they serve from the right service court, and if it is odd, they serve from the left service court.
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Scoring system development
The original badminton scoring system dates back to 1873. A match or 'rubber' is decided by the best of three games. Each game is played to 15 points in men's singles and doubles, and to 11 points in ladies' singles. The traditional scoring system also allows for a single game to determine a match, in which case the game would be played to 21 points.
In 2002, the International Badminton Federation (BWF) decided to experiment with a different scoring system to improve the commercial and broadcasting appeal of the sport, as matches were often lengthy and unpredictable in terms of duration. The new scoring system shortened games to seven points and decided matches by the best of five games. However, this experiment was abandoned as it did not significantly reduce match times.
In December 2005, the BWF experimented again with the scoring system, intending to regulate playing time and simplify the system for television viewers. The main change was the adoption of rally point scoring, where the winner of a rally scores a point regardless of who served. Games were also lengthened to 21 points, with ladies' singles matches now following the same rules as men's singles.
In 2006, the rules were changed to the current rally point system, where players can score a point during a rally, regardless of who served. In competitive adult matches, all games are played as the best of three games, with each game played to 21 points. If the game is tied at 20-20, players must win by two clear points. Scoring is capped at 30 points, with the player or team scoring the 30th point winning the game.
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Frequently asked questions
A point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court or if a returned shuttlecock hits the net or lands outside of the court, the opponent gets the point.
The server always starts from the right service court and will serve from that side every time they have an even number of points. When the server has an odd number of points, they serve from the left service court.
In a major tournament, a coin toss is used to decide which side will serve first. In more casual club or league games, players usually throw the shuttle up in the air, let it land, and see which side it points towards—that side serves first.
A badminton game is typically played to 21 points. However, if the game is tied at 20-20, a player must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the player or team who scores the 30th point wins.
