Badminton Doubles: Know The Rules To Win

what are rules in playing badminton doubles

Badminton is a high-speed indoor racket sport that was introduced at the 1972 Munich Olympics as a demonstration sport. It has been a part of the Olympic programme since the 1992 Barcelona Games. The sport is played with racquets that are used to hit a shuttlecock, also known as a birdie, over a net. The shuttlecock is a cone-shaped object made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The game can be played as singles, with one player per side, or as doubles, with two players per side. This article will focus on the rules for playing badminton doubles.

Characteristics Values
Number of players 4 (2 vs 2)
Court boundaries Wider than singles, with tramlines 'in'
Scoring Best of 3 games, first to 21 points (variations include 15 and 7)
Serve Underarm, with the racket head and shaft angled downward, shuttle below the waist at contact
Service area Diagonal, starting from the right-hand side
Service rotation Depends on score: even numbers = right service court; odd numbers = left service court
Rally Continues if shuttlecock hits net but goes over; opponent does not win a point
Points Awarded to the winner of each rally; if shuttlecock goes out of bounds, opposing team wins a point
Faults Touching shuttle with anything other than the racquet, double hit, touching the net with racquet or body when shuttle is in play

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Serving rules: Start from the right, then alternate sides with your teammate

Serving is an essential part of a badminton doubles match. To start, a coin toss decides which team will serve first and which team will receive. The team that wins the toss can either choose the end from where they want to play or choose to serve. If they choose the former, the opposing team gets to decide whether they want to serve or not.

The first serve always starts from the right service court. The serving order depends on the score – if it's an odd number, the player on the left serves, and if it's an even number, the player on the right serves. For instance, if your team's score is 2, 4, 6, etc., you will serve from the right service court, and your opponent will receive from their right service court. On the other hand, if your team's score is 1, 3, 5, etc., you will serve from the left service court, and your opponent will receive from their left service court.

The serving team alternates sides with each new serve, but the receiving team does not. The receiving pair stays on the same side as long as they are receiving. Only when they start serving do they switch sides.

It's important to note that only one player from a team is allowed to hit the shuttlecock. If both players touch it with their rackets, the team gives away a point to the opposing side.

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Scoring rules: Points are scored by grounding the shuttlecock in the opponent's court

In badminton, points are scored by successfully grounding the shuttlecock in the opponent's court. This must be done within the designated court areas on the opponent's side of the net. If a player fails to return the shuttlecock, or commits a fault, the opposing side is awarded a point.

The shuttlecock must be served underarm, swinging the racquet from below the waist, and it must reach the service boundaries. An overarm serve is not allowed. If the shuttlecock hits the top of the net, but still reaches the service boundaries, the serve is considered good. The whole shuttlecock must be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court when hit by the server, with the racquet shaft pointing downwards.

The player must serve from the right-hand box if their team has an even number of points (0, 2, 4, 6, etc.), and from the left-hand box if they have an odd number of points (1, 3, 5, etc.). The server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts at the start of the rally. Only one player from each team is allowed to hit the shuttlecock, and a player can only hit it once. If a player hits the shuttlecock twice, or both players on a team hit it, the opposing side wins a point.

A point is also awarded to the opposing side if the shuttlecock is hit into the net, or if it lands outside the court. If the shuttlecock is about to go out of the court but is hit by the opponent before it does so, the game continues and no point is awarded.

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Faults: Lose the rally if you fail to return the shuttlecock or touch the net

Faults in badminton doubles can occur when players fail to return the shuttlecock or touch the net, resulting in a lost rally. Here are the key points regarding faults and losing the rally in badminton doubles:

Firstly, it is essential that the shuttlecock is hit with the racket and sent over the net to the opponent's side of the court. If a player fails to return the shuttlecock, either by missing it or allowing it to touch the ground before returning it, their team loses the rally and the opposing team wins the point.

Secondly, the shuttlecock must be hit without touching the net. If the shuttlecock touches the net during a shot, it is considered a fault, and the team who touched the net loses the rally, giving the opposing team a point.

Additionally, players must be mindful of their feet positioning when serving or receiving. Both feet should be in contact with the ground and must not touch any court lines. If a player's foot touches a line during their shot, it is a fault, and the opposing team wins the rally.

It is also important to note that only one player from each team is allowed to hit the shuttlecock during a rally. If both players on the same team touch the shuttlecock with their rackets during a single rally, it is considered a double hit, resulting in a fault and the opposing team winning the rally.

Furthermore, players must ensure that the shuttlecock remains within the boundaries of the court. If a player hits the shuttlecock and it lands outside the court, the opposing team wins the rally.

In summary, losing the rally in badminton doubles can occur due to various faults, including failing to return the shuttlecock, touching the net, improper footwork, double hits, or hitting the shuttlecock out of bounds. Being mindful of these rules will help players avoid losing rallies and improve their overall gameplay.

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Court switching: Switch sides if the first player/team scores 11 points in the third game

Court switching in badminton doubles is a crucial aspect of the game, and there are specific rules governing when and how it occurs. One such rule comes into play during the third game when the first player or team reaches 11 points. At this point, the players or teams will switch sides of the court, introducing a new dynamic to the game.

In badminton, a doubles match consists of two teams, with each team comprising two players positioned on opposite sides of the net. The game commences with a serve from one team to the other, and the rally continues until a point is won. The team that wins a point gets to serve for the subsequent point, and this back-and-forth dynamic forms the basis of the game.

The scoring system in badminton doubles can be a tad confusing due to the presence of two players on each team. The side that serves first is determined by a coin toss before the match, and the game always starts from the right-hand side. The serving player must be mindful not to let their feet touch any of the court lines during the serve.

The service court is determined by the score. When a team's score is even (2, 4, 6, etc.), they serve from the right service court, and the receiver picks up the serve from their right service court. Conversely, when the score is odd (1, 3, 5, etc.), the serving team uses the left service court, and the receiver collects the serve from their left court. This rule adds a layer of strategy to the game as players need to be aware of their positioning relative to the score.

When the first player or team reaches 11 points in the third game, it triggers a court switch. This rule ensures that neither team has an unfair advantage due to court positioning and lighting conditions. The game resumes with the serving team serving from their new left service court, while the receiving team adjusts to their new right service court. This court switch keeps the game dynamic and challenges players' adaptability.

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Service courts: Don't change service courts until you win a point when your side is serving

In badminton, each player has a service court that remains the same throughout the game. The service courts are set at the start of the rally and do not change until a point is won by the serving side. This means that if the receiving side wins a rally, the players do not change their respective service courts. Instead, the serve passes to the receiving side, but their service courts remain the same as in the previous rally.

The service court is based on the server's score. When the server's score is even, they serve from the right service court, also known as the ''even service court'. Conversely, when the server's score is odd, they serve from the left service court, known as the 'odd service court'. This alternating pattern continues throughout the game, with players switching between the right and left service courts as their score changes.

It's important to note that the receiver's position is determined by their partner's service court. The receiver must stay in their service court until they serve, while their partner can stand wherever they choose. For example, if Player A is serving from the right service court, their partner, Player B, will be in the left service court. If the receiving side wins a rally, Player B will become the new server and will serve from the left service court, while Player A moves to the right service court.

The rules for serving in badminton doubles can be confusing, but understanding the concept of service courts and how they change based on the server's score is crucial. By following these rules, players can ensure a fair and organized game.

Frequently asked questions

There are four players in a doubles game, with two players on each side.

Points are scored by grounding the shuttlecock in the designated areas of the opponent's court. A point is awarded on every serve. If the serving side wins the rally, they score a point and the same player serves again from the alternate service court. If the receiving side wins, they gain a point and become the new serving side.

The game always starts from the right-hand side. If a team has an odd number of points, the player will serve from the left service court. If they have an even number or zero points, they will serve from the right service court.

A player loses the rally if they commit a fault, such as failing to return the shuttlecock to the opponent's court or touching the net with their racquet or body during play. Players can hit the shuttlecock anywhere within the entire court area after the initial serve.

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