Badminton Scoring: Understanding The Basics

what are the rules of scoring in badminton

Badminton is a high-speed indoor racket sport with unique rules for scoring and serving. A match is the best of three games, with each game won by the first side to reach 21 points. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side has a two-point lead, up to a maximum of 30 points. A point is scored when the shuttlecock, or 'birdie', lands inside the opponent's court. The rules for serving are very specific, with the server's position determined by their current score, and the server alternating service courts after winning a point.

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A match is best of three games

A badminton match is typically played as the best of three games. The first side to reach 21 points wins the game. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side achieves a two-point lead, such as 22-20 or 25-23. If the score reaches 29-29, the game concludes when one side reaches 30 points, which is the maximum allowed.

In the third game, players change ends when one side reaches 11 points. A point is scored when the shuttlecock, or "birdie", lands inside the opponent's court. A point is also awarded if the shuttlecock hits the net or falls outside the opponent's court. The shuttlecock must be hit below waist height, and the server must serve diagonally into the opponent's service box. The server always serves from their right service court when their score is even and from their left service court when their score is odd.

During the game, players do not change their respective service courts until their side wins a point while serving. When a player wins a rally, they score a point and then serve again from the alternate service court. If the receiving side wins a rally, they score a point and become the new server.

Additionally, badminton matches include two mandatory rest periods: a 90-second break after the first game and a 5-minute break after the second game.

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Points are scored when shuttlecock/birdie lands in opponent's court

In badminton, a point is scored when the shuttlecock, or birdie, lands in the opponent's court. The shuttlecock is the cone-shaped object that is hit back and forth and is made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. A player wins a rally when the shuttlecock touches the floor of the opponent's side of the court or when the opponent commits a fault. A fault can include failing to hit the shuttlecock over the net or hitting it outside the boundaries of the court. A point can also be conceded if the shuttlecock hits the net or passes through or under it, or if a player strikes the shuttlecock twice with their racket.

The rules regarding the serve in badminton are specific. At the beginning of the game, when the server's score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When the server's score is odd, they serve from the left service court. If the server wins a rally, they score a point and then serve again from the alternate service court. If the receiver wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point and becomes the new server. They serve from the appropriate service court—left if their score is odd, and right if it is even. Each pair only has one serve.

It is important to note that the point of impact between the racket and shuttlecock must be below the player's waist. The shaft of the racket must also be angled in a downward direction, resulting in an underarm shot. The whole of the shuttlecock should be below 1.15 meters from the surface of the court when hit by the server. Additionally, the shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce. After a point is won, the players move to the opposite serving stations for the next point.

In terms of scoring a match, badminton is typically played as a best-of-three-games format. The first side to reach 21 points wins a game, but if the score reaches 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to score 30 points wins.

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Service rules: odd/even

Serving rules in badminton can be tricky to keep track of, especially in doubles. In general, the server always serves diagonally into their opponent's service box. When the server's score is odd, they serve from the left court; when it is even, they serve from the right court. This means that you never serve to the same person in two consecutive rallies.

For example, let's say the server has an odd score and serves from the left court. If they win this rally, they will score a point and then serve again, but from the right court this time. If the receiver wins the rally instead, the receiver scores a point and becomes the new server. They will serve from the right court, as their score is now even.

In doubles, each player has a service court. When serving, you must serve from your designated service court. When your partner has the service court, you do not have to stay within one of the service boxes; you can stand anywhere on your side of the court.

It is important to remember that the serve in badminton should always be an underarm shot, with the racket shaft angled in a downward direction, and the shuttlecock must be hit below waist height.

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Rally winner keeps serve

In badminton, a point is scored when the shuttlecock, or "birdie", lands inside the opponent's court. A point can also be conceded if a shot goes outside the court boundaries, if the shuttlecock hits the net or passes through/under it, or if a player strikes the shuttlecock twice with their racket. Players must wait for the shuttlecock to cross the net before playing a shot, and the shuttlecock must be hit below waist height. The shaft of the racket must also be angled in a downward direction, so the serve in badminton should always be an underarm shot.

When it comes to serving, the rally winner keeps the serve. If the server wins a rally, they score a point and then serve again from the alternate service court. So, if the server was serving from the right service court, they would switch to the left service court after winning a point, and vice versa. This is also known as the even/odd rule. If the server's score is odd, they will serve from the left court, and if the score is even, they will serve from the right court.

It's important to note that in doubles matches, the serve stays with the same person until the opponents win a rally. So, if Player A is serving and they win the rally, they will continue serving from the alternate service court for the next point. Only when the opponents (Players C and D) win a rally will the serve pass to Player B. Each pair has only one serve, and players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their side is serving.

The first side to reach 21 points wins a game, but if the score reaches 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. So, the game could go to 22-20 or 25-23, but not 21-20 or 24-23. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to get their 30th point wins, as 30 points is the upper limit to prevent games from dragging on for too long.

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Waist height rule

The "waist height rule" in badminton, also known as the waist/rib rule, is a service rule that specifies that the shuttlecock must be hit below the server's waist during a serve. This rule was introduced to prevent players from gaining an advantage by hitting the feathers of the shuttlecock first and creating excessive spin.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has implemented a new service rule that supersedes the waist height rule in sanctioned tournaments. This new rule specifies that the shuttlecock must be hit below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court. However, the waist height rule is still applicable in non-sanctioned tournaments and casual games.

The waist height rule states that the shuttlecock must be struck below the server's waist, which is defined as an imaginary line around the body, level with the lowest part of the server's bottom rib. This rule aims to ensure that serves are consistent and fair for all players, regardless of their height.

Some players and commentators have expressed frustration with the waist height rule, arguing that it is challenging to enforce and can be abused by taller players. They suggest that the rule disadvantages shorter players and have proposed alternative solutions, such as drawing a physical line on the net or wearing shirts with a line indicating the correct serving height.

Despite the introduction of the new 1.15-metre rule in sanctioned tournaments, the waist height rule remains a part of the "'alternative rules'" in badminton. It is worth noting that the rules around service height are constantly evolving, with the BWF aiming to improve the application of service laws in tournaments.

Frequently asked questions

A badminton match is the best of three games.

To win a game, a player must reach 21 points. However, if the game is tied at 20-20, you need to win by two clear points.

Scoring is capped at 30 points, including the golden point rule at 29-29.

At the start of the game, when the score is 0-0, the serving pair chooses who serves for the first rally. The first service is usually determined by the equivalent of a coin toss, where the shuttle is dropped on top of the net and the server is appointed by the direction it points to when it falls.

If the server's score is odd, they serve from the left court. If their score is even, they serve from the right court. If the serving side wins a rally, the same person serves again but from the other service court.

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