Helena Frye
Badminton is a fast-paced racket sport that requires players to have a good understanding of the court to win. The service court in badminton refers to the specific area within the court where the serve is made. The badminton court is divided into two halves by a net, and each half is further vertically divided to mark the service areas. This means that a badminton court has four service courts, each measuring 3.88m by 2.53m. The service rules in badminton dictate the position and side of the court a player needs to stand in, as well as the position of the rackets during the serve.
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What You'll Learn
The service court's dimensions
A badminton court is rectangular and divided into two halves by a net. The dimensions of a badminton court are the same for singles and doubles matches, measuring 13.41 metres (44 feet) in length and 6.1 metres (20 feet) in width. The total playing area of a badminton court is 880 square feet, and the court should have a clearance area of at least 1 metre on the sides and 1.5 metres from the back boundary line.
The service court in badminton is the area on each side of the net where the shuttlecock must be hit during a serve. The service court is bounded by the net, the sideline, and the service line. The service line is the line that runs parallel to the net and is used as a reference point for serving. The service court is divided into two halves by a centre line, creating the left and right service courts.
The dimensions of the service court vary slightly between singles and doubles matches. In singles matches, the service court is 5.18 metres (17 feet) wide, while in doubles matches, it is 6.1 metres (20 feet) wide. The service line is located 2.6 feet (0.76 metres) from the back boundary line in doubles matches and 6.5 feet (1.98 metres) in singles matches.
The left and right service courts in doubles matches are each 3.05 metres (10 feet) wide and 3.96 metres (13 feet) long, with an individual surface area of 12.08 square metres (130.02 square feet). The service court is an important area on the badminton court, as it is where the serve must be directed to initiate a rally and gain an early advantage in the game.
It is important to note that the service court dimensions may vary slightly depending on the specific rules and regulations of the tournament or organisation. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the governing body that mandates the official dimensions for badminton courts and service courts. These dimensions are designed to ensure fair play and consistency in the sport at all levels, from junior to senior Olympic matches.
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Rules for singles and doubles
The basic rules for serving in badminton are the same for singles and doubles matches. The server and receiver stand on diagonally opposite sides of the court without touching the boundary lines. The server must hit the shuttlecock with their racket, aiming to get it to the opponent's side of the net without touching the net or going out of bounds. The shuttlecock must be struck so that the entire object is below the server's waist. The first forward movement of the server's racket should initiate the service, and there should be no undue delay once both parties are ready. If the shuttlecock hits the net but goes over and lands past the service line, the server wins the rally. Conversely, if it hits the net and falls short of the service line or goes out of bounds, the receiver wins the point.
Singles
In singles matches, the court is thinner, with the wide, outside tramlines out of bounds. The players on either side can take up any position on their side of the court, provided they do not obstruct the sight of the server or receiver. No player on the receiving side shall receive two consecutive services in the same game. The server is determined by a coin toss, and whoever wins a point will become the server for the next point. The player serving first does so from the right side of the service court. Thereafter, the server will switch sides depending on the number of points they have won in the game: the right side for even-numbered points and the left side for odd-numbered points.
Doubles
The rules for doubles are similar to singles, but the court is of full width, with the tramlines now in bounds. During the service, the court is shortened, with the rear tramlines at the back of the court being out of bounds until the serve is returned. The side of the court from which the service is performed depends on the number of points the serving pair has accrued. If they have an even number of points, they serve from the right court; if they have an odd number of points, they serve from the left court.
In both singles and doubles matches, the first side to reach 21 points, with a two-point difference, wins the game, and a match consists of three games. If the score reaches 29-29, a sudden death point is played to determine the winner.
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Serving rules
Serving plays a crucial role in badminton. The rules for serving in badminton are as follows:
Positioning
The server and receiver must stand on diagonally opposite sides of the court without touching the boundary lines. The players can stand anywhere on their side of the court as long as they do not impede the sight of the server or receiver.
Determining the server
The server is determined by a coin toss, and the player who wins the toss serves first. After the first point, whichever side wins a point becomes the server for the subsequent point.
Serving sides
The player who serves first in the game serves from the right service court. For every subsequent point, the server alternates between the right and left service courts depending on the number of points they have won during the game. 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.
Correct service
A correct service is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's side without the shuttlecock getting stuck in the net or going out of bounds. The entire shuttlecock should be below the waist of the server when hit, and some part of their feet must be in contact with the court surface.
Faults
If the server's shuttlecock goes out of bounds, the receiving player or side wins the point. If the shuttlecock hits the net but continues over and lands past the service line, the server wins the rally. If the shuttlecock hits the net but lands short of the service line or wide of the court, the receiver wins the point. If the shuttlecock strikes any fixtures above the court, such as lights or beams, it is up to the home club or tournament director to determine if it is a let or a fault.
No undue delay
Once both sides are ready for the service, the server should ensure there is no undue delay. This means that there should be no excessive movement before striking the shuttlecock, such as moving forwards and backwards multiple times.
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Scoring system
The scoring system in badminton is relatively simple. A point is scored whenever a player or team wins a rally. The first side to reach 21 points, with a two-point difference, wins the game. If the game is tied at 20-20, the winner is the first side to reach 22 points, up to a maximum of 30 points. A match is the best of three games.
In singles, the server always starts from the right service court when their score is even, and moves to the left service court when their score is odd. This means that the right service court is also known as the even service court, and the left service court is known as the odd service court.
In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve, but they change service courts so that they serve to each opponent in turn. If the opponents win the rally, the player in the right service court serves if their new score is even, and the player in the left service court serves if their new score is odd.
The receiver's position is determined by the server's score, with the receiver always standing in the service box diagonally opposite the server. In other words, both players will be in the even service courts, or both will be in the odd service courts.
A correct service is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's side, without the shuttle getting stuck in the net or going out of bounds, with some part of their feet in contact with the court surface. The shuttlecock should be hit below waist height, with the racquet shaft pointing downwards, and it is not allowed to bounce.
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Faults and lets
The service is one of the most critical aspects of badminton, and there are specific rules governing its execution. A correct service is when a player hits the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's side without the shuttle getting stuck in the net or going out of bounds, with some part of their feet in contact with the court surface. The entire shuttlecock should be below the waist of the server when hit by the racket.
There are several service faults that players should be aware of. Firstly, players must not step on or over the service line before making contact with the shuttlecock. This is considered a foot fault, and it also applies when returning shots. Secondly, serving from an incorrect position or outside the service court boundaries is a fault. This includes serving from the wrong side of the court, which is immediately corrected. Thirdly, players must not deliberately try to deceive their opponents with illegal service actions such as a flick or a double motion.
In addition to service faults, there are also let services, which occur when external factors disrupt or hinder the serve. For example, if the shuttlecock hits the net and lands in the service court, or there is interference from outside the court, a let service is called, and the rally is replayed without any penalty.
Behavioural fouls are another aspect of badminton rules. These govern player conduct and sportsmanship, and include the use of offensive language or gestures, unsportsmanlike behaviour such as arguing with the referee, and delaying the game unnecessarily. Players must maintain integrity and respect for fair play to avoid these types of fouls.
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Frequently asked questions
A badminton court is 13.40m long and 5.18m wide for singles matches, and 6.1m wide for doubles matches. The court has two halves, each 6.7m long, separated by a net that stands at 1.55m at the ends and 1.52m in the middle. Each half has two service courts, each measuring 3.88m x 2.53m.
The server must stand on the right side of the service court to start the match. They must then hit the shuttlecock with their racket over the net to the opponent's service court without stepping on the boundary lines or letting the shuttlecock touch the net or go out of bounds. The shuttlecock must be hit underarm and be below the waist of the server when struck.
A service court error occurs when a player serves or receives out of turn or from the wrong side of the court. Players can take up any position on their side of the court as long as they do not block the sight of the server or receiver.
A point is awarded to the winner of each rally, which is defined as a series of shots exchanged 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.
The server for the initial point is determined by a coin toss. After that, whichever player or side scores a point becomes the server for the next point. If the server has scored an even number of points, they serve from the right service court; if they have scored an odd number of points, they serve from the left service court.
