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Badminton is a high-speed indoor racket sport that can be played in singles or doubles. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) outlines the rules of the game, which include specifications for the court, the shuttlecock (also called a birdie), and the scoring system. The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net, with specific dimensions for singles and doubles matches. The shuttlecock is a unique projectile made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. Players score points by hitting the shuttlecock into their opponent's half of the court and can concede points by making faults, such as hitting the net or striking the shuttlecock twice. The first side to reach 21 points wins the game, with specific rules for deciding the winner if the game goes beyond 21 points.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | Singles: 2 (one player per side). Doubles: 4 (two players per side). |
| Court dimensions | Length: 13.4 metres or 44 feet. Width: 5.18 metres or 17 feet for singles, 6.1 metres or 20 feet for doubles. |
| Service rules | In singles, the server starts from the right service court and serves from that side when they have an even number of points. They serve from the left when they have an odd number of points. In doubles, the server starts on the right and keeps serving, alternating sides with their teammate, as long as they keep winning points. |
| Scoring | A point is scored when the shuttlecock hits the ground in the opponent's half of the court, including the lines. A point is also 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 racquet. |
| Winning conditions | The first side to 21 points wins the game. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side has a two-point lead. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to score 30 points wins. Matches are the best of three games. |
| Shuttlecock (birdie) | A cone-shaped projectile made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. It is between 62-70mm long and weighs between 4.74-5.5g. |
| Racquet specifications | Lightweight, weighing between 70-95 grams (not including grip or strings). Made of various materials such as carbon fibre composite, solid steel, aluminium, or wood. |
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Scoring system
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock—also known as a "birdie"—across a net. The scoring system and rules are outlined by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
A point is scored on every serve and awarded to whichever side wins the rally. The first side to reach 21 points wins the game. If the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until one side has a two-point lead. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to reach 30 points wins. All singles and doubles matches are the best of three games.
In singles, the server starts from the right service court and will serve from that side every time they have an even number of points. They serve from the left when they have an odd number of points. In doubles, the server always starts on the right and alternates sides with their partner as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins the point, they get to serve.
Players must change ends at the conclusion of the first game and, if needed, at the end of the second game. In the third game, players change ends when one side reaches 11 points.
A point is scored when the shuttlecock hits the ground inside the boundaries of the opponent's half of the court—including the lines. A point is conceded if a shot falls outside the court boundaries, if the shuttlecock hits the net or passes through or under it, or if a player strikes the shuttlecock twice with their racquet. Players must wait for the shuttlecock to cross the net before taking a shot. The shuttlecock must be hit below waist height, and players must serve diagonally into their opponent's service box.
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Court size
The badminton court is rectangular and is usually marked for both singles and doubles play. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are of the same length. The full length of the court is 44 feet or 13.4 metres, and the full width of the doubles court is 20 feet or 6.1 metres. In singles, the width is reduced to 17 feet or 5.18 metres.
The service courts are split by a centre line dividing the width of the court and are set back from the net by a 'short service line' of 6.5 feet or 1.98 metres. Doubles games also require a 'long service line' that is placed 2.5 feet or 0.76 metres in from the back boundary. The service courts are further divided by the net, resulting in four service courts, each measuring 3.88 metres by 2.53 metres.
Clearances of 2 feet or 0.61 metres should be provided around the entire badminton court. The net should be made of a fine cord in a dark colour with a mesh of between 15 and 20 mm. The net should be 760 mm in depth and at least 6.1 metres wide. The top of the net should be edged with a 75 mm white tape doubled over a cord or cable running through it. The cord or cable should be stretched firmly, flush with the top of the posts. The net should be 1.524 metres high at the centre of the court and 1.55 metres high over the sidelines for doubles. The posts should be placed on the doubles sidelines, and should be 1.55 metres high from the surface of the court.
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Serving rules
Serving is a crucial part of a badminton player's gameplay. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) outlines the following rules for serving in badminton:
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—with some part of their feet in contact with the court surface. The shuttlecock should be below waist height when struck, and the player's feet should not be touching any lines on the court. The shuttlecock must be hit diagonally into the opponent's service box.
The first server of the game is usually determined by a coin toss. In singles, 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. They will serve from the left every time they have an odd number of points. In doubles, the server will start on the right-hand side and keep serving, while alternating sides with their teammate, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side takes the point, the player who did not initially serve will then assume the service.
There is no time limit on the duration of the serve, but players may be faulted for taking too long. The BWF Laws of the Game state that "neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server and receiver are ready".
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Shuttlecock specifications
The shuttlecock, also known as the birdie, is a high-drag projectile with a unique design. It is cone-shaped, with sixteen overlapping feathers embedded into a rounded cork or rubber base. The feathers can be made of natural or synthetic materials, with the latter being a more cost-effective option for recreational players as feathered shuttlecocks break more easily. The tip of the feathers should form a circle with a diameter between 58 and 62 mm, while the base should have a diameter of 25-28 mm. The total length of the shuttlecock should be between 62 and 70 mm, and it should weigh between 4.74 and 5.5 grams.
There is a specific test to check if a shuttlecock is of the correct speed. It involves hitting a full underhand stroke that makes contact with the shuttlecock over the back boundary line. The shuttlecock should be hit upwards and in a direction parallel to the sidelines. A shuttlecock of the correct speed will land between 530 mm and 990 mm short of the other back boundary line.
The shuttlecock's unique design gives badminton its distinction as the fastest racquet sport in the world. Its cone shape ensures that it always flies cork-first after being struck, until it is hit again.
In terms of gameplay, a point is scored when the shuttlecock hits the ground inside the opponent's half of the court, including the lines. A point is conceded if the shuttlecock lands outside the court boundaries, hits the net, or passes through or under it. Players must wait for the shuttlecock to cross the net before playing a shot, and it must be hit below waist height.
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Player movement
Badminton can be played as singles or doubles. In singles, there are two players competing against each other, and in doubles, two pairs of players form teams and compete, resulting in a game of four players. The court dimensions differ for singles and doubles matches. In singles, the court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide. For doubles, the width extends to 6.1m (20ft), but the length remains the same.
In singles, the server starts from the right service court and will serve from that side whenever they have an even number of points. They serve from the left when they have an odd number of points. In doubles, the server always starts on the right-hand side and keeps serving, alternating sides with their teammate, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins a point, they assume the serve.
Players must remain stationary until the serve is made. In singles, players serve diagonally into the opponent's service box. In doubles, the service court is shorter, and players serve down the middle of the court, diagonally into the receiving area of their opponents.
Players are required to change ends under certain conditions. They should change ends at the conclusion of the first game and, if necessary, the second game. In the third game, players change ends when one side reaches a score of 11 points.
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton is a racquet sport played with racquets to hit a shuttlecock (also called a birdie) across a net. The most common forms of the game are singles (with one player per side) and doubles (with two players per side). Points are scored by hitting the shuttlecock with the racquet and landing it within the other team's half of the court.
The badminton court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. The full width of the court is 6.1 metres (20 feet) and the length is 13.4 metres (44 feet). The width is reduced to 5.18 metres (17 feet) for singles matches.
All singles and doubles matches are the best of three games. The first side to reach 21 points wins a game. A point is scored on every serve and awarded to whichever side wins the rally. If the game reaches 29-29, the first side to get their 30th point wins.
The shuttlecock is a high-drag projectile with an open conical shape. It is made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. Badminton rules provide for testing a shuttlecock for the correct speed. The shuttlecock should land between 530 mm and 990 mm short of the other back boundary line when hit with a full underhand stroke.
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