
Badminton is a popular sport played by two opposing players (singles) or four opposing players (doubles). The first side to reach 21 points wins a game. However, if the game is tied at 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to score the 30th point wins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Maximum points in a badminton game | 30 |
| Minimum points needed to win a game | 21 |
| Minimum points needed to win if score is 20-20 | 22 |
| Minimum points needed to win if score is 29-29 | 30 |
| Number of players in singles | 2 |
| Number of players in doubles | 4 |
| Number of games in a match | 3 |
| Minimum points needed to win a match | 2 |
| Number of service courts | 2 |
| Service court for even points | Right |
| Service court for odd points | Left |
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What You'll Learn
- Scoring a point: awarded to the side that wins the rally
- Rally point system: allows both players to score during a rally
- Maximum points: first to 30 points wins if the game reaches 29-29
- Serving: players switch sides after winning a point when serving
- Service courts: two courts; right (even) and left (odd)

Scoring a point: awarded to the side that wins the rally
Badminton is played either as singles (two players competing) or doubles (two pairs of players forming teams and competing). In both formats, matches are the best of three games, with the first side to reach 21 points declared the winner.
A point is scored on every serve and is awarded to the side that wins the rally. This is when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court. If a returned shuttlecock hits the net or lands outside the court, the opponent wins the point. Players can return the shuttlecock from inside or outside the court, but they cannot touch the net with any part of their body or racket.
The player who wins a rally also gets to serve next. If the receiving side wins a rally, the serve passes to them, but their service courts do not change. If their new score is odd, the player with the left service court will serve, and if the score is even, the player with the right service court will serve.
In badminton 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 will serve from the left service court every time they have an odd number of points. In badminton doubles, the server starts on the right-hand side and keeps serving while alternating sides with their teammate, as long as they keep winning points.
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Rally point system: allows both players to score during a rally
Badminton is played either as singles (two players competing against each other) or doubles (two pairs of players forming teams and competing against each other). The rules for scoring in badminton were changed in 2006 to a rally point system, which allows both players to score points during a rally, regardless of who served.
In this system, a point is scored on every serve and is awarded to whichever side wins the rally. The winning side gets the next serve. The first side to reach 21 points wins the game, but if the score is tied at 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. For instance, 22-20 would be a winning score, but 21-20 would not be enough. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to score the 30th point wins.
During a rally, the shuttlecock can be returned by a player from inside or outside the court. However, a player cannot touch the net with any part of their body or racket. The shuttlecock must be hit below waist height, with players serving diagonally into their opponent's service box. Both players must remain stationary until the serve is made. 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. When the server has an odd number of points, they serve from the left service court. Each player will retain serve as long as they keep winning points.
In doubles, the server starts on the right-hand side and keeps serving while alternating sides with their teammate as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins a point, they assume the serve, but they do not change their service courts. If their new score is odd, the player with the left service court will serve, and if the score is even, the player with the right service court will serve.
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Maximum points: first to 30 points wins if the game reaches 29-29
In badminton, matches are played as the best of three games. To win a game, a player or team must be the first to reach 21 points. If the game is tied at 20-20, a side must win by two clear points, meaning the game continues until one side has a two-point lead.
However, if the game reaches 29-29, the rules state that the first side to reach 30 points wins. This is the maximum number of points that can be reached in a badminton game.
In badminton, players are required to change ends under specific conditions. They should change ends at the conclusion of the first game. If a third game is required, they should also change ends at the end of the second game. In the third game, the change of ends occurs when one side reaches a score of 11 points.
The server's score is always stated first when saying the score. For example, if the server has 10 points and their opponent has 15, the score is called out as 10-15. The server also alternates sides depending on their score. When the server's score is an even number, they serve from the right service court (also known as the even service court). When their score is an odd number, they serve from the left service court (known as the odd service court).
The side that wins a rally gets to serve next. If the receiving side wins the rally, they assume the serve, but they do not change their service courts. Only the side that is serving can change service courts by winning a point.
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Serving: players switch sides after winning a point when serving
In badminton, the first side to reach 21 points wins the game. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to score their 30th point wins. 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. In doubles, the server starts on the right and keeps serving while alternating sides with their teammate, as long as they keep winning points.
When it comes to switching sides after winning a point when serving, there are specific rules to follow. In singles, the server will always serve from the right service court when they have an even number of points and from the left when they have an odd number of points. This means that players switch sides after winning a point when their total number of points is odd. For example, if a player serving from the right side wins a point, they will switch to serving from the left side, and vice versa.
In doubles, the server will always start on the right side for their first serve. If they win the point, they will switch to the left side for their next serve, and continue alternating sides with their teammate as long as they keep winning points. If the serving side loses a point, the serve is then given to the opposing team. The new server will serve from the right side if their team's total points are even, or the left side if their total points are odd.
It's important to note that players are required to change ends under specific conditions, regardless of serving or non-serving players. In a three-game match, players should change ends at the conclusion of the first game and again at the end of the second game. In the third game, players switch ends when one side reaches a score of 11 points.
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Service courts: two courts; right (even) and left (odd)
In badminton, the aim is to be the first player or team to reach 21 points. If the game is tied at 20-20, a side must win by two clear points, and if the score reaches 29-29, the first side to get their 30th point wins.
The badminton court is divided into two service courts: the right (even) service court and the left (odd) service court. The server always starts from the right service court, and the game always begins with a player serving from this side of the court. This is because zero is an even number. The right court is therefore also known as the even service court. When a player has an even number of points, they serve from the right court.
The left service court is known as the odd service court. When a player has an odd number of points, they serve from the left court. So, if a player serving from the right court wins the first point, they will then serve from the left court for their next serve. If they win again, they will return to the right court to serve, and so on. This means that players will always serve from alternating sides if they keep winning points.
In badminton 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 wins a point, they assume the serve.
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Frequently asked questions
The maximum number of points in badminton is 30.
To win a badminton game, a player or team must reach 21 points.
If the score is 20-20, the game continues until a side wins by two clear points.
Yes, if the game reaches 29-29, the first side to score the 30th point wins.
A badminton match is played as the best of three games.











































