Andrew Pace
Badminton singles is a match format in which there is one player on each of the opposing sides. The rules of badminton singles are as follows: the court measures 13.41m by 5.18m, and the net is set at 1.55m at the ends and 1.52m in the middle. The shuttlecock, or birdie, is made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base and should be hit below waist height. The first side to reach 21 points wins the game, with a two-point difference required to win. Players must remain stationary until the serve is made, and the server is determined by a coin toss. 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 when they have an odd number of points. A point is scored if the shuttlecock lands within the opponent's half of the court, and a point is lost if it goes out of bounds, hits the net, or is struck twice by the same player.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Number of players | 2 |
| Court dimensions | 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide |
| Net height | 1.55m (5ft 1in) at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) in the middle |
| Service side | Right service court for even points, left for odd points |
| Scoring | First to 21 points, with a two-point difference, wins the game; matches are the best of 3 games |
| Point scoring | Point scored when shuttlecock lands in opponent's court or opponent commits a fault |
| Faults | Shuttlecock hitting net or going out of bounds, striking shuttlecock twice, touching net with body or racket |
| Serve rules | Serve must be underarm and below waist height, hitting the shuttlecock's base, not feathers |
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What You'll Learn
Scoring system
The scoring system in badminton singles is relatively straightforward. A point is scored if the serving side or the receiving side wins the rally. A rally is defined as a series of shots exchanged between either player until the shuttlecock touches the ground, hits the net, or goes out of bounds of the court. A point can also be conceded if a player strikes the shuttlecock twice with their racket, or if they touch the net with their body or racket. The first side to reach 21 points, with a two-point difference, wins the game. If the score reaches 20-20, a side must win by two clear points, and if the score reaches 29-29, the first side to reach 30 points wins.
The player who serves first in any game is determined by a coin toss. They will serve from the right side of the service court. If the server has an even number of points, they will serve from the right side. If they have an odd number of points, they will serve from the left side. The serve must be done underarm and below the waist, and the shuttlecock should land inside the service court. Each player can use a single stringed racket, and the shuttlecock should be hit below the feathers, at the rubber base.
The court for a singles game is 13.41m long and 5.18m wide, forming a rectangle. The net is 1.55m high at the ends and 1.52m high in the middle. The service court is marked by a short service line, which is 1.98m from the net, and a line running down the middle to split the left and right service courts.
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Court size
The standard size of a badminton court for singles matches is 13.4 metres (44 feet) in length and 5.18 metres (17 feet) in width. The Badminton World Federation (BWF) is the governing body that sets the court size regulations for the sport.
The court's length remains the same for both singles and doubles matches, but the width for doubles matches is extended to 6.1 metres (20 feet). The singles court width is denoted by the sidelines, and the doubles court width is marked by extending the sidelines outwards. The lines themselves should be around 4cm thick and should be coloured differently from the surface of the court, usually white or yellow.
The net that divides the court in half should be 1.55 metres (5.1 feet) high at the sides and 1.524 metres (5 feet) high at the centre, with a slight sag in the middle. The mesh net itself has a height of 0.79 metres (2.6 feet), with a gap of 0.76 metres (2.5 feet) underneath. The white tape lining at the top of the net should be 3.81cm (1.5 inches) high on each side, and the mesh net should have a thickness of between 1.43cm (0.56 inches) and 2.06cm (0.81 inches).
There is no minimum height specified in the rules for the overall court height, but it should be high enough so that high serves and clears in singles matches do not hit the ceiling.
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Serving rules
Serving is a crucial part of a badminton player's gameplay. The service rules laid down by the Badminton World Federation (BWF) are as follows:
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 the court's boundaries. The shuttlecock should be hit below waist height, with players serving diagonally into their opponent's service box. The waist is considered to be an imaginary line coinciding with the server's lowest rib. The whole shuttlecock should be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court at the instant it is hit. The first forward movement of the server's racket head should initiate the service, and there should be no undue delay once both the server and receiver are ready.
The player who serves first in any game shall do so from the right side of the service court on which they begin the match. If the server has won an even number of points during a game, they shall serve from the right side for the subsequent point. If the server has won an odd number of points, they serve from the left side for the subsequent point.
The players on either side can take up any positions on their side of the court as long as they do not impede the sight of the server or receiver. Both players must remain stationary until the serve is made.
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Shuttlecock specifications
The shuttlecock, also known as the birdie, is badminton's unique 'ball'. It is a cone-shaped projectile that is either feathered or, in informal matches, made of plastic or synthetic material. The feathers should have a uniform length between 62mm and 70mm and should be fastened firmly with thread or another suitable material. The tips of the feathers should lie on a circle with a diameter of 58mm to 68mm. The base of the shuttlecock, which can be made of cork or rubber, should be 25mm to 28mm in diameter and rounded on the bottom. The shuttlecock should weigh between 4.74 and 5.50 grams.
When serving, the shuttlecock must be struck so that it would land in the receiver's service court. The whole shuttle must be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court at the instant it is hit by the server's racket. The shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce, and the players must stand inside their service courts. In singles, the server stands in their right service court when their score is even and in their left service court when their score is odd. The shuttlecock must pass over the short service line on the opponents' court or it will count as a fault.
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Faults and penalties
Service Faults
The service is critical in badminton, and there are strict rules governing its execution. Service faults can occur in the following scenarios:
- Failing to hit the shuttlecock below the waist.
- Stepping on or over the service line before striking the shuttlecock.
- Serving from an incorrect position or outside the service court boundaries.
- Deliberately attempting to deceive the opponent with illegal actions, such as a flick or a double motion.
- Holding the shuttlecock for more than five seconds during the serve.
- Failing to serve to the opposite side of the opponent's court.
- Not having the racket head pointing downwards when striking the shuttlecock.
Contact Fouls
Contact fouls occur when the shuttlecock comes into contact with any object or person other than the player's racket. This includes touching the net with the body or racket, resulting in a point for the opponent.
Double Hit
A double hit occurs when a player strikes the shuttlecock twice in succession with their racket or when both teammates make contact with the shuttlecock simultaneously. Double hits are illegal and result in a point for the opponent.
Out of Position
Players must maintain proper court positioning during play. Being out of position, such as standing in the wrong area of the court, can result in a fault, providing an advantage to the opponent.
Time Violations
Players must adhere to time limits for serving, receiving, and changing ends. Excessive delays or stalling tactics, such as intentionally slowing down the game, can result in time violations, leading to penalties, including point deductions or loss of serve.
Shuttlecock Touching the Ground
If the shuttlecock touches the ground or the court boundary lines, it is considered out of play, resulting in a fault.
Behavioural Fouls
Behavioural fouls relate to player conduct and sportsmanship. These include using offensive language or gestures, displaying unsportsmanlike behaviour towards officials or opponents, and unnecessarily delaying the game or employing stalling tactics to gain an advantage.
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Frequently asked questions
There are two players in a badminton singles match.
For singles, a badminton court is 13.41m (44ft) long and 5.18m (17ft) wide. The net is 1.55m (5ft 1in) high at the ends and 1.52m (5ft) high where it dips in the middle.
A point is scored when the shuttlecock (also called a birdie) lands inside the opponent's court. A point is also awarded if the shuttlecock hits the net or lands outside the opponent's court after they return it. Each side can only strike the shuttlecock once before it goes over the net.
At the start of the game and when the server's score is even, they serve from the right service court. When the server has an odd score, they serve from the left service court. The serve must be hit underarm and below the server's waist height, with the shuttlecock passing over the net diagonally into the opponent's service box.
A badminton singles match requires a total of six officials: an umpire who is in charge of the match and the court, and four line judges who indicate whether the shuttlecock landed in or out.
