
Badminton is a game with many rules and regulations. One of the most important rules concerns the lines on the court and whether a shot is 'in' or 'out'. The lines surrounding the court are called the boundary lines. There are two types of boundary lines: the serving line and the outer tramline. If the shuttlecock lands on the line, the hitter gets the point. If it lands outside the boundary, the point is given to the receiver. The rules for what constitutes 'in' or 'out' vary slightly depending on whether the game is singles or doubles. In singles, the court is long and narrow, so the inner two vertical lines and the horizontal back line are used. In doubles, the side tramlines are in, but they are out in singles.
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What You'll Learn
- The shuttlecock landing out of bounds results in a point for the receiver
- The shuttlecock landing on the line is considered in
- The side tramlines are in for doubles but out for singles
- The receiver must stand in the diagonally opposite service court
- Umpires and line judges determine whether the shuttlecock is in or out

The shuttlecock landing out of bounds results in a point for the receiver
The rules of badminton can be quite tricky to understand, especially for beginners. The game has several regulations that can be challenging to keep track of, but one of the most important concepts to grasp is what constitutes a shuttlecock landing "out" and resulting in a point for the receiver.
Firstly, it's crucial to understand the different types of lines on a badminton court. The outermost boundary line running along the length of the court is called the outer tramline. Moving inwards, the second line is the inner tramline, and the furthest line at the top of the court connecting the tramlines is the baseline. Additionally, there is a centre line that divides the court into two halves and a short service line near the net. These lines play a significant role in determining whether a shuttlecock is "in" or "out."
When playing singles, the court is long and narrow, so the inner vertical lines and the horizontal back line are used to determine the boundaries. Anything that lands within the box formed by these lines or directly on them is considered "in," and anything outside is "out." In doubles, the boundary line is referred to as "short and wide," and the side tramlines are considered "in." It's important to note that these tramlines are only applicable during serving and not during the main rally.
Now, let's focus on the scenario where the shuttlecock lands out of bounds, resulting in a point for the receiver. If the shuttlecock crosses the outer boundary line or lands outside the playing area, it is considered "out." Specifically, in singles, if the shuttlecock lands outside the area bounded by the inner tramlines and the rear baseline, it is out. Similarly, in doubles, if the shuttlecock lands outside the full court boundary after the serve has ended, it is also considered out. In both cases, when the shuttlecock goes out, the receiver of that serve is awarded the point.
It's worth mentioning that in some cases, the line judges or umpires may not be present to judge whether the shuttlecock is "in" or "out." In such situations, players are expected to be honest and sportsmanlike in their calls. However, in competitive tournaments, players can challenge individual calls if they disagree with the opponent's decision.
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The shuttlecock landing on the line is considered in
The rules of badminton can be quite confusing, especially for beginners. One of the most important rules to understand is whether the shuttlecock landing on the line is considered 'in' or 'out'. The answer to this question depends on the type of game being played and the specific lines being referred to.
In official badminton tournaments, line judges play a crucial role in deciding whether the shuttlecock falls inside or outside the court boundaries. There may be up to ten line judges present in professional tournaments, each responsible for observing a specific line. When the shuttlecock lands on the line, it is generally considered 'in', and the point is awarded to the hitter. This rule applies to both the serving line and the boundary line. However, it is important to note that the boundary line rules differ between singles and doubles matches. In singles, the boundary line is referred to as "thin and long," indicating that it is the inner line at the side and the outer line at the end. On the other hand, in doubles, the boundary line is called "short and wide" during serving, referring to the inner and outer lines, respectively.
The service courts, smaller box shapes inside the court, also have specific rules regarding the lines. In singles, the service court is a box formed by four lines, including the centre line and the front service line, which together create a "T" shape. In doubles, the service courts are wider and shorter, utilising the outside side line and the inside back line. The server must stand inside their respective service court, and the receiver must be positioned in the diagonally opposite service court. If the shuttlecock lands on the line within these service courts, it is generally considered 'in', and the point is awarded accordingly.
It is worth mentioning that the part of the shuttlecock that determines whether it is 'in' or 'out' is the first part that makes contact with the court. Usually, this is the cork base due to the shuttlecock's aerodynamics. However, in rare cases, such as a net kill with a very fast downward motion, whichever part of the shuttlecock hits the court first will be considered.
While line judges are present in official tournaments, casual games often lack this officiating presence. In such cases, it is up to the players to make honest and sportsmanlike decisions. The player nearest to the line typically has a better view and can make a more accurate call. If there is uncertainty, the rally can be replayed without awarding points to either side.
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The side tramlines are in for doubles but out for singles
The rules and regulations in badminton can be quite tricky to understand, especially for beginners. The side tramlines, for instance, are interpreted differently depending on whether the game is singles or doubles.
In singles, the court is long and narrow, and the inner two vertical lines and the horizontal backline are used. The boundary line of a singles game is called "thin and long". This means that the boundary of the court is the inner line at the side, and the outer line at the end. If the shuttlecock hits outside the boundary, it is considered out, and the point is given to the receiver.
In contrast, the doubles service court is wider because it uses the outside sideline, and shorter because it uses the inside backline. The boundary line of a doubles game is called "short and wide". This means that if the shuttlecock hits outside the inner line but inside the outer line, the serve is considered in, and the point is given to the server. When the serve ends, the boundary becomes the full court, which means the whole outer line is the boundary.
To summarise, the side tramlines are included within the court boundaries in doubles games but are considered out in singles games. This is an important distinction to make when playing badminton, as it can greatly impact the outcome of the game.
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The receiver must stand in the diagonally opposite service court
The rules of badminton can be quite challenging to grasp, especially for beginners. One of the most important rules to understand is the positioning of the players during the service. The receiver must stand in the diagonally opposite service court, which means they occupy a position that mirrors the server on the other side of the court. This rule applies to both singles and doubles matches.
In a badminton court, there is a line that runs down the middle, extending from the back to near the net, known as the centre line. This centre line intersects with another line at the front of the court, forming a T-shape. These lines help create the service courts, which are smaller box shapes inside the larger playing area. Each player has two service courts on their side of the net: a right service court and a left service court.
When the server is positioned in their left service court, the receiver must stand in their own left service court. The serve must also be directed to this diagonally opposite service court. If the receiver fails to let a serve fall to the floor when it is going out, the rally continues even if the serve was meant to be out. It is crucial that both the server and receiver remain within their respective service boxes until the server makes contact with the shuttlecock using their racket.
The service courts for doubles matches are slightly different from those in singles. In doubles, the courts are wider since they utilise the outside sideline. They are also shorter because they use the inside back line. This inside back line is specifically for doubles service and is not used in singles play. Understanding the boundaries of these service courts is essential for players, as stepping on the lines during the service is considered a fault.
In both singles and doubles matches, the shuttlecock must land within the boundaries of the diagonally opposite service court. If it falls outside, it is considered out, and the point is awarded to the receiver. However, if the shuttlecock touches any part of the line, even if it is only a small portion, it is considered in, and the point goes to the hitter.
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Umpires and line judges determine whether the shuttlecock is in or out
Badminton is a game of honesty, and often, there won't be line judges or umpires to judge, so players must be sportsmen and honest about whatever happens in the game. However, in tournaments, umpires and line judges are crucial to the progress and flow of the game.
The line judges sit 2.5 to 3.5 meters away from their respective boundary lines. Eight of the ten line judges make calls on whether a shuttlecock is in or out and sit at the back boundary lines on opposite ends of the court. Throughout the time the shuttlecock is in play, they need to monitor where it lands. The other two judges look at the service lines, which are the lines in the middle of the playing areas of the court. These lines separate the service areas and receiving areas. All they need to do is see whether a served shuttlecock lands on a receiver's area (for a legal service) and if the shuttlecock goes beyond the lines.
Where the shuttlecock lands will determine the calls they make. Once they see where the shuttlecock lands, they communicate their calls to the umpire using certain hand signals. Line judges master these during their certification and training. The BWF has three different hand signals for line judges to use, depending on the calls they need to make. The first gesture is pointing the hand at the line. This signals that the shuttlecock landed within or on the line, meaning that the shuttlecock is considered "in." This will prompt the umpire to add a point to the player or team who made the shot. If a shuttlecock lands on a line, it is considered within bounds or "in." The shuttlecock's cork base needs to make contact with the line. Even if the cork only makes partial contact with a line, it is still considered "in." The lines outside the legal service areas are considered out of bounds. If a shuttlecock's cork makes contact with any of these lines, the player who made the shot won't get the point—the opponent or receiver will instead.
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Frequently asked questions
In singles, the court is long and narrow, so the inner two vertical lines and the horizontal back line are used. Anything that lands within the box or on these lines is 'in', and anything outside those lines is 'out'. In doubles, the boundary line is called ''short and wide' during serving. If the shuttlecock hits outside the inner line but inside the outer line, the serve is considered 'out'. Once the serve ends, the boundary becomes the full court, meaning the whole outer line is the boundary.
The umpire oversees the game and determines whether the shuttlecock has landed 'in' or 'out'. Line judges are usually placed facing one specific line and indicate whether the shuttlecock has landed 'in' or 'out'.
The player on the side where the shuttlecock landed makes the call.










































