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Badminton is a popular sport with a passionate global following and is a regular fixture at the Olympics. In recent years, the scoring system has changed to a rally point system, allowing players to score a point during a rally, regardless of who served. In competitive matches, a badminton game is typically played as the best of three games, with each game being won by the first side to reach 21 points. If the game is tied at 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. If the game reaches 29-29, the first side to score the 30th point wins.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Scoring system | 15, 21, or 30 points |
| Competitive matches | Best of three games |
| Winner | First to reach 21 points, or 30 if the game is tied at 29-29 |
| Serve | Underarm and below waist height |
| Serve position | Diagonally opposite the receiver |
| Service courts | Two service courts, one on the right (even) and one on the left (odd) |
| Rally | A point is scored on every serve and awarded to the side that wins the rally |
| Rest periods | 90 seconds after the first game and 5 minutes after the second game |
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What You'll Learn
Scoring systems vary
In 2006, the rules were changed to a rally point system, allowing both players to score a point during a rally, regardless of who served. In competitive adult matches, all games are played to the best of three games, with 21 points required to win a game. If the game is tied at 20-20, a player must win by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first player to score the 30th point wins.
Some players feel that the 15 and 21-point systems are too short, and that longer games would be more interesting for spectators. One suggestion is to play to 3 games of 21 points, or perhaps 5 games of 11 points. However, others feel that shorter games help to maintain the fast pace and quality of play, and prevent delaying tactics by players.
The service position is determined by the server's score. If the server's score is odd, they will serve from the left court; if even, they will serve from the right. The receiver always stands in the diagonally opposite service box. In doubles, instead of individuals winning points, each pair wins points.
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Scoring in singles vs doubles
Badminton can be played either as singles or doubles. In singles, there are two players competing against each other, whereas in doubles, two pairs of players form teams and compete, resulting in a game of four players. The main differences between singles and doubles badminton are the number of players on the court, the court dimensions, and the service rules.
In singles, there is one player on each side of the court, and the court dimensions are smaller than in doubles. The server in singles will serve from the right service court, also known as the even service court, when they have an even number of points, and from the left service court, also known as the odd service court, when they have an odd number of points. Each player will retain the serve for as long as they keep winning points.
In doubles, there are two players on each side of the court, and the court is wider than in singles. The service rules in doubles are different from singles. 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 wins a point, they assume the serve, and the player who did not initially serve will then serve for their team.
The scoring system in badminton is relatively simple. A point is scored on every serve and awarded to the side that 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, then the first side to reach 30 points wins the game. In club badminton, a match usually consists of one game, but in standard league or tournament play, a match is the best of three games, with the first side to win two games declared the winner.
While the basic scoring system remains the same in singles and doubles, there are some differences in strategy due to the varying number of players on the court. In singles, each player is solely responsible for their entire end of the court, which can make it more challenging to retrieve shots when out of position. In doubles, players have a partner to cover parts of the court they are not covering, allowing for more strategic possibilities that would be considered risky in singles.
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Deciding who serves first
The decision of who serves first in a badminton game is usually made through a coin toss or by throwing a shuttlecock in the air and letting it land, with the side it points to getting to serve first. This method is typically used in casual club or league games, while a coin toss is used in major tournaments.
In a typical badminton game, the first player or pair to reach 21 points wins. However, the game must be won by two clear points, so if the score reaches 29-29, a sudden death point is played to determine the winner. In some cases, the game can be played up to 30 points, with the upper limit preventing excessively long games that can tire players and reduce the quality of play.
The 21-point system is commonly used in leagues and tournaments, while some clubs may use a 15-point system. There are also discussions about changing the system to a best-of-five games format with 11 points per game or a hybrid system with a mix of 11 and 15 points. These shorter formats can add pressure and reduce the room for error, potentially leading to more intense rallies or risk-taking by players.
The service position in badminton is determined by the server's score. If the server's score is an even number, they serve from the right service box, and if it is an odd number, they serve from the left service box. The receiver always stands in the diagonally opposite service box. In doubles, the basic service rules are the same, but the players need to choose who serves and receives initially, and the pair that wins a point gets to serve the next one.
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How to score a point
Scoring in badminton is done by winning rallies. A rally is won when your opponent makes a mistake or fails to return the shuttlecock, also known as a birdie, into your team's court. A point is awarded to the winning side of each rally. In doubles, each pair wins the points instead of individuals.
The scoring system in badminton is the same for singles and doubles matches. To win a game, you must be the first player or team to reach 21 points. However, if the score becomes 20-20, you must win by two clear points. For example, 22-20 would be a winning score, but 21-20 would not be. If the score reaches 29-29, then the first player or team to score the next point wins. The maximum score is 30 points, which automatically wins the game.
In casual club or league games, it is common to decide who serves first by throwing the shuttlecock into the air and letting it land. The side that the shuttlecock is pointing towards serves first. In more formal tournaments, a coin toss is used to decide the first server. The side that wins the rally gets to serve next.
The receiver's position is determined by the server's score. The receiver always stands diagonally opposite the server. The server with an odd score serves from the left court, and with an even score, from the right court. The receivers never change their service courts unless their team wins a point while serving.
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How long a game should be
The length of a badminton game can vary depending on the scoring system and the format of the match. In competitive badminton, matches are typically played as the best of three games, with each game played to a certain point value.
In major tournaments and standard leagues, a badminton match consists of playing the best out of three games. The first side to reach 21 points wins a game, and if the score is tied at 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. This means that the minimum number of points required to win a game is 21, and the maximum is 30, as the game ends as soon as a player or team reaches 30 points.
However, in club badminton, the game typically ends once a player or team reaches 21 points, and there is no requirement to win by two clear points. This shorter format helps to keep the players fresh and maintain the quality of play, although some argue that the 15 and 21-point systems are too short and that a longer game would be more appealing to spectators.
The length of a badminton game can also be influenced by other factors such as the pace of play, the number of rallies, and the duration of rest periods. For example, in competitive matches, there are usually two rest periods: a 90-second rest after the first game and a 5-minute rest after the second game. These rest periods can impact the overall length of the game.
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Frequently asked questions
In badminton, you typically play to 21 points.
A badminton match is the best of three games, so you need to win two games to win the match.
In badminton, you get a point whenever you win a rally. If the score reaches 20-20, a side must then win by two clear points.
The receiver always stands diagonally opposite the server. If the server has an odd number of points, they serve from the left court; if they have an even number, they serve from the right.
In doubles, two pairs of players compete against each other, so four players in total. The rules are the same as in singles, except each pair wins a point instead of an individual player.
