Helena Frye
Badminton is a popular indoor racquet sport played by two players (singles) or four players (doubles). The sport has been an Olympic fixture since 1992 and has five disciplines at the Games. The rules of badminton are standardised by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). The 2025 badminton season, for example, starts with the Malaysia Open BWF Super 1000 event in January and ends with the BWF World Tour Finals in December.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Badminton Start Time for Nintendo Switch Game | N/A |
| Badminton Horse Trials Start Time | 9:00 am |
| Badminton Rules | Players change ends at the conclusion of the first game and if a third game is required, they change ends again at the end of the second game. In the third game, players change ends when one side reaches 11 points. |
| Badminton Scoring | 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, but if the score reaches 20-20, the game continues until a side wins by two clear points. If the score reaches 29-29, the first side to score 30 points wins. |
| Badminton Season Start Time | The 2025 badminton season starts in January with the Malaysia Open BWF Super 1000 event and ends in December with the BWF World Tour Finals. |
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What You'll Learn
Badminton rules
Badminton is a racquet sport played using racquets to hit a shuttlecock, or "birdie", across a net. The sport can be played with larger teams, but the most common forms are singles (one player per side) and doubles (two players per side).
The court is rectangular and divided into halves by a net. The doubles court is wider than the singles court, but both are the same length. The full width of the doubles court is 6.1 metres (20 feet), and for singles, this width is reduced to 5.18 metres (17 feet). The full length of the court is 13.4 metres (44 feet). The net is 1.55 metres (5 feet 1 inch) high at the ends and 1.52 metres (5 feet) high where it dips in the middle.
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 will serve from the left when they have an odd number of points. Each player will retain serve as long as they keep winning 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, they assume the serve.
A point is scored when the shuttlecock hits the ground in the opponent's half of the court, within the set boundaries. A point can be conceded if a shot goes 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 playing a shot, and while they can follow through over the net, touching the net with their body or racquet results in a conceded point. The shuttlecock must be hit below waist height, with players serving diagonally into their opponent's service box.
All singles and doubles matches are the best of three games. The first side to 21 points wins a game. A point is scored on every serve and awarded to whichever side wins the rally. The winning side gets the next serve. If the score reaches 20-20, a side must then win by two clear points to win the game.
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Badminton scoring system
Badminton is a popular sport with a passionate fan following around the globe. The unique feature of the game is its use of a cone-shaped 'ball' called a birdie or shuttlecock, which is made of feathers or synthetic material attached to a cork or rubber base. The scoring system in badminton has undergone several changes over the years, with the most recent changes being implemented in 2024.
The Original Scoring System
The original scoring system in badminton dates back to as early as 1873. A match or rubber is decided by the best of three games. Each game is played to 15 points in men's singles and doubles, 11 points in ladies' singles, and 21 points if it's a single game deciding the match. The first service is typically determined by a coin toss or by dropping the shuttlecock on top of the net and letting it point to the server. A point is scored on every serve and awarded to the side that wins the rally.
Scoring System Changes
In 2002, the International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation, or BWF) expressed concern about the unpredictable and lengthy match times. They experimented with different scoring systems to improve the commercial and broadcasting appeal of the sport. One such experiment in 2005 involved adopting rally point scoring, where the winner of a rally scores a point regardless of who served, and games were lengthened to 21 points for all categories.
The Current Scoring System
The most recent scoring system was endorsed by the BWF Council in November 2024, known as the 3 x 15 (setting to 21) scoring system. In this system, matches are still played as the best of three games, with each game now played to 15 points. The first side to reach 15 points wins the game, but if the score reaches 14-14, either player can choose to 'set' and reset the score to 0-0, with the first to 5 points winning the game. If the score reaches 20-20, a side must win by two clear points, and if it reaches 29-29, the first to 30 points wins.
Serving Rules
Serving rules in badminton can be a bit confusing. The server's position is determined by their score, with the server occupying the right service court for even scores and the left service court for odd scores. The receiver always stands diagonally opposite the server, meaning both players will be in either the even or odd service courts together. In doubles, the server will start on the right-hand side and keep serving from that side as long as their team keeps winning points. If the receiving side wins a point, they assume the serve.
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Badminton equipment
Badminton is a sport that requires speed, agility, quickness, strategy, and excellent hand-eye coordination. The beauty of the game is that it requires minimal equipment to get started.
The basic equipment you will need to play badminton includes racquets, shuttlecocks, and a net. You will also need two standards from which to suspend the net. You can purchase these items individually or as part of a complete badminton set, which often includes storage and enough racquets for a group or class.
When choosing a racquet, consider the three most important factors: weight, shaft flexibility, and balance. You can also purchase racquet grips separately if you wish to customise your racquet further.
Shuttlecocks come in two types: plastic and feathered. Plastic shuttlecocks are more durable and ideal for beginners or children, as they are cheaper and help build strength. Feathered shuttlecocks are used in competitive tournaments and can be expensive, so they are not recommended for beginners as they fray easily, especially if the wrong technique is used.
In addition to the essential equipment, you may also want to consider clothing and accessories. For casual or non-competitive players, comfortable clothing such as shorts and a cotton or dri-fit t-shirt is sufficient. For more advanced or competitive play, purpose-built clothing is available, offering features such as agility, comfort, and eco-conscious materials. Some players may also want to use hand grips, wristbands, and ankle guards, which can improve performance and add a touch of personal style to your outfit.
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Badminton at the Olympics
Badminton has been a full-medal Olympic sport since the 1992 Games in Barcelona, Spain, although it first appeared at the Olympics as a demonstration sport in 1972. It returned as an exhibition sport in 1988 and was officially introduced to the Olympics in 1989. Badminton now has five disciplines at the Games: men's singles and doubles, women's singles and doubles, and mixed doubles, which was added in 1996.
Olympic badminton consists of a group stage and a single-elimination tournament. Each match is played as the best of three games, with games played up to 21 points. If the score reaches 20-20, a side must win by two clear points. If the game goes to 29-29, the first side to reach 30 points wins. Rally scoring is used, meaning a player does not need to be serving to score. In singles, around 40 competitors are selected, while 16 pairs are chosen for doubles. The host nation is allowed a minimum of two entries in the competition. No country may have more than three players or pairs in any event, and only players or pairs ranked in the top 16 can compete.
China has dominated Olympic badminton, being the only country ever to achieve a shutout of the medals, which they did in 2012. China has won a total of 20 golds, 12 silvers, and 15 bronze medals. Indonesia is the second most successful country with eight golds, six silvers, and seven bronze medals. Indonesia and China are the only countries to have won gold in every badminton discipline. Denmark's Poul-Erik Hoyer is the only non-Asian badminton player to win an Olympic gold medal, taking the men's singles title in 1996. China's Gao Ling is the best all-time performing badminton player at the Olympics, winning four gold medals in 2000 and 2004.
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Badminton video games
Badminton is a popular sport that has also been adapted into video games for players to enjoy. Badminton video games can be played on PCs, gaming consoles, and mobile devices. Pure Badminton, for example, is a badminton simulation game available on Steam that offers a realistic badminton experience. Players can train in single-player mode, compete in major tournaments, or challenge friends in local multiplayer mode. Power Badminton is another single-player badminton game where players must defeat opponents by scoring points. It is available on Poki, a gaming website.
Badminton League is a popular badminton game for iOS devices, offering realistic gameplay and multiple game modes. Players can compete against friends in 1v1 mode or aim to win the Badminton League trophy in Tournament Mode. Character customization is also a feature, allowing players to level up their abilities and perform stronger smashes and jumps. However, the game lacks "Real Multiplayer" mode, where players can face off against each other instead of CPUs.
While badminton video games can provide a fun and addictive experience, some players argue that they do not accurately represent the physical exercise and coordination required in the actual sport. The control mechanisms and gameplay of a video game differ significantly from the skills needed in real badminton.
Despite this, badminton video games can still offer enjoyable and competitive experiences, with features like character customization, multiple game modes, and realistic shuttlecock-hitting experiences. These games cater to players who want to enjoy badminton digitally, whether due to preference or the unavailability of physical space and equipment.
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Frequently asked questions
Badminton has been a regular fixture at the Olympics since 1992. The 2025 season starts in January with the Malaysia Open BWF Super 1000 event and ends in December with the BWF World Tour Finals.
The 2026 Badminton Horse Trials will take place between Wednesday 6th and Sunday 10th of May. The exact start times are currently unavailable.
In a badminton match, players change ends at the conclusion of the first game. If there is a third game, they change ends again at the end of the second game. In the third game, players switch ends when one side reaches 11 points.
Badminton is typically played indoors and can be played at any time of day.
One can start playing badminton at any age, but it is most commonly started at a young age.
