Andrew Pace
Badminton is a racquet sport that can be played as singles or doubles. In a badminton match, the first player or team to win two games out of three is declared the winner. To win a game, a player or team must be the first to reach 21 points, winning by at least two points. In the event of a 29-29 tie, a sudden-death point is played to determine the winner. The first serve of a badminton game is usually decided by a coin toss, with the winner of the toss deciding whether to serve or receive, and the loser calling the side. The first server starts on the right-hand side and serves diagonally to their opponent's half court.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| How it's decided | Coin flip or seeing which side a shuttle points to when hit in the air and left to land |
| Who serves first | The serving pair chooses who serves for the first rally |
| Who receives first | The receiving pair chooses who receives |
| Serving side | If the server's score is even, they serve from the right; if odd, they serve from the left |
| Receiving side | The receiver will stand in the diagonally opposite service court |
| Serving rules | The serve does not alternate between partners; it stays with one person until the opponents win a rally |
| Scoring rules | You get a point for winning a rally; first to 21 wins the game, but you must win by two points; if the score reaches 29-29, a sudden death point is played to determine the winner |
| Serving rules in doubles | The server will start on the right-hand side and keep serving, alternating sides with their teammate as long as they keep winning points; if the receiving side takes the point, they assume the serve |
| Scoring rules in doubles | If the receiving side wins a point, the player who did not initially serve for the team will assume the service once their side has won a point |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
Deciding who serves first
Once it has been decided which side will serve first, the server starts the game from the right-hand service box. The service must be hit diagonally to the opponents' half court and over their front service line, which is the first horizontal line on each side of the court, closest to the net. The server must also hit the shuttlecock underarm, meaning the racket head and shaft must be angled in a downward direction and the shuttlecock must be below the waist at contact.
In doubles, the server will start on the right-hand side and keep serving, while alternating sides with their partner, as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins a point, they assume the serve. Going forward, the player who did not initially serve for each team will only assume the service once their side has won a point as the receiving side.
In singles, the server will continue to serve from the right-hand service box if their score is even and from the left-hand service box if their score is odd. For example, if the server has 10 points to their opponent's 15, the score is 10-15 (not 15-10).
The NBA Finals: When Will the Season End?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Serving and receiving positions
The server will continue serving from the right service court if their score is even and from the left service court if their score is odd. For example, if the server has 10 points to their opponent's 15 points, then the score is 10-15 (not 15-10), and the server will serve from the left court. The "even/odd" rule also applies to doubles matches, with each player on a team having their own service court. When one teammate has the left service court, the other has the right.
During the game, the serve remains with one person on the serving side until the opponents win a rally and get the serve. If the serving side wins a rally, the same person serves again but from the other service court. In doubles, the serving team will keep serving and alternating sides with their teammate as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side takes a point, they assume the serve, and the player who did not initially serve for the team will only assume the service once their side has won a point as the receiving side.
The Real Age of Mehgan James, Star of Basketball Wives
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Scoring system
The scoring system in badminton has undergone several changes since the sport's inception. The original scoring system dates back to as early as 1873, where a match or rubber was decided by the best of three games. Each game was played to 15 points in men's singles and doubles, 11 points in ladies' singles, and 21 points if a single game determined a match. The first service was typically decided by a coin toss or by dropping the shuttle on top of the net, with the direction it pointed determining the server.
Over time, there have been efforts to modify the scoring system to improve the sport's commercial and broadcasting appeal. In 2002, the International Badminton Federation (BWF) experimented with different scoring systems, including a system with seven-point games and a best-of-five format. This was replaced by a modified traditional scoring system, last used at the 2002 Commonwealth Games.
In December 2005, the BWF experimented again, introducing a rally point scoring system, where the winner of a rally scores a point regardless of who served. This system, known as the 3 x 21 rally point system, was endorsed by the BWF in 2006 and has been used in international competitions since. In this system, games are played to 21 points, with ladies' singles matches following the same rules as men's singles. A match consists of the best of three games, and if the score reaches 29-29, the player or team that scores the 30th point wins.
In addition to the 3 x 21 system, there have been discussions about alternative scoring formats. Some have suggested shortening matches to a best-of-three format with 5 x 11 point games, while others have proposed a mix of game lengths, such as 3 x 15 (setting to 21). The 5 x 11 system aims to increase pressure and reduce room for error, potentially leading to longer rallies or more aggressive play.
The serving rules in badminton are also worth noting. In doubles, the server starts on the right-hand side and alternates sides with their partner as long as they keep winning points. If the receiving side wins a point, they assume the serve. In singles, if the server loses a rally, the service transfers to the opponent. If the server wins, their score increases by one point, and they continue serving but from the opposite service court.
Panda Dunks: The Ultimate Basketball Shoe?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Rules for serving
The rules for serving in badminton are as follows:
Firstly, the initial server is determined by a coin toss, with the winner of the toss choosing whether to serve or receive first. The player who serves first does so from the right side of the court.
Secondly, the server's position alternates depending on their score. If the server has an even number of points, they serve from the right side of the court; if they have an odd number of points, they serve from the left side. This is the same in singles and doubles matches.
Thirdly, a fault is a violation of the rules that results in a point for the opponent. Common serving faults include striking the shuttlecock above the waist or not pointing the racquet head downward. The server must also ensure the shuttlecock remains below 1.15m during impact.
Fourthly, players must be inside the lines of their respective service courts at the point of contact during the serve. If a player serves or receives out of turn or from the wrong side, it is a service court error, and play is restarted with the correct server.
Finally, in doubles matches, partners switch sides each time a point is scored on their own serve.
Basketball Shoes: Nike's Cost and Value Proposition
You may want to see also
Explore related products
Winning a game
To win a badminton match, you must win two games out of three. Each game is played to 21 points, and you must win by two clear points. For example, a winning score could be 22-20 or 25-23, but not 21-20 or 24-23. If the score reaches 29-29, a sudden death point is played to determine the winner.
In badminton, a point is awarded to the winner of each rally, and whenever you win a rally, you also get to serve next. 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. The player who did not initially serve for each team will only assume the service once their side has won a point as the receiving side.
The service must be hit diagonally to the opponent's half-court and over their front service line. It must be hit underarm, with the server's racket head and shaft angled in a downward direction, and the shuttle must be below the waist at contact. Both feet should be in contact with the floor, and no part of the foot should be touching the service line or the other court boundaries when the serve is hit.
It is important to note that the server's score determines the side from which they serve. If the server's score is an odd number, they will serve from the left court; if it is an even number, they will serve from the right court.
Turtle Jackson's Basketball Journey: Will He Make It?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
Typically, who serves first is decided by a coin toss or seeing which side of the court the shuttlecock points to when hit in the air and allowed to land.
Yes, if the server's score is an odd number, they serve from the left court; if it's an even number, they serve from the right court.
Not necessarily. In doubles, the serve will stay with the same player as long as their side keeps winning points. If the receiving side wins a point, the serve passes to them.
