The Laws of Badminton

The Laws of Badminton and Competition Regulations in the BWF Statutes provide the detail on
every aspect of the game of badminton.
Below is a brief overview - simplified rules.
Scoring System

o A match consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points.

o Every time there is a serve – there is a point scored.
o The side winning a rally adds a point to its score.
o At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins that game.
o At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins that game.
o The side winning a game serves first in the next game.

Interval and Change of Ends

o When the leading score reaches 11 points, players have a 60 second interval.
o A 2 minute interval between each game is allowed.
o In the third game, players change ends when the leading score reaches 11 points.

Singles

o At the beginning of the game (0-0) and when the server’s score is even, the server serves
from the right service court. When the server’s score is odd, the server serves from the
left service court.
o If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and then serves again from the
alternate service court.
o If the receiver wins a rally, the receiver scores a point and becomes the new server. They
serve from the appropriate service court – left if their score is odd, and right if it is even.

Doubles

o A side has only one ‘set’.

o The service passes consecutively to the players as shown in the diagram.
o At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the right
service court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left court.
o If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same server serves
again from the alternate service court.
o If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving side
becomes the new serving side.
o The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their
side is serving.

If players commit an error in the service court, the error is corrected when the mistake is
discovered.
In a doubles match between A & B against C & D. A & B won the toss and decided to serve. A to
serve to C. A shall be the initial server while C shall be the initial receiver.
Service faults

Definitions
9.2
Once the players are ready for the service, the first forward movement of the server’s racket
head shall be the start of the service.
9.3
Once started, the service is delivered when the shuttle is hit by the server’s racket or, in
attempting to serve, the server misses the shuttle.
These rules define when the service starts, and when it is delivered. These definitions get
used in some of the rules below.
Delays
9.1.1
Neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server and the
receiver are ready for the service. On completion of the backward movement of the server’s
racket head, any delay in the start of the service (Law 9.2) shall be considered an undue
delay.
Note that this rule also forbids an extremely slow serving action, because that would
constitute an undue delay.
Where the server and receiver must stand
9.1.2
The server and receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts, without
touching the boundary lines of these service courts.
You’re not allowed to put your feet on the lines, when serving or receiving. Note that this rule
is only about touching the lines: you may lean forwards or sideways so that your racket is
outside the service court.
Keep both feet on the ground
9.1.3
Some part of both feet of the server and the receiver shall remain in contact with the surface
of the court in a stationary position from the start of the serve (Law 9.2) until the service is
delivered (Law 9.3).
Both feet must stay on the ground until the server contacts the shuttle. Only some part of
each foot has to stay on the ground; this allows you to shift your weight and even turn your
body (as in a forehand high serve).
You may not drag a foot along the floor, however.
Hit the base of the shuttle first
9.1.4
The server’s racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle.
Serve from below the waist
9.1.5
The whole shuttle shall be below the server’s waist at the instant of being hit by the server’s
racket. The waist shall be considered an imaginary line round the body, level with the lowest
part of the server’s bottom rib.
The angle of the server’s racket
9.1.6
The shaft of the server’s racket at the instant of hitting the shuttle shall be pointing in a
downward direction.
No stop-start serving
9.1.7
The movement of the server’s racket shall continue forwards from the start of the service
(Law 9.2) until the service is delivered (Law 9.3).
Many servers like to shake their racket back-and-forth behind the shuttle, as an attempt to
disturb the receiver’s timing. That is a fault.
 This rule, together with rule 9.1.1, ensures that the service action must be one continuous
movement with no double-action feints. To be precise, you are allowed to serve with either
of these actions:
 One backswing immediately followed by one forwards swing
 One forwards swing on its own (no backswing)
Where you have to serve
 The flight of the shuttle shall be upwards from the server’s racket to pass over the
net so that, if not intercepted, it shall land in the receiver’s service court (i.e. on or
within the boundary lines).
 A serve that hits the line is in.
No second chances
 In attempting to serve, the server shall not miss the shuttle.
 If you miss the shuttle on serving, you lose the rally. I recommend practising your
serve more.

Faults during the rally

Hitting the shuttle to the wrong place

[It shall be a fault] if in play, the shuttle:
 lands outside the boundaries of the court (i.e. not on or within the boundary lines);
 passes through or under the net;
 fails to pass over the net;
When the shuttle touches something before reaching the floor
[It shall be a fault] if in play, the shuttle:
 touches the ceiling or side walls;
 touches the person or dress of a player;
 touches any other object or person outside the court;
Double hits
[It shall be a fault] if in play, the shuttle:
 is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke;
 is hit twice in succession by the same player. However, a shuttle hitting the head and
the stringed area of the racket in one stroke shall not be a fault;
 is hit by a player and the player’s partner successively;
Hitting the net or invading the opponent’s court
[It shall be a fault] if in play, a player:
 touches the net or its support with racket, person or dress;
 invades an opponent’s court over the net with racket or person except that the striker
may follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the course of a stroke after the
initial point of contact with the shuttle is on the striker’s side of the net;
 invades an opponent’s court under the net with racket or person such that an
opponent is obstructed or distracted;
.
Obstructions and distractions
[It shall be a fault] if in play, a player:
 obstructs an opponent, i.e. prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where
the shuttle is followed over the net;
 deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or making
gestures.
LETS in Badminton

Here are the most common causes of a let in club badminton:

 No one is sure whether the shuttle landed in or out.

 During the rally, a shuttle from another court was hit onto your court.
 The receiver wasn’t ready for the serve, and asks for it to be played again.

Calling a let

Let shall be called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire), to halt play.

When the rally is interrupted

any unforeseen or accidental situation has occurred.

Was the shuttle in or out?

a line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a decision;

Was the receiver ready?

the server serves before the receiver is ready (Law 9.4);

The server shall not serve before the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall
be considered to have been ready if a return of the service is attempted.

A sneaky advantage

Whenever the server tries to rush you, you actually gain a statistical advantage — provided
you stay calm and do not attempt a return.

Exploding shuttlecock!

during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from the
rest of the shuttle;