Badminton

Badminton is played with racquets and a feathered or synthetic shuttlecock over a net 1.55 m high. Because the shuttle is never allowed to bounce, rallies are short, explosive and decided by placement as much as power. Matches are contested as singles or doubles over the best of three games.

group

PLAYERS

1 v 1 (singles) or 2 v 2 (doubles)

schedule

DURATION

Best of 3 games to 21 points, roughly 40–60 min

stadium

PLAYING AREA

Indoor wooden or synthetic court, 13.4 m × 6.1 m (5.18 m for singles)

scoreboard

SCORING

Rally scoring — a point on every rally

HOW IT IS PLAYED

Core Rules

Scoring format

Every rally scores a point regardless of who served. A game is won at 21 points, but a two-point margin is required; at 29-all the next point takes the game at 30. Matches are the best of three games.

The serve

The serve must be struck below 1.15 m from the court surface, with the racquet head pointing downwards and both feet stationary inside the correct service court. It is delivered diagonally and must land in the receiver's service box.

Serving courts

A player serves from the right court when their score is even and the left when it is odd. In doubles, only one player serves per turn and there is no second serve.

Court boundaries

Singles uses the narrow sidelines and the long back line. Doubles uses the wide sidelines but a shorter service back line, so a serve landing between the two rear lines is out while a rally shot there is in.

Changing ends

Players change ends at the end of each game and, in a deciding third game, when the leading score reaches 11. A 60-second interval is taken at 11 points and 120 seconds between games.

Faults during a rally

A rally is lost if the shuttle lands out, fails to cross the net, is hit twice in succession by the same side, or is caught and slung rather than struck cleanly.

Net play

A player may follow through over the net after contact but may not touch the net, posts or supports with racquet, body or clothing while the shuttle is in play, nor reach over the net to strike the shuttle before it crosses.

Lets

A let is called and the rally replayed when the shuttle is caught in the net after crossing, a server serves before the receiver is ready, or an unforeseen disturbance interrupts play.

Shuttle testing

Before play, a shuttle is tested by a full underhand stroke from the back boundary; a correctly paced shuttle lands between 530 mm and 990 mm short of the far back line.

WATCH OUT

Fouls & Penalties

errorService faults — racquet above the waist, foot sliding or lifting, or delaying an undue length once ready.
errorTouching the net or invading the opponent's court under the net while the shuttle is live.
errorDouble hit or a carried, slung shuttle.
errorDeliberately distracting an opponent, including shouting or gesturing during a rally.
errorMisconduct — racquet abuse, dissent or leaving the court without the umpire's permission.

WHO DECIDES

Match Officials

sportsUmpire — in charge of the match and the court, calls faults and lets.
sportsService judge — watches for illegal serves from courtside.
sportsLine judges — call shuttles in or out on their assigned lines.
sportsReferee — oversees the whole tournament and rules on disputes and misconduct.

GOVERNED BY BWF · BAI

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