Badminton is one of the fastest and most exciting racket sports in the world, played by millions of people across every age group and skill level. Whether you are picking up a racket for the first time, watching a match and trying to follow the score, or looking to brush up on the official rules before competing, understanding how badminton works is the essential first step. This guide covers everything you need to know - court dimensions, equipment, serving rules, the scoring system, faults, lets, and the format of a full match - so you can play and enjoy badminton with complete confidence.
Badminton Court Dimensions and Layout
A standard badminton court is 13.4 metres long and 6.1 metres wide for doubles play. For singles play, the court is narrower - the same length but only 5.18 metres wide, with the side tramlines considered out of bounds. The net runs across the centre of the court at a height of 1.55 metres at the edges and 1.524 metres at the centre. Each half of the court is divided into service areas by additional lines that determine where the shuttle must land during a serve.
Understanding the court layout is important because different boundary lines apply in different situations. During a doubles serve, the shuttle must land in the short service box - the area bounded by the short service line, the centre line, and the side lines. During a rally in doubles, the full width of the court including the side tramlines is in play. In singles, the side tramlines are always out of bounds but the back tramline is in bounds, making the singles court longer and narrower than the doubles court.
Badminton Equipment - Racket and Shuttlecock
To play badminton you need two pieces of equipment: a racket and a shuttlecock. Badminton rackets are lightweight - typically between 80 and 100 grams - and are constructed from materials such as graphite, carbon fibre, or aluminium. The stringed surface of the racket is used to strike the shuttlecock. Rackets vary in terms of balance point, shaft flexibility, and head shape, and choosing the right racket for your playing style and level makes a meaningful difference to your performance on court.
The shuttlecock, sometimes called a birdie, consists of a rounded cork base and either 16 natural feathers or a synthetic nylon skirt. Feather shuttlecocks are used in competitive and club play because they produce a more natural and responsive flight path. Nylon shuttlecocks are more durable and are better suited to beginner and recreational play. The weight of a shuttlecock must fall between 4.74 and 5.50 grams according to BWF regulations, and the correct speed grade should be selected based on the temperature and altitude of the playing environment.
How Serving Works in Badminton
Every rally in badminton begins with a serve. The serving rules in badminton are specific and must be followed correctly, or the serve is called a fault and the point is awarded to the receiver.
Basic Serving Rules
The server must stand inside their service court and keep both feet stationary on the ground until the serve is struck. The shuttlecock must be held below the server's waist - specifically below the lowest rib - at the moment of contact. The racket head must be pointing downward at the moment of contact, meaning the entire head of the racket must be below the server's hand holding the handle. The serve must be struck with an underhand motion - no overhead serving is permitted in badminton. Once struck, the shuttle must travel over the net and land inside the receiver's diagonal service box.
Singles Serving Rules
In singles, both players serve from and receive in their right service court when their score is zero or an even number. When the server's score is odd, both players move to their left service court. The serve is always diagonal - from the right court to the opponent's right court, and from the left court to the opponent's left court.
Doubles Serving Rules
In doubles, the serving pair serves from the right court when their score is even and from the left court when their score is odd. Only one player on the receiving side - the designated receiver - may return the serve. If any other player touches or attempts to return the serve, the serving pair wins the point. Service in doubles alternates based on who wins each rally, and the same player continues serving as long as their pair keeps winning points.
Badminton Scoring System - How Points Are Won
Badminton uses a rally point scoring system, which means a point is scored on every single rally regardless of which side served. This replaced the old system - where only the serving side could score - and made the game faster and easier to follow for both players and spectators.
How to Win a Game
A badminton game is played to 21 points. The first player or pair to reach 21 points wins the game, provided they lead by at least two points. If the score reaches 20-20, play continues until one side establishes a two-point lead. If the score reaches 29-29, the next point wins the game outright - there is no requirement for a two-point lead at this score.
How to Win a Match
A standard badminton match is the best of three games. The first player or pair to win two games wins the match. If each side wins one game, a third deciding game is played. At the start of the third game, and at the start of each new game, players change ends of the court. In the third game, players also change ends when the leading score reaches 11 points.
How Points Are Scored During a Rally
A point is won when the shuttlecock lands inside the boundary lines of the opponent's court, when the opponent commits a fault, or when the opponent's shot hits the net or lands outside the court. Every rally ends with one side winning the point, and the winner of that rally serves next - regardless of who served to start the rally.
Badminton Faults - What Counts as a Fault
A fault ends the rally and awards the point to the non-offending side. Understanding what constitutes a fault is essential to playing the game correctly and avoiding unnecessary point losses.
Service Faults
A service fault occurs when the shuttle is not struck below the server's waist at contact, when the racket head is not pointing downward at the moment of contact, when the server's feet are not stationary or not within the correct service court, when the serve does not land in the correct diagonal service box, or when the shuttle lands in the net or outside the court boundary on the serve.
In-Play Faults
During a rally, a fault occurs when the shuttle lands outside the court boundary lines, when the shuttle passes under or through the net instead of over it, when the shuttle hits the ceiling or walls of the facility, when a player touches the net or its posts with their racket or body during play, when a player reaches over the net to strike the shuttle before it has crossed to their side, when the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player, or when the shuttle comes to rest on a player's racket during a stroke rather than being cleanly struck.
Badminton Lets - When a Rally Is Replayed
A let is called when a rally is stopped and replayed without either side winning the point. Lets occur in specific circumstances that are considered beyond the control of either player. The most common situations where a let is called include when the serve is delivered before the receiver is ready, when a shuttle from another court enters the playing area and distracts play, when an unforeseen obstruction interrupts the rally, or when a line judge and umpire cannot agree on whether a shot was in or out.
When a let is called, the rally is replayed in full from the same service position and score as before the let occurred.
The Toss and Choosing Ends
Before a match begins, a toss is held - usually by spinning a racket or tossing a coin. The winner of the toss has the choice of serving first, receiving first, or selecting which end of the court to start on. The loser of the toss takes whichever option remains. Players change ends at the start of each new game, and in the third game they change ends again when the first player or pair reaches 11 points.
Continuous Play and Intervals
Badminton matches are intended to be continuous. Players are permitted a 60-second interval when the leading score reaches 11 points in any game, and a two-minute interval between games. Coaching is permitted only during these intervals and not during actual play. Players may not leave the court without the umpire's permission during a match, and any unnecessary delays to play can result in a fault being awarded against the offending player.
Singles vs Doubles - Key Rule Differences
While the core rules of badminton are the same in singles and doubles, there are important differences in court boundaries and service rules between the two formats. In singles, the side tramlines are out of bounds during both serves and rallies, but the back tramline is in bounds. In doubles, the side tramlines are in bounds during rallies but the back tramline is out of bounds during serves.
In doubles, the service court is therefore shorter and wider than in singles. These differences make serving strategy distinctly different between the two formats.
Frequently Asked Questions - Badminton Rules and Scoring
How many points do you need to win a game of badminton?
A badminton game is played to 21 points. You must win by a margin of at least two points. If the score reaches 20-20, play continues until one side leads by two. If it reaches 29-29, the next point wins the game outright.
How many games are in a badminton match?
A standard badminton match is the best of three games. The first player or pair to win two games wins the match.
Can you score a point off your opponent's serve in badminton?
Yes. Badminton uses rally point scoring, which means a point is awarded on every rally regardless of who served.
What happens if the shuttlecock hits the net during a rally?
If the shuttlecock hits the net and falls on the opponent's side, the rally continues. If it fails to cross, the point is awarded to the opponent.
What is a fault in badminton?
A fault is any violation of the rules that ends the rally and awards the point to the opponent.
What is the correct height for a badminton net?
A badminton net must be 1.524 metres high at the centre and 1.55 metres high at the posts.
Is badminton played indoors or outdoors?
Competitive badminton is played indoors because the shuttlecock is highly sensitive to wind.
Badminton is a sport that rewards both physical ability and tactical thinking. Understanding the rules and scoring system gives you the confidence to play correctly, compete fairly, and enjoy the game to its fullest. Now that you know the rules - get on court and start playing.
