The Rules of Badminton Net Play

Badminton is a centuries-old game of skill wherein players use rackets to hit a shuttlecock back and forth to each other over a net. The game can be played as singles or doubles. Three games make a match. The person or team winning two of the three games wins the match.

  1. Scoring

    • Each serve begins a rally. The rally comes to an end when a fault or a let occurs. A player or team earns a point when the opponent commits a fault. Both the server and the receiver have the opportunity to win a point. The side scoring 21 points wins the game. If, however, the score is tied at 20, the side gaining a two-point lead first wins the game. If the score is tied at 29, the side scoring the next point wins the game. The side winning the game earns the right to serve first in the next game.

    Serving

    • If the server has last scored an even number of points, he serves from the right side of the court. If the server has last scored an odd number of points, she serves from the left side of the court. The same rule applies in doubles play, except that team members alternate service. The server always serves to the side diagonally across from him, and in doubles, only that player can return the serve. After the serve has been returned, play is open to everyone. The person or team winning the point serves the next rally.

    Faults

    • A player or team loses the point when a fault occurs. A fault results if the shuttlecock gets caught on the net or passes under the net, if the shuttlecock lands inbounds on the their side of the court or out of bounds on the opponent's side, if the shuttlecock touches the player, if the shuttlecock fails to pass over the net or if the player hits the shuttlecock twice in succession before it crosses the net. In doubles, it is considered a fault when the shuttlecock is hit by the player and the player's partner in succession before it crosses over.

    Lets

    • When a let occurs, no one earns a point, and the last player to serve serves again. A let occurs when a player serves before their opponent or opponents are ready, when the receiver and server both fault during the service, or when the shuttlecock gets caught on the net after passing over the net. If the shuttlecock falls a apart during a rally, that is also considered a let.

    Changing Ends

    • The players switch sides on the court at the end of each game. In the third game, the players change ends when a player or team reaches 11 points.