Ground Rules for Badminton

Badminton is a popular sport played in many backyards at homes around the world. Yet most people do not know the rules. Instead, they make up the rules as they play, not realizing that if they spent a few minutes learning the real rules, they would get much more enjoyment out of the game.

  1. How to Score

    • A match is comprised of the best of three games. For men's singles and in doubles, you'll win when your team is the first to reach 15 points. For women's singles, it's 11 points. If you win the game, you will serve first in the next. Unlike most other games, you'll score a point only when you are serving. If your team and the other team are tied with one point to go, the first one scoring that point can either elect to continue the next point or extend the game by an additional two points.

    Change Direction

    • The player or players will change direction at the end of the first game. If the match goes to three games, women will change direction after the sixth point is played and men will change ends after point eight.

    The Serve

    • At the beginning of each game, you serve from the right side of the court. From that point, your opponent serves from the right side when scoring an even number of points in a game and from the left side when his score is an odd number. In doubles, only the player diagonal from the server may return the shuttle. Then, either player is free to hit it until the point is over. The serving team will relinquish serving rights if the shuttlecock lands on their side of the court or a fault occurs.

    Faults

    • A fault occurs if one of several things happens. For example, if the shuttle goes through the net or lands outside your opponent's court, it is a fault. A fault also occurs when a player or a player's clothing touches to net. Distracting an opponent is also a fault, as is a player or partner hitting the shuttle a second time in succession. And in the unlikely event that a shuttle is lodged in a racket, and then hurled towards the opposite side of the court, that is also considered a fault.