Badminton Net Rules

The racquet sport badminton, whether played professionally or recreationally, has a couple of rules to keep in mind relating to the net. A good understanding of these rules will assist players of all levels in honing their badminton skills and techniques.

  1. Net Specifics

    • The regular badminton net should be made of a dark cord and trimmed with a 3-inch white tape. Tournament nets need to be 2 feet and 6 inches in depth, and the top of the net should be 5 feet from the surface of the court in the center. There should be no gaps between the posts and net. The net should bisect the court, with each side of equal dimensions. It’s extremely important to ensure that the net meets the specifics of the rules in order for the game to be played correctly. Play will be affected if the net isn’t high enough or not lined with the correct tape, as techniques for badminton are based off having reliable and consistent net dimensions. The net must be placed on poles that sit outside the doubles lines, even during singles play.

    Touching the Net

    • Neither the racket nor a part of the player's body may touch the net while the shuttlecock (birdie) is in play. Touching the net results in a foul and a side-out, which in turn gives service to the other team. The birdie, however, can hit the net during play and the volley may continue.

    Volleys and Serves

    • A player is not allowed to reach over the top or underneath the net to hit the shuttlecock during a volley. Hitting a serve that touches the net and lands on the correct part of the court is called a let serve; this halts the game and results in another serve. If the shuttlecock passes under or through the net during the serve, it is a fault, resulting in a side-out. A birdie that strikes the net and does not cross it cannot be played.