International Rules of Badminton

The governing body for badminton is the Badminton World Federation (BWF), and it aims to regulate the sport of badminton worldwide. The BWF has written "Laws of Badminton," which clearly defines the rules and regulations for playing badminton including court size, equipment and the rules of the game. The BWF works with governing bodies from different countries to ensure that those involved in the sport work together to promote badminton.

  1. Badminton Court and Equipment

    • A badminton court must be rectangular in size and measure 44 feet in length and 20 feet wide for a doubles match; in a singles match the court is 17 feet wide. The net that divides the court in half must measure 5 feet in height. The shuttlecock can be made of natural materials—in which case it must have exactly 16 feathers attached to cork—or it can be made from synthetic material. In both cases the shuttlecock must weigh 1/5 oz. A badminton racket must not exceed 27 inches.

    Scoring

    • A match consists of three games unless it is decided otherwise before the beginning of the match. Each game is played until one of the players has scored 21 points. If the score reaches 20-20, the game must continue until one of the players is two points clear of her opponent. However, if the score reaches 29-29, the player who reaches 30 points wins the game.

    Serving

    • No player may delay the service once both players are ready, according to "Laws of Badminton." Players stand diagonally opposite each other on the service and neither player must touch the boundary lines on the court. The player receiving the serve must stand still and with both feet on the court until the serve has been delivered. The shuttlecock must not be hit above the waist on the service and the badminton racket must be pointed downward. If the server has an even number of points, the serve is taken from the right side of the court; with an odd number of points, the serve is from the left.

    Faults

    • If the shuttlecock lands outside of the court boundaries, a fault will be called. A fault is also called if the shuttlecock hits the player or any part of the player's clothing. A shuttlecock must not hit the ceiling or the walls as this is considered a fault. Players are not allowed to touch the net during play or obstruct another player when playing a shot near the net.

    The Umpire

    • The umpire is in charge of the match and his decision is final, according to "Laws of Badminton." He must make sure that players and spectators are informed of the progress during a match. The umpire must ensure that the conduct of the players is appropriate at all times.