The Basic Rules of Badminton Doubles

Badminton is a sport that features players hitting a small ball called a shuttlecock over a net. Players must keep the shuttlecock in the air. Players score points by making it land on the other player's side of the net. Badminton can be played by two people playing singles or four people playing doubles. The rules for both are similar, with minor variations for double badminton.

  1. Serving

    • In single badminton, the serving player changes side depending on the score. If his score is even, he stands on the right side. If the score is odd he stands on the left. However, in double badminton, players always serve from the right side of the court. They must serve to the side diagonally across from them. Players in double badminton stay to one side of the court during game play. If the team serving scores a point, the players on their team change sides and the player who is now in the right hand side serves. They continue serving until they lose a point. Service then goes to the other team.

    Game Play

    • After the shuttlecock is served, players must attempt to keep it in the air. It cannot touch the ground at any point, or they lose the serve. It also cannot touch the clothing or body of any player at any time. This is a fault, and it is an automatic lost serve for that team. Only the serving team can score during play. If the shuttlecock falls on their side of the court during their serve, or of it goes out or bounds, they lose the serve and the next team gets the chance to score. The shuttlecock must land inside the "in" area. This area is as wide as the net and about ten to fifteen feet long. On a badminton court, it will be well defined. But if you are playing in your backyard, you will have to eyeball it. If it lands outside, the team who knocked it out loses the serve. However, if a player on the other team hits the shuttlecock before it hits the ground out of bounds, the serve remains in play until the shuttlecock hits the ground. In doubles badminton, only one player can hit the shuttlecock. If two players hit it, this is a fault. Generally, official badminton rules have men end at 15 and women at 11. However, if you are playing in a mixed gender group, you can alter this rule.

    Positioning

    • Players should try to stay on their side of the court. If the shuttlecock is hit to their side, they should attempt to make the hit themselves. In backyard badminton, players can hit the shuttlecock when it is above their head and "spike" it to the ground. This isn't allowed in badminton's official rules. In double and single badminton, players cannot hit the shuttlecock if it is above their waist. Both feet should be fully on the ground.