Latest Badminton Rules

For the most part, the rules of badminton have stayed the same through the years, with most of the recent changes involving the scoring system and length of games.

  1. Scoring

    • All official badminton matches are played in a best-of-three format. The old scoring system required a doubles team or men's single player to tally 15 points before being declared the winner of a game, and a women's single player to score 11. Today, all players must score 21 points to win. If the score is tied at 20, whoever scores two consecutive points first wins the game. Points are scored when the shuttle (also called the "birdie") lands on your opponent's side of the net after you serve.

    Serving

    • According to the International Badminton Federation's official rulebook, singles players are to serve from the right side of the court when their opponent has scored an even number of points, and from the left side when the opponent has an odd number or points. Who serves is determined by where the shuttle lands. If it lands on your side of the net, you opponents gains the right to serve, and vice versa. Also, hitting the shuttle into the net or out of bounds is considered a "fault" and gives your opponent the right to serve.

    Change of Ends

    • Each player is required to change ends of the court following a game. If a match requires a third game, players are to switch ends when either player scores his or her sixth point.

    Doubles Rules

    • Doubles matches consist of two players on each side of the net. Whoever is serving must hit the shuttle in the direction of the opponent standing diagonally from him on the opposite court. If you hit it to the individual directly across from you, this is considered a "fault" and your opponent gets to serve. In doubles play, players alternate serves after each change of possession of the shuttle. If a player serves out of turn, the shuttle and right to serve is awarded to the other team.

    Duration of Games/Breaks

    • Each game lasts until the first individual or player scores 21 points (or again, wins a match by two points if the score is tied at 20). Players are to rest no more than 90 seconds between the first and second games, and no more than five minutes between the second and third games.