Badminton Shuttle Rules

Badminton is a game with origins dating all the way back to the fifth century B.C. It spread throughout Asia and eventually to Europe in the 16th century. The name Badminton was first used in 1873, shortly after the use of a net in the game was introduced by English who had seen the game played in India. In Badminton two or four players in two teams take turns hitting the ball, called the shuttle, until one side either faults or hits the shuttle out of play.

  1. Toss

    • The game begins with a volley. Whoever wins the volley, or "toss," can choose to serve first or start on either side of the court.

    Scoring

    • Badminton is played in matches that are won by best out of three games. In doubles or male singles the first to score 15 points wins. In women's singles the first to score 11 wins. If a game comes to 14 to 14 or 10 to 10 in women's singles, the first player to reach 14 can decide to continue the game to 15 (11) points or to set the game to 17 (13) points. The winning side serves the next game first. Only the serving side can score a point when the receiving side faults or hits the ball out of play.

    Changing Sides

    • Players switch sides after the first game. If the game comes to a third game, players switch sides when the leading score comes to 6 out of 11 or 8 out of 15.

    Singles

    • Players serve from the right side of the court when they have an even score and from the left when they have an odd score. Players hit the shuttle alternately until there is a fault or the ball is hit out of play.

    Doubles

    • The first serve is always taken from the right side to the diagonal opposite side of the court. Only the player in the diagonal opposite side can return the shuttle, and if the other partner touches the shuttle it counts as a fault. After the shuttle is returned either partner can return the shuttle from any part of his side of the net. The same for the opposing side, until the shuttle is hit out of play or there is a fault.
      The player who begins by serving on the right will serve on the right whenever her score is even and on the left whenever her score is odd; her partner will do the opposite. The order of serve goes as follows: the initial server, the initial receiver, the initial receiver's partner, the opponent who is due to serve from the right side, then that player's partner and so on.

    Errors and Faults

    • A service court error occurs when a player serves out of turn or from the wrong side. If an error is discovered after the next serve the error is not corrected. If both sides commit an error or one side commits an error and then wins the rally, it is considered a let. If a let occurs, the rally is replayed. If the shuttle falls outside the court, fails to go over the net or touches any part of the net, touches the body or clothing of a player or touches the ceiling or walls of the court, it is a fault. If the shuttle is not hit by a player on his side of the net, it is a fault.
      If a player touches the net or the opposite side of the court with his racket, body or dress, it is a fault. If a player in any way obstructs another player from making a legal play, it is a fault. If a player deliberately distracts the opponent by yelling or gesturing, it is a fault. If a shuttle is hit twice by the same player consecutively, it is a fault. If a player hits a shuttle and then his partner hits it successively, it is a fault. If the shuttle becomes caught on the net, it is a fault.