The rules in 5 minutes

The essentials of the BWF Laws, step by step.

On this page

Scoring

  1. A point for every rally

    Win the rally and you win a point and the next serve, whoever served.

  2. Games to 21

    At 20–20 you need a two-point lead. At 29–29 the 30th point wins.

    21:18to 21
    22:20at 20–20: +2
    30:29capped at 30

  3. Best of three

    The first to win two games wins the match; a third is played only at one game all.

  4. Intervals and ends

    When the leader reaches 11 points there is a break of up to 60 seconds. Between games, up to 2 minutes and a change of ends; in the third game you change ends again at 11.

Serving

  1. Underhand, below 1.15 m

    When you hit it, the whole shuttle is below 1.15 m from the floor, and the racket first strikes its base.

  2. Diagonal: even from the right, odd from the left

    Serve across into the opponent's court. With an even score the server serves from the right court, with an odd one from the left.

    Score 0, 2, 4… — from the right court
    Score 1, 3, 5… — from the left court

  3. Feet still

    Server and receiver stand inside their courts, off the lines, and keep both feet on the floor until the serve is made.

Court and lines

  1. Singles long and narrow, doubles short and wide

    In singles you serve into a long, narrow court, in doubles into a short, wide one. After the serve singles use the narrow court, doubles the whole court.

    Singles
    Doubles

  2. The line is in

    A shuttle that lands on the line counts as in.

Faults

  • OutThe shuttle lands outside the lines, fails to cross the net or hits the ceiling.
  • Touching the netWith the racket, body or clothing while the rally is on.
  • Shuttle hits a playerIt touches a player's body or clothing.
  • Double hitOne player hits it twice in a row, or partners hit it one after the other.
  • CarryThe shuttle is caught on the racket and slung, not hit.
  • Service faultAbove 1.15 m, into the wrong court, a foot on the line or off the floor.

Based on the BWF Laws of Badminton.

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