Badminton rules for beginners

How scoring works

Every rally wins a point for the side that wins it, whoever served (rally point scoring). A match is the best of three games. The winner of a game serves first in the next one.

Until 3 January 2027: games to 21

• The first side to 21 wins the game.
• At 20-all, you need a 2-point lead. At 29-all, the next point wins (30).
• A 60-second break when the leader reaches 11; 2 minutes between games. In the third game players change ends at 11.

From 4 January 2027: games to 15 (BWF)

• The first side to 15 wins the game.
• At 14-all, you need a 2-point lead. At 20-all, the next point wins (21 is the most a game can reach).
• The 60-second break and the change of ends in the third game move to 8 points; still 2 minutes between games.

The BWF approved the change in April 2026. 21-point scoring stays allowed as an alternative, so local clubs and leagues may still use it.

The court

• Singles uses the inner (singles) side lines and the full length. Doubles uses the outer side lines.
• The lines are in: a shuttle landing on a line is good.
• The net is 1.524 m high in the middle.

How to serve

• Serve diagonally into the opposite service court, hitting the shuttle with an upward swing.
• At the moment you hit it, the whole shuttle must be below 1.15 m from the court (the BWF's fixed service height).
• Serve from the right court when your score is even (0, 2, 4...), from the left when it is odd.
• Both feet must stay in contact with the floor and inside your service court until the serve is hit; don't touch the lines.
• Singles serve area: long and narrow (singles side line to the back line). Doubles: short and wide (doubles side line to the doubles long service line).

Faults (the other side wins the rally)

• The shuttle lands outside the lines, goes under or through the net, or hits the ceiling, walls or a player.
• A player hits it twice, or both doubles partners hit it one after the other.
• A player touches the net or its posts with the racket, body or clothes while the shuttle is in play.
• A player hits the shuttle on the opponent's side of the net (following through over the net after a hit is allowed).
• A service fault: shuttle too high, feet moving, or not served diagonally.

Doubles serving order

• Only the serving side can change service courts: when the serving side wins a rally, the same server serves again from the other service court.
• When the receiving side wins a rally, they win the point and the serve; the player in the correct court for their score serves.
• Partners change courts only after winning a point on their own serve.

Tips for beginners

• Learn the basic grip: hold the racket like shaking hands, relaxed, not in a fist.
• Return to the middle of your court after every shot.
• Mix high clears to the back with drop shots near the net to move your opponent around.
• In doubles, attack with one player at the front and one at the back; defend side by side.