The Laws of Badminton

The Laws of Badminton and Competition Regulations in the BWF Statutes provide the detail on every aspect of the game of badminton.

Below is a brief overview  - simplified rules.

Scoring System

• A match consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points.
• Every time there is a serve – there is a point scored.
• The side winning a rally adds a point to its score.
• At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins that game.
• At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins that game.
• The side winning a game serves first in the next game.

• When the leading score reaches 11 points, players have a 60 second interval.
• A 2 minute interval between each game is allowed.
• In the third game, players change ends when the leading score reaches 11 points.

• At the beginning of the game (0-0) and when the server’s score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When the server’s score is odd, the server serves from the left service court.
• If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and then serves again from the alternate service court.
• If the receiver wins a rally, the receiver scores a point and becomes the new server. They serve from the appropriate service court – left if their score is odd, and right if it is even.
  
  Doubles

• A side has only one ‘set’.
• The service passes consecutively to the players as shown in the diagram.
• At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left court.
• If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same server serves again from the alternate service court.
• If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving side becomes the new serving side.
• The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their side is serving.

If players commit an error in the service court, the error is corrected when the mistake is discovered.

In a doubles match between A & B against C & D.  A & B won the toss and decided to serve. A to serve to C. A shall be the initial server while C shall be the initial receiver.

	Love All	Right Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is even.	A serves to C A and C are the initial server and receiver.	A & B
A & B win a point. A & B will change service courts. A serves again from Left service court. C & D will stay in the same service courts.	1-0	Left Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is odd	A serves to D	C & D
C & D win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts.	1-1	Left Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is odd.	D serves to A.	A & B
A & B win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts.	2-1	Right Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is even.	B serves to C	C & D
C & D win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts.	2-2	Right Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is even.	C serves to B	C & D
C & D win a point. C & D will change service courts. C serves from Left service court. A & B will stay in the same service courts.	3-2	Left Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is odd.	C serves to A	A & B
A & B win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts.	3-3	Left Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is odd.	A serves to C	A & B
A & B win a point. A & B will change service courts. A serves again from Right service court. C & D will stay in the same service courts.	4-3	Right Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is even.	A serves to D	C & D

Note that this means:

• The order of server depends on the score odd or even same as in singles. 
• The service courts are changed by the servicing side only when a point is scored. In all other cases, the players continue to stay in their respective service court from where they played previous rally. This shall guarantee alternate server.