Outdoor Games
How to play Badminton
Serve diagonally and return the shuttle over the net without a bounce. Every rally scores for its winner, regardless of who served.
What you need
Two rackets, shuttlecock, net and marked badminton court; this guide teaches singles
Set up the game
- Use narrow singles sidelines and the full back boundary. Toss to choose first serve/receive or an end; the loser gets the remaining choice.
- At zero the server uses the right service court. Server and receiver stand inside diagonal boxes without touching their boundaries.
Playing Badminton
- Serve with a continuous forward racket action, hitting the base first with the entire shuttle below 1.15 meters. Parts of both feet stay stationary on the floor until delivery.
- The serve must cross into the diagonal service box beyond the short service line. Players then alternate strokes before ground contact.
- Out, ground contact, failure to cross or another fault ends the rally. Lines count as in. The rally winner scores and serves.
- In singles serve right with an even score, left with an odd score. A receiver winning service uses the box matching their new score.
- Win a game at 21 with two clear, except 30 wins at 29-all. First to two games wins. Change ends between games and at 11 in the deciding game.
The score chooses the service court
You lead 8–6 and serve from the right. Win the rally and it becomes 9–6, so serve next from the left. If the opponent wins instead, their score becomes 7 and they serve from their left. Announce scores before serving; doing so is easier than reconstructing several rallies after a service-box dispute.
Doubles changes the service map
Doubles uses wide sidelines but the inner back service line for serves. Only the diagonal receiver returns serve. Either partner can hit the next rally shot; partners do not alternate like table tennis. Service order follows player positions and the side’s score, so check Law 11 separately. For a first practice, identify every relevant line before hitting a shuttle.
Beginner decisions
- Recover to a balanced base after hitting rather than staying in a back corner. Leave room to reach a short drop as well as the next deep shot.
- Under pressure deep in court, a high clear can buy recovery time. An ambitious smash from an awkward position may open your forecourt.
Common rule mix-ups
- Giving yourself a second serve after a fault.
- Using doubles width for a singles rally or its short service back line as the singles back boundary.
Questions about this game
Does a net-touching serve replay?
No. If it crosses legally into the correct service box, continue the rally.
Is scoring already to 15?
Not in the edition used on 14 October 2026. The approved 3×15 change starts 4 January 2027; separately announced events may trial alternatives.
Sources and edition notes
BWF 2025 Laws, 3×21 rally scoring in force on the review date; singles. Approved 3×15 scoring starts 4 January 2027.
Sources and stated format checked October 14, 2026. This records a document check, not a claim of hands-on testing.
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