Badminton rules explained: rally scoring to 21, serving, service courts and faults

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Badminton's rules are simple once you have seen them in action, but the serving rules catch out nearly everyone in their first few weeks. This guide explains how a game is scored, where you serve from, what counts as a fault, and the change to the scoring system that the sport's world body has approved.

How scoring works now

Matches are the best of three games, and every rally wins a point, whoever served. This is called rally scoring.

A game is won by the first side to 21 points.
At 20-all, a side must lead by two points to win the game.
At 29-all, the side that wins the next point wins the game, so no game goes past 30.
The winner of a game serves first in the next one.
There is a short interval when the leading side reaches 11 points, and a longer one between games.
In the third game, players change ends when the leading side reaches 11.

The change to 15 points

At its Annual General Meeting on 25 April 2026, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) approved a move to a 3x15 scoring system. According to the BWF's announcement, it is due to take effect from 4 January 2027. Under it:

Matches remain the best of three games, and rally scoring is unchanged.
Games are played to 15 points, with a two-point lead needed from 14-all.
Games are capped at 21: at 20-all, the next point wins.
The interval and the change of ends in the third game come at 8 points rather than 11.

The BWF has said that 3x21 remains an approved alternative and that national associations and domestic organisers may choose which system to use for their own events, and some have already adopted 3x15 early. Your local league or club may therefore use either format for some time; check the entry details before a tournament.

Where to serve from

The server's position depends on the server's own score (in doubles, the serving side's score).

Even score (0, 2, 4...): serve from the right service court.
Odd score (1, 3, 5...): serve from the left service court.
The serve travels diagonally into the opposite service court.

Service courts: singles and doubles differ

Singles: the service court is long and narrow. It runs to the back boundary line but uses the inner sidelines.
Doubles: the service court is short and wide. It uses the outer sidelines but ends at the doubles long service line, a little inside the back boundary.

After the serve, the whole court is in play: the full length in both games, the outer sidelines in doubles and the inner ones in singles.

Serving rules

Both the server's and the receiver's feet must be inside their service courts, in contact with the floor and stationary until the serve is made.
The racket must first hit the base (cork) of the shuttle.
The swing must be one continuous forward movement; a pause or feint is a fault.
The whole shuttle must be below 1.15 metres from the court surface at the moment of contact. This fixed-height rule is used at international events; some local and club competitions still apply the older rule that the shuttle must be below the server's waist.
You get one attempt. There is no second serve.

Common faults

The shuttle lands outside the boundary lines, or fails to cross the net.
The shuttle touches a player's body or clothing.
A player touches the net or its supports with the racket, body or clothing while the shuttle is in play.
A player reaches over the net to hit the shuttle before it has crossed to their side (following through over the net after a legal hit is allowed).
The shuttle is caught and slung on the racket, or hit twice in succession by the same player.
The shuttle hits the ceiling or walls.
A player deliberately distracts an opponent.

A shuttle landing on the line is in.

Lets

A let stops play and the rally is replayed. Typical lets include the receiver not being ready for the serve, a shuttle from another court landing on yours, or the shuttle getting stuck on top of the net (other than on the serve). Rules can be adapted for club and local play, so ask your club which serve-height rule and scoring format it follows. Has your club switched to 15-point games yet? Share how it is going, or ask about a rule you are unsure of, in the comments.