Badminton doubles strategy: rotation, attack and defence formations, serving order

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Doubles badminton is a different game from singles. The court feels small with four players on it, the shuttle comes back faster, and most points are won by the pair that moves together. This guide covers the two basic formations, how partners rotate between them, and how the serving order works.

The two formations

Attack: front and back. When your side is hitting downwards, one player stands near the net and the other at the back of the court, both roughly on the centre line.

The back player smashes, drops and plays steep shots down the middle or the sidelines.
The front player hunts for weak returns and pushes or kills anything that comes up above the tape.

Defence: side by side. When your side has had to lift the shuttle, the opponents will attack, so you stand side by side, each covering one half of the court.

Stand a little behind the front service line, racket in front of you, low and ready.
Each player covers smashes to their half; shots down the middle usually go to the player who can take them on the forehand, or whoever you agreed beforehand.

When to switch

The simple rule beginners can use: if you hit up, go side by side; if you hit down, go front and back.

You lift the shuttle (a clear, lift or high serve return): the opponent will attack, so defend side by side.
You play the shuttle downwards (a smash, drop or push): you are on the attack, so move to front and back.

How rotation works

Rotation is how two players change between the formations without leaving gaps.

From attack to defence: when the back player has to lift, the front player drops back to one side and the back player moves up to the other side, so both end up level.
From defence to attack: when a defender gets an opportunity to play a drop or push, that player follows the shot forward to the net, and the partner moves back to cover the rear.
The player who moves forward takes the net. The other player covers behind. Talk briefly ("mine", "yours", "back") until the movement becomes automatic.

A typical rotation runs like a circle: one player attacks from the back, comes forward after a drop shot, and the partner rotates into the back to keep the attack going.

Serving and receiving

The low serve to the front of the service court is the usual doubles serve, because a high serve gives the opponents a free smash. Flick serves over the receiver's head are a useful surprise.
After a low serve, the server tends to take the front and the partner the back, ready to attack.
The receiver should stand close to the front service line and look to attack a loose serve.

Serving order in doubles

With rally scoring, each side has only one serve at a time:

The serving side serves from the right service court when its score is even and from the left when it is odd.
If the serving side wins the rally, it scores a point and the same server serves again, switching to the other service court.
If the receiving side wins the rally, it scores a point and gains the right to serve. Its players do not change courts; whoever is standing in the correct court for their new score serves.
Players change service courts only after winning a point on their own serve.

The receiver is always the player diagonally opposite the server. If you lose track, work it out from the serving side's score and from who served last.

Common mistakes

Both players chasing the same shuttle, or both leaving one down the middle.
The front player standing too close to the net and being lobbed.
Lifting too often. Every lift hands the opponents the attack.
Going for a winner when a steady drop or push would keep your side attacking.

How do you and your partner divide the middle of the court? Share your system or ask about a situation that keeps costing you points in the comments below.