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The Complete Guide to Badminton Rules

Badminton feels familiar from backyard games, but the official scoring and serving rules trip up a lot of casual players. Here's what you need to know to play -- or watch -- it properly.

Object of the Game

Two players (singles) or two pairs (doubles) hit a shuttlecock back and forth over a net, scoring points by landing it in the opponent's court or forcing an error. Whoever can't legally return the shuttle concedes the point.

Scoring (Best of 3 Games to 21)

A game is won by the first side to reach 21 points, and a match is decided by whoever wins 2 of 3 games. Because it's rally-point scoring, a side can score even without serving. At 20-20 the game continues until one side leads by 2, and at 29-29 the first side to 30 wins.

Serving Rules

A serve must be hit underhand, below the waist, and land diagonally in the opponent's service court. In both singles and doubles, the server serves from the right side when their score is even and from the left side when it's odd.

What the Court Lines Mean

Doubles courts are wider than singles courts on the sidelines, but the inner service line used when serving is shorter in doubles than in singles -- which means the valid serving target area is actually smaller in doubles, even though the overall court is bigger.

Common Faults

Typical faults include hitting the shuttle into the net or out of bounds, touching the net with the racket or body, and hitting the shuttle twice in a row. Any fault immediately awards the point and the serve to the opponent.

Basic Shot Types

Core shots include the 'clear' (a high, deep shot that pushes the opponent back), the 'drop' (a soft shot just over the net), the 'smash' (a hard downward attack), and the 'net shot' (a delicate exchange right at the net).

Basic Equipment

Rackets are typically made of lightweight, springy carbon, and shuttlecocks come in two types: feathered ones (goose feathers) for official play and plastic ones for casual or practice use. Indoor courts often use non-slip mats to reduce the risk of falls.

One of the Fastest Racket Sports in the World

A smashed shuttlecock can exceed 400 km/h (250 mph), making badminton one of the fastest racket sports on earth. Its feathered construction creates heavy air resistance, so a shuttle starts fast but decelerates sharply -- a flight pattern unlike any other racket sport, and one that demands a very different sense of timing.

A Sport With Deep Roots in Asia and Northern Europe

Badminton's traditional powerhouses cluster in Asia -- China, Indonesia, South Korea, and Japan -- alongside strong programs in Denmark and other parts of Northern Europe. It's also one of the most accessible recreational sports around, cheap to set up and playable by nearly anyone in a park, gym, or backyard.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is a badminton game played to 21 points instead of 15?

Earlier formats, including a 15-point system, were used in the past, but the Badminton World Federation (BWF) officially adopted 21-point rally scoring in 2006, and it's been the standard for sanctioned competition worldwide ever since.

Why does the serve have to stay below the waist?

Requiring an underhand serve below the waist gives the receiver at least a fair chance to react. Without that restriction, a hard, smash-like serve could end rallies almost instantly.