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Scoring

In recent years, badminton has changed how players can score a point. In 2006, the rules were changed to a rally point system and this now allows both players to score a point during a rally, regardless of who served.

In competitive adult matches, all games are played to a best of three games. To win a game, a player must reach 21 points. However, if the game is tied at 20-20 (or 20-all) then you are required to win by two clear points. Unlike most sports, however, if the score becomes 29-29 (or 29-all), the player or team to score the 30th point will win the game.

Rules

• A match consists of the best of three games of 21 points.
• The player/pair winning a rally adds a point to its score.
• At 20-all, the player/pair which first gains a 2-point lead wins that game.
• At 29-all, the side scoring the 30th point wins that game.
• The player/pair winning a game serves first in the next game.
• A badminton match can be played by two opposing players (singles) or four opposing players (doubles).
• A competitive match must be played indoors utilising the official court dimensions.
• A point is scored when the shuttlecock lands inside the opponent's court or if a returned shuttlecock hits the net or lands outside of the court the player will lose the point.
• At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts.
• A legal serve must be hit diagonally over the net and across the court.
• A badminton serve must be hit underarm and below the server's waist height. The whole of the shuttle should be below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court when it is hit by the server, with the racquet shaft pointing downwards. The shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce. After a point is won, the players will move to the opposite serving stations for the next point.
• The rules do not allow second serves.
• During a point a player can return the shuttlecock from inside and outside of the court.
• A player is not able to touch the net with any part of their body or racket.
• A player must not deliberately distract their opponent.
• A player is not able to hit the shuttlecock twice.
• A 'let' may be called by the referee if an unforeseen or accidental issue arises.
• A game must include two rest periods. These are a 90-second rest after the first game and a 5-minute rest after the second game.

Officials

The referee is in overall charge of a badminton tournament or championship(s) of which a match forms part, to uphold the Laws of Badminton and Competition Regulations in the BWF Statutes.

Individual singles matches require a total of six officials:

• an umpire who is in charge of the match, the court and its immediate surroundings
• four line judges (two for each side of the court positioned at the baseline) who indicate whether a shuttlecock landed 'in' or 'out' on the line(s) assigned
• a service judge

Doubles matches require a total of eight officials. This is as above but an additional two line judges are sometimes added (one for each side of the court positioned at the doubles service line).