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BWF (Badminton World Federation) Rules Handbook

 

Simplified Rules

The Laws of Badminton and Competition Regulations in the BWF Statutes provide the detail on every aspect of the game of badminton.

Below is a brief overview  - simplified rules.

Scoring System

  • A match consists of the best of 3 games of 21 points.
  • Every time there is a serve – there is a point scored.
  • The side winning a rally adds a point to its score.
  • At 20 all, the side which gains a 2 point lead first, wins that game.
  • At 29 all, the side scoring the 30th point, wins that game.
  • The side winning a game serves first in the next game.
 
Interval and Change of Ends
  • When the leading score reaches 11 points, players have a 60 second interval.
  • A 2 minute interval between each game is allowed.
  • In the third game, players change ends when the leading score reaches 11 points.
 
Singles
  • At the beginning of the game (0-0) and when the server’s score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When the server’s score is odd, the server serves from the left service court.
  • If the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and then serves again from the alternate service court.
  • If the receiver wins a rally, the receiver scores a point and becomes the new server. They serve from the appropriate service court – left if their score is odd, and right if it is even.

Doubles

  • A side has only one ‘service’.
  • The service passes consecutively to the players as shown in the diagram.
  • At the beginning of the game and when the score is even, the server serves from the right service court. When it is odd, the server serves from the left court.
  • If the serving side wins a rally, the serving side scores a point and the same server serves again from the alternate service court.
  • If the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side scores a point. The receiving side becomes the new serving side.
  • The players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their side is serving.

If players commit an error in the service court, the error is corrected when the mistake is discovered.

In a doubles match between A & B against C & D.  A & B won the toss and decided to serve. A to serve to C. A shall be the initial server while C shall be the initial receiver.

 

Course of action / Explanation
Score
Service from Service Court
Server & Receiver
Winner of the rally
  
 
 Love All Right Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is even. A serves to C A and C are the initial server and receiver. A & B rules-dir1
A & B win a point. A & B will change service courts. A serves again from Left service court. C & D will stay in the same service courts. 1-0 Left Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is odd A serves to D C & D rules-dir2
C & D win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts. 1-1 Left Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is odd. D serves to A. A & B rules-dir3
A & B win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts. 2-1 Right Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is even. B serves to C C & D rules-dir4
C & D win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts. 2-2 Right Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is even. C serves to B C & D rules-dir5
C & D win a point. C & D will change service courts. C serves from Left service court. A & B will stay in the same service courts. 3-2 Left Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is odd. C serves to A A & B rules-dir6
A & B win a point and also right to serve. Nobody will change their respective service courts. 3-3 Left Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is odd. A serves to C A & B rules-dir7
A & B win a point. A & B will change service courts. A serves again from Right service court. C & D will stay in the same service courts. 4-3 Right Service Court. Being the score of the serving side is even. A serves to D C & D rules-dir8

Note that this means:

  • The order of server depends on the score odd or even same as in singles. 
  • The service courts are changed by the servicing side only when a point is scored. In all other cases, the players continue to stay in their respective service court from where they played previous rally. This shall guarantee alternate server.

Source : http://www.bwfbadminton.org/page.aspx?id=14914

A complete copy of Handbook II - Laws of Badminton and Regulations can be downloaded (2mb) from http://www.bwfbadminton.org/file_download.aspx?id=22894

Download Simplified Rally Point Scoring Guide from USA Badminton  http://usabadminton.org/assets/documents/attached_file/filename/22329/Simplified_Rally_Point_Scoring_Guide.pdf

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Last Updated by the webmaster on January 19, 2013
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