The scoring system in badminton | Badminton Bible The scoring system in badminton The scoring system in badminton is quite simple, but it can get confusing in doubles. We’re going to start with the scoring system for singles, because it’s simpler. Deciding who gets to serve first In a major tournament, a coin toss is used to decide which side will serve first. In more casual club or league games, you usually just throw the shuttle up in the air, let it land, and see which side it points towards: that side serves first. Points, games, and matches Every time you win a rally, you get a point. Starting from zero, the first person to reach 21 points wins the game. In club badminton, this is usually where you stop and choose players for the next game. In standard league or tournament play, however, what really matters is the match. A match is the best of three games: you win the match by winning two games. So a match could last either two or three games. Whenever you win a rally, you also get the next serve. So if your opponent was serving in the last rally, the serve passes to you; if you were serving, you keep on serving.

To win, you need a two-point lead You have to win the game by at least two points. If the score reaches 20–20, then 21 points are no longer enough to win the game. You need to win two clear points: two points in a row, one after the other. For example, 22–20 would be a winning score, as would 25–23. But 21–20 would not be enough, and neither would 24–23. If you reach 30–29, however, you’ve won the game. 30 points is the upper limit. This rule is intended to prevent games dragging on too long, especially at the top level of play, where excessively long games put athletes at risk of injury. Always say the server’s score first It’s a good habit to say the score to your opponent before starting each rally. It’s surprisingly easy to lose track of the score, and saying it between rallies helps prevent disputes. When you’re saying the score, always say the server’s score first.

So if you are serving and have 10 points to your opponent’s 15 points, then the score is 10–15 (not 15–10). Which side to serve from? Remember that you have two service courts: one on the right, and one on the left. When the server’s score is an even number, he serves from the right service court. When his score is an odd number, he serves from the left service court. For this reason, the right service court is also known as the even service court, and the left service court is known as the odd service court. Odd numbers? Even numbers? Odd numbers start at 1, and go up by 2 Even numbers start at 0, and go up by 2 So the odd numbers are 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, and so on. The even numbers are 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, and so on. Even and odd numbers alternate.

So if you keep winning rallies, you’ll keep serving from a different side each time: right, left, right, left, right, and so on. Because zero is an even number, the game always starts with someone serving from the right (even) service court. What about the receiver? The receiver’s position is determined not by his own score, but by the server’s score. The receiver always stands in the service box diagonally opposite from the server. In other words, both players will be in the even service courts, or both will be in the odd service courts. You can never have one of each (one odd, one even). Scoring in doubles The actual scoring in doubles is simple: instead of each person winning points, each pair wins points. The part that often confuses people is this: how do you decide who serves, who receives, and which side they should be on? At the start of the game, when the score is 0–0, the serving pair choose who serves for the first rally, and the receiving pair choose who receives. The even/odd rule still holds. So if the server’s score is odd, he will serve from the left court (if even, from the right).

Just as for singles, the receiver will stand in the diagonally opposite service court. Whenever the serving side wins a rally, the same person serves again (but from the other service court). The serve does not alternate between the partners: it stays with one person, until the opponents win a rally and get the serve. Everyone has a service court To make sense of doubles scoring, you must understand two crucial ideas: Every player has a service court, at all times. When your partner has one service court, you have the other one. Let’s take an example: you are getting ready to serve from your left service court. So your service court is obvious: it’s the box you have to stand inside. Your partner is not serving or receiving, so he doesn’t have to stay within one of the service boxes: he can stand anywhere on your court. Nevertheless, we say that your partner has the right service court. Bizarrely, most people say that your partner is in the right service court. This makes no sense at all, because your partner probably has one foot in each service court! The same idea applies to the receiving side. In this example, the receiver has the left service court, and his partner has the right service court.

Until you serve, the receiver must stay within his service court, but the receiver’s partner can stand wherever he wants. It doesn’t matter where you go during the rally Suppose you serve from the right service court. By the end of the rally, you could easily be standing inside the left service box with your partner standing inside the right box. This has no effect on your service courts for the next rally. In other words, the service courts are set at the start of the rally. Although you move around during the rally, the service courts don’t change. At the end of the rally, you have to remember what your service courts were: Who was serving? Once you remember this, you work out the positions for the next rally. When you serve and win the rally Suppose you serve, and then your side wins the rally. For the next rally, you will serve again, but from the other side. In other words: When the serving side win a rally, the server and his partner swap service courts. Remember that you and your partner must always have different service courts. That’s why the server’s partner also changes service court here.

This change has no effect on the server’s partner — he can still stand wherever he wants — but he needs to remember his service court for future rallies. The receivers never change their service courts. The only way to change service courts is to win a point when your side is serving. When the receivers win a rally When the receiving side wins a rally, the serve passes to them. Their service courts do not change from the previous rally. If their new score is odd, then whoever has the left service court will serve; if the score is even, then whoever has the right service court will serve. Consequences of this system If you think it through carefully, you can figure out two interesting consequences of this system: You never serve to the same person in two consecutive rallies. When you win back the serve, the new server is whoever wasn’t serving last time. The rules actually state these consequences explicitly: 11.4 Sequence of serving to the initial server, and so on. 11.5 No player shall serve or receive out of turn, or receive two consecutive services in the same game, except as provided in Law 12. (Law 12 is about how you correct mistakes.

We’ll look at that later.) It’s easy to forget the score or forget which side you were on. When you forget, you can usually use those two facts to help remember. For example, suppose you have just won back the serve. You know the score is 10–8, but you cannot remember which side you should be. You also know that last time, your partner was serving (not you). Therefore, you must be serving from the right service court. Similarly, suppose you cannot remember the score. It’s either 13–10 or 14–10, and you have just won back the serve. You know that your partner just received in the right service court, and that he was serving last time. This means you must be serving from the left service court, and therefore the score is 13–10. Badminton Rules A badminton match comprises the best of three games. A coin is tossed before the first game, and the winner of the toss may serve first or pick an end of the court. Only the serving side can score. In Classic scoring format, the winning team needs 15 points in doubles and men's singles, or 11 in women's singles.

In the new Rally Point scoring format that just recently adopted and used for major tournaments, the winning team needs 21 points to win the match. Simplified Rules Court Dimension: 44ft x 22ft (double) / 44ft x 17ft (single) Net Height: 5ft 1in on the sides / 5ft on the center of court Rally A rally is won when a shuttle is hit over the net and onto the floor of the opponent's court. A rally is lost if the shuttle is hit into the net, or over the net but outside of the opponent's court. A rally is also lost if the shuttle touches the player's clothing or body, or if it is hit before it crosses over the net. Serving The service courts are slightly different for singles and doubles. A shuttle on the line is "in". The server and receiver stand in the diagonally opposite service courts (always right hand at the start of the game) but therefore players may move anywhere on their side of the net. The server must obey laws designed to force underhand delivery of the serve, and the receiver must stand still until the service is struck. Scoring Matches comprise of the best of three games.

Each game starts at 0-0 (traditionally called "love-all"). Classic scoring Format If the serving side wins a rally, it scores a point, and serves again but from the alternate service court. If the receiving side wins the rally, the score remains unchanged and the service passes to the next player in turn. In singles, this is the opponent: in double it's either the partner or, if both players have just had a turn of serving, one of the opponents. In men's singles and doubles events, 15 points wins a game. However, if the score reaches 14-14, the side which first reached 14 can choose either to play to 15, or to set the game to 17 points. The final score will reflect the sum of the points won before setting plus the points gained in setting. Scoring in women's singles is slightly different. 11 points wins a game and there is the option to set to 13 points at 10-10. And Finally...

Players change ends at the end of a game and when the leading score reaches 8 in a game of 15 points (or 6 in a game of 11 points) in the third game. A five minute interval is allowed prior to any third game. Source: International Badminton Federation (IBF) Note: Content modified for easier understanding What is the rule for playing badminton? - Quora Quora Written Jan 31, 2015 Toss The rules of badminton states that a toss shall be conducted before a game starts. If you win, you can choose between serving first or to start play at either end of the court. Your opponent can then exercise the remaining choice. Scoring system The rules of badminton states that a badminton match shall consist of the best of 3 games. In doubles and men's singles, the first side to score 15 points wins the game. In women's singles, the first side to score 11 points wins the game.

If the score becomes 14-all (10-all in women's singles), the side which first scored 14 (10) shall exercise the choice to continue the game to 15 (11) points or to 'set' the game to 17 (13) points. The side winning a game serves first in the next game. Only the serving side can add a point to its score. Recently BWF have been testing a new scoring format of 21 points per game on all major Badminton competition and decided to replace the old format permanently. Change of ends The rules of badminton states that you have to change ends with your opponent after finishing the first game. If a third game was to be played, you shall change ends when the leading score reaches 6 in a game of 11 points or 8 in a game of 15 points. Rules of Badminton - Singles Serving and receiving courts You shall serve from, and receive in, the right service court when you or your opponent has scored an even number of points in that game. You shall serve from, and receive in, the left service court when you or your opponent has scored an odd number of points in that game.

You and your opponent will hit the shuttle alternately until a 'fault' is made or the shuttle ceases to be in play. Scoring and serving You score a point and serve again from the alternate service court when your opponent makes a 'fault' or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of your opponent's side of court. No points will be scored when you make a 'fault' or the shuttles ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of your side of court. The serving right will then be transferred to your opponent. Rules of Badminton - Doubles At the start of the game, and each time a side gains the right to serve, the service shall be delivered from the right service court. Only your opponent standing diagonally opposite of you shall return the service. Should your opponent's partner touched or hit the shuttle, it shall be a 'fault' and your side scores a point. Order of play and position on court After the service is returned, either you or your partner may hit the shuttle from any position on your side of the net. Then either player from the opposing side may do the same, and so on, until the shuttle ceases to be in play.

Scoring and serving If you are serving or receiving first at the start of any game, you shall serve or receive in the right service court when your side or your opponent's side scored an even number of points. You shall serve from or receive in the left service court when your side or your opponent's side has scored an odd number of points. The reverse pattern shall apply to your partner. In any game, the right to serve passes consecutively from the initial server to the initial receiver, then to that initial's receiver's partner, then to the opponent who is due to serve from the right service court, then to that player's partner, and so on. You shall not serve out of turn, receive out of turn, or receive two consecutive services in the same game, except as provided in service court errors and 'lets'. Service court errors A service court error has been made when a player has served out of turn, has served from the wrong service or standing on the wrong service court while being prepared to receive the service and it has been delivered. If a service court error is discovered after the next service had been delivered, the error shall not be corrected. If a service court error is discovered before the next service is delivered, the following rules apply.

If both sides committed an error, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and won the rally, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and lost the rally, the error shall not be corrected. If there is a 'let' because of a service court error, the rally is replayed with the error corrected. If a service court error is not to be corrected, play in that game shall proceed without changing the player's new service courts. Faults The rules of badminton consider the following as faults: - If the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court, passes through or under the net, fail to pass the net, touches the ceiling or side walls, touches the person or dress of a player or touches any other object or person. - If the initial point of contact with the shuttle is not on the striker's side of the net. (The striker may, however, follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the course of a stroke.) - If a player touches the net or its supports with racket, person or dress, invades an opponent's court over the net with racket or person except as permitted.

- If a player invades an opponent's court under the net with racket or person such that an opponent is obstructed or distracted or obstructs an opponent, that is prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is followed over the net. - If a player deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or making gestures. - If the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke. - If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player with two strokes. - If the shuttle is hit by a player and the player's partner successively or touches a player's racket and continues towards the back of that player's court. - If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences under Law of Continuous Play, Misconduct, Penalties. - If, on service, the shuttle is caught on the net and remains suspended on top, or, on service, after passing over the net is caught in the net. Lets 'Let' is called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire), to halt play.

A 'let' may be given for any unforeseen or accidental occurrence.The rules of badminton consider the following as 'lets': - If a shuttle is caught in the net and remains suspended on top or, after passing over the net, is caught in the net, it shall be a 'let' except on service. - If, during service, the receiver and server are both faulted at the same time, it shall be a 'let'. - If the server serves before the receiver is ready, it shall be a 'let'. - If, during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from the rest of the shuttle, is shall be a 'let'. - If a line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a decision, it shall be a 'let'. - A 'let' may occur following a service court error. When a 'let' occurs, the play since the last service shall not count and the player who served shall serve again, except where in situations where the Law of Service Court Errors is applicable. Shuttle not in play A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net and remains attached there or suspended on top.

A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net or post and starts to fall towards the surface of the court on the striker's side of the net. A shuttle is not in play when it hits the surface of the court or a 'fault' or 'let' has occurred. Continuous play, misconduct, penalties Play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, except as allowed in intervals not exceeding 90 seconds between the first and second games, and not exceeding 5 minutes between the second and third games. Officials and appeals The referee is in overall charge of the tournament. The umpire, where appointed, is in charge of the match, the court and its immediate surrounds. The umpire shall report to the referee. The service judge shall call service faults made by the server should they occur. A line judge shall indicate whether a shuttle landed 'in' or 'out' on the line or lines assigned. An official's decision is final on all points of fact for which that official is responsible. An umpire shall: - Upload and enforce the Rules of Badminton and, especially, call a 'fault' or 'let' should either occur.

- Give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the next service is delivered. - Ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress of the match. - Appoint or remove line judges or a service judge in consultation with the referee. - Where another court official is not appointed, arrange for that official's duties to be carried out. - Where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out the official's duties or play a 'let'. - Record and report to the referee all matters in relation to continuous play, misconduct and penalties. - Take to the referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only. (Such appeals must be made before the next service is delivered, or, if at the end of the game, before the side that appeals has left the court.) I am sure now that you have a better understanding of the Rules of Badminton, you will enjoy your game more! A2A The 10 rules of badminton are as follows: 1. A game starts with a coin toss. Whoever wins the toss gets to decide whether they would serve or receive first OR what side of the court they want to be on. The side losing the toss shall then exercise the remaining choice. 2.

At no time during the game should the player touch the net, with his racquet or his body. 3. The shuttlecock should not be carried on or come to rest on the racquet. 4. A player should not reach over the net to hit the shuttlecock. 5. A serve must carry cross court (diagonally) to be valid. 6. During the serve, a player should not touch any of the lines of the court, until the server strikes the shuttlecock. During the serve the shuttlecock should always be hit from below the waist. 7. A point is added to a player's score as and when he wins a rally. 8. A player wins a rally when he strikes the shuttlecock and it touches the floor of the opponent's side of the court or when the opponent commits a fault. The most common type of fault is when a player fails to hit the shuttlecock over the net or it lands outside the boundary of the court. 9. Each side can strike the shuttlecock only once before it passes over the net. Once hit, a player can't strike the shuttlecock in a new movement or shot. 10. The shuttlecock hitting the ceiling, is counted as a fault.

Learning and inculcating the 10 rules of badminton is the first step towards getting into the game. Besides these, it's a good idea to get to know more about the equipment laws, which govern what equipments can be used - the design of the racquet, the weight and shape of the shuttlecock (for correct speed). Surprisingly there is no rule for the minimum height of the ceiling, but nevertheless, a low ceiling would be problematic. Written Sep 2, 2015 Service faults Badminton has several rules about serving, most of which are meant to limit the advantage that can be gained from a serve. In club badminton play, disputes over the legality of serves are common. It helps to know the rules before you argue over them! With the exception of delays, breaking any of the following rules is a fault. In the case of delays, the umpire will normally warn the players first. If the players continue to delay, then the umpire would usually call a fault. Definitions 9.2 Once the players are ready for the service, the first forward movement of the server’s racket head shall be the start of the service.

9.3 Once started, the service is delivered when the shuttle is hit by the server’s racket or, in attempting to serve, the server misses the shuttle. These rules define when the service starts, and when it is delivered. These definitions get used in some of the rules below. Delays 9.1.1 Neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server and the receiver are ready for the service. On completion of the backward movement of the server’s racket head, any delay in the start of the service (Law 9.2) shall be considered an undue delay. This is really two rules rolled into one. First, you cannot hold your serve indefinitely, hoping that the receiver will lose concentration or become uncomfortable. Similarly, the receiver cannot delay indefinitely. How long is an undue delay? The rules don’t say, because it’s left to the umpire’s discretion. In club play, you just have to be reasonable. I suggest you should not take more than five seconds to serve (once ready). The second part of the rule is a convoluted way of saying something quite simple: when serving, you cannot pause between backswing and forwards swing.

Many club players use this pause to upset the receiver’s timing. That is against the rules: it’s a fault. You might be sceptical about my interpretation here, but I am following official guidance from Badminton England. If you pause between backswing and forwards swing when serving, you’re breaking the rules. Of course, you don’t have to keep the same speed of swing, and you can also serve without using a backswing at all. Note that this rule also forbids an extremely slow serving action, because that would constitute an undue delay. Where the server and receiver must stand 9.1.2 The server and receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts, without touching the boundary lines of these service courts. You’re not allowed to put your feet on the lines, when serving or receiving. Note that this rule is only about touching the lines: you may lean forwards or sideways so that your racket is outside the service court. Keep both feet on the ground 9.1.3 Some part of both feet of the server and the receiver shall remain in contact with the surface of the court in a stationary position from the start of the serve (Law 9.2) until the service is delivered (Law 9.3).

Both feet must stay on the ground until the server contacts the shuttle. Only some partof each foot has to stay on the ground; this allows you to shift your weight and even turn your body (as in a forehand high serve). You may not drag a foot along the floor, however. Hit the base of the shuttle first 9.1.4 The server’s racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle. This rule seems incongruous unless you know its history. It was introduced to prevent players using a particular style of low serve. The serve was called the Sidek serve orS-serve, after the Sidek brothers who popularised it in the 1980s. It was mainly used as a backhand serve. The S-serve involved slicing sideways across the feathers of an inverted shuttle, making it spin chaotically so that the receiver had difficulty controlling his return. The S-serve was so effective that many people felt it was ruining the game; eventually, the serve was banned by introducing rule 9.1.4 (above).

Tournament video footage of the S-serve is hard to find, but here’s one example where both sides are mainly using S-serves (a good example is at 7:41). Note the wild, downwards-swerving path of many serves. The receivers make a large number of errors, and rarely succeed in attacking the S-serves. Although the S-serve is against the rules, other spinning serves are not. You may still slice the serve, and you may even hit the feathers, providing you hit the base first. These techniques may cause the shuttle to spin, wobble, or swerve, although the effect is far less dramatic than an S-serve. Serve from below the waist 9.1.5 The whole shuttle shall be below the server’s waist at the instant of being hit by the server’s racket. The waist shall be considered an imaginary line round the body, level with the lowest part of the server’s bottom rib. This is an important rule: it’s the one that prevents you from playing a smash as your serve! Note that the waist is not the same as the line of your shorts: it’s actually the lowest part of your ribcage.

To judge how high you can serve from, feel for your lowest rib: the shuttle has to be below this. The angle of the server’s racket 9.1.6 The shaft of the server’s racket at the instant of hitting the shuttle shall be pointing in a downward direction. At first, this seems an unnecessary rule. We already have rule 9.1.5 to enforce a height limit; why do we need another one? This rule is useful because it prevents players from applying heavy top-spin to their drive serves. These serves travel fast and flat, and can actually swerve downwardsafter passing the net so that they reach the receiver below net height. They are almost impossible to attack. Drive serves can be perfectly legal, but this rule ensures that all legal drive serves will travel upwards as they pass the net — making them vulnerable to attack by an alert receiver. No stop-start serving 9.1.7 The movement of the server’s racket shall continue forwards from the start of the service (Law 9.2) until the service is delivered (Law 9.3). Many servers like to shake their racket back-and-forth behind the shuttle, as an attempt to disturb the receiver’s timing. That is a fault.

This rule, together with rule 9.1.1, ensures that the service action must be one continuous movement with no double-action feints. To be precise, you are allowed to serve with either of these actions: One backswing immediately followed by one forwards swing One forwards swing on its own (no backswing) Where you have to serve 9.1.8 The flight of the shuttle shall be upwards from the server’s racket to pass over the net so that, if not intercepted, it shall land in the receiver’s service court (i.e. on or within the boundary lines). A serve that hits the line is in. The rule appears to suggest that, even if the receiver hits it back, a serve that was travelling out should be faulted. That is a misinterpretation of the rule: notice that the rule says shall land, not would land! So the rule is technically correct, but it’s still badly worded. Some silly stuff: even if you were three metres tall and could hit a serve downwards, it would still be against the rules, because the serve must travel upwards. You also are not allowed to use some sneaky trick serve that swerves around the sides of the net posts!

No second chances 9.1.9 In attempting to serve, the server shall not miss the shuttle. If you miss the shuttle on serving, you lose the rally. I recommend practising your serve more. Although it’s not explicitly mentioned anywhere in the rules, you also don’t get asecond serve. This is different from tennis, where the server gets two attempts to put the ball inside the service court. Faults during the rallyHitting the shuttle to the wrong place 13.3 touches the person or dress of a player; 13.3.6 touches any other object or person outside the court; (Where necessary on account of the structure of the building, the local badminton authority may, subject to the right of veto of its Member Association, make bye-laws dealing with cases in which a shuttle touches an obstruction.) You lose the rallly if you hit the shuttle into the ceiling or walls. You also lose the rally if the shuttle touches you or your clothing. The last rule is just a stuffy way of acknowledging that many badminton courts are not perfect. For example, many courts have beams or girders crossing low above them. Most clubs decide to play a let when the shuttle hits a beam.

This is standard practice, and I recommend it. You cannot claim a let for hitting the ceiling, however. Otherwise, whenever you were losing the rally, you could just hit the shuttle up to the ceiling and start again! Surprisingly, the rules do not specify a minimum ceiling height. Playing badminton with a low ceiling ruins the game, as it makes defensive shots ineffective. In practice, all major tournaments use very high ceilings, but some local or regional venues do not. Double hits is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke; 13.3.8 is hit twice in succession by the same player. However, a shuttle hitting the head and the stringed area of the racket in one stroke shall not be a fault; 13.3.9 is hit by a player and the player’s partner successively; With a little practice, it’s possible to catch the shuttle with your racket, using a scooping motion. For obvious reasons, you’re not allowed to do this during a rally. Similarly, you may not hit the shuttle twice, on your own or with a partner — for example, first hitting it up above net height, and then smashing it down!

Note that a bad contact is not a fault. Many players, especially older ones, call no shot when they have made a bad contact — either hitting just the frame, or hitting both the frame and the strings. This is not a fault, and the rally should continue. Hitting the net or invading the opponent’s court 13.4 touches the net or its support with racket, person or dress; 13.4.2 invades an opponent’s court over the net with racket or person except that the striker may follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the course of a stroke after the initial point of contact with the shuttle is on the striker’s side of the net; 13.4.3 invades an opponent’s court under the net with racket or person such that an opponent is obstructed or distracted; If you touch the net or the posts, you lose the rally. This commonly happens with net kills : if the shuttle is tight to the net, it can be hard to play a net kill without hitting the net with your racket. You are not allowed to reach over the net to play your shot.

Provided you make contact with the shuttle on your side, however, your racket may then pass over the net during your follow-through action. It’s hard to be sure what the rules intend for edge cases, such as a tight brush net kill where the contact point is on your side but the top of your racket is intruding (just slightly) over the net. Even in officiated tournaments, these calls are made by eye, without the aid of video replays or electronic sensors (although video replays are sometimes used when the call is disputed). In practice, the court officials have a hard enough time judging whether the contact point was okay. To spot these edge cases accurately is beyond human ability. In other words, I wouldn’t worry about it. Just make sure that you contact the shuttle on your side. When lunging forwards to retrieve a tight drop or net shot, players often put a foot under the net. This is not a fault unless you obstruct or distract the opponent — for example, by treading on his foot! Obstructions and distractions [It shall be a fault] if in play, a player: 13.4.4 obstructs an opponent, i.e.

prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is followed over the net; 13.4.5 deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or making gestures; Remember that you are allowed to follow-through with your racket over the net, providing you made contact on your side. If your opponent obstructs this — such as putting his racket in the way so that you would be forced to hit it — then you win the rally. Note that your opponent is allowed to put his racket in the path of the shuttle. He isnot allowed to block your stroke, but he is allowed to block your shot. It’s a subtle distinction: your stroke is the movement of your racket; your shot is the movement of the shuttle. Deliberate distractions are not allowed. There’s a fine line here: the rule does not prohibit shouting (e.g. when you smash) or expressing yourself through gestures (e.g. a clenched fist after winning a point); but it does prohibit using these to distract your opponent.

14.9k Views Written Aug 23, 2014 Rules of Badminton Knowing the Rules of Badminton is important if you really want to advance in Badminton and enjoy this game. In the event that a dispute occurs during a match, you'll be able to settle it. For instance, your opponent may gain an unfair advantage on you by breaking the Service Rules. If you are not familiar with the Rules of Badminton, how will you catch him? So make a point that you understand the Basic Badminton Rules before stepping into the Badminton Court next time... Toss The rules of badminton states that a toss shall be conducted before a game starts. If you win, you can choose between serving first or to start play at either end of the court. Your opponent can then exercise the remaining choice. Scoring system The rules of badminton states that a badminton match shall consist of the best of 3 games. In doubles and men's singles, the first side to score 15 points wins the game. In women's singles, the first side to score 11 points wins the game.

If the score becomes 14-all (10-all in women's singles), the side which first scored 14 (10) shall exercise the choice to continue the game to 15 (11) points or to 'set' the game to 17 (13) points. The side winning a game serves first in the next game. Only the serving side can add a point to its score. Recently BWF have been testing a new scoring format of 21 points per game on all major Badminton competition and decided to replace the old format permanently. Change of ends The rules of badminton states that you have to change ends with your opponent after finishing the first game. If a third game was to be played, you shall change ends when the leading score reaches 6 in a game of 11 points or 8 in a game of 15 points. Rules of Badminton - Singles Serving and receiving courts You shall serve from, and receive in, the right service court when you or your opponent has scored an even number of points in that game. You shall serve from, and receive in, the left service court when you or your opponent has scored an odd number of points in that game.

You and your opponent will hit the shuttle alternately until a 'fault' is made or the shuttle ceases to be in play. Scoring and serving You score a point and serve again from the alternate service court when your opponent makes a 'fault' or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of your opponent's side of court. No points will be scored when you make a 'fault' or the shuttles ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of your side of court. Theserving right will then be transferred to your opponent. Rules of Badminton - Doubles At the start of the game, and each time a side gains the right to serve, the service shall be delivered from the right service court. Only your opponent standing diagonally opposite of you shall return the service. Should your opponent's partner touched or hit the shuttle, it shall be a 'fault' and your side scores a point. Order of play and position on court After the service is returned, either you or your partner may hit the shuttle from any position on your side of the net. Then either player from the opposing side may do the same, and so on, until the shuttle ceases to be in play.

Scoring and serving If you are serving or receiving first at the start of any game, you shall serve or receive in the right service court when your side or your opponent's side scored an even number of points. You shall serve from or receive in the left service court when your side or your opponent's side has scored an odd number of points. The reverse pattern shall apply to your partner. In any game, the right to serve passes consecutively from the initial server to the initial receiver, then to that initial's receiver's partner, then to the opponent who is due to serve from the right service court, then to that player's partner, and so on. You shall not serve out of turn, receive out of turn, or receive two consecutive services in the same game, except as provided in service court errors and 'lets'. Service court errors A service court error has been made when a player has served out of turn, has served from the wrong service or standing on the wrong service court while being prepared to receive the service and it has been delivered. If a service court error is discovered after the next service had been delivered, the error shall not be corrected. If a service court error is discovered before the next service is delivered, the following rules apply.

If both sides committed an error, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and won the rally, it shall be a 'let'. If one side committed the error and lost the rally, the error shall not be corrected. If there is a 'let' because of a service court error, the rally is replayed with the error corrected. If a service court error is not to be corrected, play in that game shall proceed without changing the player's new service courts. Faults The rules of badminton consider the following as faults: - If the shuttle lands outside the boundaries of the court, passes through or under the net, fail to pass the net, touches the ceiling or side walls, touches the person or dress of a player or touches any other object or person. - If the initial point of contact with the shuttle is not on the striker's side of the net. (The striker may, however, follow the shuttle over the net with the racket in the course of a stroke.) - If a player touches the net or its supports with racket, person or dress, invades an opponent's court over the net with racket or person except as permitted.

- If a player invades an opponent's court under the net with racket or person such that an opponent is obstructed or distracted or obstructs an opponent, that is prevents an opponent from making a legal stroke where the shuttle is followed over the net. - If a player deliberately distracts an opponent by any action such as shouting or making gestures. - If the shuttle is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the execution of a stroke. - If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player with two strokes. - If the shuttle is hit by a player and the player's partner successively or touches a player's racket and continues towards the back of that player's court. - If a player is guilty of flagrant, repeated or persistent offences under Law of Continuous Play, Misconduct, Penalties. - If, on service, the shuttle is caught on the net and remains suspended on top, or, on service, after passing over the net is caught in the net. Lets 'Let' is called by the umpire, or by a player (if there is no umpire), to halt play.

A 'let' may be given for any unforeseen or accidental occurrence.The rules of badminton consider the following as 'lets': - If a shuttle is caught in the net and remains suspended on top or, after passing over the net, is caught in the net, it shall be a 'let' except on service. - If, during service, the receiver and server are both faulted at the same time, it shall be a 'let'. - If the server serves before the receiver is ready, it shall be a 'let'. - If, during play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base completely separates from the rest of the shuttle, is shall be a 'let'. - If a line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a decision, it shall be a 'let'. - A 'let' may occur following a service court error. When a 'let' occurs, the play since the last service shall not count and the player who served shall serve again, except where in situations where the Law of Service Court Errors is applicable. Shuttle not in play A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net and remains attached there or suspended on top.

A shuttle is not in play when it strikes the net or post and starts to fall towards the surface of the court on the striker's side of the net. A shuttle is not in play when it hits the surface of the court or a 'fault' or 'let' has occurred. Continuous play, misconduct, penalties Play shall be continuous from the first service until the match is concluded, except as allowed in intervals not exceeding 90 seconds between the first and second games, and not exceeding 5 minutes between the second and third games. Officials and appeals The referee is in overall charge of the tournament. The umpire, where appointed, is in charge of the match, the court and its immediate surrounds. The umpire shall report to the referee. The service judge shall call service faults made by the server should they occur. A line judge shall indicate whether a shuttle landed 'in' or 'out' on the line or lines assigned. An official's decision is final on all points of fact for which that official is responsible. An umpire shall: - Upload and enforce the Rules of Badminton and, especially, call a 'fault' or 'let' should either occur.

- Give a decision on any appeal regarding a point of dispute, if made before the next service is delivered. - Ensure players and spectators are kept informed of the progress of the match. - Appoint or remove line judges or a service judge in consultation with the referee. - Where another court official is not appointed, arrange for that official's duties to be carried out. - Where an appointed official is unsighted, carry out the official's duties or play a 'let'. - Record and report to the referee all matters in relation to continuous play, misconduct and penalties. - Take to the referee all unsatisfied appeals on questions of law only. (Such appeals must be made before the next service is delivered, or, if at the end of the game, before the side that appeals has left the court.) How to Play Badminton | eHow How to Play Badminton ViktorCap/iStock/Getty Images Badminton, a perennial family favorite because its soft shuttlecock is safe for young children, has a distinguished history. Players of "ti jian zi" in fifth century China tried to keep a shuttlecock in the air without using their hands; other types of shuttlecock games were played in India and early modern Europe.

The modern version was invented at a party hosted by eighth Duke of Beaufort in 1863 in his mansion in Badminton, England, when guests moved a shuttlecock game indoors to the Great Hall because of rain. An Olympic sport since 1992, badminton can be relaxed family fun or an intense aerobic workout. Great Hall to Regulation Court Badminton uses a rectangular court approximately the size of the Duke of Beaufort's Great Hall, where it was originally played. A regulation-size badminton court is 1,620 square feet, including a playing area marked off by white lines and five-foot clearance on all sides. The outside lines delimit the 20-by-44-foot doubles court; inside those lines are the ones marking off the narrower 17-by-44-foot singles court. The five-foot high net bisects the court. Each side of the net is further subdivided with long and short service lines and right and left half courts.

Badminton Rackets Badminton rackets are lightweight; no more than 680 millimeters -- or slightly over 2 feet -- long; with an oval stringed head, or hitting surface, of no more than 280 millimeters in length and 220 millimeters in width -- or approximately 11 by 8 inches. The head of a racket is a flat area crossed by equally spaced strings. Plastic Goose Feathers The shuttlecock, or "shuttle," consists of 16 feathers attached to a leather-covered cork base, or a modern synthetic equivalent. According to Badminton Village lore, the best shuttles use the left wing feathers of a goose. Game regulations specify that the feathers of the shuttle, whether natural or synthetic, should extend 62 to 70 millimeters from the base with their tips forming a circle between 58 and 68 millimeters in diameter. Shuttles weigh between 4.74 and 5.50 grams. Shuttling Back and Forth You play badminton by using a racket to hit a shuttle over the net. Badminton matches consist of three games each consisting of 21 points.

A point starts with the server hitting the shuttle over the net. The receiver tries to hit the shuttle back over the net, and the players continue hitting the shuttle back and forth across the net without letting it touch the ground. A point ends when the shuttle touches the ground, is hit into the net or is hit outside the bounds of the court. The two main versions of the game are singles, with one player on each side of the court, or doubles, with two players on each side. Tennis Vs badminton | Talk Tennis Tennis Vs badminton benasp , Dec 20, 2006 Hi there, i have a discussion on a badminton board about tennis vs badminton and i need some argument about how tennis is as fun as badminton sound silly cause whe all know what sport is more fun but they keep coming with argument tant i think have no sensa at all so here the tread: For the one who don't wanna take a look here the argument for badminton 1- badminton is more physical All right lets see the speed of a game. let’s take as an example the 1985 All England Tennis Championship and the World Badminton Championships.

The tennis match lasted 3 hours and 18 minutes whereas the badminton match lasted 1 hour and 16 minutes. During these matches, 1,004 shots were made in the tennis match, compared to the 1,972 shots in the badminton match. Finally, the distance covered during the match was 2 miles for the tennis match and 4 miles for the badminton one. if badminton is not a faster game, how could they run 2ce as much, hit 2ce as much in half the time? It is also worth noting that badminton has an infinite amount of shot placements which is unique to all racket sports. 2- An weird argument about smash speed comparing the shuttle speed when it leave the racquet to the andy roddick serve record. 3-learning badminton is harder than tennis, and be ready to laugh, the main point is that a kids can easily cross the court hitting a ball, but he can't do the same in badminton So what do you guy think i can add to my defense. I have nothing to prove but it still fun tu argue on this topic.

Sagittar , Dec 20, 2006 i don't like badminton at all and i see it as a non skill demanding sport at all (but that's just me and i could turn out to be wrong ofcourse) plus i dont see that badminton is that much physically demanding , first the racquet is tooooooo light so is the so called ball(c0ck) and it's always indoors meening the players never get burned out by the sun plus tennis have all kind of strokes on the other hand badminton has two only : serve and volley .. and to summarize it all tennis players earn a lot more than badmintos' , so please anybody tell me how could it be better than tennis in anyway ?!! 1- badminton is more physical Click to expand... Its a different kind of physicality. You need muscles to play tennis, but speed to play badminton. That tennis balls weighs a lot more than a shuttlecock. benasp said: ↑ 2- An weird argument about smash speed comparing the shuttle speed when it leave the racquet to the andy roddick serve record. Click to expand... Roddick delivers more power every single time.

Think about the weight of the ball. Badminton players may have quicker shots, but they're only hitting some feathers. benasp said: ↑ 3-learning badminton is harder than tennis Click to expand... I've never met anyone who couldn't play Badminton and get a rally going. When I first picked up a tennis racquet I couldn't string more than 2 or 3 shots together. Incidently, you can put spin on a shuttlecock, and make it tumble for drop shots, but its nowhere near as important as putting spin on a tennis ball. benasp said: ↑ 1- badminton is more physical 2- An weird argument about smash speed comparing the shuttle speed when it leave the racquet to the andy roddick serve record. 3-learning badminton is harder than tennis, and be ready to laugh, the main point is that a kids can easily cross the court hitting a ball, but he can't do the same in badminton Click to expand... I think they have reasonable points about #1(2x shots and 2x distance coverd in half the time). Whatever. Every sport has its pros and cons.

There is an Indian news show where, just before the sports segment begins, they have a standard intro clip with a series of very short highlights. One of them, lasting 1 second, looks like a jump smash a la Sampras, except it is far more dynamic and powerful than any Sampras highlight. The player looks Indian, and I found it unbelieveable that there is an Indian Tennis player who could do that. Eventually I figured out that it was a badminton play. It is a lot easier to go for a huge shot in Badminton. The shuttle is practically still(compared to Tennis speeds) when you hit it , and controlling the shot is trivial compared to Tennis. Tennis players who haven't played Badminton don't realize that Tennis is more about control and has very little to do with power. I came in the other direction, and it always puzzles me how people talk about rackets/players not having enough power. It puzzles me because anybody can hit a Tennis ball over the fence on the other side of the court, with any racket, and without any ball speed coming at you.

What they are really saying when they need more power in Tennis is that their off-center hits are not carrying, or that balls with a lot of topspin are not going very far. But the reason you need any topspin is because the Tennis ball is such a hard thing to control. The tennis ball is very easy to hit a long distance with a lot of pace, but it is very hard to control it. I definitely disagree that Tennis is easier to learn than Badminton. It takes while for 2 beginners to have any kind of rallies. They spend 90% of the time running after picking up errant balls. Most Tennis players never become good enough to hit winners. In Badminton, two beginners can have fun pretty soon hitting the shuttle back and forth to each other. There is absolutlely no problem keeping the shuttle in play in a normal rally. The challenge is to keep it safe from being hit for a winner. It is well known that Tennis matches are decided by errors even at the pro level. Even beginning Badminton players win points mostly with winners and unfroced errors. I need to use tennis terminology because this classification doesn't exist in Badminton as it is so irrelevant.

1- badminton is more physical Click to expand... Badminton is definitely more physical. It almost felt like running a marathon if both players are decent enough. benasp said: ↑ 2- An weird argument about smash speed comparing the shuttle speed when it leave the racquet to the andy roddick serve record. Click to expand... Yes, it is horrifyingly fast, I have been in the receiving end of those. If they aim at your head, you might not have time to duck. benasp said: ↑ 3-learning badminton is harder than tennis, and be ready to laugh, the main point is that a kids can easily cross the court hitting a ball, but he can't do the same in badminton Click to expand... This I disagree. Tennis is way harder at the beginning. It takes years to learn to control spin and depth in tennis. And the serve in tennis and the serve in badminton, no comparison, tennis is way harder at the beginning. HellBunni , Dec 21, 2006 ceejay said: ↑ Roddick delivers more power every single time. Think about the weight of the ball.

Badminton players may have quicker shots, but they're only hitting some feathers. Click to expand... it's enough to give bruses. the thing is even thou tennis balls weight more, you are rarely in the position where you are faced with an overhead coming at you pretty much point blank. where as in badminton, you get those often, and those things will leave marks. Tennis balls loss a lot of it's speed traveling from one side of the court to another, shuttlecocks loss less of it's speed since it's a much closer distance. maverick1 , Dec 21, 2006 HellBunni said: ↑ it's enough to give bruses. the thing is even thou tennis balls weight more, you are rarely in the position where you are faced with an overhead coming at you pretty much point blank. where as in badminton, you get those often, and those things will leave marks. Tennis balls loss a lot of it's speed traveling from one side of the court to another, shuttlecocks loss less of it's speed since it's a much closer distance. Click to expand... I don't know what you are talking about.

I played Badminton for years and never came close to being in pain from being hit; I don't even remember being hit. Both players would have to be very close to the net and one of them would have to have an easy putaway. All they have to do is push the shuttle deep and the point is over. It is not like tennis where the other guy can chase a lob and hit it back AFTER it bounces. Why would they hit straight to the opponent and give him am opportunity to stick his racket in front and possibly hit a winner? LuckyR , Dec 21, 2006 benasp said: ↑ Hi there, i have a discussion on a badminton board about tennis vs badminton and i need some argument about how tennis is as fun as badminton sound silly cause whe all know what sport is more fun but they keep coming with argument tant i think have no sensa at all so here the tread: For the one who don't wanna take a look here the argument for badminton 1- badminton is more physical All right lets see the speed of a game.

let’s take as an example the 1985 All England Tennis Championship and the World Badminton Championships. The tennis match lasted 3 hours and 18 minutes whereas the badminton match lasted 1 hour and 16 minutes. During these matches, 1,004 shots were made in the tennis match, compared to the 1,972 shots in the badminton match. Finally, the distance covered during the match was 2 miles for the tennis match and 4 miles for the badminton one. if badminton is not a faster game, how could they run 2ce as much, hit 2ce as much in half the time? It is also worth noting that badminton has an infinite amount of shot placements which is unique to all racket sports. 2- An weird argument about smash speed comparing the shuttle speed when it leave the racquet to the andy roddick serve record. 3-learning badminton is harder than tennis, and be ready to laugh, the main point is that a kids can easily cross the court hitting a ball, but he can't do the same in badminton So what do you guy think i can add to my defense.

I have nothing to prove but it still fun tu argue on this topic. Click to expand... Methinks they dost protest too much. Or in plain English: those guys are putting in waaayyy too much effort trying to prove the unprovable, namely that badmitton has more appeal than tennis. Proof? How about the, what?, 100:1 popularity ratio. After all, people vote with their feet, or in this case, racquets. Name a single endorsed badmitton player whom non-racquetsport player would recognize, in the history of the sport. varuscelli , Dec 21, 2006 I don't play badminton (except for a few scattered and infrequent times in my life), but I can't help but admire those who really play it well when I watch them. Looks like a lot of fun and very challenging when it's taken beyond the backyard family game (just like there's family badminton and family volleyball -- take either to a really competitive/skilled level and you're talking about a whole different kind of game).

To me, it's really difficult to compare tennis and badminton just like it's difficult to compare tennis and racquetball or badminton and racquetball. They're different sports and each has its own sets of challenges and skills to be mastered. Seems kind of pointless to try and make one seem better, more fun, or more challenging than another, unless the person who initiates the "badminton is better" or "tennis is more fun" chant has some kind of chip on their shoulder about it. Personally, I'd love the chance to try and play badminton for a while at a semi-serious level and learn more about really playing the game. But I barely have enough time to play tennis, much less to add in another sport. vive le beau jeu ! , Dec 21, 2006 benasp said: ↑ 3-learning badminton is harder than tennis, and be ready to laugh, the main point is that a kids can easily cross the court hitting a ball, but he can't do the same in badminton Click to expand... i like a lot badminton too... but this point #3 is definitely a big joke !

i had some friends who were beginners at both at the same time, and they were relatively rapidly able to play bad' at a decent level... but as regards playing tennis, that was... let's say... "harder" for them ! on the other hand, badminton may be more intense, but a tennis game is supposed to be longer... when i play badminton, i'm sure it's gonna be physical whatever if i play good or bad (and that's one of the things i like in badminton !), but when i play tennis, i'm less sure of that... if one of the players has an "off" day, for instance ! PS: and what about racketlon ?... Noire , Dec 23, 2006 I say that Tennis is much more harder than badminton. lol, It took me years to learn tennis while I only spent 40 mins to hit a shuttlec0ck. and yeah, 2 sides are still debating this one: TENNIS VS. BADMINTON Statistics Don't Lie The speed and the stamina required for badminton are far greater than for any other racket sport.

At the 1985 All England (Tennis) Championships, Boris Becker defeated Kevin Curren 6-3, 6-7, 7-6, 6-4. At the 1985 World Badminton Championships in Calgary, Canada, Han Jian of China defeated Morten Frost of Denmark, 14-18, 15-10, 15-8. The following is a statistical comparison of those matches. Time: Tennis, 3 hours and 18 minutes. Badminton, 1 hour and 16 minutes. Ball/Shuttle in Play: Tennis, 18 minutes. Badminton, 37 minutes. Match Intensity*: Tennis, 9 percent. Badminton, 48 percent. Rallies: Tennis 299. Badminton, 146. Shots: Tennis, 1,004. Badminton, 1,972. Shots Per Rally: Tennis, 3.4. Badminton, 13.5. Distance Covered: Tennis, 2 miles. Badminton, 4 miles.

Note that the badminton players competed for half the time, yet ran twice as far and hit nearly twice as many shots. *The actual time the ball/shuttle was in flight, divided by the length of the match. Click to expand... I believe this is really outdated. Noire said: ↑ I say that Tennis is much more harder than badminton. lol, It took me years to learn tennis while I only spent 40 mins to hit a shuttlec0ck. and yeah, 2 sides are still debating this one: I believe this is really outdated. Click to expand... I play both and I must say tennis is much harder to learn how to play correctly. That said, badminton is a much more subtle and strategic game, relying on speed and quickness and the ability to out think your opponent. Points take much longer to set up and are much harder to put away. It seems like with badminton, even at the intermediate level, if you don't stay sharp and move your feet, you are toast. Badminton is easier to play initially, but extremely difficult to master. Tennis is difficult initially, and extremely difficult to master.

Badminton is an intense sport, but a Nadal's tennis is hardly low-energy. I think any sport is equally difficult in the upper level, and harder for some people than others. For instance, if you're naturally really fast, flexible, and can jump, badminton may be easier than tennis at a high level and other people may find tennis easier. In table tennis, a player's reflexes have to be extremely fast, faster than in tennis. Each sports just has different demands. I doubt that Federer court beat Wang in table tennis, even with equivalent training, at least if Federer had the same build he does for tennis. watch this and tell me that badminton is not 100 times better a spectator sport. the change in pace/depth and formation (for doubles) is in every stroke of the rally, and usually in a baddie match there are many many such points.... this is how the game is supposed to be played at the pro level. tennis in contract, is basically BH to BH ralley, and see who dares to pull the trigger to go DTL, or draws a short ball and dominate with FH....

as a spectator, your heart rate goes up with a player issues a drop shot or rush to the net.... and this change in DEPTH happens in every badminton stroke. Don't get me wrong, I love tennis and since in the US it's the most popular racket sport, I play it 99% of the time, except 1% of pingpong during snowed-in days. There are very few baddie clubs in the US. I used to play frequently in Toronto, and a couple of times in a club outside Philly... really missing it. Someone doesn't know badminton... First, you cannot compare a single tennis smash to a single badminton smash. Badminton smash is equivalent to trying winners in tennis, it will be hit many times in one single point. Second, badminton midcourt smash is almost like sitter in tennis, it is suppose to be easy to hit. But backcourt jumping smash is another matter, and all the drop shots in badminton, sick. Also, a pro-level badminton smash is like a blur flyby if you ever face one before, more blurrer than a tennis smash.

It is just like any other sport, it is hard to describe, but a high level player can do thing you can never imagine. More athletic "looking"? Yes More impressive or harder? No. There are several factors that makes it a lot easier to hit a badminton overhead than a tennis overhead. The shuttle slows down dramatically in the air and is moving very slowly just before the smash. There is no spin to complicate judgment of the trajectory/pace. The racket is much lighter, making it much easier to make last moment corrections. I played Badminton frr a couple of years around age 14 and even at the beginning never had any trouble timing my overheads and hitting winners. It was not just me. Any one who has played for a year could smash a shuttle from midcourt. Tennis players who have played all their lives have trouble putting away a mid court overhead even the net is much shorter. Click to expand... I have a much easier time hitting winners off tennis overhead smashes. My damn badminton opponents always get's my smashes back.

mucat , Dec 26, 2006 Ulam said: ↑ That would be interesting to watch a slowmotion of a shuttle rotating with massive underspin. However as the trajectory of the shuttle is in the downward path , the shuttle would slow down and lead the tail, making it easy to hit. Badminton is like hitting an overhead and volleys in tennis. A 5.0 level tennis doubles player would give a 3 year badminton player a hard time. Click to expand... Probably not, a 3 yr badminton player with good drop shot and good long rally shot alone would make it impossible for anyone who never play the game before, and we haven't even talk about the smash yet.

Question: Up to how many points are competitive badminton matches played following a rule change in 2006
Answer: Twenty one