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Badminton rules, explained
Most badminton arguments at a club come down to three things: the score, the serve, and whether that was a fault. These guides cover each one in plain English, using the current Badminton World Federation rally-scoring format.
Badminton scoring rules
Rally scoring to 21, the 20-20 deuce, the 29-29 golden point, and how sides change.
Badminton serving rules
The 1.15 m waist rule, the racket-head rule, which service box to use, and common faults.
Faults and lets explained
The difference between a fault and a let, and the calls club players argue about most.
The 60-second version
- Match format: best of three games to 21 points, rally scoring — every rally scores, whoever served.
- Winning a game: you need a two-point lead at 20-20, and the first side to 30 wins at 29-29.
- Serving: underarm, contact below 1.15 m, whole racket head below your hand, served diagonally.
- Court lines: singles is long and narrow, doubles is wide with a short service box.
- Change of ends: after each game, and at 11 points in the third.
Learn the rest of the game
Rules get you playing. Drills, footwork and match strategy are what actually win you games — that is what Smash membership is for, at $10 a month with a free trial.