Badminton rules
explained.
Doubles, scoring and faults
Less second-guessing.
More enjoying the game.
By Western Badminton ·
New to doubles, returning after a break, or always wondering whose serve it is? Start here. You do not need to know every clause of the rulebook to feel comfortable on court.
Rules checked: October 2026. This guide describes standard indoor badminton, not Para badminton or every local variation. Check your event’s format: a WBi single-game-to-30 competition is different from the standard match format below.
Every rally counts.
The rally winner gains a point and the next serve. In the standard 2026 format, win two games to win the match.
Game target
Reach 21, with a two-point lead.
Keep playing
Two clear points are needed: 22–20 wins; 21–20 does not.
The limit
At 29–29, the next point wins.
In this format, the interval is up to 60 seconds at 11 points and up to two minutes between games. Change ends after each game and at 11 in a deciding third game. Official reference: Laws 7, 8 and 16.
Two players. One team score.
Use your team’s score to find the service court: even → right; odd → left. Zero is even. Serve diagonally to the designated receiver.
On serve: wide, but shorter
Use the outer doubles sideline, centre line, short service line and doubles long service line—not the baseline.
In a rally: the full court
After the return, either partner can play the next shot. The outer sidelines and baseline count; a shuttle landing on the relevant line is in. Court-line explainer.
Who serves next?
- Your team serves and wins: swap service courts; the same player serves again.
- Your team receives and wins: keep your service-court assignments. The player assigned to the correct side for your new score serves.
Moving around during a rally does not change those assignments. There is no extra “second server” turn when your side loses a rally. Service-order explainer.
Before you serve
Server and receiver stand inside diagonal service courts without touching their lines, with part of both feet stationary on the floor. Release without adding spin; strike the shuttle’s base with the whole shuttle below 1.15 metres. Keep the racket moving forward once the service starts. Official reference: Law 9.
Fault, or play on?
A fault loses the rally. A let replays it without changing the score. Here are the situations casual players often ask about.
The shuttle touches the net
Play on if it crosses and otherwise remains legal—even on a serve. A net clip alone is not a let.
A player touches the net
Touching the net or its supports with your body, clothing or racket while the shuttle is in play is a fault.
Both partners hit the same shot
Consecutive hits by teammates are a fault. You cannot pass the shuttle to your partner. Catching and carrying it on the racket is also a fault.
The racket follows through over the net
Allowed if the first contact with the shuttle is on your side and the stroke is otherwise legal. Reaching across to hit it first is not allowed; nor is obstructing an opponent’s legal stroke.
The shuttle hits clothing or lands out
A shuttle touching a player or clothing is a fault. Landing beyond the relevant court boundary is out; landing on that boundary is in.
The receiver was not ready
A serve before the receiver is ready is a let. Attempting a return means the receiver is considered ready. A let keeps the same server and score.
See Badminton Bible’s fault explanations and the BWF Laws 13–14 for the detailed exceptions.
A little clarity. A better game.
Before your next match, agree on the format, identify the court lines and confirm the opening server and receiver. Call the score clearly before serving. If you lose track, pause between rallies and ask the official rather than guessing.
At WBi, questions are welcome. Learning together is part of building a confident, respectful badminton community.
Explore WBi events →Keep the rulebook close
A beginner’s guide, not a replacement for your event regulations or the referee’s ruling. Sources checked on 16 October 2026:
- BWF Laws of Badminton, version 5.0 (PDF) — scoring, service, doubles, faults and lets.
- USA Badminton: BWF approves 3×15 scoring — the January 2027 transition.
- BWF statutes and current editions — check for later amendments and alternative formats.