Badminton Rules

It should be noted that there are two terms that are used interchangeably in this game. Badminton rules and badminton "laws" are, for all intents and purposes, the same. If you hear someone refer to the Laws, that is the same as if they were referring to badminton rules.

The definitive source of badminton rules IBF Laws publication, which can be found either online or off line. This is the publication that governs the rules of play as well as the court layout and other important issues associated with the sport.

Some of the more important aspects that this publication covers include:

Equipment—Badminton rules specify what equipment may be used. It restricts the design and size of rackets and shuttlecocks. The Laws also provide for testing a shuttlecock for the correct speed.

Scoring—The badminton rules of scoring were changed in May 2006. For more information, see the most recent set of rules as set out by the governing body.

Basic Play—Each game is played up to 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a rally. This differs from the old system, where players could only win a point on their serve. A match is the best of three games.

According to the badminton rules, at the start of the rally the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts. The server hits the shuttlecock so that it lands in the receiver's service court. A badminton serve must be hit from below the waist in underhand form.

Badminton rules dictate that in single's play, the server must stand in his right service court when his score is even, and in his left service court when his score is odd.

These badminton rules will change somewhat if playing doubles. In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve, but he changes service courts so that he serves to each opponent in turn. When the serving side loses a rally, the serve passes to their opponents. Under the old badminton rules there was the "second serve" this is no longer applicable.

If their new score is even, the player in the right service court serves; if odd, the player in the left service court serves. The players' service courts are determined by their positions at the start of the previous rally, not by where they were standing at the end of the rally.

You can find an online copy of the badminton rules and print those out if you like. The above is only a small sampling of what is contained in the publication.