Badminton Rules Explained Simply for Beginners

You just got invited to play badminton, or maybe you picked up a racket set and realized you don’t actually know the rules. You’re not alone—badminton looks simple enough, but the scoring system and serving rules trip up almost every beginner. Don’t worry. This guide breaks down every rule you need to know in plain language, so you can step onto the court with confidence.

Here’s the quick answer: Badminton is played to 21 points using rally scoring (a point on every serve). You must win by 2 points, and if the score reaches 29-29, the next point wins. The serve must be hit underhand below your waist, and you serve from the right when your score is even and from the left when it’s odd. That’s really all you need to start playing—but keep reading for the full breakdown.

What Is Badminton? A Quick Overview

Badminton is a racket sport played with a shuttlecock (also called a “birdie”) across a net. It can be played as singles (one player per side) or doubles (two players per side). According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), the sport is played by over 220 million people worldwide, making it one of the most popular racket sports on Earth.

Here’s a fun fact that surprises most beginners: badminton is the fastest racket sport in the world. Shuttlecocks have been recorded traveling at over 260 mph (426 km/h) in competition—faster than a tennis serve, a golf drive, or even a baseball pitch. You won’t hit those speeds in your backyard, but it gives you an idea of how dynamic this sport can be.

The Court: Where Everything Happens

Understanding the court markings is half the battle. A standard badminton court is 44 feet long and 20 feet wide for doubles, or 44 feet long and 17 feet wide for singles. The net sits in the middle at a height of 5 feet 1 inch at the center.

Here’s what the lines mean:

• Sidelines: The outer lines are for doubles, the inner lines are for singles.
• Service line (short): The line closest to the net on each side—serves must land past this line.
• Service line (long, doubles only): The back line used only for doubles serves—your serve must land before this line in doubles.
• Back boundary line: The very back line of the court—this is the boundary during rallies for both singles and doubles.

In my experience, the most confusing part for new players is the doubles service area. Just remember: in doubles, the serve must land in a shorter, wider box (between the short service line and the long service line, using the outer sideline). During the rally after the serve, the full court is in play.

Scoring: How to Win a Badminton Match

Badminton uses rally scoring, which means a point is scored on every rally regardless of who served. This keeps games moving quickly.

The Basics

• A game is played to 21 points.
• You must win by 2 clear points (for example, 22-20).
• If the score reaches 29-29, the next point wins the game (so 30-29 is the maximum score).
• A match is best of 3 games—first player or team to win 2 games wins the match.
• Players switch ends after each game, and at 11 points in the third game.

Who Serves First?

At the start of a match, a coin toss (or shuttlecock toss) determines who serves first. The winner of the toss can choose to serve, receive, or pick which end of the court they want. In casual play, most people just hit the shuttlecock up in the air and see which direction it points when it lands.

Serving Rules: The Part Everyone Gets Wrong

Serving in badminton is where most beginners make mistakes. Unlike tennis, you cannot serve overhand. Here are the key rules:

Service Rules for All Formats

1. Underarm only. The racket must make contact with the shuttlecock below your waist (the lowest rib). No overhead smashes on the serve.
2. Racket head must point downward. At the moment of contact, the entire racket head must be below your hand holding the racket. This prevents sneaky flick serves.
3. Both feet must be on the ground. You can’t jump while serving. Both feet must be in contact with the floor, though you don’t have to be standing still.
4. Serve diagonally. Just like tennis, serves go to the diagonally opposite service box.
5. One attempt only. There are no second serves in badminton—if you fault, you lose the point.

Which Side Do You Serve From?

This is the rule that clicks once you hear it:

• Even score (0, 2, 4, 6…) → Serve from the RIGHT side.
• Odd score (1, 3, 5, 7…) → Serve from the LEFT side.

This applies to your own score, not your opponent’s. So if you’re winning 7-4, you serve from the left (because 7 is odd). Simple as that.

Singles Rules: One-on-One

Singles badminton is straightforward once you know the basics:

• Use the inner sidelines (the narrow court).
• Use the full length of the court for both serves and rallies.
• Serve from right when your score is even, left when odd.
• There’s no rotation or partner to worry about—just you and your opponent.

Singles is a physical game. In my experience, fitness matters almost as much as technique because you’re covering the entire court alone. If you’re just starting out, focus on getting the shuttlecock deep into your opponent’s court to give yourself time to recover position.

Doubles Rules: Playing with a Partner

Doubles is where badminton gets more complex, but it’s also where most casual players have the most fun.

The Service Box Difference

• Use the outer sidelines (wider court) for serves AND rallies.
• Use the short service line AND the long (doubles) service line for serves—this creates a shorter, wider service box.
• During rallies, the full court (to the back boundary line) is in play.

Who Serves and Where?

In doubles, the serving rotation follows these rules:

1. The same even/odd rule applies—serve from the right on even scores, left on odd.
2. The player who is in the correct service court (based on the score) takes the serve.
3. Players on the serving side do not switch positions unless they score a point while serving.
4. The receiving side never switches positions.

This is genuinely the most confusing part of badminton for beginners. What I wish I knew when starting: don’t overthink it. Just remember that you and your partner should end up on the side that matches your collective score (even = right, odd = left), and the person on the correct side serves.

Faults: How to Lose a Point

A fault gives the opposing side a point. Here are the most common faults:

• Shuttlecock lands out of bounds—on or outside the lines (the line is “in”).
• Shuttlecock goes into or under the net.
• Shuttlecock hits the ceiling (in indoor play, this is usually a fault).
• Player touches the net with their body or racket during play.
• Player reaches over the net to hit the shuttlecock on the opponent’s side (you can follow through over the net after contact, but initial contact must be on your side).
• Hitting the shuttlecock twice on the same side.
• Service faults: Serving above the waist, racket head above hand, serving to the wrong box, or feet not on the ground.

Lets: When You Replay a Point

A “let” means the rally is stopped and replayed with no point awarded. This happens when:

• An unexpected disturbance occurs (another shuttlecock rolls onto the court, for example).
• Both server and receiver commit a fault at the same time.
• The server serves before the receiver is ready.

In casual play, lets are usually just called by mutual agreement—”let’s redo that one” is perfectly acceptable among friends.

Basic Strategy Tips for Beginners

1. Return to center after every shot. This is the most important habit to develop. After hitting the shuttlecock, move back toward the center of your side. This puts you in the best position to reach wherever your opponent hits next.
2. Hit deep when in doubt. A high, deep clear to the back of the court buys you time and pushes your opponent back. It’s the safest shot in badminton.
3. Mix up your shots. Alternating between drops (short, soft shots near the net) and clears (high, deep shots) forces your opponent to cover more ground.
4. Master the backhand serve. In doubles especially, a short, low backhand serve that barely clears the net is incredibly effective. It gives your opponent less time to attack.
5. Watch your opponent, not just the shuttlecock. Their body position and racket angle will tell you where they’re likely to hit next.

Common Mistakes Beginners Make

• Standing flat-footed. Always stay on the balls of your feet, ready to move in any direction. Flat feet make you slow to react.
• Using too much wrist. Beginners often rely on wrist flicks rather than proper arm and body rotation. Power comes from your whole body, not just your wrist.
• Ignoring the serve rules. The number one fault in beginner play is serving overhand or above the waist. Practice the legal underarm serve until it feels natural.
• Playing every shot at full power. Badminton is about placement, not power. A well-placed drop shot is far more effective than a wild smash that goes out of bounds.
• Not warming up. Badminton involves sudden lunges and quick direction changes. A 5-minute warm-up prevents the majority of common injuries like rolled ankles and pulled hamstrings.

Quick Reference: Badminton Rules at a Glance

Wrapping Up

Badminton rules are simpler than they first appear. The scoring is straightforward (first to 21, win by 2), the serve must go underhand and diagonally, and the even/odd serving position rule becomes second nature after a few games. Once you’ve got these basics down, you can focus on what really matters—improving your game and having fun on the court.

If you’re getting serious about badminton, having the right equipment makes a real difference. Check out our guide to the best badminton rackets to find one that matches your playing style, or browse our best badminton shoes review for proper court footwear. And if you’re looking for more outdoor sports to try, our roundup of backyard games adults actually want to play has plenty of options to keep the fun going.