Badminton rules for beginners

Badminton is simple to start: hit the shuttle over the net so it lands in your opponent's court before they can return it. This guide covers everything you need for your first real game, singles or doubles.

What you need

• A racket for each player.
• A shuttlecock (the "shuttle" or "birdie"). Feather shuttles are used in tournaments; plastic (nylon) ones last longer and suit beginners.
• A court with a net. See badminton court dimensions for the lines and sizes.
• Non-marking indoor shoes, which grip the floor and protect your ankles.

Starting a game

Before the match, the sides toss a coin (or spin a racket). The winner chooses whether to serve or receive first, or which end of the court to start from, and the other side takes the remaining choice.

Scoring in a nutshell

Every rally ends with a point for someone. The first side to 21 points wins the game, but if the score reaches 20-20, play continues until one side is 2 points ahead, up to a maximum of 30. Read more in badminton scoring rules and what is deuce.

How to serve

1. Stand inside your service court, on the right when your score is even and the left when it is odd.
2. Serve diagonally into the opponent's service court across the net.
3. Hit the shuttle underarm, with the whole shuttle below 1.15 m from the floor at the moment you hit it.
4. Hit the base (cork) of the shuttle first, in one continuous forward movement.
5. Keep part of both feet on the floor, not moving, until you hit the serve. The receiver must also stand still in their service court until it is hit.

In doubles, the serve also decides which partner serves and who receives. The doubles serving rules explain it with an example.

In or out?

• The shuttle is in if it lands on or inside the lines of the court in play. The lines count as in.
• Singles uses the inner side lines; doubles uses the outer ones. Both use the full length after the serve.
• What counts is where the shuttle's base first touches the floor, not where the player thinks it will land. Watch it all the way down.

Faults: how you lose a rally

If you commit a fault, the rally ends and the other side scores a point. The most common faults are:

• The shuttle lands outside the court, goes through or under the net, or fails to cross it.
• The shuttle touches the ceiling, walls, you or your clothing.
• You touch the net or its posts with your racket, body or clothes while the shuttle is in play.
• You reach over the net to hit the shuttle before it has crossed to your side.
• The same player hits the shuttle twice in a row, or both doubles partners hit it one after the other.
• An illegal serve: too high, overarm, feet moving, or into the wrong service court.

Lets: when a rally is replayed

A let stops play and the rally is replayed with no point scored. Common reasons are: the server serves before the receiver is ready, the shuttle gets caught on top of the net or in it after passing over (except on a serve), or something unexpected interrupts play, such as a shuttle from another court.

Intervals and changing ends

There is a short break when the leading score reaches 11 in each game, and a longer one between games. Players change ends after each game, and in a deciding third game when the leading score reaches 11.

Friendly-game etiquette

• Call the score before each serve, server's score first, so everyone agrees.
• If you can't tell whether a shuttle was in or out, replay the point instead of arguing.
• Return the shuttle to the server under or over the net, not by whacking it across.
• Shake hands, or tap rackets, at the end.

Tips for your first games

• Return to the middle of your court after each shot, so you can reach the next one.
• Hold the racket loosely and use your wrist and fingers, not just your arm.
• Aim high and deep when you are under pressure; it gives you time to recover.
• Playing doubles? Read badminton doubles strategy for where to stand.