Badminton
The shuttle drops. The score keeps up.
Every rally counts, up to 21. No need to remember who serves.
Score a gameOne rally, one tap.
Tap the color of the side that won the rally. The serve moves on its own. Try it!
- Games to 21 points
- 30 points max
- 2 games to win
- Pick badminton, and name the two sides.
- After each rally, tap the color of the side that won it: it scores, and it serves.
- The referee calls the server’s score first, plus game points and match points.
The rules, in short.
What the Badminton World Federation’s Laws say, and nothing more.
- 21
To win a game
The first side to 21 points wins the game. At 20 all, you need a two-point lead.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Laws 7.2 and 7.4 - 30
The cap
At 29 all, the next point wins the game: you never go past 30.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Law 7.5 - 1
Every rally
The side that wins the rally scores a point, whether it served or not. And it serves the next rally.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Laws 7.3, 10.3 and 11.3 - 2
The match
A match goes to the first side to win 2 games, unless agreed otherwise. The side that wins a game serves first in the next one.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Laws 7.1 and 7.6 - 11
The interval
In each game, an interval of up to 60 seconds when the leading score reaches 11 points; up to two minutes between games.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Law 16.2 - Ends
Changing ends
Players change ends at the end of the first game, at the end of the second if there is a third, and in the third when a side reaches 11 points.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Law 8.1
Or keep your racket in hand.
One press per rally won, on your watch or the three buttons on your earbuds: ⏮ for pink, ⏭ for yellow. ⏯ undoes the last point. The serve follows the rally winner.
The questions people ask.
How many points do you need to win a game of badminton?
21 points, with a two-point lead from 20 all. At 29 all, the 30th point wins the game.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Law 7How do you serve in badminton?
Diagonally, with both feet still in your service court. The racket hits the base of the shuttle first, and the whole shuttle is below 1.15 m when it is hit.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Law 9.1Which side do you serve from?
In singles, from the right service court when the server’s score is even, 0 included, and from the left when it is odd.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Law 10.1Who serves after a rally?
Always the side that just won it. In doubles, partners only switch service courts when their side scores on its own serve.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Laws 10.3, 11.1 and 11.3Is badminton switching to 15 points?
Yes, from January 4, 2027: games to 15 points, a two-point lead at 14 all, 21 max. Until then, games are played to 21.
BWF, Laws of Badminton in force on January 4, 2027, Laws 7.2 to 7.5In doubles, who serves when your side wins back the serve?
The player on your side standing in the court that matches your score: the right if your score is even, 0 included, the left if it is odd. You don’t switch courts for it: whoever is already there serves.
BWF, Laws of Badminton, version 2.1, 2023, Laws 11.1 and 11.3.2