Badminton looks simple until the serve goes wrong. A single foot fault, a racket swung too high, or a shuttle struck above the shoulder can hand a point straight to your opponent, and most players learn this the hard way. Understanding the official service rules in badminton is the fastest way to avoid needless faults and to spot when an opponent (or umpire) has made the wrong call.
This guide breaks down the current laws of badminton as published by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), including the 2018 fixed-height service rule, the differences between singles and doubles service, and the most common service faults players run into at club and tournament levels.
What Counts as a “Service” in Badminton
The service (or serve) is the shot that starts every rally. It is played underarm, diagonally across the court, and must land inside the receiver’s service court for play to continue legally. Because the serve is the only shot in badminton governed by such a detailed, specific set of laws, the BWF treats service faults strictly; a fault ends the rally immediately and awards the point (or the right to serve) to the opponent.
The rules covering service are set out in Law 9 of the BWF Laws of Badminton, which apply to sanctioned tournaments worldwide. Club and recreational play generally follows the same principles, though enforcement is typically more relaxed without a service judge present.
Basic Service Rules Every Player Must Follow
Regardless of whether you play singles or doubles, every legal serve in badminton must satisfy the following conditions at the moment the racket contacts the shuttle:
- Continuous forward motion: Once the backswing of the racket begins, the service motion must continue forward without any pause or double action until the shuttle is struck.
- Underarm strike below 1.15 metres: The whole shuttle must be struck below 1.15 metres from the surface of the court, as measured at the point of impact.
- Downward-facing racket head: At the moment of impact, the shaft and head of the server’s racket must point in a downward direction, so the whole racket head is discernibly below the server’s hand holding the racket.
- Cork struck first: The base (cork) of the shuttle in badminton must always be hit before the feathers. Striking the feathers first is considered a service fault and immediately ends the rally.
- Feet stay grounded: Part of both feet, from the server and receiver, must remain in contact with the court surface, without touching any line, from the start of the service until it is delivered.
- No undue delay: Neither side may cause unnecessary delay once both server and receiver indicate they are ready.
- Diagonal delivery: The shuttle must travel diagonally across the court and land within the boundary lines of the correct service court.
The 1.15-Metre Service Height Rule Explained
For decades, the service rules in badminton required the shuttle to be struck below the server’s waist, defined as an imaginary line around the body at the height of the lowest rib. This standard was widely criticised for being inconsistent, since a player’s “waist” is subjective and varies by body shape, making it difficult for service judges to officiate fairly.
In March 2018, the BWF introduced an experimental fixed-height service law, first trialled at the Yonex All England Open. Under this law, the shuttle must be struck below 1.15 metres from the court surface at the moment of contact, regardless of the player’s height. The change was intended to create one objective, measurable standard rather than relying on a judgment call.
This fixed-height rule became a permanent part of the Laws of Badminton and is now used at all BWF-sanctioned international tournaments. Service judges use a purpose-built measuring frame held beside the server to check compliance. Outside of top-level competition, many clubs, schools, and recreational leagues have not adopted the measuring equipment, so the traditional below-the-waist principle typically still applies in casual play.
Singles Service Rules in Badminton
In singles, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts. The rules that decide which service court to serve from are based on the current score:
- If the server’s score is even (0, 2, 4…), the serve is delivered from the right-hand service court.
- If the server’s score is odd (1, 3, 5…), the serve is delivered from the left-hand service court.
- A point is scored on every rally; the winner of the rally serves next, switching sides if the score parity changes.
Because there is no second server in singles, losing a service rally simply passes the serve to the opponent rather than ending an “innings”, as happens in doubles.
Doubles Service Rules in Badminton
Doubles adds an extra layer to the service sequence because each side has two players, and only one of them serves at a time from a specific court. The main points to note:
- As in singles, an even server score means serving from the right court; an odd score means serving from the left.
- The service court a player serves from and the court their partner occupies depend on the score and which player served last, not on fixed positions.
- When the receiving side wins a rally, they gain the right to serve, and their new server serves from the appropriate court based on their own score, without switching sides unless the score requires it.
- Only the first server of the very first service of the match, for either side, gets a single service opportunity before the serve passes to the opposing side; after that, both players on a side generally get a turn to serve before the serve passes to the opponents (except at the very start of the game).
This sequence can be confusing for newer players, but it is designed to ensure that, over a full game, both players on a side serve a roughly equal number of times.
Singles vs. Doubles Service: Quick Comparison
| Aspect | Singles | Doubles |
| Service court width | Uses the full width of the court, excluding the doubles side alleys | Uses the narrower court width, excluding the back doubles alley (long service line applies) |
| Service court length | Extends to the back boundary line | Extends only to the short service line at the front and the long service line at the back |
| Who can serve | Either player, alternating after each lost rally | One designated player per side at a time, based on score and serving order |
| Court to serve from | Right court on even score, left on odd score | Right court on even score, left on odd score (per individual server’s score) |
Common Service Faults in Badminton
A service fault ends the rally immediately, and the point (and/or the serve) goes to the opponent. The most frequent faults seen in match play are:
| Fault | Description |
| Height fault | The shuttle is struck at or above 1.15 metres (or above the waist in non-measured play) |
| Racket-head fault | The racket head is not pointing downward at the moment of contact |
| Foot fault | Either player lifts a foot, steps on a line, or moves before the shuttle is struck |
| Double motion | The server pauses or moves the racket back and forth before completing the serve |
| Missed or mishit serve | The server misses the shuttle entirely or hits the feathers before the cork |
| Wrong service court | The shuttle lands outside the correct diagonal service court or touches the net excessively |
| Undue delay | The server takes an unreasonable amount of time once both players are ready |
Let vs. Fault: What’s the Difference?
Players sometimes confuse a service “let” with a service “fault”, but they lead to very different outcomes:
- Fault: A rule violation that immediately ends the rally in the receiver’s favour (or the server’s, if the receiver commits it). Play does not restart.
- Let: A stoppage that requires the point to be replayed with no change in score, for example, if the receiver was not ready when the serve was struck or an unforeseen disturbance occurred.
Tips to Keep Your Serve Legal
- Keep your racket head visibly angled downward through the entire swing, not just at contact.
- Practise a smooth, single-motion backswing and forward swing without pausing.
- Aim to contact the shuttle at hip height or lower to stay safely under the 1.15-metre limit.
- Keep part of both feet on the court and away from the lines until after you strike the shuttle.
- If you play competitively, practise in front of a mirror or with a partner, checking your service height and motion.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the legal height for a badminton serve?
At BWF-sanctioned tournaments, the whole shuttle must be struck below 1.15 metres from the court surface. In casual or club play without measuring equipment, players typically apply the older below-the-waist standard instead.
Can you serve overhand in badminton?
No. A legal serve must be delivered underarm, with the racket head pointing downward and the shuttle contacted below the permitted height. An overhand or sidearm serve above this height is a fault.
What happens if you commit a service fault?
The rally stops immediately, and the point, along with the right to serve, if applicable, passes to the opposing side.
Do the feet need to stay still during a serve?
Yes. Both the server and receiver must keep part of both feet in contact with the court, without touching any line, from the start of the service until the shuttle is struck.
Is the 1.15-metre rule used in every badminton match?
It is mandatory at BWF-sanctioned international tournaments. Many recreational leagues and school matches have not adopted the measuring equipment, so they generally continue to apply the traditional below-the-waist guideline.
Who serves first in a badminton match?
The side that wins the initial coin toss or shuttle spin typically chooses whether to serve first, receive first, or pick which end of the court to start on.
Conclusion
The service rules in badminton exist to keep the start of every rally fair, consistent, and free from ambiguity. While the 2018 shift to a fixed 1.15-metre height standard changed how top-level matches are officiated, the underlying principles, an underarm strike, a downward-facing racket, continuous motion, and grounded feet, have remained the foundation of a legal serve for years. Whether you’re preparing for a sanctioned tournament or simply want to stop losing cheap points at your local club, mastering these fundamentals will make your service far more reliable and far less likely to draw a fault call.
