How is para badminton different?
A · Advanced · The court, the net, the shuttle and the racket · 4 of 4Para badminton uses the same Laws with a few changes. Wheelchair players use a smaller court, serve with the shuttle below the armpit and must stay seated when hitting. One standing class plays singles on half the court. All other standing classes use the standard court.
How it works
Wheelchair badminton:
- The court is smaller, as set out in the Laws' diagrams.
- At the serve, the wheels of both players must be still, apart from the natural counter-movement of the server's chair.
- The whole shuttle must be below the server's armpit when hit.
- When the shuttle is hit, part of the player's trunk must be in contact with the seat.
- Feet must be fixed to the footrest and must not touch the floor during play.
- A shuttle caught in or on the net is a fault, not a let.
- The wheelchair counts as part of the player: a shuttle touching it is a fault.
- A player may be allowed one extra interval to catheterise.
Standing badminton:
- One class (SL 3) plays singles on half the court. The other standing classes use the standard court.
- A crutch counts as part of the player.
- Some players may have medically approved exceptions to the rule on keeping the feet still at the serve.
Tricky cases
Is the scoring different in para badminton?
No. It follows the same Laws.
Who decides which class a player is in?
Classification panels under the BWF's para badminton classification regulations, which are a separate document.
Why the rule exists
The changes keep the game fair and safe for each group of players while leaving the scoring and the strokes the same.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Wheelchair classes | As above | L1.1.1, 5.2, 9.1.4.1, 9.1.6.1, 13.3.4.1, 13.3.10, 13.4.6, 16.5.3 |
| Standing class playing half-court | Half-court singles | L1.1.2; Diagram F |
| Classification | Separate BWF regulations | research/official-rules/para-badminton/ |
From the rule book
BWF Laws of Badminton, the clauses in italics that apply to para badminton only, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: BWF Laws of Badminton (PDF).