How do you score a point in badminton?

B · Beginner · How do you score and win? · 1 of 8

Checked 13 October 2026

Whoever wins the rally scores a point, whether they served or not. A side wins a rally when the shuttle lands inside the opponent's court or the opponent commits a fault, such as hitting it out or into the net. The winner of the rally also serves next.

How it works

A rally starts with the serve and ends when the shuttle is no longer in play.
The side that wins the rally adds one point.
If the server wins, the same player serves again, from the other service court.
If the receiver wins, the receiving side scores and becomes the serving side.
The shuttle is out of play when it hits the floor, when it hits the net or post and starts to fall on the hitter's side, or when a fault or let is called.

Tricky cases

Do you have to be serving to score?

No. Either side scores by winning the rally.

The shuttle landed on the line. Whose point?

The hitter's. A shuttle on the line is in, because the lines are part of the court they mark.

The shuttle hit the net and dropped over. Is that a point?

Yes, if it lands in the opponent's court. A shuttle may touch the net on the way over in a rally.

Why the rule exists

Scoring on every rally makes each rally count and keeps match lengths more predictable than the old system, where only the server could score.

Where it differs

Where	What changes	Source
All badminton under the BWF Laws	As above	L7.3, 10.3, 11.3, 15

From the rule book

BWF Laws of Badminton, Laws 7.3, 10.3, 11.3 and 15, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: BWF Laws of Badminton (PDF).