How a badminton match works

Shown with singles, one player a side, the form to watch first.

1. The players hit a shuttle over the net. A rally ends when it lands, goes out or into the net, or someone makes a fault.
2. Whoever wins the rally scores a point, whether they served or not, and serves next.
3. The first to 21 points wins the game. At 20-all a player must lead by two; at 29-all the 30th point wins.
4. A match is the best of three games. There are no draws.

Reading the score

A score such as 21-18, 15-12 means the first game was won 21-18 and the second stands at 15-12.

How long

There is no clock: the match ends when a player wins two games. Players get up to 60 seconds when the leader reaches 11 in a game, and up to 120 seconds between games.

What is changing

From 4 January 2027 games go to 15 points, with a two-point lead needed from 14-all, and the mid-game break comes at 8.

Doubles

The same scoring, two a side, on a wider court: men's, women's and mixed doubles each have their own champion.