Which side do you serve from in badminton?
B · Beginner · Serving · 5 of 8Checked 13 October 2026
Serve from the right service court when your score is even (including zero) and from the left when it is odd. The serve goes diagonally. In singles the service court is long and narrow: it runs to the back line but uses the inner side lines.
How it works
- Even score (0, 2, 4 and so on): the server serves from the right court, and the receiver stands in their right court.
- Odd score: from the left court.
- It is the server's own score that decides.
- If the server wins the rally, they serve again from the other court.
- If the receiver wins it, the receiver becomes the server and serves from the court that matches their own score.
- After the serve, players can hit from anywhere on their side of the net.
- Singles service court: between the short service line (1.98 metres from the net) and the back boundary line, inside the singles side line.
Tricky cases
Whose score decides the side: the server's or the receiver's?
The server's.
A serve landed on the short service line. Is it in?
Yes. A shuttle on a line of the service court is in.
Why the rule exists
Alternating courts makes the server serve to both sides, and tying the side to the score gives everyone a way to check the score and positions.
Where it differs
| Where | What changes | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Singles | Long, narrow service court | L10; Diagram A |
| Doubles | Short, wide service court | L11; Diagram A |
| Para badminton half-court classes | Serve from and into their one service court | L10.1.3 |
From the rule book
BWF Laws of Badminton, Laws 9.1 and 10 and Diagram A, version 5.0, in force from 26 April 2025. Checked 13 October 2026. Official document: BWF Laws of Badminton (PDF).