Badminton scoring
Badminton uses rally scoring to 21 points per game, with matches decided over the best of three games.
Overview
Badminton is scored on every rally: whichever side wins the rally scores a point and serves next, regardless of who served before. A point is won when the shuttle lands inside the opponent's court or the opponent hits it out or into the net.
Games are played to a target score with a two-point margin, and a match is decided over multiple games. The side that reaches the target first, with enough of a lead, takes the game, and the first to win the required number of games wins the match.
How it works
- The side winning a rally scores a point and takes the next serve.
- A game is won by the first side to 21 points with a lead of at least two.
- If the score reaches 20-all, play continues until one side leads by two, up to a maximum winning score of 30.
- A point is won when the shuttle lands in bounds on the opponent's side or the opponent faults.
- A match is won by taking two games out of three.
Where it’s used
Sports that use badminton scoring:
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Rules
- Touching the netA net-play rule that penalises a player for contacting the net during a rally in net-divided sports.
- Badminton serve rulesThe rules for how a badminton serve must be delivered and where it must land.
- LetA call that stops a point and has it replayed without penalty, used across several racket sports.
- Three-hit ruleThe volleyball rule that a team may contact the ball at most three times before it must cross the net.
Officiating
- UmpireA match official who rules on lines, serves and dismissals in racket, bat-and-ball and net sports such as tennis, cricket and baseball — and, in racket sports, also keeps the running score.
- Out-of-Bounds CallAn official's ruling that the ball or a player in possession has left the legal playing area, stopping play and handing a restart or possession to the opponent.
- Video ReviewVideo review lets officials re-examine footage of a contested moment to confirm or overturn a close call — a goal, a line, a foul — an aid used across many sports.
Skills
Techniques
- Badminton SmashA powerful, steeply downward overhead stroke that drives the shuttlecock sharply into the opponent's court to win the rally.
- Badminton ClearAn overhead stroke that sends the shuttlecock high and deep to the opponent's back court, resetting the rally or buying time.
- Flat, slice and kick servesThe three serves and what actually separates them — the contact point on the ball and the toss that makes it possible — plus what each one does to the ball after it bounces.
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How this page is maintained
- Content type
- Scoring system
- Provenance
- Tier A — evergreen educational
- Verified external sources
- 0
- Content updated
- 2026-09-12
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