BASIC RULES OF BADMINTON: Learn how to play badminton rules – the simple way. Professional badminton is a pacy indoor racket game.
We start off with the most important 10 simple rules of badminton game.
Some countries refer to the game as a recreational and ‘simple backyard sport‘. Yet, competitive badminton is a fast-flowing test of your agility and movement.
You need speedy footwork, physical stamina, and sharp awareness around the court. Your game is certain to improve once you learn these top 10 rules of badminton.
The basic rules in playing badminton are often termed ‘a physical game of chess‘. And it’s called that for a good reason, as most competitors will tell you.
Take your time looking through the simplified guide of the top 10 ‘how to play badminton rules‘ below.
This is only a simplified snapshot and overview of the BWF Official Laws of Badminton. The Badminton World Federation governs and regulates the codified rules of the sport.
10 Rules of Badminton
The focus of these 10 badminton regulations is for complete beginners. Even so, all those who enjoy playing competitive racket sports may get some benefit. It surprises most people how much energy and power you need to achieve all round enjoyment.
The game combines physical fitness with mental dexterity. It never fails to test your delicate touches at the net and strategic cross court service skills.
1. Aim of the Game
The first of the 10 rules for badminton beginners is about the aim of winning. Badminton is a racket sport which is most often played on an indoor court. The aim of the game is to play rallies by hitting a shuttlecock over a net to your opponent.
A shuttlecock is a lightweight feathered projectile. It is usually made of cork and feathers and often called a ‘bird‘ or ‘birdie‘. The player who wins most out of three games is the match winner.
Note: There are more keywords information and meanings in our A to Z badminton glossary of terminologies.
2. Equipment
You play indoor badminton on a rectangular court with a net in the center. The vertical net separates two equal sections.
Players use a racket to hit the shuttle. A badminton shuttlecock is a lightweight hollow cone-shaped object usually with plastic feathers.
3. Players
Players in professional badminton games include five different formats of opponents. The formats are either two singles rules individuals or two paired teams.
The official rules allow tournaments of men’s and women’s singles, men’s and women’s doubles, or mixed gender doubles.
4. Starting the Game
A game of badminton begins with the toss of a coin. Winning the toss means you decide between serving the shuttle first instead of receiving, or choosing which side of the court you prefer to start the game. Losing the toss means you take the remaining options.
Badminton games start at 0 – 0 or ‘love all‘ and there is commonly a two minute break at the end of each game.
5. General Play
As a rule badminton gets played indoors to avoid the influence of the wind and weather. Even so, noncompetitive games are often played in the backyard or garden.
Rallies are much like the rules and regulations of tennis games. Players hit the shuttlecock to each other back and forth over the net until it touches the ground or a player commits a fault.
The first 5 rules of badminton are probably the easiest to understand for beginners. So now let’s finish the lesson by explaining the remaining five key points which make up the 10 major rules of badminton.
6. Serving
The correct procedures for serving the shuttlecock over the net rates among the most confusing of all 10 rules of badminton game. In each serve the shuttle must fly diagonally across the court to be legal.
The birdie should get struck from below the waist using the ‘odds and evens‘ service rules.
Your opponent should be motionless until you complete the serve. The server cannot make contact with any court rules lines until the shuttlecock passes from your half. Winners of the previous game serve first in the next after changing ends.
7. Scoring
One point gets awarded for wining a rally and when your opponent commits a fault, as a rule. Typically, a match consists of three games playing to 21 points in each game.
But, you should have a two point margin to avoid playing on to 29 and 30 for sudden death deciders.
8. Main Regulations
Players should not touch the net with their body or racket at any time. Likewise, you are not allowed to reach over the net to play a shot.
Shuttles should not get carried or caught resting on the racket. You can only strike the birdie once each time you pass it to your opponent after it has crossed over the net.
A fault occurs if the shuttle does not cross the net, lands outside the court boundary, or hits the roof or ceiling.
9. Officials
Professional badminton rules and regulations state that games must get regulated and officiated by a badminton umpire, a line judge, and a service judge. A tournament referee may oversee multiple competitive matches during one championship.
10. Winning the Match
The match winner is the player who wins two from the three game series played. You need at least a two point margin at 21 to win a game otherwise play continues to 29.
At 29 points all, only a one point margin is then required. Thus, in this situation the first player to reach 30 would get considered as the match winner.