Guide · Rules

Badminton doubles rules

A concise reference for the rules that come up most often in casual doubles sessions — scoring, service rotation, court boundaries, and what counts as a fault.

Scoring at a glance

Every rally scores a point — whether you're serving or not. This is called rally point scoring, which has been the standard since 2006. The team that wins the rally scores the point, and the team that wins the point serves next.

At the start of each new game, the team that won the previous game serves first. A 1-minute interval is taken between games, and at the start of the third game (if it reaches one) both teams switch ends when the first team reaches 11 points.

Service — the mechanics

Before every serve, both the server and receiver must be standing in their respective service courts and must not move until the shuttle is struck.

• The shuttle must be hit below the server's waist — specifically, below the lowest rib.
• The racket head must be pointing downward at the moment of contact.
• The server must not make a feinting motion once the serving action has started.
• Both of the server's feet must be stationary on the ground, not touching any court lines.
• The shuttle must travel upward from the server's racket to cross the net.

Service courts

Which side of the court you serve from depends on your team's current score, not the opponent's.

The serve must travel diagonally — from your service court into the diagonally opposite service court on the other side of the net.

One half of the court shown. Side alleys are in play during rallies but out for service. The shuttle must land between the two service lines on a serve.

Service rotation

The core rule: only the player in the correct service court serves. "Correct" is determined by the team's score — even score means the right court serves, odd means the left court serves. Players' court positions are fixed at the start of a game and change only when their team wins a rally.

When your team wins a rally (you were serving)

Your team scores a point. The same player serves again, but from the other service court, because the score has changed by one (even ↔ odd). Both partners swap sides.

When your team wins a rally (they were serving)

Your team becomes the new serving team. No one changes court position. Whichever of you is now standing in the correct court (based on your new score) becomes the server.

During the rally

Once the serve is in play, there are no restrictions on court positions. Both players on a team can move freely anywhere on their side of the court. The side alleys come into play — a shuttle landing on any line is considered in.

A shuttle landing on a line is in. Players may not reach over the net to play the shuttle — your racket may follow through over the net, but only after contact has been made on your own side.

Common faults

• The shuttle lands outside the court boundary (on the back trampolino during service, or anywhere outside during a rally)
• The shuttle passes under or through the net
• The shuttle is hit twice by the same player, or by both players on the same team in a single stroke
• A player touches the net with their racket or body while the shuttle is in play
• A player reaches over the net to play the shuttle before it has crossed to their side
• The shuttle hits the ceiling or any wall or fixture
• During service: the server steps on or over a court line, or the shuttle lands outside the service court

Let (replay)

A let is called and the rally is replayed when:

• The server serves before the receiver is ready (and the receiver makes no attempt to return)
• The shuttle gets caught on top of the net after crossing it
• An unforeseen disturbance interrupts play (a shuttle from another court, for example)

Also useful: How fair player rotations work →