Badminton Doubles Serve Rotation Simulator
Visualize how players rotate in badminton doubles after each point. Click "Team 1 Scores" or "Team 2 Scores" to step through the rotation and see exactly who serves, from which court, and where every player stands -- all according to official BWF rules.
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How Doubles Serve Rotation Works
The doubles rotation system seems complex at first, but it follows a simple set of rules. The simulator above demonstrates these rules visually, but here is a text summary:
For the full doubles rules including court dimensions, tramlines, and positioning, see the complete doubles rules guide.
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Frequently Asked Questions
How does doubles serve rotation work in badminton?
At the start of a game, the serving team picks which player serves first (from the right court, since 0 is even). If the serving team wins the rally, the same server serves again but both players on the serving team swap sides. The receiving team stays put. If the receiving team wins the rally, they gain the serve -- the player in the correct court for their score (even = right, odd = left) becomes the new server, and nobody swaps sides.
Do both teams swap sides when the serve changes in doubles?
No. Only the serving team swaps sides, and only when they score a point (because the same server must serve from the other court). When the receiving team wins the rally and gains the serve, neither team swaps. The player already standing in the correct service court for the new score becomes the server.
How do you know which side to serve from in doubles?
Look at the serving team's score. If it is even (0, 2, 4...), the server serves from the right court. If it is odd (1, 3, 5...), the server serves from the left court. This is the same even/odd rule used in singles.
What happens at the start of a new game in doubles?
At the start of each game, the serving team chooses which player serves first, and the receiving team chooses which player receives first. Both teams start fresh -- previous game positions do not carry over. The first serve is always from the right court (score 0-0, even).
Can the same player serve twice in a row in doubles?
Yes. As long as the serving team keeps winning rallies, the same player continues to serve (alternating between right and left courts). The server only changes when the receiving team wins a rally and gains the serve.