Badminton Serve Rules: Complete Guide for Singles & Doubles
The serve is the most regulated stroke in badminton. Every rally begins with a service, and understanding the rules around it is essential for fair play at any level. This guide covers the official Badminton World Federation (BWF) service regulations for both singles and doubles.
The Basic Service Rules
Under BWF Laws of Badminton, the service must meet several conditions simultaneously. The server and receiver must stand within their respective service courts diagonally opposite each other. Neither player may touch the boundary lines of the service court while the serve is being delivered.
Singles Serve Rules
In singles, the service court is the long, narrow box: the full length of the court (including the back tramline) but only the inner sideline. The key rule that determines which side you serve from is your score:
In singles, you serve and receive from the same side as your score dictates. When you win a rally on your serve, you score a point and switch sides for the next serve. When your opponent wins the rally, they score a point and become the server, serving from the side that corresponds to their new score.
The service court for singles extends to the back boundary line (the long service line is the outer back line). However, the sidelines are narrower -- you use the inner sideline, not the outer doubles sideline. This means your serve has the full depth of the court but a narrower width.
Doubles Serve Rules
Doubles service follows the same even/odd court rule, but with an important difference: the service court is shorter and wider. You use the outer sideline (wider court) but the inner back line (shorter depth). The serve must land before the doubles long service line, which is the line 76 cm (2.5 feet) in from the back boundary.
The Rotation System
Doubles serve rotation confuses many players, but the rule is straightforward once you understand the principle. Here is how it works step by step:
A critical point: in doubles, players on the serving side swap courts when they score a point, but players on the receiving side never swap courts when they win the serve. The position you are in when you gain the serve determines who serves next -- it is always the player in the service court that matches the current score parity.
Service Faults
A service fault results in the point being awarded to the receiver. The umpire (or opposing player in casual play) can call a fault for any of these violations:
For a full breakdown of all fault types including rally faults, see the complete faults guide.
Court Positioning: Even and Odd Scores
The even/odd rule is the foundation of badminton service positioning and applies to both singles and doubles:
Think of the right court as the "home" court -- every game starts there because 0-0 is even. As a memory aid: even = right, odd = left. If you can remember that single rule, you will always know where to stand.
Common Service Mistakes
These are the most frequent serving errors that players make, especially at the recreational and club level:
Serving from the wrong court
This is by far the most common mistake. Players lose track of the score and serve from the wrong side. If the error is discovered before the next serve, the point stands but the players correct their positions. If it is not discovered, play continues from the "wrong" positions and they become the "correct" positions going forward.
Lifting feet during the serve
Many players develop a habit of stepping forward or rocking onto their toes as they serve. Both feet must remain in contact with the court surface until the shuttle leaves the racket. A slight heel lift is enough for a fault call at the competitive level.
Hitting the shuttle too high
The fixed-height rule (1.15 metres) was introduced in 2018 to make judging more consistent. Before this, the waist-height rule was subjective. At the recreational level, the guideline remains simple: the shuttle must be clearly below your waist at the moment of contact.
Doubles: receivers switching before the serve
In doubles, the receiving side does not swap positions when the serve changes to them. Many players instinctively switch sides, but the correct rule is to stay in whichever court you were in when you won the rally. The player in the correct court (matching the score parity) receives.
Delaying the serve
Once both server and receiver are ready, the serve must be delivered without undue delay. Repeatedly bouncing the shuttle, adjusting clothing, or taking excessive time can be penalized. At the competitive level, the umpire can issue a fault for delay of play.
Related Guides
Frequently Asked Questions
Can you serve overhand in badminton?
No. The shuttle must be below 1.15 metres from the court surface (or below the server's waist) at the moment of contact, and the racket head must point downward. This effectively prevents overhand serves. The rule exists to prevent the server from gaining an unfair attacking advantage on the first stroke.
What happens if you serve from the wrong court?
If the error is caught before the next serve is delivered, the rally result stands but the players move to the correct positions. If the mistake is not noticed and play continues, the new positions become the established positions going forward. The score is not affected either way.
Can the shuttle hit the net on a serve in badminton?
Yes. Unlike tennis, there is no let rule for the serve hitting the net. If the shuttle clips the net cord and lands in the correct service court, it is a valid serve and play continues. If it hits the net and falls on the server's side or lands outside the service court, it is a fault.
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...), serve from the right court. If it is odd (1, 3, 5...), serve from the left court. The same rule applies in singles. The player who happens to be on that side is the one who serves.
Can you move your feet during the serve?
No. Both feet must stay in contact with the court surface in a stationary position until the serve is delivered. You may shift your weight, but lifting, dragging, or sliding a foot is a service fault.
What is the 1.15 metre rule in badminton?
Introduced by the BWF in 2018 for international competition, this rule sets a fixed height of 1.15 metres from the court surface as the maximum point of contact for a serve. It replaced the subjective 'below the waist' guideline to make judging more consistent across different body types and umpires.
Is a flick serve legal in badminton?
Yes. A flick serve is legal as long as it meets all the standard service rules: contact below 1.15 metres, racket head pointing down, continuous forward motion, and both feet stationary. The flick serve uses a quick wrist snap to send the shuttle high and deep, which is a common tactic in doubles to push the receiver to the back court.