Badminton is a racket sport where opposing sides rally a shuttle over the net, with official matches played as best-of-three games using rally scoring.
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Standard singles badminton — rally a shuttlecock over a 5-foot net on a 17×44-foot court, playing to 21 points (win by 2, cap at 30) with rally scoring.
Badminton is a racket sport where two players hit a feathered shuttlecock (birdie) back and forth over a high net. Unlike tennis, the shuttlecock cannot bounce — every shot must be taken in the air.
The goal: score 21 points before your opponent by landing the shuttlecock in their court or forcing an error. Every rally scores a point regardless of who served.
Matches are best-of-3 games and typically last 30–50 minutes. The sport demands agility, explosive movement, and precise shot placement.
Court (singles): 17 feet wide × 44 feet long
Net height: 5 feet 1 inch at the center
Racket: Lightweight frame with tight string bed
Shuttlecock: Feathered (tournament) or nylon (recreational) — travels up to 200+ mph off the racket but decelerates rapidly due to drag
Serve underhand from below the waist — the racket must swing upward
Server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts
The shuttlecock must cross the net and land in the opponent's service court
Only one serve attempt — no second serves
Service court alternates based on the server's score:
After the serve, players hit the shuttlecock back and forth over the net
The shuttlecock must not touch the ground — it's always hit in the air
A rally ends when the shuttlecock lands on the court, hits the net, goes out of bounds, or a fault is committed
The full court width (17 ft for singles) is in play, but the back tramlines are in for singles
Every rally scores a point — for whichever player wins it
Games are played to 21 points
Must win by 2 points — at 20–20, play continues
Cap at 30: If the score reaches 29–29, the next point wins (no need for a 2-point lead)
Best-of-3 games
Players switch ends after each game
In the third game, switch ends when either player reaches 11 points
Shuttlecock lands outside the court boundaries
Shuttlecock passes through or under the net
Player touches the net with body or racket
Player hits the shuttlecock before it crosses the net (reaching over)
Shuttlecock hits the ceiling (in indoor play — depends on local rules)
Serve is above the waist or not underhand
Control the center: Return to the middle of the court after every shot
Clear and drop: Use deep clears to push opponents back, then drop shots to pull them forward
Smash selectively: The overhead smash is powerful but leaves you vulnerable if returned
Net play: Tight net shots force opponents to lift the shuttlecock, setting up your attack
Deception: Delay your racket motion to disguise shot direction
Badminton itself uses rally scoring to 21, win by two, with a 30-point cap. In the current How You Rank singles result model, the match is ranked as winner-only rather than by point margin. Use the published score to decide the winner, then preserve game scores in notes if you want the extra context later.
When recording a badminton singles match in How You Rank, select the Singles variant and mark the winning player. If you played a best-of-three match or want score detail, add the game scores in notes, such as 21-18 or 21-17 / 19-21 / 21-14.