Serving is the only shot that starts every rally in badminton, making it one of the most fundamental skills in the game. Whether you’re playing singles or doubles, every serve must follow the official Laws of Badminton laid down by the Badminton World Federation (BWF). A serve that doesn’t comply with these rules is considered a service fault, immediately awarding the rally to your opponent.
Many players spend hours perfecting their technique but often overlook the rules that make a serve legal. Questions about the correct service court, legal service height, foot position, racket movement, and common service faults are among the most frequent concerns for beginners and recreational players alike. In this guide, you’ll learn the official badminton service rules, how a legal serve is judged, the most common service faults, and the basic differences between serving in singles and doubles.
What are the Official Badminton Service Rules?
A badminton serve is the shot used to start every rally. Unlike any other stroke in the game, it must follow a specific set of rules designed to ensure fair play for both the server and the receiver.
To deliver a legal serve, the shuttle must be struck below the 1.15-metre service height and travel diagonally into the opponent’s correct service court. The server must use one continuous forward racket movement without pausing or restarting the action, while both the server and receiver should be ready before the serve begins. In addition, the server must stand in the correct service court based on their score.
These rules apply to both singles and doubles. While the serving sequence differs between the two formats, the basic requirements for a legal serve remain the same.
Read More: Types of Serves in Badminton
General Badminton Service Rules
The official Laws of Badminton outline several rules that every player must follow when serving. Understanding these fundamentals not only helps you avoid unnecessary faults but also ensures every rally starts fairly.
Serve from the Correct Service Court
Your serving position depends on your score.
| Server’s Score | Service Court |
| Even (0, 2, 4…) | Right |
| Odd (1, 3, 5…) | Left |
The receiver always stands diagonally opposite the server, and the shuttle must land inside that corresponding service court. Once the shuttle is struck, players are free to move anywhere on their side of the court. Serving from the wrong service court or to the wrong receiver is considered a fault.
Strike the Shuttle Below the Legal Service Height
At the moment of contact, the entire shuttle must be below 1.15 metres from the court surface. This fixed service height applies to all players, regardless of their height or serving style.
Older players may remember the waist-height service rule that existed before 2018. The BWF replaced it with the current 1.15-metre rule to make service judging more objective and consistent across all levels of competition.
Use One Continuous Service Motion
Once the server begins the service action, the racket must continue moving forward until it strikes the shuttle. Deliberately pausing midway, stopping and restarting the racket movement, or using an illegal deceptive service action is not permitted. A smooth, continuous forward motion is required for every legal serve.
Keep Both Feet in Contact with the Court
Until the shuttle is struck, both the server and receiver must remain stationary with both feet in contact with the court surface. Players must not lift, drag, or step with either foot before making contact with the shuttle. Small body movements are allowed, but any movement that provides an unfair advantage may result in a service fault.
Wait Until the Receiver is Ready
The serve should begin only after both players are ready. Starting the service before the receiver is prepared can interrupt play and may result in a fault or the rally being replayed, depending on the situation. Similarly, receivers should avoid delaying play unnecessarily once they are ready.
Serve Diagonally
Every badminton serve must travel diagonally across the net and land inside the opponent’s correct service court. If the shuttle lands outside the service court, fails to cross the net, or lands in the wrong service court, the serve is ruled a fault, and the opposing side wins the rally.
How is a Badminton Serve Judged?
In professional badminton, the umpire is assisted by a service judge, whose role is to determine whether a serve complies with the official Laws of Badminton. Rather than judging where the shuttle lands, the service judge focuses on the server’s action before the rally begins.
A service judge checks that the shuttle is struck below the legal service height of 1.15 metres, the racket moves in one continuous forward motion, both feet remain in contact with the court until the shuttle is hit, and the serve is delivered only after both players are ready. If any of these rules are violated, a service fault is called, and the rally is awarded to the receiving side.
Did you know? Before 2018, service judges used the server’s waist as the reference point. Today, the BWF uses a fixed 1.15-metre service height, making service judging more consistent for players of different heights.
Badminton Service Rules in Singles
The general service rules remain the same in singles, but the service court changes according to the server’s score. A player serves from the right service court when their score is even and from the left service court when it is odd. Every serve must be played diagonally into the opponent’s correct service court, and the server continues serving as long as they keep winning rallies. If they lose a rally, the opponent gains both the point and the right to serve.
Since only one player occupies each side of the court, there is no service rotation or serving order to remember, making singles service easier to understand than doubles.
Badminton Service Rules in Doubles
The same legal serving rules apply in doubles, but the serving sequence is more complex because two players share each side of the court. The serving side starts from the right service court when its score is even and the left service court when it is odd. Unlike singles, the same player continues serving while their side keeps winning rallies, switching service courts after each point. When the serving side loses a rally, service passes to the opposing team, which serves according to its own score.
Because doubles also involves service rotation and a fixed serving order between partners, players need to pay close attention to their court positions throughout the match. Learn more about service rotation, serving order, and court positions in our detailed guide to Badminton Doubles Service Rules.
Common Badminton Service Faults
A service fault occurs when the server breaks any of the official Laws of Badminton during the service. When a fault is called, the rally ends immediately, and the opposing side wins the point and the right to serve.
Some of the most common badminton service faults include:
- Serving from the wrong service court: Players must serve from the right service court when their score is even and the left service court when it is odd.
- Striking the shuttle above the legal service height: At the moment of contact, the entire shuttle must be below 1.15 metres from the court surface.
- Moving your feet before contact: Both the server and receiver must keep their feet in contact with the court until the shuttle is struck.
- Using an illegal service motion: The racket must move in one continuous forward motion. Pausing, stopping, or restarting the service action is not allowed.
- Serving before the receiver is ready: The serve should only begin when both the server and receiver are prepared to start the rally.
- Serving outside the correct service court: The shuttle must travel diagonally and land inside the opponent’s correct service court. Landing outside the service court or failing to cross the net results in a fault.
Common Service Mistakes Beginners Make
Even if you know the rules, it’s easy to make mistakes while serving. Here are some of the most common ones to avoid:
- Forgetting to check the score: Your score determines whether you serve from the right or left service court. Serving from the wrong side results in a service fault.
- Rushing the serve: Starting the service before the receiver is ready or rushing through the service motion can lead to unnecessary faults.
- Following the old waist-height rule: The current BWF rules require the shuttle to be struck below 1.15 metres, not below the waist.
- Not practising both singles and doubles: Although the legal serving rules are the same, the serving sequence differs between the two formats. Practising both helps you apply the rules correctly during matches.
Conclusion
Badminton service rules are designed to ensure every rally starts fairly. Understanding the correct service court, legal service height, racket movement, foot position, and common service faults will help you deliver a legal serve consistently and avoid giving away easy points.
Once you’re familiar with these fundamentals, you can build on them by learning the format-specific rules for singles and doubles. Explore our dedicated guides on Badminton Singles Service Rules and Badminton Doubles Service Rules to understand their serving sequences, court positions, and match scenarios in greater detail.
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Frequently Asked Questions
A legal badminton serve must be played diagonally into the opponent’s correct service court, with the shuttle struck below 1.15 metres, the racket moving in one continuous forward motion, and both players ready before the serve begins.
The four main types of badminton serves are the low serve, high serve, flick serve, and drive serve. Each serve is used in different situations depending on whether you’re playing singles or doubles and your match strategy.
A serve is illegal if it breaks the official Laws of Badminton. Common reasons include striking the shuttle above the 1.15-metre service height, serving from the wrong service court, moving your feet before hitting the shuttle, using an interrupted service motion, or serving before the receiver is ready.
A badminton serve is performed by striking the shuttle below the legal service height and sending it diagonally into the opponent’s correct service court. The server must use one continuous forward racket movement and ensure both players are ready before serving.
Common serving mistakes include serving from the wrong service court, rushing the serve before the receiver is ready, striking the shuttle above the legal service height, moving your feet before contact, and using an interrupted racket motion.
A service fault occurs when a player makes an illegal serve by breaking the official Laws of Badminton. Common examples include serving from the wrong service court, striking the shuttle above the legal service height, moving the feet before contact, serving before the receiver is ready, or failing to serve diagonally into the correct service court. When a service fault is called, the opposing side wins the point and the right to serve.
A service fault occurs when a player breaks any of the official serving rules, such as serving from the wrong service court, striking the shuttle above the legal service height, moving their feet before contact, or serving before the receiver is ready. When a service fault is called, the rally ends immediately, and the opposing side wins the point and the right to serve.
No. During the serve, the server and receiver must stand within their respective service courts and must not step on or over the boundary lines until the shuttle is struck. Doing so is considered a service fault.
No. An overarm serve is not allowed. The shuttle must be struck below the legal service height using a legal underhand service action.
Serve from the right service court when your score is even and from the left service court when your score is odd.
