Badminton doubles service rules explain how a rally must begin in a doubles match, covering where players should stand, who serves, how the shuttle is struck, and where it must land. Unlike singles, doubles service follows a strict diagonal pattern and a fixed serving order based on the team’s score and court position. The server must deliver the shuttle from the correct service court, below the legal height, and only after ensuring the receiver is ready. Any error, such as serving from the wrong court or out of turn, results in a fault and a point for the opponent.
This guide breaks down the official rules governing doubles service, including legal serves, service court rules, common faults, and serving order, helping you serve correctly and play with confidence every time.
Types of Serves in Badminton
A serve or service in Badminton is when a player hits the shuttlecock with the racquet to the opponent’s side over the net. The shuttlecock should not get stuck in the net and should stay in the periphery of the playing area.
There are primarily two types of services.
High serve
The high service is usually a good start to a rally. It is hit in the upward direction to cross the net and land deep on the opponent’s side. The best thing about this service is that the opponent is forced to play a defensive shot, giving you time to play an attacking reshot. However, you need to ensure that the shuttlecock does not go beyond the court’s boundary.
Low serve
Also known as the short service in the rules and regulations of Badminton doubles, this kind of service has the shuttlecock land close to the front service line after just passing over the net. The best thing about this service is that you gain a better position while the opponent has to lift the shuttlecock by running towards the net.
Other than these, there are strategic ones.
Flick serve
A flick serve is a clever and deceptive serve where you hit the shuttlecock in an upward direction. The trick in the serve is that the speed of the racquet increases in the last millisecond. The shuttlecock goes higher and farther, which confuses the opponent and allows you to take the attack position, which pushes the opponent deep into the court to strike back.
Drive serve
This is the service in Badminton doubles, where the shuttlecock is served at the fastest speed. The objective of this service is to make it flat and fast at the same time. This gives the opponent less time to prepare and intercept the attack. Further, it limits the opponent’s ability to strike back effectively.
Badminton Doubles Service Terminology
The basic terms related to Badminton doubles service court rules are easy to understand. Here are some of them!
- Service court: It is the area from where one serves.
- Service line: The service line defines the service and runs parallel to the back boundary line.
- Service box: It is a small box in the service court. The player needs to stand in this box to hit the service shot.
Read More: Badminton Singles Rules
General Service Rules in Badminton Doubles
No matter if it is a singles or a doubles Badminton game, there are some game rules that remain the same. These rules include some service rules too.
Rule 1: The first service rule for both the singles and doubles formats is the cross-court service. No matter who the server is, the server and the opponent must serve and collect while standing at the diagonal edges of the court.
Rule 2: Both the server and the opponent must stand still on the court until the shuttlecock is served. No one should move!
Rule 3: Under no circumstances should the boundary line of the court be touched, or it will be considered a fault. But, if the shuttlecock lands on the boundary line or the long service line of the opponent, it is not a fault.
Rule 4: You must serve from the right court if your score is zero (love) or any even number. If your score is odd, you must serve from the left court. Hence, as per the Badminton doubles service court rules, you must change the serving side every time you score a point.
Rule 5: When you are serving, the height of the shuttlecock should be below 1.15 meters from the court’s surface. If it goes above that, it is a fault.
Rule 6: There should not be any halt in the motion of the service after you hit the base of the shuttle.
Rule 7: When you serve, your service should be over the net and land beyond the service line in the opponent’s court.
Rule 8: Make sure that your opponent is ready before you serve the shuttlecock.
Rules for a Legal Serve in Badminton Doubles
A legal serve in Badminton doubles service rules is one that does not attract a fault. There are several rules and requirements for a legal service, which include
- On the court, one must always serve from the service box.
- The player should hit the shuttlecock from a height below the waist.
- One should hit the shuttlecock diagonally across the Badminton court. From the right court of the server end to the left court of the receiver’s end or vice versa.
- The shuttlecock should always land in the receiver’s service court.
If any of these rules are violated, it is considered a fault. Players can commit only two faults in a game, or they lose the serve and give the opponent’s team a point. These are the critical rules and regulations of Badminton doubles that players need to abide by.
Badminton Doubles Service Court Rules
Doubles service courts differ from singles and are a common source of confusion:
- The doubles court is wider, but the service length is shorter.
- When serving:
A. Even score– serve from the right service court
B. Odd score– serve from the left service court - Service courts change only when the serving side wins a point.
- Only the server and receiver must be in their service courts; partners may stand elsewhere.
Specific Serving Rules For Doubles!
Before we jump into the serving rules for doubles, it is imperative to note that the size of the court is different in the doubles format of play. Unlike the singles format, the doubles court is wider and shorter. Also, slightly more complex rules need more of your attention if you wish to ace your game. Let’s get started
1. First Service in Doubles: The player who serves first should serve from the right side of the court. The receiver should stand on the opposite end of the court. The winning pair should be the one to serve the next.
2. Serving Order in Doubles: There is a particular order or right to serve in Badminton. Here is the correct one!
- It begins with the initial server that served on the right side at the beginning.
- Served diagonally in the opponent’s court.
- Back to the server’s co-player.
- Then, to the first receiver in the beginning.
- And back to the initial server.
3. Toss and Service Choice: In the doubles game, the toss decides which team will serve and who will serve.
4. No Consecutive Receiving: No player on the receiving side can get two consecutive services in a single game.
5. Wrong Server or Wrong Service Court: In the doubles Badminton format, if any of the players have served or received out of turn or served or received from the wrong side of the court, it will need correction there and then.
6. Positioning During Doubles Service: The players on both sides of the court can stand in any position if they are not in the line of sight of the server.
7. Rally Scoring in Doubles: The next rule is about the rally. The serving team or the receiving team wins the rally when the point is scored. Any team scores a point when the shuttlecock is hit by the opponent and touches the ground, lands outside the boundary of the court or hits the net.
8. Winning a Doubles Game: The side that scores 21 points with a 2-point difference is the winner of the game. There are three games, and after each, the sides are switched. To start a new game, any player from the winning team can serve, and any player from the losing team can receive.
Common Doubles Service Faults
There are some common service errors which may lead to losing points.
- Serving from the wrong side of the court.
- Serving from the outside of the service lines. This falls under the Badminton doubles service line rules.
- Serving with the racquet that is touching the net.
- Serving by keeping the shuttlecock over a height of 1.15 meters.
- Serving before the opponent is not ready.
These are service faults that can be corrected through careful analysis before serving.
Tips to Improve Your Doubles Service
Now that you are aware of the nitty-gritty Badminton Doubles Service Rules, here are some tips to improve your serving efficiency.
- Racquet: Always focus on the positioning of your racquet. Hold the racquet head pointed towards the sky while placing it by your shoulder. It will help in the easy back-and-forth positioning while striking back.
- Grip: Your grip on the racquet handle plays a pivotal role in serving. You can practice different grip positions. The ideal grip position is the thumb and index finger on either side, while the other fingers are wrapped around the handle.
- Stance: To ensure proper balance while serving, focus on your stance. Always stand facing the side of the court while your feet are shoulder-width apart. Further, balance the weight on your feet with your knees slightly bent.
Conclusion
Badminton is a great sport. However, if you want to play it professionally, you must abide by the game’s rules. Yes, the Badminton doubles service rules are complex, but one can get hold of them once they are regular. From knowing the correct service court and serving order to delivering a legal serve and avoiding common faults, every detail matters in doubles. Since rallies are fast and points are won quickly, even small service errors can change the outcome of a match. By following the official doubles service rules and practising consistent, legal serves, players can reduce unnecessary mistakes and gain better control from the very first shot. Mastering these rules ensures fair play, smoother rallies, and a stronger foundation for success in badminton doubles.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In doubles badminton, the serve must be played diagonally into the receiver’s service court. An even score means serving from the right court, while an odd score means serving from the left court.
Yes. In doubles, the service court is wider but shorter, a different long service line applies, and a fixed serving order must be followed.
Yes. In doubles service, the shuttle must land before the long service line for doubles. Landing beyond it is a fault.
Yes. A forehand serve is allowed as long as it follows all legal service rules, including height and diagonal placement.
An illegal serve breaks service rules, such as serving from the wrong court, hitting above legal height, or landing outside the service court, and results in a fault.
