Badminton doubles service rules can be confusing, even for experienced players. Unlike singles, doubles involves four players, service rotation, and specific court positions that determine who serves and receives after every rally. A small mistake, such as serving from the wrong service court or serving out of turn, can result in an immediate fault and hand a point to your opponents.
If you’ve ever been unsure about who serves first, how service rotation works, or when players switch service courts, you’re not alone. This guide explains the official badminton doubles service rules in a simple, step-by-step manner, covering service court positions, serving order, legal service rules, and practical examples to help you play doubles with confidence.
How Do Badminton Doubles Service Rules Work?
Badminton doubles follows the 21-point rally scoring system, which means every rally results in a point. The side that wins the rally either continues serving or gains the right to serve if they were receiving.
Unlike the old scoring system, each side has only one serve. As long as the serving side keeps winning rallies, the same player continues serving. Once they lose a rally, service immediately passes to the opposing team.
The server’s position depends on the team’s score:
- Even score (0, 2, 4, 6…) – Serve from the right service court.
- Odd score (1, 3, 5, 7…) – Serve from the left service court.
The receiver always stands diagonally opposite the server. After the shuttle is served, all four players are free to move anywhere on their side of the court.
The easiest way to remember doubles service is:
- Win the rally to keep or gain the serve.
- Even score = Right service court.
- Odd score = Left service court.
These three rules form the foundation of badminton doubles service.
Badminton Doubles Service Court Rules
The service court used in doubles is different from the singles service court.
When serving in doubles:
- The shuttle must be served diagonally into the opponent’s correct service court.
- The side tramlines are included.
- The shuttle must land before the doubles long service line, not the back boundary line.
As a result, the doubles service court is wider but shorter than the singles service court.
| Feature | Doubles Service Court |
| Width | Uses the outer side tramlines |
| Length | Ends at the doubles long service line |
| Service Direction | Diagonal only |
Before the serve, the receiver must stand diagonally opposite the server. However, once the shuttle is struck, both pairs are free to move around the court without positional restrictions.
Read More: Badminton Singles Rules
Who Serves First in Badminton Doubles?
At the start of a match, the side that wins the toss decides whether to serve or receive.
If they choose to serve, one player starts from the right service court because the score is 0–0. The receiver stands diagonally opposite, while both partners may stand anywhere on their respective sides of the court as long as they do not obstruct the server or receiver.
The same player continues serving while their side keeps winning rallies. After each point, they switch between the right and left service courts according to their team’s score.
If the serving side loses the rally, service immediately passes to the opponents. The player standing in the correct service court, based on their team’s score, becomes the next server.
Legal Service Rules in Badminton Doubles
To be considered legal, every serve must follow the official Laws of Badminton. Breaking any of these rules results in a service fault, and the opposing side wins the rally.
Serve from the Correct Service Court
The server must always serve from the correct court based on the team’s score.
- Even score – Right service court.
- Odd score – Left service court.
Serving from the wrong service court is a fault.
Serve Diagonally
Every serve must travel diagonally across the net and land inside the receiver’s service court.
A serve is considered faulty if it:
- Lands outside the service court.
- Crosses into the wrong service court.
- Travels beyond the doubles long service line.
Strikes 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 rule applies to all players, regardless of whether they use a forehand or backhand serve.
Use One Continuous Forward Motion
Once the service action begins, the racket must move continuously forward until it strikes the shuttle. Deliberately pausing or making deceptive movements during the serve is not allowed.
Keep Both Feet on the Court
Until the shuttle is hit:
- The server must keep both feet in contact with the court.
- The receiver must also remain stationary.
- Neither player may step on or over the boundary lines before the shuttle is struck.
Wait Until the Receiver is Ready
The server should only begin the service motion when the receiver is ready. Serving before the receiver is prepared may result in a fault or the rally being replayed.
Badminton Doubles Service Rotation Examples
Understanding service rotation is much easier with practical examples.
Example 1: Serving Side Wins the Rally
The match begins with Team A serving.
| Rally | Winner | Score | Next Server |
| Start | – | 0–0 | Team A serves from the right court |
| 1 | Team A | 1–0 | Same player serves from the left court |
| 2 | Team A | 2–0 | Same player serves from the right court |
As long as the serving side keeps winning rallies, the same player continues serving and switches between the right and left service courts after every point.
Example 2: Receiving Side Wins the Rally
Suppose Team A is serving and the score is 3–2.
| Rally | Winner | Score | Next Server |
| Current Rally | Team B | 3–3 | Service passes to Team B |
Since Team B won the rally while receiving, they gain both the point and the right to serve. Their server starts from the left service court because their score is now 3, which is odd.
These examples show that service always belongs to the side that won the previous rally, while the service court depends on the server’s own team’s score.
Common Service Faults in Badminton Doubles
Most service faults occur because players forget the correct serving position or fail to follow the service rules. Here are some of the most common mistakes to avoid:
- Serving from the wrong service court: Always serve from the right court when your score is even and the left court when it is odd.
- Serving into the wrong service court: Every serve must land diagonally inside the receiver’s designated service court.
- Serving above the legal service height: The entire shuttle must be below 1.15 metres at the moment of contact.
- Stopping the racket during the service motion: The racket must move continuously forward until the shuttle is struck.
- Serving before the receiver is ready: Wait until the receiver is prepared before starting the service.
- Lifting or moving your feet before contact: Both feet must remain in contact with the court until the shuttle is hit.
Tips to Improve Your Doubles Serve
A consistent serve gives your pair a better chance of controlling the rally from the very first shot.
- Keep your serves low to make it difficult for the receiver to attack immediately.
- Practise service rotation regularly so you always know who serves next and from which court.
- Communicate with your partner before each serve to avoid confusion about positioning and the next shot.
Mastering these basics will reduce service faults and improve your confidence during doubles matches.
Conclusion
Understanding badminton doubles service rules comes down to four essentials: serving from the correct service court, following the proper serving order, understanding service rotation, and delivering a legal serve. Since service changes whenever the serving side loses a rally, knowing these rules helps you avoid unnecessary faults and keeps the game flowing smoothly.
The easiest way to remember the basics is simple: serve from the right service court when your score is even, from the left service court when it is odd, and remember that the side winning the rally keeps or gains the serve. Once these rules become second nature, you’ll spend less time worrying about service rotation and more time focusing on winning rallies.
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Frequently Asked Questions
In badminton doubles, every serve must be played diagonally into the receiver’s service court. The serving side continues serving while it keeps winning rallies, and service passes to the opponents whenever the serving side loses a rally.
Serve from the right service court when your team’s score is even and from the left service court when it is odd.
Yes. The same player continues serving as long as their side keeps winning rallies. They switch service courts after every point based on the team’s score.
No. A player or pair cannot deliberately hit the shuttlecock twice in succession. If the shuttle is struck twice by the same side before crossing the net, it is considered a fault, and the opposing side wins the rally.
Yes. During a doubles serve, the shuttle must land before the doubles long service line, also known as the back service line. If the shuttle lands beyond this line, the serve is out and results in a service fault.
No specific type of serve is banned. However, any serve that violates the Laws of Badminton is illegal. For example, serving above the legal service height, using a delayed or deceptive service action, or serving before the receiver is ready results in a fault.
An illegal serve is any serve that does not comply with the official rules. Common examples include serving from the wrong service court, striking the shuttle above the legal service height of 1.15 metres, failing to serve diagonally into the correct service court, lifting your feet before the shuttle is hit, or stopping the racket during the service motion.
Yes. A forehand serve is allowed as long as it follows all legal service rules, including height and diagonal placement.
