Badminton is fast, tactical and incredibly fun - provided you know the rules.
While in the garden you often just try to keep the ball in the air, on the court it's all about points, lines and strategy.
So that your next game in our badminton facility in Berlin fair and exciting, we have summarized the most important basic rules for you here.
The aim of the game
In badminton, two opponents (in singles) or two teams (in doubles) try to hit the shuttlecock over the net so that it touches the ground in the opponent's court. A rally ends when the ball touches the ground, gets stuck in the net or lands in the „out“. Important: The ball may only be once be touched to move it over the net.
The match format
An official match consists of „best of three“ - in other words, whoever wins two sets first wins the match.
- A record is stored until 21 points played.
- If the score is 20:20, play continues until one side has a two-point lead (e.g. 22:20).
- The upper limit is usually 30 points (whoever scores the 30th point wins, even without a 2-point lead).
The playing field: singles vs. doubles
Our courts in Berlin-Reinickendorf correspond to the official tournament dimensions. Different lines apply depending on the mode:
- Single: The field is narrow and long. The lateral outer corridors are „off“. The rearmost baseline is the boundary.
- Doubles: The field is wide. The lateral outer corridors are included. Be careful when serving in doubles: Here the service court is wider but shorter (the back service line counts, not the outer baseline).
The start: Who begins?
Before the game begins, a coin toss (or quite pragmatically: spinning a bat on the ground) often decides who starts. The winner gets to choose:
- Do I want to serve or accept first?
- Or: Which side of the court do I want to start on?
The most important rules of the game at a glance
- The serve (service): The serve must always be made diagonally into the opponent's opposite service court. Important: The ball must below the waist be hit. A tennis serve from above is prohibited in badminton.
- If the score is even (0, 2, 4...), serve from the right.
- If the score is odd (1, 3, 5...), serve from the left.
- Avoid faults (Faults): One point goes to the opponent if:
- The ball gets stuck in the net or flies under the net.
- The ball lands outside the boundary lines (on the line counts as „in“!).
- A player touches the net with his body or racket.
- The ball is hit twice in quick succession (not even accidentally).
- A player reaches over the net to hit the ball while still on the opponent's side.
- The ceiling height: The ceiling is a problem in some halls. In the Sportcenter Wittenau Fortunately, we have sufficient ceiling height. However, if the ball touches the ceiling, this is officially considered a fault. In friendly matches, however, a „let“ (replay) is often played here - it is best to come to an agreement before the match.
Counting method (Rally Point System)
In the past, you could only score points if you had the right to serve. That's a thing of the past! Today, the „rally point“ counting method applies:
- Every error is a point, regardless of who served.
- Whoever wins the rally gets the point and the right to serve the next ball.
Ready for the first serve?
Now you know the theory. Time to put it into practice! Whether you're planning an intense singles match or a fun mixed doubles game - our courts offer you the best conditions.
Forgotten your equipment? No problem. You can hire rackets and balls for your match at our counter. Just remember your indoor shoes with light-colored soles!
Book your badminton court online here
See also:
- What age is ideal for badminton?
- Badminton doubles tactics: positioning, rotation & communication
- 5 ways to improve your badminton technique
- 5 ways to win badminton matches even as a slow player
- What do you wear to badminton? The perfect dress code for the court
- The 5 most important fitness attributes for badminton
- Is badminton harder to learn than tennis? A comparison
- The correct grip position in badminton: a guide for beginners