BADMINTON RULES FOR RECREATIONAL PLAY

A simplified version of the Laws of Badminton designed for the beginning or casual player. This should get you started, and once you have these mastered, you should examine the more complete laws.

1. COURT: Service lines are 15' 6" from the back court lines. The net is set at 22' from the back court lines.

2. POSTS: The posts shall be 5'1" from the ground and shall be placed on the side boundary lines of the court.

3. NET The net shall be firmly stretched from post to post. The top of net shall be 5' in height from the ground at the center; 5'1" at the posts.

4. PLAYERS A doubles game shall have two players to a side; a singles game shall have one player to a side.

5. TOSS The side winning the toss shall have the options of: a) serving first; or b) not serving first; and c) choosing ends.

6. SCORING For recreational lawn games a doubles or singles game shall consist of 15 or 21 points, as may be arranged. Provided that in a game of 15 points, when the score is 13 all, the side which first reached 13 has the option of setting the game to 5, and when the game is 14 all, the side which first reached 14 has the option of setting the game to 3. After a game has been set the score is called love all, and the side which first scores 5 or 3 points, depending upon whether the game has been set at 13 or 14 all, wins the game. In either case the claim to set the game must be made before the next service is delivered after the score has reached 13-all or 14-all.

7. DOUBLES PLAY The player winning the toss to serve shall serve from the right-hand service court to the player in the service court diagonally opposite. If the receiver returns the shuttle before it touches the ground the shuttle is in play. Future serves are then to be made from alternate service courts to alternate players. No player may receive two consecutive services in the same game. The side winning a game shall always serve first in the next game.

8. SINGLES PLAY Rule 7 applies except that the players shall serve from and receive service in their respective right-hand service courts only when the server's score is zero or an even number of points in the game. The service is delivered and received in the left-hand service courts when the server's score is an odd number of points. Both players shall change service-courts after each point scored.

9. FAULTS A fault by a player of the side which is in puts the server out; if made by a player whose side is out, it counts as a point to the in side. It is a fault:

a) If in serving, the shuttle at the instant of being struck is higher than the server's waist, or if any part of the racket head is higher than any part of the server's hand holding the racket.

b) If in serving, the shuttle falls into the wrong service court, or falls short of the short service line, or beyond the long service line, or outside the boundary lines.

c) If the server's feet are not in the service court from which the service is being made, or if the feet of the receiver are not in the service-court diagonally opposite until the service is delivered.

d) If before or during the delivery of the service any player makes preliminary feints or otherwise intentionally balks his opponent.

e) If either in service or play, the shuttle falls outside the boundaries of the court, or passes through or under the net, or fails to pass the net, or touches the person clothing or a person.

f) If the shuttle in play is struck before it crosses to the striker's side of the net.

g) If, when the shuttle is in play, a player touches the net or its supports with racket, person or clothing.

h) If the shuttle is hit twice in succession by the same player; is hit more than once; or is held on the racket during the execution of a stroke; or if the shuttle is hit by a player or his partner successively.

i) If in play a player strikes the shuttle (unless he thereby makes a good return) or is struck by it, whether standing within or outside the boundaries of the court.

10. If the server, in attempting to serve, misses the shuttle, it is not a fault: but if the shuttle is touched by the racket, a service is thereby delivered.


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