Quick answer: In badminton you get one serve per rally. The shuttle must be struck below 1.15 m from the floor with the racket shaft pointing downwards, and part of both feet must stay still inside your service court until contact. Serve diagonally into the opposite court: from the right when your score is even, from the left when it is odd.
Serve rules trip up more new players than any other part of the game, and they cause most of the arguments at UK club nights. This guide covers singles and doubles, the lines, the common faults and how scoring works, with a few tips from the team at Central Sports.
Badminton serve rules at a glance
- Height: the whole shuttle is below 1.15 m (about waist height) at the moment you hit it.
- Racket: the shaft points downwards and the head is below your hand at contact.
- Feet: part of both feet stays in contact with the floor, not moving, until the shuttle is struck, and inside your service court without touching its lines.
- Motion: one continuous forward swing. No feints or pauses.
- Direction: diagonally cross-court into the service court opposite you.
- One serve only: there is no second serve in badminton.
Which service court do you serve from?
Serve from the right-hand court when your score is even (0, 2, 4 and so on) and from the left when it is odd. The receiver stands diagonally opposite and must also keep their feet still until the shuttle is struck. In singles, if you win the rally you serve again from the other side. In doubles it is the serving side's score that decides the court, and partners swap sides only when they win a rally while serving.
Singles vs doubles: which lines are in?
The short service line is 1.98 m from the net in both formats. In singles the serve can land right up to the back boundary line, but the narrow side lines are out. In doubles the court is wide but short for serving: the back limit is the inner doubles long service line, 76 cm inside the back boundary. A shuttle landing on any line is in. For full court sizes, see our badminton court dimensions guide.
Common serve faults
- Hitting the shuttle above 1.15 m. This is the most common fault at club level.
- Moving or lifting a foot, or standing on a line, before contact.
- Pausing or feinting mid-swing.
- Serving to the wrong court or out of turn.
- Failing to clear the short service line or hitting the net.
At most club nights players umpire themselves, so agree beforehand how a disputed height will be handled. A partner standing side-on can judge it far better than you can.
Scoring: rally points to 21
A point is scored on every rally, whoever served. Games go to 21 and you must win by two clear points. At 29-29 the next point wins, so 30 is the cap. A match is best of three games. For doubles rotation and positioning, read our badminton doubles rules guide, and for the wider picture see our badminton rules guide.
Does your shuttle change how a serve plays?
Yes. A faster or slower shuttle changes how far a serve travels, so a short serve that works in a cool hall can drift long in a warm one. Match the speed to your venue. Synthetic shuttles such as the Yonex Mavis 300 Synthetic Shuttles (£11.75) are durable for practice, while the Yonex Aerosensa 30 Feather Shuttles (from £38.18) suit match play.
Top picks from Central Sports
- Yonex Mavis 200 Medium (1/2 dozen) – £7.00: a budget shuttle for serve practice.
- Yonex Arcsaber 7 Play 4UG – £43.99: a forgiving racket for learning short serves and net play.
- Yonex Nanoflare 700 Play – £55.99: a light, fast racket for doubles players.
Browse the full range of Yonex shuttlecocks, badminton rackets and the Central Sports shop.
Badminton serve rules FAQ
Do you get a second serve in badminton?
No. You have one serve per rally. A fault means the rally is lost.
How high can you serve in badminton?
The shuttle must be below 1.15 m from the floor when you hit it.
Can you serve underarm or backhand?
Yes, as long as the height, racket shaft and foot rules are met. The backhand low serve is the most common doubles serve.
Do your feet have to stay still when serving?
Yes. Part of both feet must stay in contact with the floor, not moving, until the shuttle is struck.
Get the serve right, then the kit
Nail the basics and your serve becomes a weapon rather than a risk. When you are ready for new gear, centralsports.co.uk stocks rackets, shuttles and shoes for every level.
