Serve Rules For Badminton Games

Serve Rules For Badminton Games

With any badminton game, regardless of whether is it singles or doubles, it always starts with a fair toss done by the umpire. The winner of the toss can choose between serving first or start play at either side of the court. Hence the opponent/s can then exercise the remaining choice.

Badminton has several rules about serving, most of which are meant to limit the advantages that can be gained from a serve.

Both players must start the games by serving and receiving in the right service court. After the first serve, the serve position is determined by the winner of the most recent shot. Players will serve from and receive in the right service court when an even number of points has been scored; and serve from and receive in the left service court when an odd number of points has been scored.

A service court error is made when a player has served out of turn, has served from the wrong service or standing on the wrong service court while being prepared to receive the service.

Here are some universal rules in badminton:

*Once the players are ready for the service, the first forward movement of the server’s racket head shall be the start of the game.

*Neither side shall cause undue delay to the delivery of the service once the server and the receiver are ready for the service.

*The server and receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts, without touching the boundary lines of the court.

*Some part of both feet of both players must remain in contact with the surface of the court until the service is delivered.

*The server’s racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle.

*The flight of the shuttle shall be upwards from the server’s racket to pass over the net.

*The whole shuttle must be below the server’s waist at the instant point of contact during any serve.

After the service is returned, the player may hit the shuttle from any position on his/her side of the court.  Both players will hit the shuttle alternately until a fault is made or the shuttle ceases to be in play because it touches the surface of the court.