Badminton Serving Rules and Strategies: Who Serves First and How to Win Points
The serve in badminton is your first weapon in every rally. A coin toss decides who serves first, and from that moment, your serving technique can control the entire match. The serving rules are strict: you must hit the shuttlecock below your waist with an underarm motion, keep both feet on the ground, and serve diagonally across the court. Master these rules and the right strategies, and you’ll turn every serve into a scoring opportunity.
Key Points Covered in This Guide
- Complete badminton serving rules for singles and doubles matches
- Who serves first, and how does the serving order work
- Different types of services and when to use each one
- Strategic tips to win points directly from your serve
- Common serving faults and how to avoid them
- Height restrictions and positioning requirements
- Service court boundaries and line rules for both formats
Basic Badminton Serving Rules
Universal Serving Requirements
These rules apply to every serve in badminton, whether you’re playing singles or doubles:
- Contact Point: Hit the shuttlecock below your waist level
- Racket Position: The racket head must be below your hand when you make contact
- Foot Position: Both feet must stay on the ground until you hit the shuttle
- Motion: Use one continuous forward motion – no stopping or pausing
- Direction: Serve diagonally to your opponent’s service court
- Height Rule: In BWF tournaments, the shuttle must be below 1.15 meters from the court surface
The Service Height Rule
The BWF introduced a new height rule in 2018 to make serving fairer. The shuttle must be struck below 1.15 meters from the court surface in professional tournaments. This prevents players from serving too high and gaining unfair power advantages.
The traditional club and recreational play rule still applies: hit the shuttle below your waist.
Badminton Singles Service Area and Rules
Singles Service Court Boundaries
In singles, your service court is longer but narrower than in doubles. You serve the area between:
- The front service line (closest to the net)
- The back boundary line (furthest from the net)
- The centre line and the singles sideline
Singles Serving Order
The badminton odd-even rule determines which side you serve from:
- Even scores (0, 2, 4, 6…): Serve from the proper service court
- Odd scores (1, 3, 5, 7…): Serve from the left service court
You switch sides and continue serving when you win a point on your serve. When opponents win the rally, they become the server and follow the same odd-even pattern.
Badminton Doubles Service Court Rules
Doubles Service Area
The badminton doubles service area is wider but shorter than singles. You serve the area between:
- The front service line
- The doubles service line (not the back boundary)
- The centre line and the doubles sideline
This creates a smaller target area, making double serving more strategic and precise.
Doubles Serving Order and Rules
Badminton doubles service follows a more complex rotation system:
Starting the Game:
- The serving team decides which player serves first
- They serve from the proper court (score is 0 – even)
- The receiving team positions themselves with one player in each service court
Service Rotation:
- Initial server (from proper court)
- Partner of the initial receiver
- Partner of the initial server
- Initial receiver
- Back to the initial server
Key Doubles Service Rules
- No Consecutive Receives: No player can receive two serves in a row during the same game
- Position Rules: Receiving players don’t switch sides – they stay in their designated courts
- Serving Side Switch: Only the serving team switches sides when they win a point on their serve
- Score-Based Serving: The server’s score determines which court to serve from (even = right, odd = left)
Types of Badminton Serves and When to Use Them
High Serve
The high serve sends the shuttle high and deep to your opponent’s backcourt.
Best for: Singles matches
Goal: Push your opponent to the baseline and take control of the rally
Technique: Use a full upward swing with your forehand to send the shuttle high and far
Low Serve
The low serve keeps the shuttle just over the net, making it hard for opponents to attack.
Best for: Doubles matches
Goal: Force your opponent to lift the shuttle, giving you the attack opportunity
Technique: Use a gentle push motion with light grip pressure
Flick Serve
The flick serve is a deceptive shot that looks like a low serve but goes high and deep.
Best for: Doubles, as a surprise tactic
Goal: Catch opponents off guard when they expect a low serve
Technique: Start in the low serve position, then use a quick wrist flick for sudden power
Drive Serve
The drive serve is fast and flat, putting immediate pressure on your opponent.
Best for: Fast-paced doubles games
Goal: Reduce opponent’s reaction time with speed
Technique: Use a backhand grip and hit the shuttle fast and straight
Strategic Serving Tips to Win Points
Singles Serving Strategy
Start with High Serves: Push your opponent back and control the court position
Mix Your Placement: Alternate between serving to the backhand and forehand corners
Watch Their Position: If they stand too far back, try a short serve to the front court
Use the Clock System: Serve different “hours” on an imaginary clock face
Doubles Serving Strategy
Master the Low Serve: This is your primary weapon in doubles
Target the T-Junction: Serve where the centre line meets the service line to create confusion
Vary Your Pace: Mix slow, deceptive serves with quicker ones
Communicate with Your Partner: Plan who covers which areas after your serve
Common Serving Faults and How to Avoid Them
Service Faults That Cost Points
- High Contact: Hitting the shuttle above the waist level
- Wrong Foot Position: Lifting feet off the ground during serve
- Line Violations: Stepping on or over the service line
- Interrupted Motion: Pausing during your serving action
- Wrong Service Court: Serving to the incorrect diagonal court
How to Avoid These Mistakes
- Practice Your Stance: Keep both feet planted until after contact
- Check Your Grip: Hold the shuttle at the right height before serving
- Follow Through Smoothly: Complete your serve in one continuous motion
- Know the Score: Always check if you should serve from the left or right court
Service Line Rules and Court Positioning
Understanding the Serving Lines
The badminton service line rules differ between singles and doubles:
Singles:
- Front service line to back boundary line
- Centerline to singles sideline
Doubles:
- Front service line to doubles service line
- Centerline to doubles sideline
Proper Court Positioning
Server Position:
- Stand behind the service line
- Keep both feet inside your service court
- Don’t touch any boundary lines
Receiver Position:
- Stand diagonally opposite the server
- Both feet must be on the ground until the serve is struck
- You can stand anywhere in your service court without touching lines
Advanced Serving Techniques
Reading Your Opponent
Watch your opponent’s position and habits:
- Do they stand too far forward or back?
- Which side is their weaker return?
- Are they expecting a particular type of service?
Serving Under Pressure
When the score is close:
- Stick to the serves you’ve practised most
- Don’t try new techniques in crucial moments
- Focus on placement over power
- Take your time, but don’t delay unnecessarily
Equipment Matters for Serving
Your racket choice affects your serving ability. Yonex rackets offer superior control and consistency when serving. The Yonex Arcsaber series provides excellent precision for placement serves. In contrast, the Astrox series gives you the power for attack serves when needed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What happens if I serve from the wrong court?
If you serve from the wrong side, it’s called a service court error. The mistake gets corrected immediately, but any points scored before the error was noticed still count. The game continues from the correct positions.
Q: Can I serve overhand in badminton?
No, overhand serves are not allowed in badminton. When you contact the shuttle, you must use an underarm motion with the racket head below your hand. This rule makes badminton serve more about placement and strategy than raw power.
Q: How high can I serve the shuttlecock?
In professional BWF tournaments, the shuttle must be below 1.15 meters when struck. For recreational play, the rule is simpler: hit the shuttle below your waist level. Both rules prevent players from gaining unfair height advantages.
Q: Do doubles partners take turns serving?
Not exactly. In doubles, the serving team continues serving until they lose a rally. The same player serves from alternating courts (right when the score is even, left when odd) until their team loses the point. Then, the serve goes to the opposing team.
Q: What’s the penalty for a service fault?
A service fault results in losing the point and the serve. Your opponent gets the fact even if they didn’t return the serve. This makes proper serving technique crucial for maintaining momentum in matches.
Q: Can I change my serving style during a match?
Yes, you can use different types of serves throughout the match. Varying your serves keeps opponents guessing and prevents them from anticipating your strategy. Mix high serves, low serves, and flick serves based on the situation and your opponent’s positioning.
Master Your Serve, Master Your Game
Serving in badminton is both an art and a science. The rules provide the framework, but your strategy and execution determine whether you win or lose points. Remember that every rally starts with a serve, making it one of the most critical shots in your arsenal.
Practice different serve types regularly. Work on your consistency before adding power or deception. And always remember the basic rules – designed to keep the game fair and competitive.
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