Badminton and table tennis scoring rules

Badminton scoring rules

Every rally scores: the side that wins it adds a point, whoever served (Law 7.3). A game goes to 21, but at 20-all a side needs a two-point lead, and at 29-all the side that scores the 30th point wins, so no game can go past 30-29 (Laws 7.2 to 7.5). A match is the best of three games, and the winner of a game serves first in the next (Law 7.6).

There is an interval of up to 60 seconds when the leading score reaches 11, and up to 120 seconds between games (Law 16.2). Players change ends after the first game, after the second if there is a third, and in the third game when one side first reaches 11 (Law 8.1). The keeper flags each of these as it happens.

Badminton service courts

In singles, both players serve from and receive in their right service courts when the server’s score is zero or even, and their left courts when it is odd (Law 10.1). Win a rally as server and you serve again from the other court; lose it and your opponent scores and serves.

Doubles follows the same even-odd rule for the serving side, with one extra principle that settles most arguments: players do not change service courts until they win a point while their side is serving (Law 11.1.5). When the receivers win a rally they score and take the serve, but nobody moves; the player who is already standing in the court that matches their new score serves. Over a game, service passes from the initial server to the initial receiver’s partner, then to the initial server’s partner, then to the initial receiver (Law 11.4). The court diagram shows each pair’s positions and the diagonal serve.

Is badminton changing to 15 points?

Yes, from Monday 4 January 2027. BWF members approved the 3×15 system at the BWF’s 87th Annual General Meeting in April 2026. As of 5 November 2026, the 21-point Laws above still apply to BWF events. Under 3×15 a game goes to 15, a two-point lead is needed from 14-all, the 21st point wins at 20-all, and the interval and the deciding-game change of ends come at 8; the 21-point system becomes an approved alternative. Best of three games of 15 points is already one of the BWF’s alternative scoring systems, playable by prior arrangement, and some national associations, such as the Badminton Association of India in its under-13, under-15 and under-17 events, began using it in July 2026. Pick “15 points” in the keeper’s settings to score that way.

Table tennis scoring rules

A game goes to 11 points; at 10-all the first player or pair to lead by two wins (Law 2.11.1). A match is the best of any odd number of games, often five or seven (Law 2.12.1). Service changes after every two points, and from 10-all each player serves one point in turn (Law 2.13.3). Players change ends after each game, and in the last possible game of a match when one side first reaches 5 points (Law 2.13.7).

Who serves in table tennis doubles?

In doubles the serve must bounce first in the server’s right half-court and then in the receiver’s right half-court (Law 2.6.3). At each change of service, the player who has just been receiving becomes the server, and the partner of the previous server becomes the receiver (Law 2.13.5). With Lin and Ola playing Yuki and Zoe, that gives a fixed cycle: Lin serves to Yuki, Yuki to Ola, Ola to Zoe, Zoe to Lin, and round again.

In the next game the pair that received first serves first, and its chosen server is received by the player who served to them in the previous game (Law 2.13.4). In the last possible game, when one pair first reaches 5 points, the pair due to receive next swaps its order of receiving and both pairs change ends (Laws 2.13.6 and 2.13.7). The keeper does all of this, including the swap.

The expedite system

If a game is unfinished after 10 minutes’ play, or earlier if both sides ask, the expedite system starts, unless at least 18 points have been scored in that game (Law 2.15). From then on each player serves one point in turn, and if the receiver makes 13 correct returns in a rally, the receiver wins the point. Once on, it stays on to the end of the match. Press “Start expedite system” at that moment; for the 10-minute clock, Blink Launch has a countdown timer.

Common mistakes

• Badminton: swapping courts after winning on receive. Only the serving side moves, and only when it scores.
• Badminton: playing on past 30. At 29-all the next point wins.
• Table tennis: serving three times. Two serves each, then one each from 10-all.
• Table tennis doubles: serving to the same receiver all game. The receiver is always the partner of the previous server.