Does Badminton Use Rally Scoring?

Badminton is an entertaining game played by people of all ages with specific rules of the scoring system. There is a pre-defined scoring system to play and win the match by 21 points. If you know all the rules of scoring in badminton, then do you know the answer to this query, “Does Badminton use rally scoring?”.

Does Badminton Use Rally Scoring?

The answer to this question is yes, as badminton sport uses a rally scoring system. It has been changed in recent years to speed up the game and make the game more entertaining to watch.

Earlier, in the old system of point-scoring, the player scores a point that holds a serve. If the score reaches 20-20, then two points are required to win a rally of the match. It is essential to win two out of three rallies in the match with 21 points in each to win a badminton match.

How to Know the Scoring System in the Rally?

A match consists of the best of three rallies, each with 21 points. The match can last up to either two or three games. Each side who is winning a rally adds a point to its score. At the 20-all condition in the game, the side which makes the first two points after 20 wins the rally. But if the score reaches to 29-all, then the side scoring the 30th point wins the rally.

This rule is made to prevent the rally dragging for too long. The side who wins the rally serves first in the next rally. There is a saying that the server’s score first, which means if the server scores 10 points and the receiver scored 15 points, then the score is 10-15. So, when you are saying the score, the server scores the first.

From Which End of the Court You Should Start Serving?

There are two service courts, one is on the right side, and the other is on the left side.

1. Serving for Singles

When the server scores in an even number, then he starts serving from the right side of the service court. And when the server scores in an odd number, then he starts serving from the left side of the service court. The right service court is also known as the even service court, and the left service court is known as the odd service court.

And if you are winning the rallies, then each time you will serve from different sides of the court. To understand the even and odd number for serving, even numbers start at 0 and add up by 2. Whereas, odd numbers start at 1 and add up by 2. As 0 is an even number, then serving starts from the right side of the service court.

2. Serving for Doubles

Instead of each person, a pair wins the points. At the start of the game, when the score is 0-0, the serving pair choose to serve, and the receiving pair choose to receive. But there is also the rule of even-odd. If the serving pair has scored an even number of points, then they have to serve from the right side of the service court, and if they have scored the odd number of score points, then they have to serve from the left side of the service court.

When the serving side wins a rally, then the person serves again but from the service court of another side. The same person keeps on serving until the opponent wins a rally and get the serve.

What about Changing of Ends After Scoring a Point?

Players change their ends after the end of the first and the second rally, only if the third rally is going to happen. In the third rally, if a side scores up to 11 points, then they have to change their ends. Changing of the ends is done whenever a mistake is discovered in the game. It also happens when the shuttle is not properly served in the play.

As per the International badminton scoring system, when the leading score reaches 11 points then, there is a 60-second interval for players. But SHSAA will not give a 60-second interval break to players after scoring 11th point. A 2-minute interval is allowed after each game, and coaches, as well as players, can consult each other during that interval.

When Can You Serve and Win the Rally?

If you are a server who is serving the shuttle and win a rally, then you and your partner have to swap your service courts. The change of service court does not affect your partner, and he can stand wherever he wants to on the court. He has to remember his service court for other rallies.

If you win the rally, then you will get an opportunity to serve again for the next rally from the other side. The receivers do not change their service court. If they want to change their service court, then they have to win a rally.

When a Receiver Wins the Rally?

If you are a receiver, and you need to change your service court, then you need to win a rally. And if you win a rally, the server is passed to you, but your service court does not change from the previous rally.

If your new score is odd, then who so ever is serving has to serve from the left side of the service court, and if your score is even, then the server has to serve from the right side of the service court.

Final Thoughts

Many people were concerned about the question, “Does badminton use rally scoring?” and the answer is yes. The player wins the Badminton game when he scores the best of three rallies and wins a match, each with 21 points. Every time, the end of the service court is changed for serving, whenever a player wins a rally. So, badminton is a rally score-based game.