Badminton · Laws of Badminton
Law 5: Equipment and Compliance
1 parts · 1 tests · 10 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown
Law 5 answers two questions: who decides whether badminton equipment is legal, and what equipment Para badminton players may use. It is short, but it is the Law behind every ruling on a new racket or shuttle.
BWF rules on whether any racket, shuttle, equipment or prototype complies with the specifications in the Laws. It can do so on its own initiative or on application, and any party with a bona fide interest may apply: players, technical officials, makers, Member Associations or their members. A racket with a device that changes its shape is the kind of point BWF decides.
For Para badminton a wheelchair or a crutch may be used. A player's body may be fixed to the wheelchair with an elastic belt, and the feet must be fixed to the footrest, so the body sits on the seat held by the belt with the feet fixed below it.
The facts below cover how compliance rulings are made, who may ask for one, and the wheelchair and crutch rules for Para players.
5.51Compliance and Para Equipment
BWF's rulings on equipment and who may ask for one; wheelchair, belt, supporting wheels and footrest.
Test 1Who rules on equipment, and the extra equipment of Para badmintonTake a test
BWF rules on whether any racket, shuttle, equipment or prototype complies with the specifications.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.1 · recall
A ruling may be made on BWF's own initiative or on application.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.1 · recall
Any party with a bona fide interest may apply: players, technical officials, makers, Member Associations or their members.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.1 · recall
Players are among the parties with a bona fide interest who may apply.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.1 · applied
For Para badminton a wheelchair or a crutch may be used.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.2 · recall
A player's body may be fixed to the wheelchair with an elastic belt.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.2.1 · recall
The player's feet must be fixed to the footrest of the wheelchair.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.2.3 · recall
A maker has a bona fide interest and may apply; BWF then rules on compliance.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.1 · applied
The body sits on the seat, held by the belt; the feet are fixed to the footrest below it.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.2.1, 5.2.3 · applied
BWF rules on whether a racket or prototype complies; a shape-changing device is the kind of point it decides.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.1, 4.3.2 · applied
Questions people ask
- Who decides if badminton equipment is legal?
- BWF rules on whether any racket, shuttle, equipment or prototype complies with the specifications, either on its own initiative or on application.
- Can a manufacturer ask BWF to approve a racket?
- Yes. A maker has a bona fide interest and may apply, as may players, technical officials, Member Associations or their members.
- Can wheelchairs be used in badminton?
- Yes, for Para badminton a wheelchair or a crutch may be used.
- Can a player be strapped into a badminton wheelchair?
- The player's body may be fixed to the wheelchair with an elastic belt, and the feet must be fixed to the footrest.
- Can players themselves request an equipment ruling?
- Yes. Players are among the parties with a bona fide interest who may apply to BWF.
Sources
BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, Law 5 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.15
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.2.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.2.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.2.1, 5.2.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 5.1, 4.3.21