# Law 9: Service (BWF Laws of Badminton)

Badminton · Law 9: Service · Insporta Book (https://book.insporta.app/badminton/laws/law-9-service/)

A correct service: its upward flight into the diagonal service court, the lines, the feet, spin, the 1.15 m height, the racket's movement, when a service starts and is delivered, and the partners.

## 9.91 Flight, Courts and Lines

The upward flight, the receiver's service court, diagonal courts, lines and undue delay.

### Test 1: The flight of a service, the service courts and their lines

- The flight of the shuttle is upwards from the server's racket and over the net. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1)
- A correct service would land in the receiver's service court, on or inside its lines. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1)
- The service court includes its boundary lines, so a shuttle on the line is in. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1, 1.3)
- Server and receiver stand within diagonally opposite service courts. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.3)
- Once both are ready, neither side may cause undue delay to the service. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.1)
- The positions and feet rules last until the service is delivered; then players may move anywhere on their side. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4, 10.2.1)
- Diagonally opposite the server's right court is the receiver's right court. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.3)
- Upwards off the racket, over the net, into the receiver's service court. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1)
- A service crosses the net and must carry past the receiver's short service line. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1, 1.1)
- Server and receiver must not touch the boundary lines of their service courts; doing so is a fault. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.3, 13.1)

## 9.92 Feet, Spin, Height and the Stroke

Stationary feet, no spin, hitting the base, the 1.15 m limit, the forward swing and a miss.

### Test 1: Feet, spin, the 1.15 m height and the server's stroke

- Some part of both feet stays in contact with the court, in a stationary position. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.4)
- The server releases the shuttle without adding spin (the spin serve ban of 2025). (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.5)
- The server's racket must initially hit the base of the shuttle. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.5)
- The whole shuttle is below 1.15 m from the court surface at the instant of being hit. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.6)
- From the start of the service the racket's movement continues forwards until the service is delivered. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.7)
- In attempting to serve, the server shall not miss the shuttle. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.8)
- For wheelchair players the height limit is the server's armpit. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.6.1)
- The first forward movement after the backswing starts the service; contact with the base delivers it. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.2, 9.1.5, 9.2)
- 1.15 m, then 1.524 m, then 1.55 m. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.6, 1.10, 1.4)
- The whole shuttle must be below 1.15 m at the instant of being hit. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.6)

## 9.93 Start, Delivery and Readiness

When a service starts and is delivered, the ready receiver and the partners' positions.

### Test 1: When a service starts and is delivered, readiness and the partners

- Once the players are ready, the first forward movement of the racket head starts the service. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.2)
- A started service is delivered when the racket hits the shuttle or misses it in attempting to serve. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.3)
- Any delay in starting the service after the backswing is complete counts as undue delay. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.1.2)
- A receiver who attempts a return is considered to have been ready. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.4)
- Partners may take any positions within their courts that do not unsight the opposing server or receiver. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.5)
- The server shall not serve before the receiver is ready. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.4)
- In attempting to serve, missing the shuttle delivers the service. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.3)
- Readiness, the start of the service, delivery, then the flight over the net. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.2, 9.3, 9.4)
- A return attempt means the receiver was ready, so play goes on. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.4)
- Partners may stand anywhere in their court that does not unsight the opposing server or receiver. (Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 9.5)

Sources: BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, Law 9 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)

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