Badminton · Laws of Badminton
Law 10: Singles
2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown
Law 10 applies the general rules to singles: which service court the server uses, how the rally is played and how points and the service pass between the players.
The service court depends only on the server's own score in that game. With no points or an even number the server serves from the right service court, and with an odd number from the left; the opponent's score plays no part. The receiver stands in the diagonally opposite court, so a server on the left faces a receiver in their left court. In singles the back boundary line is also the long service line.
After the service, server and receiver may hit from any position on their side of the net, and they hit the shuttle alternately until it ceases to be in play. When the server wins a rally, the server scores a point and serves again from the alternate court. When the receiver wins, the receiver scores and becomes the new server, and the score is called with the server's points first. The new server's own score then decides the court: with 7, for example, the service goes from the left.
The facts below cover the service courts in singles, how rallies are played and how scoring moves the service.
10.101Service Courts in Singles
Right court on an even score, left on an odd one, and where the receiver stands.
Test 1Which service court in singles, by the server's scoreTake a test
With no points or an even number the server serves from the right court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.1 · recall
An odd score means the left service court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.2 · recall
Only the server's own score decides the court: 6 is even, so right.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.1 · applied
Seven is odd: the server is on the left, and the diagonally opposite court is the receiver's left one.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.2, 9.1.3 · applied
The courts follow the server's score in that game.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1 · recall
Winning the rally makes the score 5; the server serves again from the other court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.1, 10.1.2 · applied
With twelve, service goes from the right; the player at the other end mirrors that in their own right court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.1, 9.1.3 · applied
The server switches courts after scoring; when the receiver wins, the receiver serves.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1, 10.3 · recall
In singles the back boundary line is also the long service line, so the court runs past the doubles one.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1, 1.1 · applied
It is the server's own total, three, that counts; the opponent's 5 plays no part.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.2 · applied
10.102Rallies and Scoring in Singles
Hitting alternately from anywhere, scoring a point, and the receiver becoming the server.
Test 1Rallies in singles, scoring and the change of serverTake a test
Server and receiver may hit from any position on their side of the net.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.2.1 · recall
The shuttle is hit by the server and the receiver alternately.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.2.1 · recall
The server scores a point and serves again from the alternate court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.1 · applied
Players hit alternately until the shuttle ceases to be in play (Law 15).
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.2.1 · recall
The receiver scores and becomes the server; the score is called with the server's points first.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.2 · applied
Law 10.3.1 sends the server across to the other side of the centre line after each point won.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.1 · recall
The new server's own score decides the court: 7 is odd, so the left.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.2, 10.1.2 · applied
Law 10.3.2: the receiver scores and becomes the server; Law 10.1 then gives the court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.2, 10.1 · recall
Player 1 goes 1-0 and 2-0; when player 2 wins, player 2 serves and the score is called 1-2.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3 · applied
The receiver who wins a rally scores a point and becomes the new server.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.2 · applied
Questions people ask
- Which side do you serve from in singles badminton?
- From the right service court with no points or an even score, and from the left with an odd score.
- Whose score decides the service court in singles?
- Only the server's own score in that game; the opponent's score plays no part.
- What happens when the receiver wins a rally in singles?
- The receiver scores a point and becomes the new server, serving from the court that their own score gives.
- Does the server change courts after winning a point?
- Yes. The server scores and serves again from the alternate service court.
- How is the score called in singles badminton?
- With the server's points first, so a server with 1 against an opponent's 2 calls it 1-2.
- Can singles players hit from anywhere on court during a rally?
- Yes. After the service, server and receiver may hit from any position on their side of the net, taking turns until the shuttle is out of play.
Sources
BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, Law 10 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.2.13
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.12
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.22
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.12
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.22
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.2, 9.1.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.1, 10.1.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1.1, 9.1.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1, 10.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.1, 1.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.2, 10.1.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.3.2, 10.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 10.31