Badminton · Laws of Badminton
Law 11: Doubles
3 parts · 3 tests · 30 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown
Law 11 covers doubles: service courts, who receives, how the serve moves round the four players, and who starts the next game. An even score, or no score at all, puts the server in the right service court; an odd score puts the server on the left. The receiver is always the player standing in the service court diagonally opposite.
Players do not change service courts until they win a point while their own side is serving. When the serving side scores, the same server serves again from the alternate court. When the receivers win the rally, they become the serving side without changing position: the player who served last stays in the court they last served from, the partner in the other. Once the service has been returned, either player of each side may hit, the sides alternating.
The initial server starts from the right service court, and the sequence runs from the initial server to the initial receiver's partner, to the initial server's partner, to the initial receiver, and back to the initial server. No player may serve or receive out of turn, even by agreement, and no player receives two services in a row except under Law 12 or after a fault for misconduct. In the next game, either player of the winning side may serve first, and the losing pair chooses its first receiver.
The facts below cover the service courts, the serving sequence, scoring and moving courts, and worked positions on court.
11.111Service Courts in Doubles
Courts by the serving side's score, the receiver, and who stays where.
Test 1Doubles service courts: who serves from where, who receivesTake a test
An even score, or none, means the right service court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.1 · recall
Service is from the court that matches the serving side's score.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.1, 11.1.6 · recall
The receiver is the player in the service court diagonally opposite the server.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.4 · recall
The receiving side's player who served last stays in the court from which they last served.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.3 · recall
Players do not change service courts until they win a point while their side is serving.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.5 · applied
Three is odd, which puts the server on the left.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.2 · applied
The partner follows the reverse pattern, so stands in the other service court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.3 · applied
The serving side's score gives the court; the diagonally opposite player receives.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1 · applied
The server switches courts after scoring; when the receivers win, they become the serving side.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1, 11.3 · applied
C stands diagonally across from A, so C takes the service.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.4 · applied
11.112The Sequence of Serving
Either partner in a rally, the order of the four servers, and serving or receiving out of turn.
Test 1Doubles rallies and the sequence of servingTake a test
Either player of the serving side and either of the receiving side may hit, the sides alternating.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.2 · recall
The initial server starts the game from the right service court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4.1 · recall
The sequence runs: initial server, initial receiver's partner, initial server's partner, initial receiver.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4.3 · recall
The fourth turn of serving goes to the initial receiver, then back to the initial server.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4.4 · recall
No player receives two consecutive services, except under Law 12 or when a fault for misconduct is called.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.5 · applied
No player shall serve or receive out of turn; agreement does not change that.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.5 · applied
Step three of Law 11.4: B, standing in the left court for A-B's odd score.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4 · applied
Law 11.4 sets the sequence, and it then returns to the initial server.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4 · recall
The receiver must return the service; after that either partner may hit, the sides alternating.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.2 · recall
The right to serve passes from the initial server to the partner of the initial receiver.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4.2 · applied
11.113Scoring, Moving Courts and the Next Game
Points for either side, when the server moves, and the first server and receiver of a new game.
Test 1Scoring in doubles, moving courts and the next gameTake a test
The serving side scores and the server serves again from the alternate court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.3.1 · recall
The receiving side scores and becomes the new serving side.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.3.2 · recall
Either player of the winning side may serve first in the next game.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.6 · applied
Law 11.6 leaves the losing pair free to pick its first receiver.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.6 · applied
Eight is even, so the server who just won the point crosses to the right.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.3.1, 11.1.1 · applied
Winning as receivers gives C-D the serve but no change of positions.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.5 · applied
Each turn of serving is delivered from the court matching the serving side's score.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.6 · applied
Law 11.3.1: a point, then the same server from the alternate court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.3.1 · recall
Law 11.6 leaves both pairs free to choose who serves and who receives first.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.6, 11.6 · applied
A keeps serving and, with 3 points, moves to the left court.
Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.3.1, 11.1.2 · applied
Questions people ask
- How do you know which side to serve from in badminton doubles?
- The serving side's score decides it. An even score, or none, means the right service court, and an odd score means the left.
- Who receives the serve in doubles badminton?
- The player in the service court diagonally opposite the server receives. Only that player may return the service; after that either partner may hit.
- When do doubles partners swap sides in badminton?
- Only when they win a point while their side is serving. The server then serves again from the alternate court, while the partner stays put.
- What happens to positions when the receiving pair wins a rally?
- They become the serving side, but nobody changes service court. The player who served last for that side stays in the court they last served from.
- What is the order of servers in a doubles game?
- Initial server, then the initial receiver's partner, then the initial server's partner, then the initial receiver, before the serve returns to the initial server.
- Can a doubles player receive two serves in a row?
- No, except under Law 12 or when a fault for misconduct is called. Players also may not agree to serve or receive out of turn.
- Who serves first in the next game of a doubles match?
- Either player of the side that won the game may serve first, and the losing pair is free to choose which of its players receives first.
Sources
BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, Law 11 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.42
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.32
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.52
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.22
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.52
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.42
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.3.12
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.62
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.1, 11.1.61
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1, 11.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4.31
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4.41
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.4.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.3.21
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.3.1, 11.1.11
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.1.61
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.6, 11.61
- BWF Laws 2027, Law 11.3.1, 11.1.21