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Badminton · Laws of Badminton

Law 15: Shuttle Not in Play

1 parts · 1 tests · 10 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown

Law 15 is one of the shortest in the Laws of Badminton, but other laws depend on it. It names the three moments at which the shuttle stops being in play, and anything that has to wait until the shuttle is out of play, such as correcting a service court error under Law 12.2, or the matter covered by Law 8.2, waits for one of them.

The first moment is when the shuttle strikes the net or a post and starts to fall towards the surface of the court on the striker's side. Play ends the instant it starts to drop on that side; a net cord that carries over to the other side remains in play. The second is when the shuttle hits the surface of the court. The third is when a fault or a let has occurred, which ends play whether or not the shuttle is still in the air.

Knowing the exact moment matters because some decisions wait for it. A shuttle that clips the net and falls back on the striker's side is already out of play before it reaches the floor.

The facts below cover each of the three moments and how they link to other laws.

15.151Shuttle Not in Play

The net or post on the striker's side, the court surface, faults and lets.

Test 1When the shuttle stops being in playTake a test

  1. A shuttle is not in play once it hits the surface of the court.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.2 · recall

  2. A shuttle is not in play when a fault or a let has occurred.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.3 · recall

  3. Law 15.3: a fault or a let ends play.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.3 · recall

  4. Striking the net or post and starting to fall on the striker's side ends play.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.1 · applied

  5. Law 15.1 ends play only when it falls on the striker's side; a net cord that goes over is in play.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.1 · applied

  6. Once it starts to fall on the striker's side the shuttle is not in play.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.1 · applied

  7. Laws 8.2 and 12.2 both wait for the shuttle to be out of play.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15; 8.2, 12.2 · applied

  8. Law 15.1: the moment it starts falling back on the striker's side, the shuttle is out of play.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.1 · applied

  9. A shuttle hitting the court surface ends its time in play.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.2 · recall

  10. Starting to drop on the striker's side is the moment Law 15.1 names.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.1 · applied

Questions people ask

When is the shuttle no longer in play in badminton?
When it strikes the net or a post and starts to fall on the striker's side, when it hits the court surface, or when a fault or a let has occurred.
Is a net cord still in play?
Yes, if it goes over. Play ends only when the shuttle starts to fall back on the striker's side.
Does the shuttle have to touch the floor for play to stop?
No. It is out of play as soon as it starts falling back on the striker's side after hitting the net or post, or once a fault or let occurs.
Which other laws depend on the shuttle being out of play?
Laws 8.2 and 12.2 both wait for the shuttle to be out of play, so a service court error, for example, is corrected only then.
Does a fault end the rally immediately?
Yes. Under Law 15.3 the shuttle is not in play once a fault or a let has occurred.

Sources

BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, Law 15 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)

  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.15
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.22
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 15.32
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 15; 8.2, 12.21