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Badminton · Laws of Badminton

Law 7: Scoring System

2 parts · 2 tests · 20 facts · updated 29 October 2026 · markdown

Law 7 sets out how badminton is scored. Under the Laws in force from 4 January 2027, a match is the best of three games unless otherwise arranged, and a game is won by the side that first scores 15 points, subject to the rules for close games.

Every rally won adds a point to the winner's score, whichever side served. A rally starts with the service and ends when the shuttle is out of play, for example when it touches the court inside the opponents' court. The side that wins a rally as receiver becomes the server, and the side that wins a game serves first in the next game, however close it was.

A game can go beyond 15. At 14-all the side that first gains a two-point lead wins, so 15-14 is not enough while 17-15 is. If the score reaches 20-all, a cap applies: the side scoring the 21st point wins the game, so no score above 21-20 is possible. The lead-by-two stage comes first and the cap second, in the order of Laws 7.4 and 7.5.

The facts below cover games, points and rallies, the two-point lead from 14-all and the cap at 20-all.

7.71Games, Points and Rallies

The match, the game to 15, how a rally is won and scored, and who serves the next game.

Test 1Games, points and how a rally is wonTake a test

  1. A match is the best of three games unless otherwise arranged.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.1 · recall

  2. From 4 January 2027 a game is won by the side that first scores 15 points, subject to Laws 7.4 and 7.5.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.2 · recall

  3. Every rally won adds a point to the winner's score, whichever side served.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.3 · recall

  4. A rally is also won when the shuttle stops being in play by touching the court inside the opponents' court.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.3 · applied

  5. The side winning a game serves first in the next game.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.6 · applied

  6. The rally's winner scores whoever served, and the side that wins a rally as receiver becomes the server.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.3, 10.3.2 · applied

  7. 15-13 is fifteen points without a 14-all tie; 15-14 follows 14-all and needs a two-point lead.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.2, 7.4 · applied

  8. A rally starts with the service and ends when the shuttle is out of play; its winner then scores.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.3 · applied

  9. The toss comes before play; the players change ends at the end of game one.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 6.1, 7.1, 8.1.1 · recall

  10. Landing inside side 2's court ends the rally in side 1's favour, and whoever wins a rally scores.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.3 · applied

7.72Close Games and the Cap

14-all and the two-point lead, 20-all and the 21st point.

Test 1Close games: 14-all, 20-all and the capped finishTake a test

  1. At 14-all the side that first gains a two-point lead wins the game.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.4 · recall

  2. At 20-all the side scoring the 21st point wins the game.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.5 · recall

  3. From 14-all a side must lead by two, so 15-14 is not enough.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.4 · applied

  4. Seventeen against fifteen is two clear, enough once the score has passed 14-all.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.4 · applied

  5. At 20-all the cap applies: the 21st point wins.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.5 · applied

  6. Since the cap ends play at the first point after 20-20, nothing above 21-20 is possible.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.5 · recall

  7. The winner of a game serves first in the next game, however close it was.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.5, 7.6 · applied

  8. Level from 14-all onwards, the game reaches 20-all and the 21st point decides it.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.4, 7.5 · applied

  9. First the lead-by-two stage, then the cap: that is the order of Laws 7.4 and 7.5.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.4, 7.5 · applied

  10. The board is level at 20, so whoever takes this rally takes the game.

    Source: BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.5 · applied

Questions people ask

How many points is a badminton game from 2027?
From 4 January 2027 a game is won by the side that first scores 15 points, subject to the rules for 14-all and 20-all.
How many games are in a badminton match?
A match is the best of three games unless otherwise arranged.
Do you have to be serving to score a point in badminton?
No. Every rally won adds a point to the winner's score, whichever side served.
What happens at 14-all in badminton?
The side that first gains a two-point lead wins the game, so 15-14 does not end it but 17-15 would.
What is the highest possible score in a badminton game?
21-20. At 20-all the side scoring the 21st point wins, so play cannot go further.
Who serves first in the next game?
The side that won the previous game, however close it was.

Sources

BWF Laws of Badminton, V6.0 in force 4 January 2027, Law 7 (paraphrased in original wording; original questions authored from the Laws, not reproduced)

  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.34
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.54
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.43
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.4, 7.52
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.11
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.21
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.61
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.3, 10.3.21
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.2, 7.41
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 6.1, 7.1, 8.1.11
  • BWF Laws 2027, Law 7.5, 7.61