In badminton, the player or pair who wins the preceding rally always earns the right to serve for the next point. This fundamental rule directly links service to performance, ensuring that the team or player in good form maintains the initiative.
Determining the Server and Service Court
The process of serving in badminton is straightforward but includes a crucial rule regarding the service court from which the serve must be executed:
- Winner Serves: The individual player (in singles) or the pair (in doubles) that scores a point by winning a rally gains the serve for the subsequent rally.
- Service Court Based on Score: The side of the court from which the serve is made depends on the server's current score:
- If the server's score is even (0, 2, 4, etc.), the serve must be delivered from the right service court.
- If the server's score is odd (1, 3, 5, etc.), the serve must be delivered from the left service court.
For example, if you are serving, and your current score is 8 while your opponent's is 4 (8:4 for you), you would serve from the right side of your court because your score (8) is an even number. This applies whether you are playing singles or doubles; the serving side's score dictates the service court.
Service Sequence in Singles and Doubles
The "who serves" rule has slightly different implications for singles and doubles play:
Singles Play
- The player who wins the rally serves the next point.
- The server continues to serve as long as they keep winning rallies.
- The service court changes based on the server's score (right for even, left for odd).
- If the server loses a rally, the opponent wins the point and takes over the serve.
Doubles Play
- The pair who wins the rally earns the serve.
- Within the serving pair, only one player serves at a time. The player who serves depends on the pair's score and who started the game serving from which court:
- If the serving pair's score is even, the player who started the game serving from the right service court will serve.
- If the serving pair's score is odd, the player who started the game serving from the left service court will serve.
- The serving pair continues to serve as long as they win rallies.
- If the serving pair loses a rally, the opponent pair wins the point and takes over the serve. There is no "second serve" in badminton; a lost rally means a change of serve.
Service Court Overview
To visualize the service court determination:
| Server's Score | Service Court Used |
|---|---|
| Even (0, 2, 4...) | Right Service Court |
| Odd (1, 3, 5...) | Left Service Court |
Key Regulations for a Legal Serve
Beyond knowing who serves, executing a legal serve is crucial. While the primary question is "who," understanding these basic regulations ensures the serve is valid:
- Shuttlecock Below Waist: At the moment of impact, the entire shuttlecock must be below the server's waist.
- Racket Head Below Hand: The entire head of the racket must be below the server's hand holding the racket.
- Feet Grounded: Both of the server's feet must remain stationary and in contact with the court surface from the start of the serve until the shuttlecock is struck.
- Continuous Motion: The server's racket movement must be a continuous forward motion once the serve has started.
Adhering to these rules, along with knowing who serves and from which court, is essential for fair and proper play in badminton. For a complete understanding of all rules, refer to the official regulations by the Badminton World Federation (BWF), such as their Laws of Badminton.
