Section 5: Rules of Play
General Play
The fundamental objective during play is to keep the shuttlecock in play (a rally) by striking it over the net so that it lands within the opponent's court, or to force the opponent to commit a fault. The shuttle may only be struck once by a player before crossing the net (except as described in Law 14.2 regarding the shuttle touching the net cord).
Service (Law 9)
Service is the action that initiates a rally. Law 9 governs all aspects of the service action in detail.
9.1 Positions at Service
- Both the server and the receiver shall stand within diagonally opposite service courts (Law 9.1.1).
- Some part of both feet of the server and receiver shall remain in contact with the surface of the court in a stationary position from the start of the service (Law 9.1.1) until the service is delivered (Law 9.1.2).
- The feet of the server and receiver shall not touch any line of the service court (Law 9.1.3).
9.2 Shuttle Position and Racket Angle at Service
- The server's racket shall initially hit the base of the shuttle (Law 9.1.4).
- The whole shuttle shall be below the server's waist at the instant of being hit. The waist is defined as an imaginary line around the body at the level of the lowest part of the server's bottom rib (Law 9.1.5).
- The shaft of the server's racket at the instant of hitting the shuttle shall be pointing in a downward direction to such a degree that the whole of the head of the racket is discernibly below the whole of the server's hand holding the racket (Law 9.1.6).
- The movement of the server's racket must continue forwards after the start of the service until the service is delivered (Law 9.1.7).
- The flight of the shuttle shall be upwards from the server's racket to pass over the net, so that if not intercepted it falls in the receiver's service court (Law 9.1.8).
9.3 Feinting and Delays
- Once the server and receiver are ready for the service, the first forward movement of the server's racket head shall be the start of the service (Law 9.2).
- The server shall not serve before the receiver is ready. However, the receiver shall be considered to have been ready if a return of service is attempted (Law 9.4).
- Service delivered in the wrong service court is a fault (Law 9.6). However, if the error is not discovered before the next service is delivered, the point stands (Law 9.7).
Doubles Service Order (Law 10)
- At the start of a game and each time a side gains the right to serve, the service shall be delivered from the right service court (Law 10.1.1).
- Only the receiver shall return the service (Law 10.1.2). If the shuttle is touched by or strikes the receiver's partner, it is a fault.
- When the serving side wins a rally, the server and partner do not change their respective service courts and the same server serves again from the alternate service court (Law 10.1.3).
- When the receiving side wins a rally, the receiving side becomes the new serving side (Law 10.1.4). The player of the new serving side who served last shall serve from the appropriate service court determined by the score.
- Players do not change their respective service courts until they win a point when their side is serving (Law 10.1.5).
Lets (Law 13)
A "let" is called when a rally is stopped and replayed with no point awarded. A "let" shall be called (Law 13.3) in the following circumstances:
- The shuttle is caught in the net and remains suspended on the top of the net after passing over the net (except on service).
- During service, if the receiver and server are both faulted at the same time (Law 13.3.4).
- If the server serves before the receiver is ready (Law 13.3.5).
- During play, the shuttle disintegrates and the base separates from the rest of the shuttle (Law 13.3.6).
- A line judge is unsighted and the umpire is unable to make a decision (Law 13.3.7).
- Any unforeseen or accidental situation has arisen (Law 13.3.8).
Under Law 13.1, if a "let" is called, play since the last service shall not count and the player who served shall serve again (reservice).
Shuttle in Play
Under Law 14, the shuttle is not in play once a fault has occurred, or a "let" has been called. In all other circumstances, the shuttle remains in play from the moment it is struck by the server's racket until it touches the court surface or a fault or let is called. Under Law 14.2, the shuttle may touch the net on its way over during play (not service) and continue in play, provided it lands within the correct boundary lines.