SHUTTLES

The shuttle may be made from natural, synthetic or other manufactured product or any of those combinations. The feel on the racket and the flight characteristics, generally, should be similar to those produced by the natural feathered shuttle, which has a cork base covered by a thin layer of leather.

Having regard to the principles:

General Design (a)(i) The shuttle shall have 14 to 16 feathers fixed in the base.

(a)(ii) The feathers can have a variable length from 64mm to 70mm (2 1/2 inches to 2 3/4 inches), but in each shuttle they shall be the same length when measured from the tip to the top of the base.

(a)(iii) The tips of the feathers shall form a circle with a diameter within a range of 58mm to 68mm (2 1/4 inches to 2 5/8 inches).

(a)(iv) The feathers shall be fastened firmly with thread or other suitable material.

(a)(v) The base shall be:

-25mm to 28mm (1 inch to 1 1/8 inches) in diameter

-rounded on the bottom.

(b) Weight

The shuttle shall weigh from 4.74 to 5.50 grams (73 to 85 grains).

(c) Non-Feathered Shuttles

(c)(i) The skirt, or simulation of feathers in synthetic or other manufactured materials, replaces natural feathers.

(c)(ii) The base is described in paragraph (a)(v).

(c)(iii) Measurements shall be the same as in paragraph (a)(i)-(iv). However, because of the difference in the specific gravity and behavior of synthetic and manufactured materials in comparison with feathers, a variation of up to 10 percent in the stated measurements is acceptable.

(d) Pace and FlightA shuttle shall be deemed to be of correct pace when it is hit by a player with a full underhand stroke from a spot immediately above one back boundary line in a direction parallel to the sidelines and at an upward angle, to fall not less than 530mm (1 foot 9 inches) and not more than 990mm (3 feet 3 inches) short of the other back boundary line.

(e) Modifications subject to there being no variation in the general design, pace and flight of the shuttle, modifications in the above specifications may be made with the approval of the national organization concerned:

(e)(i) in places where atmospheric conditions due either to altitude or climate make the standard shuttle unsuitable; or

(e)(ii) if specific circumstances exist which make it otherwise necessary in the interests of the game.

 
DOUBLES PLAY:

(a) It having been decided which side is to have the first service, the player in the right-hand service court of that side commences the game by serving to the player in the service court diagonally opposite. If the latter player returns the shuttle before it touches the ground, it is to be returned by one of the "In" side, and then returned by one of the "Out" side, and so on, till a fault is made or the shuttle ceases to be "in play". If a fault is made by the "In" side its right to continue serving is lost, as only one player on the side beginning a game is entitled to do so and the opponent in the right-hand service court then becomes the server; but if the service is not returned, or the fault is made by the "Out" side, the "In" side scores a point. The "In" side players then change from one service court to the other, the service now being from the left-hand service court to the player in the service court diagonally opposite. So long as a side remains "In", service is delivered alternately from each service court into the one diagonally opposite, the change being made by the "In" side when, and only when, a point is added to its score.

(b) The first service of a side in each service shall be made from the right-hand service court. A "Service" is delivered as soon as the shuttle is struck by the server¡¦s racket. The shuttle is thereafter "in play" until it touches the ground, or until a fault or "let" occurs. After the service is delivered the server and the player served to may take up any positions they choose on their side of the net, irrespective of boundary lines.

The player served to may alone receive the service, but should the shuttle touch, or be struck by, his partner the "In" side scores a point. No player may receive two consecutive services in the same game.

Only one player of the side beginning a game shall be entitled to serve in its first service. In all subsequent services each partner shall have the right, and they shall serve consecutively. The side winning a game shall always serve first in the next game, but either of the losers may receive the service.

If a player serves out of turn, or from the wrong service court (owing to a mistake as to the service court from which service is at the time being in order), and his side wins the rally, it shall be a "Let", provided that such "Let" be claimed and allowed, or ordered by the umpire, before the next succeeding service is delivered.

If a player of the "Out" side standing in the wrong service court is prepared to receive the service when it is delivered, and his side wins the rally, the mistake shall stand and the players¡¦ positions shall not be corrected.

Should a player inadvertently change sides when he should not do so, and the mistake not be discovered until after the next succeeding service has been delivered, the mistake shall stand, and a "Let" cannot be claimed or allowed, and the players¡¦ position shall not be corrected.

 

SINGLES PLAY:

(a) The players shall serve from and receive service in their respective right-hand service courts only when the server¡¦s score is 0 or an even number of points in the game, the service being delivered from and received in their respective left-hand service courts when the server¡¦s score is an odd number of points. Setting does not affect this sequence.

(b) Both players shall change service courts after each point has been scored.
 

A match consists of best of 3 games.
The side that first scored 21 points shall win.
The side winning a rally shall add 1 point to its score.
If a score becomes 20-20, the side which scores 2 consecutive points shall win that game.
If the score becomes 29-29, the side that scores the 30th point shall win that game.
The side winning a game serves first in the next game.
When one side reaches 11 points, both players get a 60 second break.
Both sides get a 2-minute break between first and second games, and another 2-minute break between second and third game.
Other rules shall remain the same.
For Doubles matches, the rules are:
One service only
Back service line remains and the current rule applies.

Scoring

The basics
Each game is played with 21 points, with players scoring a point whenever they win a rally (this differs from the old system, where players could only win a point on their serve). A match is the best of three games.

At the start of the rally, the server and receiver stand in diagonally opposite service courts (see court dimensions). The server hits the shuttlecock so that it would land in the receiver's service court. This is similar to tennis, except that a badminton serve must be hit below waist height and with the racquet shaft pointing downwards, the shuttlecock is not allowed to bounce and in badminton, the players stand inside their service courts unlike tennis.

When the serving side loses a rally, the serve passes to their opponent(s) (unlike the old system, there is no "second serve" in doubles).

In singles, the server stands in his right service court when his score is even, and in his left service court when his score is odd.

In doubles, if the serving side wins a rally, the same player continues to serve, but he changes service courts so that he serves to each opponent in turn. If the opponents win the rally and their new score is even, the player in the right service court serves; if odd, the player in the left service court serves. The players' service courts are determined by their positions at the start of the previous rally, not by where they were standing at the end of the rally. A consequence of this system is that, each time a side regains the service, the server will be the player who did not serve last time.