Badminton is a racket sport played by two opposing players (singles) or two pairs (doubles) using a shuttlecock. The objective is to land the shuttlecock on the opponent's court or force an error. A match is typically played as a best-of-three games, with each game played to 21 points. Players must achieve a two-point advantage to win a game, or the first to 30 points wins. The sport's origins can be traced to ancient games in Greece, China, and India. It was introduced to England in the 1870s and named after the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire. The modern game was standardized with the establishment of the Bath Badminton Club in 1877 and later the Badminton Association of England in 1893. Badminton became an official Olympic sport in 1992.

What equipment do you need to play badminton?

To play badminton, you need a racket and a shuttlecock . Badminton rackets are constructed from materials like aluminum, steel, graphite, or carbon fiber, and they come in various sizes and weights to suit individual player preferences. The shuttlecock, historically made from a cork hemisphere with goose feathers, can also be crafted from synthetic materials. These are the essential pieces of equipment for engaging in this court or lawn game.

How many players can play badminton and what are the basic rules?

Badminton can be played by two opposing players (singles) or two pairs (doubles). The objective is to hit a shuttlecock over a net so that it lands within the opponent's court or to force an error from the opponent.

How is scoring done in badminton matches?

In badminton, a match is won by securing two out of three games. Each game is played to 21 points. To win a game, a player must achieve a 2-point advantage. If neither player reaches a 2-point lead, the first player to score 30 points wins the game. Since 2006, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) uses a rally scoring system, meaning either side can score points at any time during the game.

What makes badminton different from other racquet sports like tennis or squash?

Badminton distinguishes itself from racquet sports like tennis and squash primarily through its projectile and court. Instead of a ball, badminton uses a shuttlecock , which is lighter and designed to fly through the air differently. The game is played on a court with a net, and players must hit the shuttlecock without it touching the ground within the court boundaries. Unlike squash, which is played in a four-walled court where the ball can rebound off walls, badminton is played on a net-divided court. Tennis also uses a ball and a net, but the shuttlecock's unique flight path and the lighter rackets used in badminton create a distinct playing experience focused on dexterity and quick reactions.

Badminton

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Images & Videos

P. V. Sindhu of Team India lunges forward on a green badminton court, reaching with her racket to hit the shuttlecock during a match at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Darren Hall of Britain returning the shuttlecock in All-England Badminton Championship competition

Dimensions of a badminton court, badminton racket, and shuttlecock.

Learn about the history of badminton and how to play the sport

Quick Facts

Key People:: P.V. Sindhu; Saina Nehwal; Pullela Gopichand; Prakash Padukone

Related Topics:: Olympic Games; Thomas Cup; Uber Cup; Badminton World Federation; All-England Championship

On the Web:: International Olympic Committee - Badminton (Oct. 19, 2026)

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Badminton

sport

Written and fact-checked by

Britannica Editors

Last updated

Nov. 11, 2026 •History

Top Questions

What is badminton?
Badminton is a racket sport played by two opposing players (singles) or two pairs (doubles) using a shuttlecock. The objective is to land the shuttlecock on the opponent's court or force an error. A match is typically played as a best-of-three games, with each game played to 21 points. Players must achieve a two-point advantage to win a game, or the first to 30 points wins.

The sport's origins can be traced to ancient games in Greece, China, and India. It was introduced to England in the 1870s and named after the Badminton estate in Gloucestershire. The modern game was standardized with the establishment of the Bath Badminton Club in 1877 and later the Badminton Association of England in 1893. Badminton became an official Olympic sport in 1992.
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What equipment do you need to play badminton?
To play badminton, you need a racket and a shuttlecock. Badminton rackets are constructed from materials like aluminum, steel, graphite, or carbon fiber, and they come in various sizes and weights to suit individual player preferences. The shuttlecock, historically made from a cork hemisphere with goose feathers, can also be crafted from synthetic materials. These are the essential pieces of equipment for engaging in this court or lawn game.
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1. badminton
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How many players can play badminton and what are the basic rules?
Badminton can be played by two opposing players (singles) or two pairs (doubles). The objective is to hit a shuttlecock over a net so that it lands within the opponent's court or to force an error from the opponent.

Basic Rules:
- A match consists of the best of three games.
- To win a game, a player must score 21 points. A two-point advantage is required to win a game. If the score reaches 29-29, the side scoring the 30th point wins the game.
- Points are scored by either side during a rally (rally scoring system).
- The court dimensions vary slightly for singles (13.4 meters long by 5.2 meters wide) and doubles (13.4 meters long by 6.1 meters wide).
- The net is 1.5 meters high and stretches across the center of the court.
- Play involves continuously volleying the shuttlecock without letting it touch the ground within the court boundaries.
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How is scoring done in badminton matches?
In badminton, a match is won by securing two out of three games. Each game is played to 21 points. To win a game, a player must achieve a 2-point advantage. If neither player reaches a 2-point lead, the first player to score 30 points wins the game. Since 2006, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) uses a rally scoring system, meaning either side can score points at any time during the game.
1 Britannica Source
1. badminton
Created from Britannica articles using AI. AI can make mistakes, so verify using Britannica articles.
What makes badminton different from other racquet sports like tennis or squash?
Badminton distinguishes itself from racquet sports like tennis and squash primarily through its projectile and court. Instead of a ball, badminton uses a shuttlecock, which is lighter and designed to fly through the air differently. The game is played on a court with a net, and players must hit the shuttlecock without it touching the ground within the court boundaries. Unlike squash, which is played in a four-walled court where the ball can rebound off walls, badminton is played on a net-divided court. Tennis also uses a ball and a net, but the shuttlecock's unique flight path and the lighter rackets used in badminton create a distinct playing experience focused on dexterity and quick reactions.
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Badminton, court or lawn game played with lightweight rackets and a shuttlecock. The roots of the sport can be traced to the old game battledore and shuttlecock, which was played in ancient Greece, China, and India. The game was taken from India to England, where it was first played in Gloucestershire, at the country estate of the 9th duke of Beaufort, Henry Somerset, about 1873. The sport is named for this Badminton estate. Historically, the shuttlecock (also known as a “bird” or “birdie”) was a small cork hemisphere pierced by 16 goose feathers and weighing about 0.17 ounce (5 grams). This type of shuttle may still be used in modern play, but shuttles made from synthetic materials are also allowed by the international governing body of the sport. Badminton rackets are made of aluminum, steel, graphite, or carbon fiber and are available in various sizes and weights to accommodate different player preferences.

Did You Know?

In India badminton was first known as “poona,” after the city of Poona (Pune), and it later took its official name from the Badminton estate, in Gloucestershire, England.

Origin and development

Badminton is derived directly from the game “poona,” which was played by British army officers stationed in India in the 1860s. The Bath Badminton Club was established in Bath, England, in 1877 and introduced new rules to the game. The formation of the Badminton Association of England (BAE) in 1893 marked a significant step in standardizing the rules and regulations of the sport. The first All England Open Badminton Championships, considered the world’s first badminton tournament, were held in 1899. These developments laid the foundation for badminton’s global expansion.

The International Badminton Federation (now the Badminton World Federation [BWF]) was formed on July 5, 1934, as the sport’s world governing body, and its first world championships were held in 1977. A number of regional, national, and zonal badminton tournaments are held in several countries. The best known of these is the All-England Championships. The BWF classifies its tournaments into four grades to organize competitions based on prestige, ranking points, and prize money. Grade 1 tournaments represent the highest level of competition in the BWF tournament structure. These prestigious events attract top-ranking players from around the globe. The tournaments under this grade are the Olympic Games, BWF World Championships, and BWF World Tour Finals. Other well-known international tournaments include the Thomas Cup (donated 1939) for men’s team competition and the Uber Cup (donated 1956) for women’s team competition.

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History of Badminton in the Olympic Games

1972: Debut as a demonstration sport at the Munich Olympic Games
1988: Inclusion as an exhibition sport at the Seoul Olympic Games
1992: Recognition as an official Olympic sport at the Barcelona Olympic Games
1996: Introduction of mixed doubles (each team having a man and a woman) at the Atlanta Olympic Games

Rules and equipment

Badminton is an indoor sport played by two opposing players (singles) or two pairs (doubles), who use a shuttlecock during a rally to try to land it on their opponents’ court or force an error. A match is played in a best-of-three games format. To win the match, a player must secure two out of three games, each played to 21 points. Additionally, a player must achieve a 2-point advantage to win a game. If that advantage is not reached, the first player to score 30 points wins the game. Points were awarded only to the serving side until 2006, when the BWF adopted the “rally scoring” system, under which either side can score at any time.

The rectangular court is 44 feet (13.4 meters) long and 17 feet (5.2 meters) wide for singles, 20 feet (6.1 meters) wide for doubles. A net 5 feet (1.5 meters) high stretches across the width of the court at its center. A clear space of 4 feet (1.3 meters) around the court is needed. Play consists entirely of volleying—hitting the shuttlecock back and forth across the net without letting it touch the floor or ground within the boundaries of the court—and it is fast-paced, requiring athletes to have excellent dexterity and quick reaction times.

Renowned players

Badminton has been markedly affected by legendary players, such as George Thomas, Rudy Hartono, and Susi Susanti, who have made significant contributions to the sport. Thomas founded the Thomas Cup, Hartono won the All-England Championships eight times, and Susanti is an Olympic gold medalist. Badminton is especially popular in China, Indonesia, South Korea, Malaysia, Japan, England, Denmark, and India. Notable players include Prakash Padukone, Pullela Gopichand, Saina Nehwal, P.V. Sindhu, Shi Yu Qi, and An Se Young.

The Editors of Encyclopaedia BritannicaThis article was most recently revised and updated by Urnesha Bhattacherjee.

Badminton

Basic Rules:

Origin and development

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Rules and equipment

Renowned players