Current Rules:

 

TO START A GAME:

Toss a coin or shuttle, or spin the racket.  The winner has a choice of :

1.  to serve or receive first.

2.  ends.

 

POSITION ON COURT AT THE START OF A GAME:

Server stands inside the service court on the right side (facing the net).  Receiver stands inside the service court on the opposite right side (facing the net).  Partners may stand anywhere on either side providing they do not block the view of the receiver.

 

TO START THE PLAY:

The server on the right side serves to the receiver on the opposite right side.  The server must not serve until the receiver is ready.  The receiver must not move until the server hits the shuttle.

 

SERVER MUST:

1.  Keep part of both feet in a stationary position on the floor.

2.  Hit the base of the shuttle first.

3.  Hit the shuttle below the server's waist.

4.  Hit the shuttle with all of the racket's head clearly below the hand that holds the racket.

5.  Have the racket move continuously forward (no fake allowed).

 

TAKE A "LET" IF:

1.  The server or receiver is on the wrong side and wins the rally.

2.  There is outside interference (shuttle from another court lands on the playing area).

3.  The shuttle goes over the net, catches and stays on or in the opposite side of the net (except on the serve).

 

FAULTS:

1.  Shuttle lands outside the court boundaries (head of the shuttle landing on the line is a good shot).

2.  Racket or clothing touches the net while the shuttle is in play.

3.  Player reaches over and hits the shuttle on the opposite side of the net (when it is hit on player's side, follow-through over the net is legal).

4.  Shuttle is clearly carried on the racket and thrown over.

5.  Shuttle hits with two strokes by one side (two hits on one stroke is legal).

6.  Shuttle hits the player, player's clothing, ceiling, or the surrounding court area.

7.  Interfering with the shuttle, misconduct, or stalling after one warning (penalty -- lose serve or give opponents a point).

8.  Receiver's partner hits the service.

9.  Server swings and misses the shuttle.

 

SERVER OR RECEIVER ON WRONG SIDE:

Play a let, correct the error, if the person who made the mistake wins the rally and it is discovered before the next service.  The score stands if the person who made the mistake loses the rally, in which case, the players will remain on the "wrong" side.  If the next serve has been made, the score stands and the players remain on the "wrong" side.

 

SHUTTLE IS IN PLAY:

From the time it hits the server's racket until it:

1.  hits the floor.

2.  hits the ceiling, or outside the court area.

3.  hits person or clothing.

4.  hits net on hitter's side and starts to drop on hitter's side.

NOTE:  A shuttle hitting the net on the serve and going over, is a good serve, provided the shuttle lands in the service court.

 

POSITION OF THE SERVER:

Singles - If server's score is even (0, 2, 4, etc.), server is on the right side.  If server's score is odd (1, 3, 5, etc.), server on left side.

Doubles - When a team's score is even, that team is in their starting positions.  When odd, reverse positions.

DURING PLAY

Singles - If the server wins the rally, he scores a point, changes service court side, and continues to serve.  If he loses, his opponent serves and no point is scored.

Doubles - If the team serving wins the rally, a point is scored, and the server switches service court position and  continues to serve.  If they lose the rally, the parter serves from the other side and no point is scored.  After the team serving loses two rallies, the serve goes to the opponents.  Note: At the start of the game in doubles, the side which begins the serve has only one server.