Badminton · Guide
How to play badminton: a beginner's guide
Hit the shuttle over the net so it lands in your opponent's court before they can return it. Every rally scores a point. Easy to start, and one of the fastest racket sports once you are good.
What you need
- A racket: light and easy to swing. Most sports centres lend them.
- Shuttlecocks: nylon ones last longer and are fine for learning; feather ones fly better and are used in competition. See shuttlecocks explained.
- Indoor shoes with non-marking soles and good grip.
- A court: hire one at a leisure centre, or join a club session.
Your first game
- Serve underarm, diagonally, from the right when your score is even and the left when it is odd.
- Keep the shuttle off your floor. If it lands in your court, or you hit it out or into the net, the other side scores.
- Get back to the middle of your court after every shot.
- Play to 21 (or to 15 under the new system from 2027), best of three games. See scoring.
First tips
- Hold the racket loosely, like shaking hands. A tight grip kills your wrist speed.
- Hit high and deep when you are in trouble: a clear to the back buys time.
- Use the whole court. Front and back is harder to cover than side to side.
- Keep score with the badminton scorer, which tracks serves in doubles too.
Next: the six key shots and the full rules.
Quick answers
- Is badminton easy to learn?
- Yes to start: a shuttle is slow enough that beginners can rally in the first session. It gets very fast and athletic at a high level.
- What do I need to play badminton?
- A racket, shuttlecocks, indoor court shoes with non-marking soles, and a court. Most sports centres hire courts by the hour and many lend rackets.
- How do you serve in badminton?
- Underarm, hitting the base of the shuttle below 1.15 m from the floor, diagonally into the opponent's service court.
- Where can I play badminton in the UK?
- Most leisure centres and many schools hire out courts, and clubs run sessions for all levels. Badminton England lists clubs in England.