Anyone know the UK rules of badminton? I'm a bit unsure?

Question

1. What happens when the shuttlecock lands on the white line? Is it in or out?

2. Your opponent hits the shuttlecock, you try and return it and miss, but it lands out of play anyway. Is that your point (it was out) or his point (because you tried to return it, even though you missed)?

Answer 1

1. Lines are considered 'in.'

2. During a rally, you can only get points when you serve. So, if your opponent serves the birdie and, at the end of the rally, he hits it and it lands out, he does not get a point and the serve is yours. If you serve the bird and, at the end of the rally your opponent hits the bird out, that's your point.

Remember, though, that if you touch the bird (with your racket or your body), that is counted as 'hitting' it (the same as if you hit it and it went sideways out of the court). So, if the bird lands out but you touched it, your opponent gets the point if he served. If the bird lands out and you touched it after your serve, no one gets a point and it's your opponent's turn.


As far as I know, those rules are universal to the sport, but those answers are based on my experience in the US.