Service Rules in detail

by Jason

(Singapore)

Questions:
I’ve seen a few questions on service rules but I’m just still confused so I’m making this post.

1. Where is the highest level the shuttlecock head be placed.

2. Can the racket head be above waist level and swing down to hit the shuttle before service? (Meaning From top to bottom to top again)

3. If the opponent is not ready when you serve, what will happen?

Answer:
Hi Jason, thank you for your question again.

I appreciate that you looked through all the questions being asked by our visitors. I’ll address your questions in order.

1. Where is the highest level the shuttlecock head be placed?

Be aware that the shuttlecock must be struck from below the server’s waist line (an imaginary line somewhere around the lower part of the server’s bottom rib)

While holding the shuttle during a badminton serve, you can place the shuttlecock as high as you want. It is fine as long as the shuttle falls downwards once you release it.

However, once the racket makes contact with the shuttle, the WHOLE shuttle must be below the server’s waist line.

2. Can the racket head be above waist level and swing down to hit the shuttle before service?

Yes, it is allowed.

This is very common when performing a high serve.

Servers place their rackets above the waist, followed by a ‘U-shaped’ swing to send the shuttle high up towards the receiver’s baseline.

This means the racket will be swung from above the waist, to below the waist, and then upwards again in one smooth motion (like a U shape swing).

This is not a service fault, provided the swing is done in one smooth motion; if there is a pause in between the swing, it is a fault.

Besides that, the racket should be swung upwards to make contact with the shuttle.

However, contact must be made with the racket when the WHOLE shuttle is below your waist line.

3. If the opponent is not ready when you serve, what will happen?

This is a common scenario, even in official tournaments.

The standard procedure to deal with this will be the referee calling a ‘LET’.

A let is a common badminton terminology. The umpire will call a “let” to bring the game to a halt.

A “let” is given when the receiver is not ready to receive and the server has already delivered the service.

The server will then have to re-serve and no rally points will be awarded if a ‘let’ is called by the umpire.

Note that it is not a foul in this case; it is a call by the umpire to replay the rally.

In order for the receiver to qualify for a ‘let’, the receiver must not attempt to return the service. If the umpire sees that the receiver tries to make a return of serve, a ‘let’ will not be called.