A fault in badminton is any breach of the rules that ends the rally. The side that commits the fault loses the rally, and the other side scores a point and serves next. A let is different: it stops play without penalty, and the rally is replayed with the score unchanged.
This guide lists every fault in the BWF Laws of Badminton (Law 13) and every let (Law 14), grouped by when they happen, with plain-English examples.
Most common faults in club games
- Shuttle lands out or in the net
- Touching the net with your racket or body
- Serving too high (whole shuttle must be below 1.15 m)
- Moving your feet during the serve
- The shuttle hitting your body
- Two hits on the same side (including partners in doubles)
Service faults
The serve has the strictest rules, so it produces the most faults. It is a fault if:
- the whole shuttle is not below 1.15 m from the floor when the server hits it,
- the server or receiver lifts or moves a foot, or is not standing still, before the serve is delivered,
- the server or receiver touches a line of their service court,
- the server hits the feathers before the cork,
- the server pauses or feints after starting the forward swing,
- the server misses the shuttle completely,
- the shuttle lands outside the correct service court: short of the short service line, wide of the sideline, or (in doubles) beyond the doubles long service line,
- the shuttle fails to cross the net or passes under it,
- the server causes undue delay once both players are ready.
A serve that touches the net but still lands in the correct service court is not a fault. See the complete serving rules.
Faults during a rally
The shuttle
It is a fault if the shuttle:
- lands outside the boundaries of the court (a shuttle on the line is in),
- passes through or under the net,
- fails to pass over the net,
- touches the ceiling or side walls,
- touches the person or clothing of a player,
- touches any other object or person outside the court,
- is caught and held on the racket and then slung during the stroke,
- is hit twice in succession by the same player (a single stroke that hits frame and strings together is allowed),
- is hit by a player and then by their partner in succession,
- touches a player’s racket and does not continue towards the opponent’s court.
Where the shuttle lands decides whether it is in or out, not where the player is standing. You can play a shot from outside the court.
The net
While the shuttle is in play, it is a fault if a player:
- touches the net or its supports with their racket, body or clothing,
- invades the opponent’s court over the net with racket or body, except that the racket may follow through after the striker has made contact on their own side,
- invades the opponent’s court under the net in a way that obstructs or distracts the opponent,
- obstructs an opponent, for example by holding a racket near the tape to block a legitimate net stroke.
Conduct
It is also a fault if a player:
- deliberately distracts an opponent by shouting or making gestures,
- commits repeated or persistent offences against the rules on continuous play and conduct.
In tournaments, misconduct can lead to a warning, a fault being awarded, or disqualification by the referee.
What is a let in badminton?
A let is called to stop play and replay the rally. The score does not change, and the same player serves again. A let is called when:
- the server serves before the receiver is ready (if the receiver tries to return it, they are considered ready),
- the server and receiver are both faulted at the same time on the serve,
- after the serve has been returned, the shuttle is caught in the net and remains on top of it, or passes over the net and then gets caught in it,
- the shuttle disintegrates during play and the base completely separates from the feathers,
- a line judge is unsighted and the umpire cannot make a decision,
- another court’s shuttle or any other unexpected situation interrupts play.
A let can be called by the umpire, or by the players when there is no umpire.
Fault or not? Common situations
| Situation | Ruling |
|---|---|
| Shuttle clips the net tape and drops into the opponent’s court | Not a fault, play on |
| Serve clips the net and lands in the correct service court | Not a fault, play on |
| Shuttle lands on the line | In |
| Your racket crosses the net on the follow-through, without touching it | Not a fault, if contact was on your side |
| You hit the shuttle on the opponent’s side of the net | Fault |
| Shuttle hits your partner before you hit it | Fault against your side |
| Shuttle hits the frame and strings in one swing | Not a fault |
| Shuttle hits the ceiling and comes down in the court | Fault |
| You touch the net after the shuttle has hit the floor | Not a fault, the rally was already over |
| You step on the line while receiving | Fault |
How to avoid the common faults
- Net touches: most happen after a net kill. Practise stopping your racket short and keep your body back from the net.
- Serving height: serve with the shuttle clearly below your waist, especially if you are tall.
- Foot faults: set your feet before you start, and do not take a step into the serve.
- Double hits in doubles: call “mine” or “yours” early on shots down the middle.
For how faults fit into the rest of the game, see our complete rules of badminton.
