Editing Badminton (section)

===Scoring===
{{Main|Scoring system development of badminton}}

Each game is played to 21 points, with players scoring a point by winning a rally.<ref name=laws/> This differs from the old system in which players may only win a point on their serve and each game is to 15 points. A match is the best of three games.

If the score ties at 20–20, then the game continues until one side gains a two-point lead (such as 24–22), except when there is a tie at 29–29, in which the game goes to a golden point of 30. Whoever scores this point wins the game.

At the start of a match, the shuttlecock is cast and the side towards which the shuttlecock is pointing serves first. Alternatively, a coin may be tossed, with the winners choosing whether to serve or receive first, or choosing which end of the court to occupy first, and their opponents making the remaining choice.

In subsequent games, the winners of the previous game serve first. Matches are best out of three: a player or pair must win two games (of 21 points each) to win the match. For the first rally of any doubles game, the serving pair may decide who serves and the receiving pair may decide who receives. The players change ends at the start of the second game; if the match reaches a third game, they change ends both at the start of the game and when the leading player's or pair's score reaches 11 points.

A new scoring system is being attempted by the BWF, in which the 21x3 scoring system may be replaced with 15x3.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Invitation to Test a 3 x 15 Scoring System |url=https://corporate.bwfbadminton.com/news-single/2025/02/03/invitation-to-test-a-3-x-15-scoring-system |access-date=2025-02-24 |language=en-US}}</ref> The move itself has been very controversial amongst several badminton players.