Evolution of the “Point Scoring System”

Translation of the French article  "Évolution du 'Point Scoring System'"

    Starting with the 2026-2027 season, badminton matches (at least those at international level) could be played as best-of-three games of 15 points (3 x 15), with a two-point margin and a scoring cap of 21 points (the break – a 60-second "technical time-out" – being taken at 8 points) (See Badminton World Federation, "Laws of Badminton for 3x15").

    This new format was approved by the Badminton World Association (BWF) [1] Board of Directors on November 9, 2024, and tested from May to November 2025 in various "secondary" tournaments (Grade 3 tournaments [2], notably the Junior World Championships, held in India in October 2025). The list of test tournaments is available in the "3x15 Scoring System Testing Update" (published on April 3, 2025). Organizing teams, players, coaches, and technical officials were invited to share their feedback and opinions by completing a relatively brief questionnaire: "3x15 Scoring System Stakeholder Survey Questions." Commercial partners were also consulted to gather their perspectives and assess their level of support(or satisfaction?) for a change so clearly designed to appeal to them.

    However, to replace the current 3x21 format, this "new best-of-three" still needs to be approved at the BWF's Annual General Meeting, scheduled for April 25, 2026 [3].

    This change pursues several concomitant objectives, in line with the "Strategic Plan 2020-2024" developed by the BWF (and still relevant):

• To revitalize the game by generating more incisive and spectacular rallies (avoiding the pitfall of monotony);
• To shorten the duration of matches, which at a high level were becoming increasingly long (sometimes lasting almost two hours for doubles matches);
• To protect the health of competitors (reducing fatigue, a source of injuries, especially since the increasing number of World Tour tournaments adds to their workload) [4]. The expected consequence of this reduction in the risk of injury is a longer playing career for players;
• Not forgetting the expected financial benefits, linked to the increase in audience share combined with the arrival of new commercial partners, leading to higher incomes (for competitors) and substantial gains for the international and national bodies governing badminton.
   

See : "Richie Rich orfèvre en Badminton"

    On the one hand, reducing the duration of matches would optimize their television broadcasts; on the other hand, promoting a more dynamic style of play, creating more and quicker key-point situations, would enhance badminton's position in the sportainment sector. This blend of sport and entertainment is now considered the key to success in sports events.
    This is essential in a highly competitive field, where other sports could potentially steal the anticipated market share ("A standstill approach would be a backward move, and other sports may come and take our share of the sports marketplace" [5]).

    In February 2025, the BWF considered that among the scoring systems considered and tested (including 2x21 points with a decisive 3rd game to 11 points in case of a tie, and 5x11 – best of 5 games played to 11 points without extra time), the 3x15 format met the desired objectives:
    - tighter matches, therefore more intense rallies, resulting in more exciting matches, with each point becoming crucial, thus building suspense quicker: "Provide more exciting play and important points earlier in matches," as the BWF stated in 2021 in a "Frequently Asked Questions" document, which, while concerning 5x11, also applied to 3x15 [6];
    - shorter matches of more consistent duration, making them easier to plan, abler to maintain the attention of fans, and limiting the risk of injury:

    This revision of the Scoring System is not the first to have altered the sequence of matches and disrupted the habits of players, coaches, and competition organizers.
    The history of badminton is marked by adjustments, changes, or simple proposals, all seeking to take into account the evolution of the game (primarily the lengthening of matches) and, more recently, socio-economic imperatives linked to its television broadcasting, its "televisual nature": the need for more intense and predictable formats, the pursuit of a better spectacle, and a better understanding of the scoring system for a general audience. These are all factors considered crucial for attracting sponsors and other financial partners.

    The reduction in the number of points required to win a set is driven by the desire to intensify rallies, to energize them by encouraging a more aggressive style of play from the outset, and thus to increase the game's appeal for (television) viewers.

    A look back at the different scoring systems that have marked the history of badminton, from the first All England [7], organized in 1899 in London by the Badminton Association (of England), to the present day.

1899: 3x15 at the 1st All England

    Only Men's Doubles, Ladies’ Doubles, and Mixed Doubles were staged in this first edition (Men's and Ladies’ Singles would not appear until the following year, in 1900).
    Matches were then played as best-of-three games (two games needed to win). However, a significant difference from the current format was that only the server could score points. It was necessary to break serve by first winning a rally in order to score (as was also the case in volleyball at the same time and until 1999 – when the International Volleyball Federation – IVF – definitively abandoned the side-out scoring system for the rally scoring system, also with the aim of making match duration more predictable [8]. A desire for television exposure was clearly at play).

    The rules then included two settings:
    - In the event of a tie at 13, the first pair (and, from 1900 onwards, also the first player) to reach this score had the choice between playing continuously, continuing to 15 points (in the traditional way), or extending the game by 5 additional points (up to 18): "Option of setting the game to 5".
    - A second setting was also possible at 14 all. The first players to reach this score could decide to extend the game by 3 points (up to 17).
    However, if at 13 all, a pair (or a player) had decided to play a 5-point setting, this could not be changed at 14 all.

    When one of these two settings was chosen, a game of 5 or 3 points, depending on the option selected, was played. The umpire would then announce "zero all" (or more precisely: "Love all", according to the established formula [9]) and the first player to score 5 or 3 points would win the game! "After a game has been "set" the score is called "love all," and the side which first scores 5 or 3 points, according as the game has been "set" at 13 all or 14 all, wins the game," as recalled in The Laws of Badminton as revisited in the year 1939 and adopted by the International Badminton Federation, p. 20.
 

P. C. Muriel Lucas, «Badminton»,
in F.G. Aflalo, The Sports of the World, 1903, p. 243

    This scoring system, used from the first edition of the All England (1899), dates back to one of the very first systems of rules adopted in 1873 in British India: the Murree Rules (a mountain resort located in Punjab) [10].
    These rules, sent in 1873 to The Field magazine by one of its correspondents, were published in the October 18th edition of this weekly publication. Point 20 of the Murree Rules specified that: “The side that first scores fifteen wins the game. At thirteen all, the side first scoring thirteen may set five, and at fourteen all, the side first scoring fourteen may set three. The game then continues until one side wins by scoring five or three, as the case may be.”

Short games (15 points) and long games (23 points):
    If "short games" to 15 points (with settings at 13 all and 14 all) were more popular, it was also possible to play "long games" to 23 points, with settings of 5 points at 21 all and 3 points at 22 all. As stated in "The Game of Badminton," an article published on May 9, 1874, in Harper’s Bazar (Vol. VII, No. 19): "A short game is fifteen up, and a long game twenty-three. If the game be 'thirteen all,' the side that first scores thirteen can set five; if 'fourteen all,' they can set three," in the short game. In the long game, they can set five at 'twenty-one all,' and three at 'twenty-two all.'"
 

    A clarification regarding the possibility of 21-point games is provided in the Laws of Badminton adopted by the Bath Badminton Club (the very first badminton club in the world, founded in 1877), published in 1903 by Spalding’s Athletic Library (USA): 15-point matches only applied to one- or two-player games – single-handed and double-handed. 21-point matches concerned games played 3 against 3, or even 4 against 4 (three-handed and four-handed), which were not uncommon at the time:
    “The single-handed and double-handed game consists of 15 aces.” At "I3 all," the side which first reaches 13 has the option of "setting" five; at "I4 all," of "setting" three. In three-handed or in four-handed games, the game consists of 21 aces. First set is at 19 all; second set is at 20 all. » [11]
 

    These 21-point games (with the same "extra-time") are still listed in the Badminton Rules Guide, published in 1936 by Spalding Athletic Club, which specifies that settings are not permitted in matches with a "handicap" (to balance the matches, in the event of a significant difference in skill level between competitors, players could start their match with a "handicap," either with a points deficit—negative points—against their opponent, or with points given to their opponent—"points received"—which gave them a certain advantage) [12].

    A trace of this can also be found in France in The Complete Rules of Badminton adopted by the F.I., published and commented on by René Mathieu (president of the Central Badminton Commission), in 1960 (p. 4):
 

    In 1972, the Official Rules published by the American Badminton Association (ABA) stated (p. 24) that in Championship matches, games were played to 15 points, not 21: “Provided also that in a game of 21 points the same method of scoring be adopted, substituting 19 and 20 for 13 and 14. (In all Championship play, 15 points is the official game, rather than 21.)”

    In 1992, the IBF (International Badminton Federation, founded in 1934) regulations reiterated this possibility of playing to 21 points, subject to prior agreement. Point 9.1 of the “Scoring” section states: “It is permissible to play one game of 21 points by prior arrangement.” Point 9.3 suggests that in this case, the players only played one game: "In doubles and men's singles, a game is won by the first side to score 15 points (21 points in a match consisting of a single game to 21 points)."
    In the event of a tie at 19, the first pair to reach that score had the option of setting the game to 5 points, and in the event of a tie at 20, to set the game to 3 points ("shall have the choice of setting or not setting the game").
    If a setting was chosen, the players then played a match to 5 or 3 points to determine who won the set: "The score is called 'love all,' and the side first scoring the set number of points [5 or 3] wins the game."
    Source: IBF, "Laws of Badminton." As amended and adopted by the IBF through May 1992, plus July 94 revision of rule 15.6.2.”, point 9.6.
 

    In 1906, at its Annual General Meeting on February 28, the Badminton Association unanimously rejected a proposal to abolish the setting at 13 and replace it with the requirement of scoring two consecutive points: “The proposal, put forward by Mr. Prebble, to amend Law 7 by abolishing 'setting' at 13 all, and to provide that at the all-time deuce and vantage be called until the winner has made two consecutive points to make game, was, after discussion, negatively rejected by an overwhelming majority.” (Source: Lawn Tennis and Badminton, April 4, 1906, p. 527)
   

    It should be noted that this rule of a two-point margin already appeared in 1875 in the Encyclopaedia Britannica, Vol. III, 9th edition, article “Badminton,” p. 228. It states that in the event of a tie at 14, two consecutive points must be scored to win the game (without any scoring limit being defined): “The player who first scores 15 aces wins the game; but if the score arrives at 14 all, it is necessary for one player to score two consecutive aces in order to win.”

Available on archive.org

1908 – Ladies’ Singles changed to 11 points,
with a 5-point setting at 9 all and a 3-point setting at 10 all

P. C. : Geoff Hinder (Badminton Museum)
«Yonex All-England Badminton Championships – Venues»

    From that date onward, Ladies’ Singles matches were played to 11 points (instead of 15). This change had been adopted in February 1907 at a meeting of the Badminton Association, as mentioned in the April 3, 1907 issue of Lawn Tennis and Badminton (p. 616):

    In the event of a tie at 9, the first player to reach that score could choose to extend by 5 points (up to 14), and in the event of a tie at 10, she could extend by 3 points (up to 13), provided that no player had previously chosen, at 9-9, to extend by 5 points (in which case this initial choice could not be changed) [13].

    These settings, for 9- and 10-ties, are mentioned in the rules found in the very first book dealing with the development of Badminton, published by Stewart Marsden Massey in 1911 (published by J. Bell & Sons, London):

1937: Reduction of Setting Points in Ladies’ Singles

    At 9 all, the setting point was reduced from 5 to 3 points, and at 10 all, from 3 to 2 points. This change most likely dates back to 1937, when sets were played to 12 points at the All England Championships (34th edition). It appears in the regulations adopted in 1939 by the IBF, and is reproduced in various publications editing the rules of badminton: The Laws of Badminton, Slazengers, 1939, pp. 20-21, but also The Laws of Badminton, p. 57, and Official Rules, American Badminton Association (ABA), p. 6.
 

P. C.: Geoff Hinder (Badminton Museum)
«Yonex All-England Badminton Championships – Venues»
 

1998: Removal of the 13 all setting in Men's Singles,
Doubles (Men's and Ladies’), and Mixed
Doubles Removal of the 9 all setting in Ladies’ Singles
– with the possibility, in case of a tie at 10,
of a 3-point setting (and more than 2 points) –,
and abolition of the "love all" rule

    These changes appear in the 1998 International Rules, where the 13 all setting (in Men's Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles) and the 9 all setting (in Ladies’ Singles) are no longer mentioned (only the possibilities of 14-14 setting (in Men's Singles, Doubles, and Mixed Doubles) and 10-10 setting (in Ladies’ Singles) remain):

    Laws of Badminton:
    "7. SCORING SYSTEM
    [...] 7.2 In doubles and men's singles, a game is won by the first side to score 15 points, except as provided in Law 7.4. "
    7.3 In ladies' singles a game is won by the first side to score 11 points, except as provided in Law 7.4.
    7.4 If the score becomes 14-all (10-all in ladies' singles), the side which first scored 14 (10) shall exercise the choice in Law 7.4.1 or 7.4.2;
    7.4.1 to continue the game to 15 (11) points, ie not to 'set' the game; or
    7.4.2 to 'set' the game to 17 (13) points."

    This simplification of the rules appears, in 2001, in a Handbook published by HL Corporation, which specifies that the settings at 13 and, for ladies’singles, at 9 have been removed since August 1, 1998: “As of Aug. 1,1998, there are no longer the other setting options at 13-all (or 9-all in ladies' singles.”

    The abolition of "love all" is also specified. In the event of setting, the scoring continues normally until the end of the game, i.e., until 17 (and until 13 in Ladies' Singles) (no more resetting the counters and "sets" to 5, 3, or 2 points):

Source : HL’s Institutional Badminton Handbook & Laws of Badminton.
Reprinted by permission of the International Badminton Federation,
HL Corporation, USA, 2001, p. 19.

2000-2002: The Short-Lived 5x7 Format

    To "improve the commercial appeal" of the game and try to boost television ratings by controlling match length, deemed excessive (even endless) and especially "unpredictable" (often exceeding an hour due to service rotations without points being scored), the IBF International Badminton Federation opted for the 5x7 format (winning three games to secure the victory). This "condensed" format ("design emphasized") was notably tested in 2000 at the IBF World Junior Championships held in China from November 3 to 11. It was then progressively extended to all major international tournaments: the 2002 Thomas Cup, the 2002 Uber Cup, and the 2002 All England Championship. This is mentioned in the quoted document above, published by HL Corporation, in a passage preceded by the word "New up-dated" [14].

    In the event of a 6 all tie, this formula offered the first player to score the 6th point the possibility of choosing to play (or not) 2 additional points (therefore to play up to 8).
 

    The fatal flaw of this scoring system was that it retained the "service-over scoring" rule, meaning that players had to break their opponent's serve to score points (only the server could score), which ultimately did little to shorten the matches. The expected time saving (the goal was to reduce match duration to an average of 30 minutes) proved insignificant, and the system was abandoned (the 2022 Commonwealth Games [15] were the last competition to use it).

    The 2002-2003 season therefore saw a return to 3x15 points for Men's Singles, Men's Doubles, Ladies’ Doubles, and Mixed Doubles – and to 3x11 points for Ladies’ Singles (thus, the 2003 All England Championships reintroduced 15-point scores for men and 11-point scores for ladies) .[16]

2005/2006: the current 3x21 format with "rally point"

    The 3x21 format, best-of-three games, with a two-point margin and a score limited to 30 (“golden point”, contested at 29 all), was tested in December 2005 to "try to regulate the game and simplify the scoring system for spectators" [17].
    By replacing the "service-over scoring" system by a system where each rally awards a point to the winner (regardless of whether they served or not), the "rally point" format represents a radical departure from the old system.
    In addition to unifying the rules for men and ladies, it significantly speeds up gameplay.
    Match duration is considerably reduced (averaging 40 minutes), and this predictability makes matches more suitable for television broadcast.

    The format was unanimously adopted in May 2006 by the IBF (it was only on September 24 of that year that the IBF was renamed the Badminton World Federation – BWF) and implemented by the FFBA (French Badminton Federation, the original acronym of the current FFBaD) starting September 1, 2006 [18].

2014: Experimentation with 5x11 (with or without setting)

    Continuing its efforts to shorten match durations (which have been steadily increasing since the switch to 3x21) and to make rallies more dynamic and “more television-friendly”, the IBF experimented with 5x11 (requiring three sets to win) from August 1st to November 1st, 2014, in lower-level tournaments.
    However, as the match duration proved similar to 3x21, this solution was finally dropped.

    Between February and April 2015, the organizers of BWF Level 3 tournaments (see: "BWF Tournaments Grade System Explained") were invited to test 5x11, either with a maximum score of 15 points or with a 3-point score in case of a 10 all tie [19]. At 10 all, the players engaged in a deciding game to 3 points, and the game score was then displayed as 11-10 (and not 13-10 or 13-11, or even 13-12 as it might have been expected) [20] !

    The main objective of these two configurations was to make badminton "more exciting and entertaining […] particularly for young people who enjoy a more dynamic and fast-paced sport," whether as spectators of high-level matches or as participants.  [21]

    This proposed amendment was rejected three times, at the Annual General Meetings of 2016, 2018 (Bangkok) [22], and 2021 (see the extract from the agenda of the BWF Annual General Meeting, published on May 22, 2021, for the proposed amendments to the clauses of section 5.2), although it was used in China in the National Championships (probably in 2021 and perhaps before) (see "Chronology of the Proposed 5X11 Points System in Badminton").

    It should be noted, however, that in 2021, at the 82nd BWF General Assembly, the 5x11 proposal (put forward by the Indonesian Federation) was narrowly rejected, receiving 66.31% of the votes in favour, just shy of the required two-thirds majority (66.67%)...  [23]

2018-2024 – Relay Scoring System in 110 points
used at the Junior Mixed Team Championships

    The 20th edition of the World Junior Mixed Team Championships (held in Nanchang, China, from September 30 to October 5, 2024) introduced a “revolutionary” new points system: the Relay Scoring System, which is expected to offer: “greater opportunities for upcoming badminton nations to challenge traditional powerhouses»).”

    In this system, first introduced at the 2018 Youth Olympic Games in Buenos Aires (the team final is available in its entirety on YouTube): each match (comprising 2 men's singles, 2 women’s singles, 2 men's doubles, 2 women’s doubles, and 2 mixed doubles) is played to a maximum of 110 points, and the matches—which are played consecutively—are played to 11 points (previously, team matches consisted of 5 independent matches, all played in 3x21 format – men's singles, women’s singles, men's doubles, women’s doubles, and mixed doubles – with the team winning 3 matches winning the overall match).

    In this first Relay Scoring System (a second version will be introduced in 2025 – see box below):

• The order of matches is not predetermined; it is determined at the start of the contest by a draw. The first five matches must include all five badminton disciplines (Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles). The team that wins the draw chooses the first and third matches. The opposing team chooses the second and fourth matches. The remaining match is necessarily played fifth. The last five matches (sixth to tenth) are played in the same order as the first five. 
•  The first match is played to 11 points (with a change of ends at 6). Subsequent matches are played to an additional 11 points.
• The second players (or pairs) to go on court take over from the previous players and begin their match with the previous score. However, there is one exception: if the score of the losing player or pair is less than 5 (for example, 11-3), this score is increased, and they are automatically awarded 5 points. The player or pair taking the second leg therefore begins their match, or at least one match, with a score of 11-5…
• Since subsequent matches are played to 11 points, the third leg is played at 22, the fourth at 33, then 44, 55, and so on. Teams change ends 5 points before the end of the leg, i.e., at 17, 28, 39, etc. This rule always applies: the trailing team starts their match either with the previous score, or (if the number of points scored is less than 10, then 15, etc.) with a multiple of 5: 5 points in the second leg (as previously stated), 10 in the third, 15 in the fourth, etc… (presumably to prevent a team's significant deficit from becoming almost impossible for the following relay members to overcome).
• The ninth match is played until a player or pair reaches 99 points (with a change of ends at 94 points);
• The tenth and final match begins with the score from the ninth match. The player or pair who was behind in the ninth match begins this final confrontation with at least 45 points, or with the number of points scored if it is greater than 45;
• This tenth match is played until a player or pair reaches 110 points and thus wins the match (a change of ends at 105 points);
• No player may participate in more than four matches. And, if the same player plays two consecutive matches, they are not entitled to any additional rest [24].

    According to its proponents, this “dynamic,” “more exciting and competitive” format would guarantee “fast-paced and strategic competition.” It would also shake up established hierarchies by allowing emerging nations to compete with traditional powerhouses. “The matches would be less one-sided”, offering teams considered weaker “a better chance of turning the tie around”. This, at least, was the opinion of former head coach of the Malaysian Junior Academy, Kwan Yoke Meng [25].

    This enthusiasm was not shared by one of his peers, former Malaysian national player and coach Rashid Sidek (medallist at the 1996 Atlanta Olympics), who was particularly critical of a format that, in his opinion, distorts badminton while failing to accurately assess the players' true potential, preventing them from developing the full range of their abilities. "Badminton is the toughest racquet sport," he declared, "testing the players' skill, power, and endurance. [...]  In the 21-point format, players only start finding their rhythm after 11 points. But in the relay system, the game ends when a player wins the 11th point ." [26]

    Adding that, while in the traditional format a team trailing 2-0 can still snatch victory by winning the next three matches, in the "relay system," when a team decisively takes the lead at the start of a match, a comeback becomes virtually impossible. This "kills off that excitement early" ! [27]
     He therefore urged the BWF not to consider this format for international badminton, stating that "relay scoring will kill badminton if made permanent" [28].

    For his part, Ben Beckman, a former England international who became a consultant for the BWF, found it almost absurd and unfair to award 5 points to teams that were too far behind. "Why," he asked, "are we gifting points that aren’t earned? Imagine a team winning because of one or two strong players, and they only got close due to unearned points. That, for me, is dangerous and doesn’t feel right at all.” [29]
 

 

2025: 3×45 Team Relay System for the Mixed Team

    In 2025, a “restructured relay system” format, a variation of the previous one, was tested at the 21st Junior Championships, held in Guwahati, India, from October 6 to 11.
    The mixed team event consisted of three matches of 45 points each, played as a best-of-three series (“each tie is played as a best-of-three sets”), meaning two winning matches of 45 points each.
    Each tie included five matches (Men's Singles, Women's Singles, Men's Doubles, Women's Doubles, and Mixed Doubles) played to 9 points. The order of matches was determined before the event by the referee and the team managers, likely by a draw, borrowing from the previous 110-point format.
    The first relay began when a team reached 9 points, continuing until 18, then the third relay until 27, the fourth until 36, and the final one until 45 (without overtime).

    According to the presentation published by the BWF, by increasing the pressure from the very first points, this innovation could challenge the favourite teams ("The overwhelming sentiment among teams was that the tournament could see close contests as even the traditional powers could be pushed hard by upcoming rivals.") and produce some surprises.

    By allowing no room for error, this format forces teams to be immediately and constantly on their guard. The slightest lapse have serious consequences. With mental focus required from the outset, weaker teams could, depending on the determination (aggression) with which they approach a match, decisively gain the upper hand over stronger teams. Opportunities are there to be seized…

Sources:
- Dev Sukumar and Lim Zong Yen, “World Juniors: Innovation Takes Center Stage,” BWF, October 5, 2025;
- Frequently Asked Questions: “Yonex Sunrise BWF World Junior Championships 2025. FAQs”;
- “Explained: How the BWF World Junior Championships’ new 3×45 and 3×15 scoring systems work,” The Bridge, October 6, 2025.

    Now, it is not definite whether this type of relay will be retained and used at the next World Junior Team Championships in 2026 (October 5–10, Indonesia).

2025-2026: 3x15 (with a 21-point cap)
Testing and approval before an eventual adoption...

    While the 3x15 rally scoring system with a 21-point cap has been officially "approved" by the BWF, it will only come into effect if this proposal obtains a two-thirds majority of votes at its Annual General Meeting on April 25, 2026. The approval of this innovation (presented by the BWF as beneficial for both players and the development of badminton) is therefore far from certain, especially since this change is generating resistance and controversy.

    Some people, perhaps influenced by conspiracy theories, even suspect that this reduction in the score is intended to hinder the overwhelming dominance of An Se-young (24 years old), the young South Korean lady champion. In 2025, Shuttlecock Queen, as her fans call her, dominated women's singles competitions, with an amazing total of 11 international titles in a season ("some analysts argue it is an attempt to curb An Se-young's dominance"). On the other hand, in China, some fear that by reducing the physical workload, the 3x15 format will only reinforce the supremacy of the current No. 1 women's single  badminton player, who could then enter even more tournaments and win even more trophies, potentially shattering the record of 11 international titles in a single season, held since 2018 by Japan's Kento Momota…  [30] (a record the star equalled on December 21st, securing her 11th women's singles title at the BWF World Tour Finals after a game of more than an hour and a half! [31])

    Those who believe the current 3x21 format "is the best" and should be maintained, argue, in particular, that the 3x15 format detracts from the tactical complexity of the game by not allowing enough time to develop a strategy.
    Many enthusiasts also believe that this reduction will impact the "shuttlers' playing style," harming the "art of singles," which will be replaced by a proliferation of smashes. This expected "frenzy" from the start of matches will prove crucial. The focus will be on relentless attacking rather than constructing the point. With tactics and endurance giving way to explosiveness, offensive players should be the big winners from this score reduction.
    This view is shared by Japanese player Arisa Igarashi, who thinks bringing aggressive pairs to a decisive third set will be much more difficult: "I used to think I could beat Chinese pairs if we could take them to the last game, but I now can see them attacking throughout a match," Igarashi said. "Offensive players will be the beneficiaries." ("Proposed 15-point scoring system set to alter Badminton’s complexion," The Straits Times, January 2, 2026).

    According to the editor of the Webminton blog, who analyzed various test matches and compared his findings to the 3x21 data published by the BWF in 2024, the 3x15 format would be in favour of "explosive players, able to quickly gain an advantage in the first 8-10 points, to the detriment of more experienced (and patient) players who gradually take control of the game between points 10 and 21." Young players with a powerful smash, able to build a significant advantage from the outset, would be favoured, while more experienced (and patient) players opting for "defensive strategies based on tiring the opponent" and a game full of precision and variations would be penalized.
    From the very first exchanges, competitors will need to be focused and efficient, as errors made will now be much harder to recover from. With the end of the set approaching more quickly, catching up would become much more difficult, and make the game far less exciting. There would be little suspense, with fewer twists and turns, and no breathtaking dramatic turns of events, especially when a player is 4-5 points ahead at the halfway point. This system would make catching up less frequent. Players trailing 10-5 (i.e., by 5 points two-thirds of the way through the set) would very rarely be able to recover. The "catching up margin" would thus be significantly smaller than that of the 3x21 format. Spectacular recoveries would become virtually impossible [32].

To be continued...
    If adopted by the BWF soon, the 3x15 format will become effective from the second half of 2026 in all international competitions under its jurisdiction. It should then be extended to national competitions (likely with different timings depending on the country). Since federations are autonomous in organizing the national events under their responsibility, the choice of whether or not to implement this new system and whether or not to extend it to all national competitions (National Championships and Interclub matches) will rest with them, according to a specific schedule.
    However, even if, once ratified, the 3x15 system is expected to gradually spread to all regional championships, and then to private tournaments, a degree of flexibility should be maintained. The 3x15 system will become an option, an alternative system, that organizers (Leagues, Districts, clubs) can choose. The current 3x21 system will remain (for some time…) functional and relevant, allowing for a smooth transition.

Other Bibliographical References:
- Stan Bischof, "History of the Laws of Badminton."
- "Proposal on the Scoring System – Get Ready – BWF AGM 2021," May 17, 2021, BWF website.
Documents – infographics – presenting the potential advantages of 5x11 scoring for athletes and the overall development of badminton, provided by the BWF in preparation for its April 2021 AGM.
- Raphaël Sachetat, "Scoring: Tests to Try 3x15," Badzine, February 7, 2025.
- Lukas Aktor, "New 3x15 scoring system deployed at the Czech International Future Series 2025," Badminton Europe, June 18, 2025.

Acknowledgments:
- to Jean-Jacques Bergeret for his proofreading and assistance with the text illustrations;
- to Geoff Hinder of the Badminton Museum (Milton Keynes, England), for his permission to use his All England archive photos to illustrate part of this article.

Notes

[1] ↑ In September 2006, the Badminton World Federation (BWF) replaced the International Badminton Association (IBF), founded in 1934. ↑

[2] ↑ International Challenge, International Series and Future Series. Grade 3 tournaments are international intermediate-level tournaments, bringing together players ranked approximately 150th to 500th in the world. ↑

[3] ↑ Source: BWF Staff, “Testing of 3x15 scoring system to begin,” April 3, 2025. ↑

[4] ↑ See Badminton World Tour, “Introduces 3x15 Scoring System, Replacing the 2x21 System?”, February 5, 2025. ↑

[5] ↑ See BWF Staff, “Enhancing Badminton’s Future – FAQ on Scoring System Change”, May 19, 2021. ↑

[6] ↑ Cf. BWF Staff, “Enhancing Badminton’s Future – FAQ on Scoring System Change”, May 19, 2021. ↑

[7] ↑ On the history of a tournament that has become legendary, see Geoff Hinder; “The History of the All-England Badminton Championships”, Badminton Museum website. ↑

[8] ↑ Cf. Balazs Kovacs, “The Effect of the Scoring System Challenge in Volleyball: A Model and an Empirical Test,” Journal of Quantitative Analysis in Sports, January 2009. ↑

[9] ↑ On the origin of the phrase “Love all Play,” uttered in badminton, as in tennis, at the beginning of matches by umpires during international competitions, see on this same blog “Love all Play... Zéro égalité jouez.” ↑

[10] ↑ On the development of badminton in British India, see on this same blog: “Badminton: ‘A Game for Ladies’.” ↑

[11] ↑ “Laws of Badminton as adopted by the Bath Badminton Club, Bath, England,” Spalding’s Athletic Library, 1903, p. 46. ↑

[12] ↑ “7. The four-handed game consists of 15 or 21 aces as may be arranged. Provided that in a game of 15 aces, when the score is 13 all, the side which first reaches 13 has the option of "setting" the game to 5, and that when the score is 14 all, the side which first reaches 14 has the option of "setting" the game to 3. After a game has been "set" the score is called "love all," and the side which first scores 5 or 3 aces, according to as the game has been "set" at 13 or 14 all, wins the game. In either case the claim to "set" the game must be made before the next service is delivered after the score has reached 13 all or 14 all. Provided also that in a game of 21 aces the same method of scoring be adopted, substituting 19 and 20 for 13 and 14. Note "Setting" is not permitted in handicap games." “Rules of Badminton as played in North America”, in Spalding’s Athletic Library, no. C2X (“Spalding’s Official Badminton Guide. Official Rules Effective in Canada and United States”), 1936, p. 148. ↑

[13] ↑ Cf. S.M. Massey, Badminton, 1911, p. 127: “In Ladies' Singles matches the game shall consist of 11 aces. Provided that when the score is 9 all the side which first reached 9 has the option of “setting” the game to 5, and when the score is 10 all the side which first reached 10 may “set” the game to 3.” ↑ 

[14] ↑ “5 x 7 SCORING SYSTEM:
    1. A match shall consist of the best of five games.
    2. In all events, a game is won by the first side to score 7 points, except if the score becomes 6-all, the side which first scored 6 can continue the game to 7 points, i.e. not to 'set' the game; or to 'set' the game to 8 points.
    3. Player shall change ends at the end of each game, and in the fifth game (if any) when the leading score reaches 4.
    4. Serving remains the same in singles and doubles. The team that wins serves first the next game.
    5. Player(s) may take up to 90 seconds between games with coaching on court.”
HL’s Institutional Badminton Handbook & Laws of Badminton. Reprinted by permission of the International Badminton Federation, HL Corporation, USA, 2001, p. 19. ↑

[15] ↑ For an overview of badminton's introduction to the Commonwealth Games (1966), see Geoff Hinder, "Badminton at the Commonwealt Games," Badminton Museum website.

[16] ↑ See "BWF New Scoring System / BWF Test 3x15 over 3x21 and 5x11," Badminton Scholar. ↑

[17] ↑ See "Scoring system development of badminton," Wikipedia. ↑

[18] ↑ See FFBA National Arbitration Commission, "Résumé du nouveau système de comptage “rallye”." ↑

[19] ↑ Gayle Alleyne, "More testing of 5x11 scoring option," November 27, 2014, BWF website. ↑

[20] ↑ See Vincent Liew, “Lee Chong Wei could play until 2020 under the 11-point system,” Badminton Planet, September 14, 2016. ↑

[21] ↑ “We believe these tweaks in testing can bring us closer to what we want to achieve: to improve our sport and make it more exciting and entertaining in the ever-evolving sports industry, particularly for youth who like more fast-paced, dynamic sport – both when watching high-level badminton and when participating in the sport.” Ibid. ↑

[22] ↑ 129 votes in favour – 123 against, out of 252 voters (168 votes would have been needed for this motion to pass). See Gayle Alleyne, “BWF Keeps 3x21 Scoring Systtem – BWF AGM 2018,” May 19, 2018. ↑

[23] ↑ See “BWF New Scoring System / BWF Test 3x15 over 3x21 and 5x11,” Badminton Scholar. ↑

[24] ↑ Source: BWF Staff, “World Juniors set for Relay Scoring Debut”, BWF Site, September 28, 2024. ↑

[25] ↑ Fabian Peter, “World Junior Championships: new relay scoring – good or bad?”, Scoop, September 30, 2024. ↑ 

[26] ↑ “Badminton is the toughest racquet sport, testing players' skill, power, and endurance. […] In the 21-point format, players only start finding their rhythm after 11 points. But in the relay system, the game ends when a player wins the 11th point.” K. M. Boopathy, “Relay scoring will kill badminton if made permanent, warns Rashid”, October 6, 2024. ↑

[27] ↑ “In the traditional format if one team is down 2-0, they can still win the remaining matches to take the tie. The relay system kills off that excitement early on, making it almost impossible for a comeback once a team gains the lead.”, Ibid. ↑

[28] ↑ Ibid.

[29] ↑ Fabian Peter, “World Junior Championships: new relay scoring – good or bad?”, Scoop, September 30, 2024. ↑

[30] ↑ “Some in China warn the change could instead give An Se-young more wings. Under the current system, winning players must compete for five consecutive days, leading to significant physical strain. Switching to a 15-point system would shorten match times, reduce burdens, and potentially allow An Se-young to win even more trophies. […] the 15-point, three-game system next year could enable her to participate in more tournaments. This could solidify her dominance and even allow her to challenge the remarkable record of 12 single-season titles.” See Osen, “An Se-young Dominance Tested by BWF’s 15-Point Rule Change. Debate Rages Over Whether Rule Change Will Curb or Boost 'Shuttlecock Queen's' Reign,” The Chosun Daily, January 7, 2026. ↑

[31] ↑ 96 minutes, according to Xavier Baldeyrou’s report, “Badminton : An Se-young décroche son 11e titre international de l'année,” published on December 22, 2025, by the South Korean news agency Yonhap. ↑

[32] ↑ See “3x15 Badminton System: What the Tests Really Reveal (Full Analysis),” Original titel “Système 3x15 badminton : ce que révèlent vraiment les tests (analyse complète”, December 16, 2025. ↑