Under the current scoring system, how many points must a player reach to win a game of badminton (without deuce)?

In badminton, a game is won by the first side to reach 21 points under the rally point scoring system, which the Badminton World Federation (BWF) introduced in 2006.

Main scoring rules:

A match is played as the best of three games.

A point is scored on every rally, whichever side is serving. This is called "rally point scoring".

If the score reaches 20-20 (deuce), the side that first gains a two-point lead wins the game, for example 22-20 or 25-23.

If the score reaches 29-29, the side that scores the 30th point wins the game. So the maximum score in a game is 30-29.

The winner of a game serves first in the next game.

A one-minute interval is allowed when the leading score reaches 11 points in each game, and a two-minute interval between games.

The old system:

Before 2006, badminton used a "side-out" system in which only the serving side could score. Men's singles and doubles games were played to 15 points, and women's singles to 11 points. This is why some older books mention 15 or 11 points.

Other basic facts about badminton:

• The court for doubles is 13.40 m long and 6.10 m wide; for singles it is 13.40 m x 5.18 m.
• The net is 1.55 m high at the posts and 1.524 m at the centre.
• The shuttlecock has 16 feathers and weighs about 4.74 to 5.50 g.
• Badminton became an Olympic sport in 1992 (Barcelona).

Why not the other options?

• ✗15 points was the game target under the old men's scoring system.
• ✗11 points was the target for women's singles under the old system; it is also the target in table tennis.
• ✗25 points is the target for a set in volleyball.