Checked October 7, 2026
Badminton’s new 3×15 scoring means a match is best of three games to 15, with a point for every rally won. At 14–14, win by two; at 20–20, the next rally decides the game. BWF’s international change is scheduled for January 4, 2027. Some Canadian events have already moved to the format.
The transition matters before you enter a tournament or start keeping score: a 15–14 lead does not finish a game under these rules. Check the event’s scoring notice, then use the examples below to practise the close finishes.
When does 3×15 start?
The Hong Kong badminton association’s announcement confirms the BWF vote and the scheduled January 4, 2027 implementation. That is the international transition date; it does not tell you which format a particular community league uses.
For Canadian tournament players, the change is already relevant. Badminton Canada’s 2026–2027 regulations memo announces best-of-three games to 15 from September 2026 for its competition programme. It explicitly keeps the Canadian Masters Championships at 3×21 for the 2027 season and specifies 3×15 for the Canada Winter Games 2027.
A local drop-in, school event, or provincial tournament may publish a different format. Read its prospectus or ask the organiser whether matches use 21, 15, a single game, or a timed house format. Do not change an ongoing event’s scoring because you have seen a new international rule.
3×21 and 3×15: the numbers that change
| Rule | 3×21 | 3×15 |
|---|---|---|
| Game target | 21 | 15 |
| Win-by-two begins | 20–20 | 14–14 |
| Final deciding rally | 29–29 → 30–29 | 20–20 → 21–20 |
| Mid-game interval | At 11 | At 8 |
| Change ends during game three | At 11 | At 8 |
In both formats, winning two games wins the match. A rally win adds a point whether your side served or received. The comparison follows the 2025 BWF Laws, reproduced by World Badminton and the BWF 3×15 rules sheet published by Hong Kong’s association.
Worked examples: when is the game actually over?
Keep the two sides in the same order when reading these examples. “A–B” below is a written score, not an instruction for calling the server’s score aloud.
| Score A–B | Next rally | Result |
|---|---|---|
| 14–12 | A wins | 15–12: A wins the game. |
| 14–14 | A wins | 15–14: keep playing. A leads by only one. |
| 15–14 | A wins | 16–14: A wins by two. |
| 15–14 | B wins | 15–15: keep playing. |
| 19–19 | A wins | 20–19: keep playing. |
| 20–19 | A wins | 21–19: A wins by two. |
| 20–20 | B wins | 20–21: B wins at the cap. |
For a whole-match example, A wins the opening game 15–11, loses the second 13–15, and wins the third 16–14. A wins the match two games to one. You do not add the three game scores together to decide the winner.
Intervals, ends, and the next serve
The 3×15 rules allow an interval of up to 60 seconds when the leading score reaches 8, plus up to 120 seconds between games. Players change ends after game one, after game two if a third is needed, and when either side first reaches 8 in game three. The game winner serves first in the next game.
For example, at 7–7 in the deciding game, A wins a rally to reach 8–7. That triggers the interval and change of ends. It does not finish the game, and you keep the existing score. If you forget the end change, correct it once the error is noticed and the shuttle is out of play; the points already played stand.
The serving side’s score still determines the service court: even, including zero, means right; odd means left. In doubles, keep following the established service order. For a fuller explanation with service-court examples, see badminton rules and scoring.
Is this the old 15-point system returning?
The important difference is who can score. Under historical service scoring, only the serving side added points; the archived 2002 IBF laws state this explicitly. In modern 3×15, winning the rally gives you a point even when you received the serve. A player returning after many years should relearn rally scoring rather than revive old second-server or setting procedures. Our scoring history guide explains the older formats.
A reference to take to the court
Open the printable 3×15 reference in English and French. Use your browser’s Print command to print or save it. The sheet has a place to write your event name and chosen format, so nobody mistakes a general reference for the organiser’s rules.
Before a practice match, agree on the format, play a few rallies from 14–14, and rehearse the final rally at 20–20. These are practice situations, not extra rules. If you run the session, put the scoring beside the round-robin schedule and brief the scorekeepers before play. A shorter point target is not a guaranteed match duration; leave time for intervals, close games, and court changes.
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