A New Era Begins! Badminton Federation Gets Green Light from 198 Countries for New Scoring System Starting 2027
The Badminton World Federation approved new scoring rules backed by 198 countries, cutting game points from 21 to 15 starting January 2027 to speed up matches and reduce player injuries.
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has passed a significant resolution at its 2026 Annual General Meeting held in Denmark, officially approving new scoring rule changes for badminton. The vote passed overwhelmingly, with 198 member countries in favor and only 43 opposed.
The new competition format will retain the best-of-three games system but reduce the points per game from 21 to 15 to create faster, more compact matches. The deuce rule remains unchanged—players must win by a 2-point margin after reaching 14-14, with a maximum of 21 points in any game.
The BWF stated that these changes aim to increase excitement and reach critical moments faster, while improving broadcast scheduling efficiency. Importantly, the federation emphasized player welfare, seeking to reduce injury risk and extend athletes' competitive careers. The new rules will officially come into effect starting January 4, 2027.
