All you need to know about new 3×15 scoring system in badminton

Badminton has seen many changes in the system.

The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has given its go-ahead to trial a new 3*15 scoring system in Badminton competitions for six months from April this year. The proposed scoring system will be implemented on a trial basis for selected competitions at Continental Championships BWF Grade 3 Tournaments (International Challenge, International Series, and Future Series) and National and International Leagues.

The governing body will closely monitor the outcome of the proposed system and collect feedback from all stakeholders before taking a final decision. The Target audience for the surveys will include Players & Coaches to get their views about the format & the effect on their fitness.

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It will also include the Officials and Tournament Organisers to see the benefits it gives with the potential reduction in match time and its effect on the schedules. More importantly, the voice of the commercial partners and fans will be heard to understand if the change has made the game more interesting and exciting to watch.

The data and results from this feedback could decide the shift in Badminton, and the decision will probably be made in the 2026 BWF Annual General Meeting. The proposed system is based on extensive match data analysis from Major BWF Championships and World Tour Tournaments. The BWF council zeroed in on this scoring from the multiple options in the Alternative Laws of Badminton.

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The decision was made at the meet held in Kuala Lumpur in November regarding a replacement for the existing 3*21 scoring format. Multiple scoring systems have been discussed in the last few years. In 2021, the Indonesian Badminton Association proposed a 5*11 system. The proposal garnered 66.31% votes in favour of it, falling short of two-thirds majority (66.67%) for successfully passing it.

Now, a 3*15 system has been proposed, and trials will yield results in the next six months.

About 3*15 System:

1. Best of three games, each played to 15 Points – Any Rally point.
2. The mid-game Interval will be at 8 points.
3. If the scores are tied at 14-14, a player must win by two points to secure the game
4. The maximum cap on each game is 21, A player could win a game with a scoreline of 21-20.

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Expectations out of proposed system:

Low scores can result in players playing with high intensity throughout most of the competition, resulting in many highly competitive rallies. There may be less time between decisive moments in fast-paced matches, which can improve fan engagement. Shorter matches can allow for more rest and reduce physical stress, thus avoiding injuries and ensuring longer careers.

Badminton has seen many changes in the system. From being a 3*15 Service Rally point system to a 5*7 Service Rally point system to the existing 3*21 any rally point system. It will be interesting to see how the 3*15 Any Rally point system works out, and the Badminton fans will be keenly watching this year.

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