Badminton Embraces Change: Score Shift to 15 Points by 2027

From January 2027, badminton will adopt a new 15-point scoring system as approved by the Badminton World Federation. This change, aimed at appealing to younger audiences and ensuring sustainable growth, passed with a significant majority vote, maintaining the sport's core dynamics and challenges.

In a significant shift for the sport, badminton will transition to a 15-point scoring system starting January 2027. The decision was made after the Badminton World Federation (BWF) members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the change at the annual general meeting held in Horsens, Denmark.

Under the newly adopted 3x15 scoring format, players will compete to score 15 points in a game, needing to win two out of three games to claim the match. The previous system required 21 points per game, a structure in place since 2006.

BWF President Khunying Patama Leeswadtrakul emphasized that the update aims to engage the next generation without altering the sport's essence, which continues to demand high skill, strategy, and endurance from its athletes.