BWF approves 3×15 scoring system; badminton to adopt new format from 2027
The Badminton World Federation’s (BWF) long-discussed move from the 3×21 rally-point format to a 3×15 scoring system was approved by its members at the 87th BWF Annual General Meeting in Horsens, Denmark. The change will come into effect in 2027.
Matches will continue to follow the best-of-three-games format, but each game will now be played to 15 points instead of 21.
At 14-14, a player or pair will need to establish a two-point advantage to seal the game.
The proposed format had already been tested in 2025 at selected Grade 3 tournaments, the National Championships and the BWF World Junior Championships.
Earlier this year, in February, the BWF Council formally placed the proposal for voting, citing data which it believed showed that the revised format struck the right balance between the demands of the sport and entertainment value for spectators.
The governing body said the new scoring structure was intended to ease the physical load on players, reduce the likelihood of injuries and provide more time for recovery.
Published on Apr 25, 2026