Which badminton scoring system was introduced internationally in 2006?

Rally point scoring was introduced internationally in badminton in 2006.

Under rally point scoring, the side that wins a rally receives a point, regardless of which side served. A standard game normally goes to 21 points, subject to the required two-point margin and the 30-point ceiling.

This replaced the older side-out system. Under side-out scoring, only the serving side could score; winning a rally while receiving the serve earned the right to serve but did not immediately add a point. The change made matches easier to follow and helped control match length.

The Badminton World Federation introduced the system across major international competition in 2006. Some historical records and older rulebooks therefore describe scoring differently. Rally point scoring is now the familiar format in elite badminton, although local recreational rules can vary.