The Badminton World Federation (BWF) has approved a major change in the scoring system, shifting from the traditional 3×21 format to a 3×15 format, effective from 4 January 2027. The decision was taken at the BWF Annual General Meeting (26 April 2026, Denmark) with strong support.
Under the new system, matches will still be best-of-three games, but each game will be played up to 15 points instead of 21, making matches shorter, faster, and more intense. The change aims to improve audience engagement, broadcast scheduling, and player welfare by reducing match duration and physical strain.
While some players support the move for its high-intensity gameplay, others have raised concerns about altering the traditional nature of the sport.
