New Scoring System 3 x 15 for 2025
- Thread starter webbingmania
- Start date
Tomsk
Regular Member
Instead of changing the scoring system, why doesn't the IBF use this opportunity to try plastic 
shuttles in tournaments to change the length of the game.
IIRC the balls at Wimbledon were changed to slow them down on the grass courts.
shuttles in tournaments to change the length of the game.IIRC the balls at Wimbledon were changed to slow them down on the grass courts.
The use of synthetic shuttles is way overdue. The cruel practice of extracting feathers from birds is barbaric. It's not beyond science to create a suitable shuttle, even if they would break after a game or two. I have introduced newly manufactured shuttles like Bird 2, Bird 3 and Apacs to three clubs over the past 8 years and overall it's been about 50/50 willingness to accept them. People generally don't like change but they should see it as an opportunity.
It’s not as simple the synthetic feathers feel completely different. I’ve played with the NCS Pro on a lot of different occasions but 90% of the time the shuttles are too slow during drives and drops. Plus most of the feathers are taken from goose/duck being eaten, that’s why they’re so expensive now because of a drop in demand for the birds.
I noticed tournament prospectus’ for end of Feb and March 2026 don’t mention the scoring system that will be used. That includes the All England.
colekwok
Regular Member
To be honest, changing the scoring to shorten games is not the way forward. If they (BWF) want to avoid player exhaustion and injuries, they should have at least a day off between QFs/SFs & the Finals. They also need to have at least a week off between their major tournaments to allow teams/players/coaches enough time to move from one country to another.
Agree that changing the scoring system is not the answer. I do wonder though in relation to having a rest day what is the best way to go about it. I think maybe albeit not a popular solution for fans would be to have a specific running order each day that is stuck to (XD>WS>MD>WD>MS for example). Then players would be able to know much clearer when they are likely to play as right now there are often instances of players either having no schedule published till late at night, or also playing late at night then back on court at 10am next morning. This would be a simple (but dull) way of providing some clarity.
In relation to allowing a week off. I think the tricky thing is that badminton still is not making enough money if you are just scrapping main draws in tournaments, you are making a loss/struggling to break even if you travel and lose. Whereas, if there are 3 events for example back to back in the same rough location, there is a chance for a good draw and maybe a better chance at making some money to take home.
Just my thoughts
Michael V
Regular Member
Vote on this is coming up in a few weeks. Can’t really tell how the vote’s gonna shape up but I hope it doesn’t pass.
I saw a statement somewhere saying data argued against 5x11. And then totally disregarded the possibility of comebacks from 2 games down to win 2-3. Unfortunately, I didn't screenshot the source but I would really like to examine the raw data for these claims
I saw a statement somewhere saying data argued against 5x11. And then totally disregarded the possibility of comebacks from 2 games down to win 2-3. Unfortunately, I didn't screenshot the source but I would really like to examine the raw data for these claims
viver
Regular Member
Well, we come again to the scoring change cycle. What will change if a new scoring system is adopted?
I confess I am an old timer who still feel the 15 x 3 / 11 x 3 for women's singles server scoring is still more interesting. But regardless, the 21 x 3 was adopted and at that time my feeling was that the 21 x 3 would be too quick and players could be more 1 dimensional compared to the previous system.
Today, the proposed system of 15 x 3 to replace the current 21 x 3, I believe the justification is again to shorten the matches for the players' health, well being and to be more attractive to the media and advertisers. The reasons are not that different from before when moving from the previous 15 x 3 and 11 x 3 server scoring system to the current 21 x 3 rally scoring system - players health and longevity, more attractive to media and advertisers. Will BWF change the scoring again years when they assume the 15 x 3 is too much for the players to bear or not attractive to the media? Is shortening the games the preferred answer to their problems?
I confess I am an old timer who still feel the 15 x 3 / 11 x 3 for women's singles server scoring is still more interesting. But regardless, the 21 x 3 was adopted and at that time my feeling was that the 21 x 3 would be too quick and players could be more 1 dimensional compared to the previous system.
Today, the proposed system of 15 x 3 to replace the current 21 x 3, I believe the justification is again to shorten the matches for the players' health, well being and to be more attractive to the media and advertisers. The reasons are not that different from before when moving from the previous 15 x 3 and 11 x 3 server scoring system to the current 21 x 3 rally scoring system - players health and longevity, more attractive to media and advertisers. Will BWF change the scoring again years when they assume the 15 x 3 is too much for the players to bear or not attractive to the media? Is shortening the games the preferred answer to their problems?
BWF scoring system 3x15
Here we go
“After reviewing the data, the results were clear. The 3×15 format consistently outperformed both the current 3×21 system and the alternative 5×11 format across nearly all key metrics.”
I have enough research paper and statistical experience to know that claims are made without the statistics to back it up. Let’s see this data on 5x11 then.
Here we go
“After reviewing the data, the results were clear. The 3×15 format consistently outperformed both the current 3×21 system and the alternative 5×11 format across nearly all key metrics.”
I have enough research paper and statistical experience to know that claims are made without the statistics to back it up. Let’s see this data on 5x11 then.
This is nothing but a 1-dimensional ad in favour of 3x15. And everytime I feel pressured to having a certain opinion, my first reaction is to oppose - and I guess I'm not the only one with this reaction.
If I try to look past this initial reflex, my opinion regarding a change in scoring has shifted a bit over the past months. I've watched the semi-final playoff match in the 1st Austrian Bundesliga which had the 5x11 scoring and it was nothing but awesome. From the 8 matches played, three went into 5 games with two comebacks from being 0-2 down (https://obv.tournamentsoftware.com/league/3D211A99-C53C-446F-8B75-0C1DD32B4631/team-match/91).
I haven't clocked any of the matches, but even if they were shorter than a comparable 3x21 thriller, they clearly didn't feel that way. The fairly one-sided WD was over pretty quickly, but tbh this wasn't much of a loss in terms of excitement.
If anyone seriously suggested 5x11 again, I would be all in favour of it nowadays.
So what about 3x15? I can see the point of the goals that BWF wants to achieve with shortening the matches. But then I still feel that simply chopping off 6 points from each game is just too simple and uninspired. But maybe that lack of complexity is exactly what is needed to trigger the BWF people in charge of the voting.
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Shreya Jha
Regular Member
Chen Yu Fei said she will be happy if 15*3 will be accepted
Players being happy is a biased opinion
Shreya Jha
Regular Member
Yeah, but not for BWF Athlete’s Commission chair holder Pusarla Venkata Sindhu
This is unfortunately just a promotional video from BWF for their new scoring system. To be fair, the clear disadvantages should also be mentioned. The new system might only benefit the top 5% of players. 95% of all players in a tournament don't reach the semifinals/finals, so they have at least two or even more days off before the next tournament anyway. Due to the increased intensity of the game, I even believe the risk of injury is higher with the new system. However, the crucial factor for any rule change should be that the system is thoroughly tested first on a higher level. Well, it was tested, for example, at the FISU World University Games 2025, and the result was sobering. Three finals lasted well under 30 minutes, and even the two three-game finals were finished in 40 minutes. Many matches lasted well under 20 minutes (!). Does BWF really want to expect a less skilled player to fly to a tournament and then go home after a 20-minute match?
The most important criterion for the game should be the players, not the spectators or media presence! At the FISU World University Games there was a non representative voting , more than 90% of the players and technical officials voted for the old 3x21 system. Therefore, the delegates' decision in Horsens should be clear. They shouldn't vote for a new system that only benefits a few players.
BTW - If you want to have the games shorter for better media presentation the rules need to be implemented better. The breaks between rallies are too long because there are many unnecessary delays in the game, for example, first one player goes to the towel, then the opponent goes to the towel, then there's a request to change the shuttle, then the players high-five their partners again, and so on. Also, 20 seconds means that the player must be ready to play after 20 seconds and not slowly walk onto the court after 20 seconds just to change the shuttle again.
BWF are intent on pushing this through and they will stop at nothing to get what they want.
I fear for how the game will look going forward at national/regional level. The interest in travelling 3/4 hours for a tournament in a 3x15 format versus 3x21 (even though there is not a super amount of difference on paper, is actually massive psychologically. At a club level, 1x15 at a club night? The game could be over before it even begins.
That doesn't speak to growing the game at the grassroots at all.
I fear for how the game will look going forward at national/regional level. The interest in travelling 3/4 hours for a tournament in a 3x15 format versus 3x21 (even though there is not a super amount of difference on paper, is actually massive psychologically. At a club level, 1x15 at a club night? The game could be over before it even begins.
That doesn't speak to growing the game at the grassroots at all.