Players in badminton earn points by successfully hitting the shuttlecock over the net and landing it within the opponent's court area. A point is scored when the opponent fails to return the shuttlecock, either by it landing out of bounds or by hitting it into the net. The game uses a rally scoring system, meaning points can be scored even when serving, leading to quicker matches. Games are usually played to 21 points, with players needing a minimum two-point advantage to win.