T

he Badminton World Federation (BWF) is set to test a five-game 11-point scoring system with no setting in August.

'Following consultations with players and BWF delegates about various scoring systems, we think there is merit in testing alternatives, and we have chosen to test the 5x11 option, which is significantly different from what we have now,' said BWF president Poul-Erik Høyer in a press release published on its website on Friday.

'In recent years, the increasing time span of matches and long lead-up to the end of games and matches ' especially where there's a big point difference ' has somewhat compromised the level of excitement,'

'The 5x11 scoring system aims to create more excitement and interest, while reducing the time matches takes to be finish. The testing will show to what extent this can be achieved while maintaining the many positive elements of the present scoring system' he said further.

'However, we are not ruling out other possibilities and we will continue engaging our stakeholders and seeking their feedback from the testing. This is a very important and inclusive process in which we are involving players, member associations, commercial partners, media and other badminton-related entities,' he added.

Testing may take place at Level 3 and Level 4 tournaments ' including Grand Prix events ' and given the number of tournaments scheduled between August and November, there is the possibility of a sizeable testing pool.

This is the first formal discussion on the scoring system since 2006 when the BWF introduced a rally point scoring system (21x3), which remains in place today. While the changes made to the scoring system in 2006 have been a tremendous success, the BWF has continued to optimize all aspects of badminton to improve the sport and create further excitement and intensity.

The BWF will launch an online poll to gather opinions from badminton's large fan base. These views will also be considered at the council's year-end deliberations.

'Fans are an important part of our badminton family and they are also quite knowledgeable about the sport. We want to hear what they think about the possibility of a change in the scoring format and also about this particular scoring system that we are testing,' explained Høyer.

'BWF took great care to ensure players were informed of the scoring-system proposal and given a chance to voice their opinions,' said head of the BWF Athletes' Commission, Emma Mason.

'The 5x11 system, resulting from the BWF Council meeting in India, is a fair reflection of the feedback from players and member associations. Players expressed concern that the proposed 5x9 system might result in games that were too short and I am pleased the BWF Council took this view into consideration,' she explained.

The players' representative also supported the testing process, stating: 'The Athletes' Commission believes the period of testing and consultation is the best way to ensure the correct outcome for players.'

'There has been open discussion and it has been discussed at the BWF council meeting, so we decided to do a test run. Nothing, however, has been decided. We believe that carrying out a test run is a wise move and we would like to have an innovative race to optimize our game,' said BWF chair of events, Peter Tacala, in Jakarta.

Based on the feedback from the test run, the BWF Council will consider whether to recommend any changes to the current scoring system to its members ' and whether any changes should take place before or after the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.