Source:REUTERS/Stephanie Lecocq
[Saba Sports News] In the latest meeting, the BWF Council approved relevant regulations allowing the comprehensive testing of the timing system in select BWF World Tour events. These rules will enable the BWF to continue testing the timing system, including its full implementation, requiring players to be ready for the next rally within 25 seconds. The regulations will take effect in Week 27 of this year (November 18–23, 2025). The principles underlying these rules are as follows: players have 25 seconds between rallies; the timer starts after the umpire updates the score; the server must be ready to serve before the 25 seconds elapse; the receiver must be ready to receive when the server is prepared to serve; the umpire may discretionarily allow intervals longer than 25 seconds based on specific circumstances (e.g., medical interventions, extensive court wiping); players are free to engage in normal activities between rallies, including wiping sweat and drinking water (currently requiring umpire permission), as well as freely using cold spray if they are ready to serve/receive; data analysis from hundreds of world championships and World Tour matches shows that when 80% of intervals between rallies involve no incidents (e.g., medical interventions, court wiping, broken strings), the average interval is 22 seconds, while the average rally duration is 9 seconds. Therefore, the BWF considers 25 seconds an appropriate interval, ensuring players have sufficient rest while maintaining match continuity.