Feeling a bit embarrassed but the scoring rules in badminton confuse me. When do you switch sides? And what is the deal with serving from left or right?

No need to be embarrassed, it confuses most people at first! Singles: - You switch ends after each game - In the third game you switch when one player reaches 11 - You serve from the right when your score is even (0, 2, 4...) - You serve from the left when your score is odd (1, 3, 5...) Doubles is a bit more complex but that covers the basics. Honestly it becomes second nature after a few games.

The side switching thing clicks when you remember: even score = right side, odd score = left side. Both for serving AND receiving. That one rule covers 90 percent of the confusion.