Andrew Pace
Serving is a fundamental skill in badminton, used at the start of every rally. There are several types of serves, including the flick serve, the low serve, and the high serve, each with its own advantages and techniques. To perform a serve, players must stand inside the service court, with both feet in contact with the ground, and hit the shuttle with a continuous motion, aiming for a spot in front of their opponent. The direction of the serve depends on the player's score, with even scores requiring a serve from the right service court and odd scores from the left. The serve is a critical part of the game, and mastering different types of serves can give players an edge over their opponents.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Direction of the serve | Depends on the score. Serve from the right service court for an even score, and from the left service court for an odd score. |
| Foot placement | Keep at least part of both feet on the ground, with the non-dominant foot forward. |
| Racket placement | Hold the racket level with the shoulder. |
| Shuttlecock release | Drop the shuttlecock from the free hand just before swinging the racket. |
| Timing | Time the drop and swing so that the racket meets the shuttlecock below the waist. |
| Force | Push the shuttlecock gently rather than hitting it hard. |
| Wrist movement | Bend the wrist back for a low serve, and flick the wrist for a high serve. |
| Grip | Use a handshake grip, with the thumb and forefinger creating a V-shape around the handle. |
| Continuous motion | The serve must be one continuous motion without pausing. |
| Shuttlecock strike | Strike the cork, not the feather, with the shuttlecock below 1.15 meters from the court surface. |
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Foot placement
When it comes to foot placement in relation to your stance, it is recommended that you place your non-dominant foot forward. If you are right-handed, step slightly forward with your right foot, and if you are left-handed, use your left foot. This stance helps you generate power and control in your serve.
During the serve, your back left foot will naturally lift as you swing the racket, but it is important to keep your toes on the ground. This ensures that you maintain the necessary contact with the floor while also allowing for a smooth and natural movement.
Additionally, foot placement can vary depending on the type of serve you are executing. For a low serve, which is the most common type, you would typically use a different foot placement than for a high serve. For a low serve, you might use a wider stance to generate more power, while for a high serve, you may adjust your foot placement to allow for a greater arc in your swing, helping you lift the shuttlecock higher.
Remember, foot placement is just one aspect of serving in badminton, and it should be coordinated with your arm movement, wrist action, and overall body posture to achieve an effective and accurate serve.
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Hand and finger placement
Your thumb and forefinger should create a V-shape around the handle, with your thumb pointing forward towards the direction you want the shuttle to land. The power in your serve comes mainly from the push of your thumb and the slight flick of your wrist. Do not hold the racket too tightly; you want a relaxed, loose grip. Make sure you are holding the racket near the bottom of the handle.
Hold your other fingers straight out so you do not accidentally hit them with the edge of the racket. When serving, you should also be mindful of your wrist placement. For a low serve, bend your wrist back and push gently as you strike the shuttle. For a high serve, you will want to flick your wrist upwards so that the shuttlecock flies high.
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Racket grip
The grip you use on your badminton racket is important for maintaining control and power in your shots. A tight grip will limit your ability to do this and will also make it more difficult to quickly change between grips during a rally. Therefore, your fingers should always be held loosely around the grip.
There are four basic grips in badminton: the backhand grip, the bevel grip, the panhandle grip, and the handshake grip. The backhand grip is the easiest to learn and involves setting up with your thumb on top of the wider section of the grip, with your strings facing the floor and ceiling. Your fingers should be relaxed around the side. The backhand grip should not be used when playing backhand shots in the rear court.
To learn the bevel grip, start in a backhand grip and move your racket head so that your strings are facing diagonally, and your thumb is on the ridge or bevel. This grip is used when the shuttle is level with you or in front, and you would use a standard backhand grip. If the shuttle is behind you, you should use a bevel grip with your thumb further around, which allows you to play an accurate and powerful shot from this position.
The panhandle grip is the most natural grip for beginners as it is easy to hit overhead shots with. It involves having your thumb on the side of the racket, pinching the sides with your thumb and fingers. This grip is used for late backhand rear-court shots, retrieving a net cord on the backhand side, and some net kills or drives.
Finally, the handshake grip is used for a flick serve. Hold the racket in front of you with your non-playing hand. For example, if you are right-handed, hold the racket in your left hand, with the racket strings facing sideways. Don't hold the racket too tight—you want a relaxed, loose grip, with your thumb and forefinger creating a V-shape around the handle. Make sure you are holding the racket near the bottom of the handle.
Grip tape can be used to enhance comfort and improve your grip on the racket. Regular grips are wrapped around the base handle of the racket and provide a cushion from the wooden handle beneath. Overgrips are thinner and made of softer material, and can improve sweat absorption and grip without significantly increasing the width of the racket handle.
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Wrist movement
For a low serve, bend your wrist back and push gently as you strike the shuttle. This serve will cause the shuttle to drop just over the net, limiting your opponent's swing and increasing your chances of scoring. The low serve is the most common in badminton, but be sure to mix up your serves to keep your opponent guessing.
For a high serve, you can also start with the same wrist position as the low serve, but instead of pushing gently, flick your wrist upwards so that the shuttlecock flies high. This serve is useful against opponents who cannot perform strong smashes from the back of the court.
The power in a high serve comes from a combination of pushing your thumb forward and a slight flick of the wrist. The wrist movement for a high serve is also used in the "fake" low serve, where you deceive your opponent by making them expect a low serve, but instead, you push your thumb and flick your wrist harder so that the shuttlecock flies high.
When performing a flick serve, the goal is to push the shuttle over the net rather than hitting it, so keep the movement of your wrist short. The effectiveness of a flick serve depends on catching your opponent off-guard, so make your preparation look like you're setting up for a low serve.
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Shuttle placement
The placement of the shuttle during a serve in badminton is crucial to gaining an advantage over your opponent. Here are some detailed tips on shuttle placement to improve your serving strategy:
Firstly, it's important to understand the concept of the triangle principle for effective shuttle placement. Imagine a triangle with one corner at the net post and the other two corners at the left and right sides of the opponent's baseline. Instead of hitting the shuttle to the far diagonal corner, which would allow your opponent to run straight to it, aim for one of the other two corners. This will force your opponent to change direction while returning to their base position, potentially tiring them and giving you an edge.
The type of serve you use will also impact shuttle placement. For a low serve, the shuttle must touch the service line; otherwise, the serve is invalid. A low serve is performed by bending your wrist back and pushing gently as you strike the shuttle just below your waist. This type of serve is common as it limits your opponent's swing and increases your chances of scoring.
For a high serve, you can throw the shuttle higher into the air, but this may sacrifice precision. The high singles serve, for example, involves lofting the shuttle to the back of the court. While this serve requires good placement, it lacks the element of surprise. Remember, consistency can be more challenging when you introduce more variables, so practice is key to perfecting your serve.
Additionally, the direction of your serve depends on your score. If your score is even, serve from the right service court, and vice versa. Ensure that your serve lands in the diagonally opposite side of the court to make it valid.
Lastly, the flick serve is a useful technique to add to your repertoire. It is performed similarly to a low serve, with a short shuttle movement, but instead of hitting the shuttle, you push it over the net. This serve is best used occasionally as it can leave you vulnerable if your opponent anticipates it. The key is to maintain the element of surprise, making your preparation look like that of a low serve.
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Frequently asked questions
Serving in badminton is done at the start of each rally. The direction of the serve depends on the score. If the score is even, the player serves from the right service court and hits the shuttle towards the left. If the score is odd, the player serves from the left service court. The serve is only considered "in" if it lands in the diagonally opposite side of the court. The player must keep at least some part of both feet on the ground while serving, and the serve must be done in one continuous motion.
The player should stand inside the service court, ensuring that no part of their feet is touching the lines. If the score is even, stand in the right-hand service court, and if odd, stand in the left-hand court. Place the non-dominant foot forward and hold the racket level with the shoulder. For the grip, use the handshake grip by holding the racket in front with the non-playing hand. For right-handed players, this means holding the racket with the left hand, with the thumb and forefinger creating a V-shape around the handle's bottom.
Hold the feather of the shuttlecock with the head facing downwards. Position the racket behind the shuttlecock and step slightly forward with the right leg if right-handed or the left leg if left-handed. Release the shuttlecock and lightly flick the racket while pushing the thumb forward towards the desired direction. The power comes from the thumb push and wrist flick.
A low serve is the most common type in badminton. It involves bending the wrist back and pushing gently to hit the shuttle just over the net. A high serve, on the other hand, involves swinging the racket in an arc down to the knees and then bringing it up and around the shoulder after hitting the shuttle. The high serve is useful against opponents who cannot perform strong smashes from the back of the court.
A flick serve is an advanced technique where the shuttle is pushed over the net instead of hit, keeping its movement short. The preparation for a flick serve should resemble that of a low serve to maintain the element of surprise. When performing the flick serve, use the handshake grip, and ensure that the shuttle is below 1.15 meters from the court surface when hit.
