Ayrton Oneill
In badminton, a cross-court net shot is a soft shot played from the front court that ideally lands as close to the net in the opponent's front court as possible. The shuttle travels from one side of the court to the other, and the shot can be played with either a forehand or backhand grip. The rules of badminton allow a player's racket to cross the net only if the shuttlecock has crossed onto the player's side of the court. In this case, the player can follow the shuttlecock over the net with their racket. However, the racket must not touch the net, or a fault will be called. To play a cross-court net shot well, players need to have a loose grip and a slight bend in their elbow, pulling their elbow back and down as they rotate their forearm to guide the shuttle.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| When to use a cross net shot | When you want to get out of trouble if you're late to the net, or when you want to deceive your opponent |
| How to hit the shuttle | Use finger power, not arm power, to guide the shuttle crosscourt |
| Arm position | Outstretched, with a slight bend in the elbow |
| Wrist position | Slightly bent |
| Thumb position | On the ridge of the racket handle (bevel grip) |
| Racket head | Rotating |
| Forearm | Rotating |
| Palm | Facing crosscourt |
| Leg position | Lunging |
| Where to hit the shuttle | Half to 3/4 up the net |
| Legal | Yes, as long as the shuttlecock has crossed onto your side of the net and your racket does not touch the net |
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What You'll Learn
Forehand and backhand cross-net shots
To play the cross net shot in badminton, you need to have a loose grip with a slight bend in the elbow. Pull your elbow back and down towards your body as the shuttle is crossing the net, and then rotate your forearm to guide the shuttle crosscourt. This technique is the same for both forehand and backhand cross-net shots.
For the forehand cross-net shot, you should start with a loose forehand grip. As you pull your elbow back, move your thumb onto the ridge of the racket to get a bevel grip, which will allow your racket head to rotate. Just before you strike the shuttle, bend your wrist slightly to get the shuttle travelling tightly across the net.
For the backhand cross-net shot, you will need to start with a backhand grip and then slightly change to a bevel grip as you turn the racket. This is because staying in a backhand grip makes it difficult to bend your wrist and turn your racket comfortably for a high-quality shot.
To make the shot look deceptive, your finger and wrist technique need to be good. Your whole arm should look pretty much the same as moving back to the base, but your wrist and fingers will turn the racket head to hit the shuttle as you move back.
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How to hit the shuttlecock
To hit the shuttlecock in a cross net shot, there are several techniques you can use. Firstly, it's important to understand the rules of crossing the net with your racket. According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), a racket can legally cross the net when a player is striking to return the shuttlecock, but only if the shuttlecock has reached the striker's end of the court. In other words, you must wait for the shuttlecock to cross the net into your court before striking it back with a cross-net shot. If your racket crosses the net and touches the net, it will result in a fault.
Now, onto the techniques for hitting the shuttlecock with a cross net shot. The cross-court net shot involves the shuttlecock travelling from the left side of the court to the right, or vice versa. This shot can be played with either a forehand or backhand grip. For a successful cross net shot, you need to have a loose grip with a slight bend in your elbow. Pull your elbow back and down towards your body as the shuttlecock crosses the net. This improves control and adds deception to your shot. As you finish pulling your elbow back, rotate your forearm and turn the palm of your hand. This action will cause your racket to face cross-court, and you can then push or guide the shuttlecock over the net.
When performing a cross net shot, you can also utilise finger power to add more force to your shot. However, be careful not to rely solely on your arm for power as this may affect the deception of your shot. Instead, use the momentum from your lunge to guide the shuttlecock crosscourt. Additionally, you can create a deceptive shot by mastering the straight net shot motion without actually hitting the shuttlecock, and then a fraction of a second later, move back and hit the shuttlecock crosscourt.
Remember, while the techniques mentioned above focus on the cross net shot, you don't always need to play extremely tight net shots. Sometimes, simply being early enough to the shuttlecock and playing a quick turn will be enough to achieve the desired impact. Assess the situation and decide when a tight net shot is necessary and when a looser shot will suffice.
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Rules and faults
The Badminton World Federation (BWF) only allows a badminton racket to cross the net when a player is following the shuttlecock over the net in the course of a stroke after the initial point of contact with the shuttlecock is on the striker's side of the net. In other words, the striker must wait for the shuttlecock to pass over the net into their end of the court before striking it with their racket. If a player crosses the net with their racket before the shuttlecock reaches their end, a fault is called.
A fault is also called if the racket crosses the net legally but then makes contact with the opponent's racket. This is considered a fault on the opponent, even though it is technically their end of the court.
Additionally, according to the BWF's Laws of Badminton, a badminton racket cannot go under the net if it causes an obstruction to the opponent. However, players can go under the net during a forward movement without a fault being called, as long as there is no obstruction to the opponent's movement.
There are several other types of faults in badminton, which can result in a player losing a point or service. These include contact fouls, which occur when the shuttlecock comes into contact with any object or person other than a player's racket. Service faults can occur when a player is serving, for example, if the service is not executed below the waist in an upward motion, or if the player fails to serve to the opposite side of their opponent's court. Service receiving faults can occur when the opponent is serving; for example, if the player moves before their opponent has made their serve, or makes any distracting gestures or noises.
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Deception techniques
Deception is a key part of badminton, and mastering it can give you a serious edge over your opponents. It's not about physical strength but strategy and skill. Here are some deception techniques to help you cross the net and win the point:
Feinting: This is a basic deception technique that involves pretending to hit the shuttlecock in one direction and then quickly changing to hit it in another. It confuses your opponent and can make them move in the wrong direction, giving you an opportunity to score.
Disguised shots: These shots are designed to trick your opponent. Make them think you're going to hit the shuttlecock hard, but then gently tap it instead, or vice versa. Keep your opponent guessing and on their toes.
Delayed shots: Wait until the last possible moment to hit the shuttlecock. This can throw off your opponent's timing and make it harder for them to react effectively.
Double motion shots: This technique involves making an initial movement as if to hit the shuttlecock in one direction and then quickly changing direction to hit it in another. It's a clever way to surprise your opponent.
Sliced lifts: Use sliced lifts to mislead your opponent about the direction of your shot. This technique can be more deceptive than a double motion shot because it uses an uninterrupted swing. However, it can be challenging to generate enough power, so it's best used when you can play a very flat lift.
Fake drop: Signal for a normal drop shot, and at the last second, switch to a punch clear. This is one of the easiest and most reliable deception shots.
Varying pace and using unexpected moves: Keep your opponent on their toes by mixing up your pace and incorporating unexpected actions. This can include returning deep shots, which will force your opponent to adjust their body positioning and make it more challenging for them to defend wide serves.
Footwork and body movement: Deception isn't just about the way you handle the shuttlecock; it's also about your body movement and footwork. Move in one direction and then quickly change to trick your opponent into thinking you're going to hit the shuttlecock differently.
Practice is key to mastering these deception techniques. The more you practice, the better you'll become at keeping your opponents guessing and controlling the game.
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Grips and forearm rotation
Grips play a crucial role in badminton, and choosing the wrong grip can reduce power, minimise control, and increase the risk of injury. There are four basic grips in badminton: the panhandle grip, the bevel grip, the forehand grip, and the thumb grip (or standard backhand grip).
The panhandle grip is the most natural grip for beginners as it is easy to hit overhead shots. It is used for late backhand rear-court shots, retrieving a net cord on the backhand side, and some net kills or drives.
The bevel grip is used for backhand rear-court shots (clears, drops, and smashes), some forehand and backhand net shots, and some singles defence. To execute the bevel grip, start in a backhand grip and move your racket head so that the strings are diagonally facing, and your thumb is on the ridge. If you are right-handed, move the racket anti-clockwise from your backhand grip, and if you are left-handed, move it clockwise.
The forehand grip is performed by holding the racket as if you are shaking someone's hand, forming a 'V shape' with a little space between the index finger and middle finger.
The thumb grip is used for backhand defence and some backhand net shots. It is also used for backhand overhead clears.
When playing a cross net shot, it is recommended to have a loose grip, a slight bend in the elbow, and then pull the elbow back and down as you rotate your forearm to guide the shuttle cross court. This technique requires forearm rotation and finger power, with the wrist slightly bent to enable the shuttle to travel tightly across the net. The grip should be loose enough to allow for quick changes, but tight enough to control the height of the shuttle bounce.
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Frequently asked questions
"Crossing the net" refers to when a player's badminton racket goes over the net during a rally. Even if just a part of the racket goes past the net, it counts as crossing the net.
According to the Badminton World Federation (BWF), a badminton racket can legally cross the net only when a player is returning the shuttlecock after it has landed on their side of the court. If the shuttlecock has not reached the striker's end of the court, crossing the net with the racket is a fault.
No, the badminton racket must not touch the net during a rally. If the racket makes contact with the net, it is considered a fault, and the player who made the stroke will be penalised by the umpire.
A cross-court net shot in badminton is when the shuttle travels from the left side of the court to the right, or vice versa. It is played from the front court and aims to land in the opponent's front court, as close to the net as possible. To execute this shot well, players need to have a loose grip, a slight bend in their elbow, and pull their elbow back and down as they rotate their forearm to guide the shuttle.
