Mastering The Forehand High Serve In Badminton

how to do a forehand high serve in badminton

The forehand high serve in badminton is a style of serve that is easy for opponents to read but is still widely used at the highest levels of women's singles. It is one of the first serving styles beginners learn because it requires less focus on technique and allows beginners to strike with as much power as they want. The three key steps to performing a forehand high serve are preparation, the shot, and recovery. First, the player should use a forehand grip, stand with their weight on the back foot, and hold the shuttle in front of them. Next, the player should drop the shuttle and bring the racket forward in an arc. Finally, the player should follow through with the shot, making sure that the shuttle is below the waist at the time of contact and that both feet are grounded.

Characteristics Values
Purpose To push the opponent to the rear court
Target area The back of the court
Height High
Distance Long
Angle 90 degrees
Grip Forehand
Weight distribution Weight on the back foot
Shuttlecock position In front of you
Feet position Grounded
Wrist position Extended
Forearm position Rotated with palm facing upward in the backswing
Shuttlecock contact Below the waist

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The high serve is best used in singles matches

The high serve is an essential skill in singles badminton. It is a technique where the shuttlecock is hit high and deep to the back of your opponent’s court when serving. This serve is also sometimes referred to as a long serve.

The high serve is a safe shot to play in singles matches. When executed well, the shuttlecock falls vertically back to the ground, making it challenging for your opponent to hit. This is because the trajectory of a vertically falling shuttlecock is unpredictable, and it has a limited hitting surface, making it difficult for your opponent to make clean, consistent contact.

In women's singles, the high serve is a strategic choice as women generally have stronger defensive skills than offensive skills. The high serve is used to limit the opponent's choices and make it harder for them to play offensively. It is also less common to see big smashes in women's singles, so the high serve is a good strategy to employ.

In men's singles, the high serve is less common as male players tend to be faster and have stronger offensive skills. However, a perfect high serve in a men's singles game will probably not put you at a disadvantage as it is more difficult for your opponent to attack a shuttlecock that is dropping straight down from a high height.

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Use a forehand grip and stand with weight on the back foot

To execute a forehand high serve in badminton, you must begin with a forehand grip and position yourself with your weight on the back foot. This is the first of three key steps to performing a high serve: preparation, the shot, and recovery.

The forehand grip is a comfortable grip that allows you to strike the shuttle with power. The grip itself is not as important as the execution of the serve. Once you have the grip, you must stand with your weight on your back foot, holding the shuttle in front of you. This is a crucial part of the preparation step.

As you prepare to serve, transfer your weight from the back foot to the front foot. This weight transfer will help you generate power for the shot. Keep in mind that the high serve is intended to push your opponent back to the rear court, so you want to aim for the back of the court when performing this serve.

The high serve should go high and far, landing in the rear court, preferably in the centre of the rear tramlines. This serve is not about gaining an immediate attacking advantage but rather starting the rally with lower pressure on the server, allowing them to prepare for following strikes. With practice, you can master the technique and consistently place the shuttle in the desired area.

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Drop the shuttle and bring the racket forward in an arc

To execute the shot, drop the shuttle and bring the racket forward in an arc. Do not drop the shuttle and swing the racket simultaneously. Extend your wrist and rotate your forearm with your palm facing upward in the backswing. As you strike the shuttle, straighten your wrist and rotate your forearm so that your palm is facing downward. Ensure you hit through the shuttle and complete the follow-through high in front of you.

It is important to note that the shuttle should be below the waist at the time of contact, and both feet should be grounded; otherwise, it will be a fault. The high serve is frequently used in singles matches to push the opponent back to the rear court. The serve should be high and long, landing in the centre of the rear tramlines. It should be impossible for your opponent to jump up and attack it at the start or middle of the service box, and it should drop at a steep, 90-degree angle.

The high forehand serve is typically one of the first service styles learned by beginners, as it requires less focus on technique, and players can strike with as much power as they want. As players advance in skill and competition level, the backhand serve becomes more dominant, as badminton has evolved to focus more on controlling the net and gaining the initiative (attacking advantage) at the beginning of the rally.

The high forehand serve is still widely used at the highest levels of women's singles, where players like Tai Tzu Ying and Akane Yamaguchi have successfully employed it in major tournaments.

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Hit the shuttle below the waist, with both feet grounded

Hitting the shuttle below the waist with both feet grounded is an essential technique to master for a successful high forehand serve in badminton. This technique is crucial to ensure that you do not commit a fault during the serve. Here is a detailed breakdown of the steps to achieve this:

Preparation

Adopt a forehand grip with your racket hand, and position yourself with your weight on the back foot. Hold the shuttlecock in front of you, at a comfortable height, typically around the mid-thigh to knee area. It is important to note that the specific way you hold the shuttlecock is not as important as ensuring it is comfortable for you. Now, transfer your weight from the back foot to the front foot, getting ready to perform the shot.

Shot

This is the critical moment where you make contact with the shuttlecock. Firstly, drop the shuttlecock, allowing it to fall freely, and simultaneously bring the racket forward in an arc-like motion. It is important to ensure that the dropping of the shuttlecock and the racket swing are not performed at the same time. As you bring the racket forward, extend your wrist and rotate your forearm so that the palm is facing upward during the backswing. As you make contact with the shuttlecock, straighten your wrist and continue the rotation of the forearm, ensuring the palm is now facing downward.

It is crucial that at the point of impact, the shuttlecock is below the waist. This technique ensures that you do not commit a fault. Additionally, both your feet should be grounded during the shot. The power and angle of contact with the shuttlecock can be adjusted to vary the trajectory, but for a high forehand serve, you generally want a high arc and a vertical drop in the opponent's rear court.

Recovery

After making contact with the shuttlecock, it is important to follow through with a smooth, high movement in front of you. This completes the serve and sets you up for the next shot.

Mastering this technique takes practice, but understanding the fundamentals of the high forehand serve will help you improve your badminton skills and strategy.

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Aim for a high trajectory, landing in the opponent's rear court

To aim for a high trajectory that lands in the opponent's rear court, there are several key steps to follow. Firstly, during the preparation stage, use a forehand grip and stand with your weight on the back foot. Hold the shuttle in front of you and then transfer your weight from the back foot to the front foot. This weight transfer is important for generating power and beginning the movement of bringing the racket forward.

Next is the shot. Drop the shuttle and bring the racket forward in an arc-like motion. Ensure that you do not drop the shuttle and swing the racket simultaneously, as this will affect the power and accuracy of your shot. As you bring the racket forward, extend your wrist and rotate your forearm so that the palm is facing upward in the backswing. When you strike the shuttle, straighten your wrist and continue rotating your forearm so that the palm is now facing downward. It is important to hit through the shuttle and follow through with the racket arm high in front of you. Make sure that the shuttle is below the waist at the time of contact, and that both your feet are grounded, otherwise, it will be a fault.

The high serve is a useful technique to push your opponent back towards their rear court, giving you the advantage of controlling the net and limiting their shot options. The high serve is particularly effective in singles matches, where you can aim for the back of the court, making it difficult for your opponent to attack the shuttle at a downward trajectory.

Practice is key to mastering the high serve. Focus on getting a high trajectory so that the shuttle lands vertically in your opponent's rear court. With consistent practice, you will be able to place the shuttle consistently in the desired area and utilize the high serve effectively in your matches.

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