Andrew Pace
The drive shot is a basic flat shot in badminton, hit hard on a horizontal or slightly downward path, and is a powerful, quick counter-attacking shot that is easy to execute. It is a safe shot and if played correctly, will force your opponent to hit an upward return, giving you an opportunity to counter-attack. The drive shot can be played on both the forehand and backhand sides, and is a great technique for players to create a winning shot.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Type of shot | Attack shot |
| How to play | Hit hard on a horizontal or slightly downward path |
| When to play | When you are balanced and in a good position, and your opponent is off balance |
| Where to aim | Directly over the net, or at your opponent's body |
| Grip | Forehand or backhand |
| Racket arm | Up in front of the chest |
| Body weight | Spread evenly between both feet |
| Dominant leg | Extend towards the shuttle |
| Racket hand | Palm facing up with the wrist in the cocked position for the back swing |
| Weight transfer | Onto the dominant foot |
| Racket arm | Extend and roll the forearm over in a supination movement |
| Wrist | Uncock to provide power |
| Follow-through | Arm should travel in line with the shuttle's path |
| Strategy | Slow down and control your shots |
| Opponent's likely response | Another drive |
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What You'll Learn
- The drive shot is a basic flat shot, hit hard and fast over the net
- It is a powerful counter-attack that can be used to set up a winning shot
- The shot can be played on the forehand or backhand, with a slight grip change
- Taller players should avoid engaging in drives with shorter players
- It is best played when your opponent is off-balance and has not recovered to a central base
The drive shot is a basic flat shot, hit hard and fast over the net
The drive shot is a fundamental skill in badminton and is a powerful counter-attacking shot that is easy to execute. It is a basic flat shot, hit hard and fast over the net, and is a great technique to master to increase your chances of winning. The shot is played in a horizontal or slightly downward path, usually down the sidelines of the court. The drive shot can be played with either a forehand or backhand grip.
When playing a forehand drive, the racket foot must be pointing towards the sideline. The racket arm should be up in front of the chest, with the body weight spread evenly between both feet. To get to the shuttle, extend the dominant leg and reach with the racket arm. Pivot and turn in the direction of the shuttle, with the wrist in a cocked position for the backswing. Swing forward and transfer body weight onto the dominant foot.
The backhand drive is similar, except for a slight grip change. Start the backswing with the palm facing down and finish the stroke with it facing up. The racket should be parallel to the floor throughout the shot. Again, extend the dominant leg towards the shuttle and pivot and turn in the direction of the shuttle. Swing forward and transfer the body weight onto the dominant foot, ensuring the racket arm is extended.
The drive shot is a safe shot in badminton, and if played correctly, it will force your opponent to hit an upward return, giving you an opportunity to counter-attack. It is a useful shot to test your opponent's speed and attentiveness and is commonly used in doubles to keep the shuttle low. However, it is important to be aware of your positioning when playing a drive, as your opponent will likely have the option to play a drive themselves.
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It is a powerful counter-attack that can be used to set up a winning shot
The badminton drive shot is a powerful counter-attack that can be used to set up a winning shot. It is a basic flat shot, hit directly over the net, and is a quick and easy counter-attack. The drive shot can be played on the forehand or backhand.
To execute the shot, the racket should be held with the head facing straight ahead, locking the wrist as the shuttle contacts the racket. The aim is to deliver a flat and fast drive to get the shuttle behind your opponent, forcing them to make a weak return. This is a safe shot and, if played correctly, will force your opponent to hit an upward return, giving you an opportunity to counter-attack.
It is important to disguise your shots so that your opponent cannot predict your moves. Offensive shots should look like drive or drop shots until the last second, making it difficult for your opponent to react. The drive shot is best played when you are balanced and in a good position, and your opponent is off-balance. When attacking from the net, drives are usually played directly at the opponent's body, making it hard for them to return the shuttle effectively.
The drive shot is not a common singles shot, and players should be aware of their position before playing one. Drives often invite the opponent to play a drive in return, so it is important to ensure you can win the ensuing rally. Taller players should avoid engaging in drives with shorter players, as they will need to squat lower to hit the shuttle, resulting in weaker drives.
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The shot can be played on the forehand or backhand, with a slight grip change
The drive shot is a basic flat shot, directly hit over the net. It is a powerful, quick counter-attacking shot that is easy to execute. The shot can be played on the forehand or backhand, with a slight grip change.
If the shuttle reaches a player between the level of the shoulder and knee, on the forehand side, then they could decide to hit a drive shot. To do this, the player needs to keep the racket arm up in front of the chest and ensure body weight is spread evenly between both feet. To get to the shuttle before it drops too low, extend the dominant leg towards the shuttle and reach with the racket arm. Then pivot and turn in the direction of the shuttle, have the racket hand palm facing up with the wrist in the cocked position for the backswing.
For a backhand drive, the grip and starting position of the palm are changed. The player starts the backswing with the palm facing down and finishes the stroke with it facing up. The racket should be parallel to the floor. The rest of the shot is the same as the forehand drive. The player swings forward and transfers body weight onto the dominant foot. Make sure to extend the racket arm, roll the forearm over in a supination movement, and uncock the wrist to provide power.
The drive shot is usually played down the sidelines of the court. It is a safe shot and if played correctly, will force an opponent to hit an upward return, giving the player a chance to counter-attack. The best time to play a drive is when the player is balanced and in a good position, while the opponent is off-balance and has not recovered to a central base.
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Taller players should avoid engaging in drives with shorter players
The drive shot is a basic flat shot, directly hit over the net. It is a powerful, quick counter-attacking shot that is easy to execute. If played correctly, it will force your opponent to hit an upward return, giving you an opportunity to counter-attack. The drive shot can be played on both the forehand and backhand. To execute the shot, the racket should be held with the head facing straight ahead, locking the wrist as the shuttle comes in contact with the racket. The aim is to deliver a flat and fast drive to get the shuttle behind your opponent, causing them to make a weak return.
Taller players have a height advantage when it comes to producing better-quality jump smashes, but they are weaker in terms of delivering drives. Taller players may also have better court vision, which can create a psychological impact on their opponents, making them nervous and more prone to errors. However, shorter players generally have better defense as they can more easily squat or hit the shuttle overhead. They also have a lower center of gravity, allowing them to recover more quickly.
Therefore, taller players should be cautious when engaging in drives with shorter players and should aim to vary their shots to avoid playing to their opponent's strengths.
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It is best played when your opponent is off-balance and has not recovered to a central base
The drive shot is a basic flat shot, directly hit over the net. It is a powerful, quick counter-attacking shot that is easy to execute. If played correctly, it will force your opponent to hit an upward return, giving you an opportunity to counter-attack.
The drive shot is best played when your opponent is off-balance and has not recovered to a central base. This is because the shot is hit hard on a horizontal or slightly downward path, usually down the sidelines of the court. The opponent will be forced to hit an upward return, which is difficult to do if they are off-balance or out of position.
To execute the shot, your racket should be held with the head facing straight ahead, locking your wrist as the shuttle comes in contact with your racket. The aim is to deliver a flat and fast drive to get the shuttle behind your opponent, causing them to make a weak return.
The backhand drive is the same as the forehand version, except for a slight grip change and a difference in palm orientation during the backswing. To get to the shuttle before it drops too low, extend your dominant leg towards the shuttle and reach with your racket arm. Then pivot and turn in the direction of the shuttle, with your wrist in the cocked position for the backswing. This should mean that your racket is parallel to the floor. Swing forward and transfer your body weight onto your dominant foot.
It is important to disguise your shots so that it is not easy for your opponent to predict your moves. For example, your offensive shots should look like either a drive or a drop shot until the very last second. This will make it harder for your opponent to react.
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