Andrew Pace
Badminton is a racket sport played with a shuttlecock over a net by two or four players. It involves a range of basic skills that are important to master for effective gameplay. These skills include the ready position, grip, footwork, stance, and swings. The ready position is the foundation for all badminton skills and drills, requiring players to stand with their feet shoulder-width apart, hips back, and weight in the balls of their feet. Grips are important for control and avoiding injury, with the proper grip resembling a handshake. Footwork is essential for court movement, and players should maintain their base while limiting side-to-side and front-back movement. Stance, including attacking, defensive, and net stances, prepares players for different shots. Swings involve practicing various strokes, such as forehand and backhand, to consistently hit the shuttle. Serving is another critical skill, with high and low serves aimed at different areas of the opponent's court.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Grip | Similar to a handshake, important for control and avoiding injury |
| Stance | Includes attacking, defensive, and net stances to prepare for different shots |
| Footwork | Important for effective court movement; players should remember their base and limit side-to-side and front-back movement |
| Serve | Includes high and low serves aimed at different areas of the opponent's court |
| Smash | Includes forehand, backhand, and jumping smashes, which are the most powerful shots |
| Drop shot | Uses deception to move the opponent forward |
| Clear | Used to move the opponent backward |
| Ready Position | Feet shoulder-width apart, hips back in a quarter-squat position, weight on balls of feet, and a slight lean in the torso |
| Racket Swings | Forehand and backhand strokes, including overhead and underhand variations |
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What You'll Learn
Grips: Forehand, backhand, bevel, and panhandle
Grips are an essential component of badminton, and mastering the four basic grips—forehand, backhand, bevel, and panhandle—can boost your control, precision, and overall performance on the court.
The forehand grip is the easiest to learn and is similar to shaking someone's hand, forming a 'V shape' with your index finger and thumb. Your fingers should be loosely placed around the grip, allowing for quick changes during a rally and greater control and power in your shots.
The backhand grip is also simple to execute. Position your thumb on top of the wider section of the grip, with your strings facing the floor and ceiling. Your fingers should be relaxed and wrapped around the side. It is important to note that the backhand grip is not suitable for playing backhand shots in the rear court.
The bevel grip is often used for backhand shots, although some players may disagree. It is best to use the grip that allows you to play the shot you want effectively and efficiently.
The panhandle grip is used when you are late on a backhand overhead, and the shuttle is far past you.
To improve your grip skills, it is beneficial to practice switching grips after every shot. This can be done through various drills, such as playing a backhand defensive shot followed by a forehand defensive shot or a backhand drive followed by a forehand drive. You can also advance these drills by introducing randomness to the shots, challenging your grip-changing abilities and decision-making.
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Stance: Attacking, defensive, and net stances
There are three primary stances in badminton: attacking, defensive, and net stances. Each stance has specific body positioning and is used depending on the circumstances of the game.
Attacking Stance
The backward attacking stance is a common stance used in badminton. It involves the non-racket leg being placed forward, with the body in a sideways stance, similar to the stance when receiving a serve. The racket height and position can vary. This stance is often used in rallies, especially when you've put the shuttle deep into your opponent's rear court and anticipate that they will be unable to hit a downward shot. It allows for quick forward movement and provides opportunities for tactical anticipation.
Defensive Stance
The defensive stance is characterised by the body facing square to the net, with the legs positioned wider than the shoulders, and the racket held at a lower height. This stance is typically adopted when you expect your opponent to hit down hard, enabling quick sideways movement to cover a fast smash. It is also useful when you've played a defensive block or net shot and anticipate a stroke into your rear court.
Net Stance
The net stance is often used in recovery from a net shot, with the racket leg forward, pointing towards where the shuttle will be struck by the opponent. This stance provides a seamless transition between recovering from one shot and preparing for the next. It is useful when the shuttle is at or below tape level, and you anticipate your opponent being unable to hit a downward shot.
Ready Position
The ready position is the foundation for all badminton skills and drills. It involves standing with your feet shoulder-width apart, hips slightly bent in a quarter-squat position, weight on the balls of your feet, and a slight lean in the torso with a neutral gaze forward. From this position, you can move quickly in any direction.
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Footwork: Effective court movement
Footwork is a fundamental skill in badminton, and effective court movement is key to winning matches. Badminton is a fast-paced game, and without proper footwork and positioning, you will struggle to beat your opponent.
The first thing to learn is your ready position. This is the foundation for all badminton skills and drills. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, sink your hips back, bend your knees slightly, and place your weight on the balls of your feet. Keep your torso slightly leaned forward with a neutral gaze. From this position, you can move forward, backward, and side to side. Practice moving in different directions from this stance.
The next step is to understand the three parts of the court: the front, the side, and the backcourt. Your base starting point should be in the centre of the court, and you should always return to this position after hitting the shuttlecock. This is because it gives you the best position to react to your opponent's next move. From this central position, it will take you 2-3 steps to get to the backcourt, 1-2 steps to get to the side, and 3 steps to move forward to the frontcourt.
To improve your footwork, you should practice the shadow exercise. Have someone stand on the other side of the net and point to where the shuttlecock would be. Move to that position as quickly as possible and swing as if hitting the shuttlecock, then return to the centre. This will help you improve your speed and reaction time.
Another important aspect of footwork is balance. Lunges, jumps, and quick changes in direction are all common in badminton, and you need to maintain your centre of gravity within your base of support to avoid losing your balance. Elite players have excellent balance and posture, which allows them to prepare for the next shot and move in any direction.
Finally, always think about your movement strategy before the match. This will give you a big advantage and help you react quickly to your opponent's shots.
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Serves: High, low, and flick
Serving is an essential component of badminton. It is important to be able to consistently get the shuttle into the opponent's court. There are four main types of badminton serves: low, high, flick, and drive.
High Serve
The high serve is a forehand underarm serve with lots of follow-through. It has a high, far trajectory that goes towards your opponent's back service line. If executed correctly, it ends with a steep vertical drop, making it difficult to return. To perform a high serve, tilt your racket down at a 45-degree angle in front of you. The face of the racket should be almost parallel to the net, with a slight upward rotation. The shuttle should be held slightly above the racket, with the cork pointing down towards your knees. Prepare for the shot by lining up your racket, then use a short backswing, drop the shuttle, and flick your racket up and forward. Aim for a soft trajectory that gets the shuttle just over your opponent's service line.
Low Serve
The low serve is one of the easiest techniques to master. It has a low, short trajectory that lands just over your opponent's service line. This serve is used when you want your opponent to move forward. To perform a low serve, stand 2-3 feet behind the short service line, which is the line closest to the net. Hold the racket out in front of you and tilt it down at a 45-degree angle. Grab the shuttle by the feathers with your non-racket hand, holding it slightly above the racket with the cork pointing down. Prepare for the shot and then use a short backswing, drop the shuttle, and flick your racket up and forward.
Flick Serve
The flick serve is a "fake-out" serve that resembles a low serve but with a sudden flick at the last minute that sends the shuttlecock deep into the court. It is used to convince your opponent that you are hitting a low serve. To perform a flick serve, go behind the shuttlecock and rotate your body to the side court, raising both your arms. Move your body weight onto the legs by opening your legs wide and bend your knees slightly. Flex your upper body, raise both arms, and defend. Only use the flick serve when you are going to run a high clear or high service.
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Shots: Smash, drop, clear, drive
The smash is a powerful overhead shot that requires a lot of preparation and technique. To execute a smash, you should stand about half a metre behind the shuttle with your body facing sideways. Hold the racket in a forehand grip, with your hand at the bottom of the grip handle, and your non-racket arm pointing upwards. This creates a longer lever, helping you to generate more power. Keep your body loose and relaxed until the last second before impact, then rotate your hips, torso, and shoulder to transfer your body weight forward and create a fast racket head speed.
The drop shot is a strategic move that aims to deceive your opponent. It is most effective when your opponent is near the backcourt, as the shot is meant to drop the shuttle just over the net. To perform a drop shot, start with a sideways stance and extend your racket arm while raising your non-racket arm to point at the shuttle. Make contact with the top of the shuttle without too much wrist snap to avoid adding too much power.
The clear shot is an overhead shot that aims to lift the shuttle high and deep into your opponent's court. It is often used to create space or respond to a short lift. The preparation for a clear shot is similar to that of a smash, with the body facing sideways and the racket held at a 90-degree angle. The follow-through, however, is more of an upward motion, lifting the shuttle high into the air.
The drive shot is a powerful, low shot that is hit just above the net. It is often used to push your opponent back or to create opportunities for smashes and drops. The preparation for a drive shot is similar to the other shots, with the body facing sideways and the racket arm extended. The follow-through involves a forward motion, driving the shuttle towards your opponent's body or backhand corner.
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Frequently asked questions
The fundamental skills in badminton include grip, footwork, stance, and swings.
The different types of grips in badminton include the forehand grip, backhand grip, bevel grip, and panhandle grip. A proper grip is important for control and avoiding injury and should be similar to a handshake.
The different types of stances in badminton include attacking, defensive, and net stances. The ready position is also important, with feet shoulder-width apart, hips slightly bent, and weight on the balls of the feet.
The different types of serves in badminton include high serves, low serves, and flick serves. Serves can be practised to ensure the shuttle consistently lands in the opponent's court.
